I learned to embroider when I was a kid, when everyone was really into cross stitch (remember the '80s?). Eventually, I migrated to surface embroidery, teaching myself with whatever I could get my hands on...read more
Contact Mary
I learned to embroider when I was a kid, when everyone was really into cross stitch (remember the '80s?). Eventually, I migrated to surface embroidery, teaching myself with whatever I could get my hands on...read more
Contact Mary
February 20, 2014
Yesterday, we talked about some hints to increase stitching efficiency.
We discussed how starting threads from the front of the fabric and traveling threads along a stitched path on the back of the fabric can help save a little time during embroidery sessions.
Today, we’re going to look at one more habit that helps increase stitching efficiency. It’s called “parking” your embroidery threads.
February 19, 2014
Starting and Traveling. Are we talking about cars here, or embroidery?
My knowledge of cars being somewhat limited (does it start? do I like the color? this is where the gas goes…), I promise we’re talking about hand embroidery.
And not only are we talking about hand embroidery, but we’re talking about ways to make hand embroidery more efficient.
We all know that handwork is not the most time efficient way of decorating fabric. In the past hundred plus years, we’ve developed machines that can adorn fabric a whole lot faster than the hand-wielded needle. Yet there are some things we can do to make our hand embroidery more time efficient.
Today, we’ll talk about two ways that will clip a little bit of time and trouble off your stitching sessions: starting threads and traveling threads.
February 18, 2014
Remember last week when we looked at an unconventional use for the telescopic magnet – using it, extended, as a thread rack?
I mentioned that I wanted to come up with a dowel system to use as a kind of thread rack while working.
Many readers suggested swinging towel bars, which would probably work great if you wanted to permanently mount them somewhere or onto some kind of rig that would be semi-portable or moveable. It’s certainly a possibility. I could see replacing the mounting system with a very strong magnet, for example, and putting a set of swinging towel bars on the side of my thread storage cabinets that support my work table.
A couple readers picked up exactly what I had in mind, though, and made the suggestion in their comments for what I was using.
And it is this:
February 17, 2014
The other day, I filled you in on how I’m working the vines on the Secret Garden project, using stem stitch as a filling and shading it gradually by working with two shades of green in the needle at a time.
Today, I’ll show you some more vines and share some stitching tips that will help you with stem stitch filling.
February 15, 2014
If you’ve been hanging out with me for a while on Needle ‘n Thread, you might recall that last August, I ran a give-away for some really fun over-dyed embroidery threads from LES Designs.
Recently, Lorraine overhauled her embroidery thread business, renamed it to Colour Complements, and established a bright and beautiful new website, which has a blog attached, where you can keep up with her thready news.
February 14, 2014
After selecting colors and threads to get started with, I was super eager to get into stitching on the Secret Garden project.
You might think that I’d start with the hummingbirds, since they’re in the middle of the project, and they’re the focus of the project. After all, a jeweler starts with the stone before creating the setting, right?
Well, call it backwards, but I’m starting with the setting, and specifically with the vines, because they are the continuous force in the design. They go everywhere. They hold it all together.
Besides, I’m still ruminating on those hummingbirds. I haven’t conquered them yet in my mind, and working on the rest of the project will give them time to work themselves out in my head.
February 13, 2014
Last week, I reviewed a beautiful and instructive little book on stumpwork embroidery, called Stumpwork Flowers.
This week, continuing with stumpwork books, I want to show you Jane Nicholas’s latest book, called Stumpwork Butterflies & Moths. It’s just out, and, if you love stumpwork, butterflies, insects in general – well, it’s a corker!
