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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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    Videos

    Over 75 Embroidery Stitch Videos to Help You Learn

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    A Collection of Instructional Articles

 
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September 15, 2025

Handpicked Collection Vol 5 – Up Close! (and more…)

 

Amazon Books

Hurray! Volume 5 of Inspirations Studios The Handpicked Collection series is here at Last!

I love this series of books from Inspirations Studios. The projects in each book are exquisite, they cover a wide array of needlework techniques, they range from simpler to more complex, they’re beautifully photographed, the instructions are clear and precise, and there’s something in them for everyone.

If you started collecting these volumes from the beginning of their publication, then you’ll want to add Volume 5 to your library. There are some really fun and beautiful projects in here!

Let’s take a look at the book up close, shall we? And then, at the end of this article, there’s some exciting news about needlework stands!

Handpicked Collection vol 5 from Inspirations Studios
Continue reading “Handpicked Collection Vol 5 – Up Close! (and more…)”

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September 10, 2025

Casual Stitching Time and Tea for 2.5

 

We haven’t had a lot of time in the studio lately for “casual” stitching, where we meander more slowly through projects that don’t have a definite deadline.

Occasionally, on afternoons when we’re caught up with work-work, though, we can take a couple hours just to stitch quietly and move some of our slower developing projects ahead.

This type of break is good for the project, but it’s also good for me and Anna. It gives us time to think; it gives us time to relax while we’re still working; and it helps us both to remember that stitching is meant to be enjoyable.

And if it happens to be a rainy afternoon to boot, gosh! Studio Life could hardly get better than that!

Ready to stitch tea towels
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September 8, 2025

“Duc” is Done & Deep – Some Embroidery Progress

 

When time allows, I’ve been working on this embroidered maniturgium project, which involves embroidered lettering.

My plan, goal, hope, intention was to embroider the letters so that they impart the notion of deepening water, and I think it’s working out!

Little secret: I can’t look at this project right now without developing a Gene Chandler ear worm for Duke of Earl. This is problematic, especially for Anna, as there’s simply no escape when we’re both working in the studio. I tend to spontaneously burst into song – and any song that’s in my head pops out unannounced. I haven’t been able to get Duke of Earl out of my head for weeks.

Duc in Altum - Embroidered Maniturgium progress
Continue reading ““Duc” is Done & Deep – Some Embroidery Progress”

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September 5, 2025

A Perfect Fit: M on a Box!

 

I love it when a plan comes together.

But even better than that, I love it when something that wasn’t planned comes together.

For example, when I first started fiddling about with voided monograms ten years ago, did I know that these round floral voided monograms would fit so perfectly into the lids of these decorative boxes that I brought in for Garden Swirl?

No. I didn’t.

But they do! And I’m so glad, because I have several samples of these monograms floating around here. They had no place to land before now.

Now, they will have homes.

Voided Monogram M in Decorative Box Lid
Continue reading “A Perfect Fit: M on a Box!”

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September 3, 2025

Garden Swirl Stitch-Along 6: The Finish!

 

Welcome to the last installment of Garden Swirl, wherein we mount the finished embroidery project in the lid of the decorative box. Woohoo!

For those who are just coming upon this stitch-along, you can find all the previous installments of Garden Swirl available here in the Garden Swirl Project Index.

You can also find a materials kit (with everything you need to stitch the project – including the design pre-transferred for you on fine linen twill) – and the decorative box to mount the project in – available here in the shop. Get the kits before they’re gone, as they won’t be back in stock in this format again.

If you are a member of the Needle ‘n Thread community on Patreon, you already have this information in the handy-dandy downloadable and printable PDF that was posted for you yesterday.

Let us commence with the final steps…

Garden Swirl - finishing and mounting in box lid
Continue reading “Garden Swirl Stitch-Along 6: The Finish!”

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August 28, 2025

Line Stitches to Use for Filling

 

If you’ve ever browsed through a stitch dictionary, you’ve probably noticed that embroidery stitches are often arranged according to the job they do.

Line stitches, for example, are stitches that work up in lines – and this is where you’ll find stitches like backstitch, stem stitch, split stitch, and chain stitch.

Filling stitches fill up spaces. Here’s where you’ll find satin stitch and long & short stitch, lattice fillings and the like.

But there’s no hard and fast rule that says line stitches can’t be used as filling stitches – and sometimes, a line stitch is really the best option for filling up a design area.

Today, let’s look at a few examples of how line stitches can be used to fill spaces on an embroidery project.

Stem stitch filling on a monogram
Continue reading “Line Stitches to Use for Filling”