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
August 14, 2013
Occasionally, I’ve been dribbling out photos of the embroidered letters in this monograph alphabet that I mentioned a few weeks back. They’ve also been showing up here and there on my Needle ‘n Thread Facebook page.
Today, I’ll show you a few more photos, discuss the project a bit, and ask for your input, too!
August 13, 2013
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.
August 12, 2013
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.
August 10, 2013
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.
August 9, 2013
With the goldwork finished on the lower half of the Mission Rose, the next step was the top part, where the bud resides.
The goldwork techniques here are the same techniques used in the large rose, but I had a little mishap (or rather, I made the wrong decision) with one of the threads.
August 8, 2013
This morning, I was going to write a long, deep article about overdyed embroidered threads.
But two things are against me: one is the ongoing computer kerfuffle, which is slowly being solved, but when I say slowly, I mean slooooowly. And the other is a large impending thunderstorm, which could very well mean a loss of internet connection.
So instead of an all-out article on the subject over overdyed embroidery threads at this point, I’m going to poll the audience for opinions today, and save the in-depth stuff for a little farther down the road.
August 7, 2013
Well, since we’ve been talking about embroidered monograms lately, this is a very timely announcement!
For those of you who will be in the north eastern US this autumn, and who are interested in a face-to-face class in traditional monogramming, you’re in luck…
