November 19, 2013

Mission Rose: Overcoming a Big Nagging Problem

Do you ever find yourself, mid-embroidery-project, facing a problem that you knew you should have addressed much sooner?

Well, that’s where I’ve been lately with the Mission Rose. There is a problem with it. And, like many problems that we run into on needlework projects, just the mere thought of the problem and how to rectify it was slowing me down.

But, just like with many problems we face in life, if we avoid it, it just gets bigger! Before you know it, you’ve got a proverbial Mountain where there should just be a wee Mole Hill. And most of that mountain is built in our minds, more than in reality. That is certainly the case with this problem on the Mission Rose.

The problem needs addressing. I can’t fudge it and make do. I needs must correct it, in order to move on with confidence in a decent outcome.

And so… here’s the problem, and my solution.

How To Videos

November 18, 2013

Tambour Embroidery How-to Video: The Basic Stitch

We’ve been talking a lot about tambour embroidery recently, and since I promised a tutorial for you, here’s a video on the basic stitch!

The very best way to get familiar with tambour embroidery is just to do it – that is, sit down with a hook, a piece of fabric in a hoop, and some thread, and try it. Work your way through the basic movements of the stitch, until you understand how it works. Start by stitching in one direction – the direction that’s most comfortable for you – and keep practicing in that direction, until you have the movement of the hook down.

From that point, it’s just a matter of practice. And more practice. And even more practice!

Practice until you’re comfortable with the hook. Practice until you can stitch in all directions with it. The more you practice, the more the stitch makes sense, and the easier it becomes to stitch in all directions.

To get you started, then, I’ve worked up a how-to video for the basic chain stitch with the tambour hook.

Tambour Embroidery How-To Video: Basic Chain Stitch

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November 16, 2013

Tambour Embroidery: Index

Looking for past articles on Tambour Embroidery here on Needle ‘n Thread, all conveniently located in one place?

Here’s the list so far!

Tambour Embroidery Articles on Needle 'n Thread

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November 15, 2013

Needlework Tool Caddy – Winner Announced!

Good morning, peeps! It’s a lovely Friday here in Kansas – cold, but warming up later today. The sun will shortly be rising, the kids will shortly be walking past on their way to school, I will shortly be doing some needful chores, and shortly, the weekend will be upon us.

I’m not sure why, but Friday always seems to be the shortest day of the week. It’s the day I want to savor. But there’s never a chance. It flies by – and the next thing I know, bam-o! It’s Monday again.

Today – the 15th – is the day I sit down and work out wonderful things for Needle ‘n Thread. I brainstorm article ideas. I sketch in a publishing calendar for the next month. I write up lists of things to do and prioritize them. I see if I have all the supplies I need to accomplish what I need to accomplish in the next month, and if not, I order them. It’s the mid-month prep for the next month (and sometimes, beyond.) And I love doing it.

Which brings me to the point that Christmas is coming – I’ll be preparing my To Do Calendar around that fact today – and if you didn’t win today’s give-away, you should definitely put one of these beautiful and exceedingly handy tool caddies on your Christmas list! I’ve grown really fond of mine. It’s a terrific tool for any workspace, but especially if you have a tight workspace. It keeps a lot of tools together in one neat space, and it does it while lookin’ good.

Rarely do I look good when I’m being serviceable, but it’s nice to see that my tool caddy can manage it!

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November 14, 2013

Tambour Embroidered Flower: Finished & Materials List

All the waste knots cut, all the threads secured – ’tis the finish of this second practice piece on my quest to learn how to wield a tambour hook with accuracy, (relative) speed, and ease.

When working with the tambour needle – and really, when working in any embroidery technique – practice is essential if you want to be perfectly comfortable with the tools, no matter what circumstances you find yourself in.

I prefer practicing on a particular design, rather than in random blobs, rows, and patches. When practicing on a design, there’s that whole Sense-of-Accomplishment Thing going on, you know?

Keep in mind that this project was a practice piece. There wasn’t much planning that went into it. With a little tweaking in shades and placement of colors in the design, I think the finished piece could be much improved. But here it is, anyway, for what it’s worth!

Tambour Embroidery: Flower Practice Piece

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November 13, 2013

Couching Thread for Goldwork

Whenever I’m in the middle of a goldwork project (the current one being the Mission Rose), there’s a fair certitude that one question will slip into the inbox at least ten times. It is this:

What thread are you using for couching the goldwork?

Although I usually mention it within articles on the different goldwork techniques, I’ve never written an article devoted entirely to The Couching Threads.

But you know, they deserve their moment in the limelight. They have an arduous task and they work hard to get it done. So they are, in fact, Important. Essential. Critical, even!

Today, I’ll show you exactly which ones I use and tell you why.

And, with an article devoted just to these indispensable little spools, from now on, I can just send a link when anyone asks.

(I’m lazy that way.)

Couching Threads for Goldwork Embroidery

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November 12, 2013

Tambour Embroidery: Learning Odds & Ends

After I finished Gertie, my first filling experiment with tambour embroidery, I immediately set up another project to keep me going through my practice regime.

With the next project, I wanted to work with shades of color and filling odd shapes. I picked another one of the free hand embroidery patterns here on Needle ‘n Thread – this sprouting floral drawing – and selected colors of coton a broder 25 to use for the embroidery.

While working through this practice piece a little bit each day, I’ve learned a few more bits about tambour embroidery, which I thought I’d share with you.

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How-To
Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

Mission Rose: Overcoming a Big Nagging Problem

Tambour Embroidery How-to Video: The Basic Stitch

Tambour Embroidery: Index

Needlework Tool Caddy – Winner Announced!

Tambour Embroidered Flower: Finished & Materials List

Couching Thread for Goldwork

Tambour Embroidery: Learning Odds & Ends

Connect with Mary

How-To Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos