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Mary Corbet

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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

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  • How-To
    Videos

    Over 75 Embroidery Stitch Videos to Help You Learn

  • Embroidery Tips & Techniques

    A Collection of Instructional Articles

 
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May 20, 2013

‘Twixt Art & Nature – Book Winner!

 

Amazon Books

Today, I’m happy to announce the winner of the book, ‘Twixt Art and Nature: English Embroidery from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1580 – 1700 from last week’s give-away.

The give-away was generously offered by the folks at Hedgehog Handworks – they still have a small number of this out-of-print-but-highly-coveted book in stock. To my knowledge, the only other place you can find it for purchase now is through used book outlets, where some of the prices listed for it are shocking.

Twixt Art & Nature - 17th Century Beaded Basket
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May 18, 2013

Monograms for Hand Embroidery: Fan Flowers X, Y, & Z

 

Finally! The Fan Flower Monogram Alphabet is Finished! You can find all the letters for this alphabet – perfect for embroidered decorative initials and monograms – available on this Monograms for Hand Embroidery page, as well as indexed under the Patterns for Hand Embroidery page.

The “rush” to get these finished lately (did I say rush? I think I’ve been putting them on Needle ‘n Thread since 2009!) is that I’ve been working with my collection of old publications, sorting them and organizing them. This means I’m digging up some treasures that need scanning and cleaning up. But no point in starting another collection with this one still hanging over my head, eh?!

So here’s the rest of the Fan Flower alphabet – letters X, Y, and Z – with the printable PDFs down below.

Monogram Pattern for Hand Embroidery: Fan Flower X
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May 17, 2013

The Ros Tapestry – Irish History in Embroidery

 

The Ros Tapestry is, as the website devoted to the tapestry states, a “tale told in thread.”

Conceived in 1998 by Dr. Paul Mooney of the parish of New Ross in County Wexford on the east coast of Ireland, the tapestry tells of the history of the Port of New Ross and its surrounding area, especially from the time of William Marshall and the Norman invasions.

The photos below are courtesy of The Ros Tapestry initiative, and you can click on most of them to view larger images.

The Ros Tapestry - Panel 1, the Celts
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May 16, 2013

Stitch Fun! Buttonhole Chain Stitch Waves

 

Today’s Stitch Fun episode is in answer to a request from a reader, who wanted some further explanation on a stitch combination found in Mary Elizabeth Wilkinson’s book, Embroidery Stitches, which is available for free download on Internet Archives.

The combination involves buttonhole stitch and chain stitch worked in opposing waves so that the result looks very much like a double helix.

Buttonhole Chain Stitch Waves
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May 15, 2013

Mission Rose – All Thumbs!

 

Last time we visited the Mission Rose project, the satin stitched leaves were nearing completion. They’re finished now, and the rose is underway.

(Barely underway, I should say.)

As I was stitching the other day, I had a little accident that brought me to a momentary halt on the rose. I thought it was a good lesson to learn, so I’m going to share it with you. Though it may make me look slightly idiotic, I’m willing to risk that if it will save you from doing the same thing!

Mission Rose Silk and Gold embroidery
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May 13, 2013

For Worship & Glory – Ecclesiastical Embroidery Exhibit at the RSN

 

Anyone up for a trip to London? If you’ve got one in your plans this year – or if you live in the relative vicinity – you might take the opportunity to catch the exhibit For Worship & Glory at the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court.

(Update, 2021: the exhibition was in 2013, so there are no longer working links to it in this article.)

This year from May through December, the RSN is exhibiting examples of ecclesiastical embroidery from their collections, and the star of the show? The twelve Litany of Loreto embroideries that are rarely all seen together on exhibition.

I do so want to go!

Photos below courtesy of the Royal School of Needlework and used with permission.

Litany of Loreto Embroideries at the RSN
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