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
February 5, 2013
A couple weeks ago in a Stitch Fun article, we looked at how you can alter the look of a basic stitch by either lacing it with another thread or whipping it with another thread and I showed you a little sampler of different ways you can whip and lace stitches.
Today, let’s play around with some chain and braid stitches!
February 4, 2013
This is a technique that’s been on my mind for a while – a Long While! I rarely see it on goldwork pieces being designed and embroidered today, but it shows up often on ecclesiastical embroidery pieces from the past.
It’s a type of raised goldwork. It looks like satin stitch (it’s actually surface satin stitch, or laid work, couched at the sides) worked over card or board or other foundations. We talked about this technique a little bit last year, when exploring this piece of old goldwork.
February 2, 2013
Here’s a bit of needlework news that may thrill you silly. It thrills me silly, anyway!
The first bit is about a sale.
Oh my. Sale + Needlework Supplies = Giddy-Gladness!
If you’ve been holding out to purchase some good embroidery supplies, February is a great month to do it over at Hedgehog Handworks! Hedgehog is having their annual 15% off sale, which often comes in January, but this year is for the whole month of February.
February 1, 2013
Good morning, stitchy world!
Time to announce the winners of the three beautiful butterfly needlepainting embroidery kits from Trish Burr from the give-away posted earlier this week!
In addition to that, we’ll look at some new needlepainting resources that Trish has recently released. For those who wish to perfect their needlepainting skills and have a color resource at their fingertips, you’ll want to take a look!
January 31, 2013
Just a really tiny embroidery tip today! It’s tiny. But important!
You know those dirty hoop rings that develop (especially on lighter colored fabric) around the edge of your hoop? Or the soiled look that might develop over time on embroidery that you’re working in hand, without a hoop? Much of the dirt, grime, and soiling that subtly develops on an embroidery project comes initially from your hands.
January 30, 2013
Lately in the Stitch Fun series, I’ve been playing with lattice stitch variations and whipped and laced stitch variations. When playing with filling or line stitches (as opposed to individual elements, like the raised spider daisy), I like to have some kind of pattern or drawing to “play” in.
Think of the pattern as a sandbox. It’s nice to have something to contain all the sand – to keep it from spilling about and getting too messy – but you still have plenty of scope inside the sandbox for creative play. That’s pretty much how I approach patterns like the Jacobean Jumble.
January 29, 2013
For stitchers who find it difficult to get their thread into the tiny eye of the needle, there are solutions to this difficulty! If you have a hard time threading your needles, don’t let this prevent you from indulging in embroidery. The trick is to find a solution that works for you and helps you overcome the difficulty once and for all.
When it comes to tools to help you thread your needles, there are plenty of different needle threaders available on the market. But sometimes, keeping track of another little tool – and one that can be awkward to use – may not be your idea of an ideal solution.
So here’s another option – the Spiral Eye Needle.
