About

Mary Corbet

writer and founder

 

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

Connect with Mary

     

Archives

2025 (74) 2024 (135) 2023 (125) 2022 (136) 2021 (130) 2020 (132) 2019 (147) 2018 (146) 2017 (169) 2016 (147) 2015 (246) 2014 (294) 2013 (294) 2012 (305) 2011 (306) 2010 (316) 2009 (367) 2008 (352) 2007 (225) 2006 (139)
 

Mission Rose: Goldwork & Vermicelli

 

Amazon Books

The other day when I showed you my failed attempt at the gold lattice work on the blue silk fabric on the Mission Rose project, most of you guessed pretty quickly that I’d fall back on vermicelli goldwork over the blue silk. And I did!

Vermicelli is an appropriate name for this meandering, worm-like technique involving a fine couched thread. I used it extensively in the Marian Medallion Project as a background for the whole medallion. It served really well in that project for securing the flat silk used in the background. I almost regret not using flat silk in the corners on the Mission Rose.

But the technique works equally as well over fabric, too. And so, I opted for it – much better than the lattice work, methinks.

Goldwork embroidery on Mission Rose project
Continue reading “Mission Rose: Goldwork & Vermicelli”

Ecclesiastical Embroidery: Pattern Chasing

 

It’s been a long, long time since I’ve written anything about ecclesiastical embroidery here on Needle ‘n Thread.

Ecclesiastical embroidery is essentially church-related embroidery, and as a category of embroidery, it embraces several of the most exquisite embroidery techniques out there – especially goldwork and silk shading.

If you’re somewhat new to Needle ‘n Thread, you might not know that my real interest in embroidery sprang from art history studies in college, and specifically getting into the study of ecclesiastical embroidery when doing research for art history.

Since then, I’ve spent years collecting resources on ecclesiastical embroidery, along with old pieces of ecclesiastical embroidery. When traveling, I tend to seek out places where I can examine extant examples of historical pieces of ecclesiastical needlework. It fascinates me, and I eat the stuff up whenever I have a chance!

Lately, I’ve been pattern chasing – that is, trying the trace the origins of some ecclesiastical embroidery patterns (a very difficult thing to do!). This particular image that I’m going to share with you today has come up several times in my pattern-chasing endeavors.

Assumption Hand Embroidery Design
Continue reading “Ecclesiastical Embroidery: Pattern Chasing”

Mission Rose: Change of Plan!

 

When feeling your way through an embroidery project for the first time, it isn’t unusual to change your plans for embroidery techniques as you progress.

You might, for example, have an idea that you think is brilliant, that you’re sure will work …. but when it comes down to actually trying it, the Cold Dead Fish of Reality slaps you in the face with a resounding Nope!

And that’s what happened to me recently with the Mission Rose project. I was all geared up to tackle the blue silk areas – I had a Plan! I liked the Plan! In my head, the Plan worked.

Mission Rose Silk and Goldwork Embroidery
Continue reading “Mission Rose: Change of Plan!”

Overdyed Embroidery Thread – A Give-Away!

 

Mondays! We all love them, don’t we?!

To get the week off to a good start, let’s have a give-away! Today, thanks to Lorraine at LES Designs, whose thread I featured last week in this article on overdyed embroidery threads, I’m giving away some very colorful skeins of thread!

Better yet, when it comes to the prize, it’s Winner’s Choice – so read on for more details on how the give-away works.

Overdyed Embroidery Thread from LES Designs
Continue reading “Overdyed Embroidery Thread – A Give-Away!”

Embroidery Projects: Lessons from the Past

 

During the whole Restoration Process of my data from the old computer to the new, I’ve had a good bit of fun discovering misplaced photos of past embroidery projects that, over time, have slipped my mind.

It’s not that I don’t remember the projects; it’s just that, when I come across the photos of them, there’s a kind of new delight in seeing them again, because I haven’t thought about them in so long. And in looking at them again, some valuable lessons come to mind.

This is one of the reasons that I normally encourage new stitchers to take photos of their embroidery projects, regardless of your age, your skill level, or the type of project it is. Whether you have a blog or not, even if you think you’ll never have any interest in seeing photos of the projects you’ve worked, you’d be surprised what they can teach you, or what new ideas they will generate, when you look back at them after some time has passed.

Here are some Pictures from the Past and a little chat about some of the lessons I’ve recalled, or ideas that have occurred to me, since coming across them.

Embroidered Grasshopper
Continue reading “Embroidery Projects: Lessons from the Past”