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
May 22, 2013
At the risk of driving you all nuts, I made another change on the Mission Rose. And it wasn’t for the better!
I find myself being fickle when it comes to this project. And usually, I’m not a fickle person
(Except when I am…)
May 21, 2013
Shadow Work is a type of embroidery worked on semi-sheer or sheer fabric, with the bulk of the embroidery on the back of the design so that the color of the thread – or rather, a shadow of the color – shows through on the front of the fabric between two solid-colored outlines.
The stitch used in shadow work embroidery is essentially backstitch, but it is worked between two lines, alternating back and forth between the two lines with each stitch.
On the back of the fabric, the resulting closely worked herringbone stitch forms a layer of criss-crossing threads that shows through on the front of the fabric with just a hint of color between the backstitch outlines.
Last week, I had the opportunity to show someone how to do shadow work. This is the sample I worked up for the occasion.
May 20, 2013
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.
May 18, 2013
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.
May 17, 2013
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.
May 16, 2013
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.
May 15, 2013
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!
