How To
Tips & Techniques
Patterns
Members Books
Shop Patreon Search
About

Mary Corbet

writer and founder

 

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

Connect with Mary

     
Types of Hand Embroidery  
Pictures of Hand Embroidery  

Archives

2025 (74) 2024 (135) 2023 (125) 2022 (136) 2021 (130) 2020 (132) 2019 (147) 2018 (146) 2017 (169) 2016 (147) 2015 (246) 2014 (294) 2013 (294) 2012 (305) 2011 (306) 2010 (316) 2009 (367) 2008 (352) 2007 (225) 2006 (139)

Tags

See All Tags

  • How-To
    Videos

    Over 75 Embroidery Stitch Videos to Help You Learn

  • Embroidery Tips & Techniques

    A Collection of Instructional Articles

 
Uncategorized

December 5, 2012

Yes, It’s a Fire Screen

 

Amazon Books

Remember this needlepoint “tapestry” that I picked up for a song? Well, I told you that I bought it for the “frame” it came in, and asked you to guess what it was. I thought I was being So Smug and Secretive. But you all guessed it right off the bat – thank you for unsmugging me!

I was going to stage some photos to show off the fire screen. But I don’t have a fireplace, and the thing is really too big for my minuscule living room. You might be wondering why the heck I bought it, then – and I don’t blame you! I find myself wondering the same thing! But I’m glad I did!

Needlepoint Tapestry in a Firescreen
Continue reading “Yes, It’s a Fire Screen”

Hand Embroidery Books

December 4, 2012

Embroidered Portraits by Jan Messent – Book Review

 

If you’re an embroidery-bookophile, you’ve probably heard of Jan Messent, and you’ve probably even got some of her books on your bookshelf. If you haven’t and you don’t, I highly recommend her books. She’s a prolific author, not just of embroidery books, but also of books on design, historical techniques, on knitting and wool and yarn work. In her embroidery books, you will find many excellent tips for the embroiderer. Her older books can be found, too, through used book sources, and can often be picked up for a bargain.

Embroidered Portraits by Jan Messent
Continue reading “Embroidered Portraits by Jan Messent – Book Review”

Uncategorized

December 1, 2012

Project Progress: Seed Stitch, Stippling & Snipping

 

Here’s a little update on the behind-the-scenes project in silk and gold that I’m working on. It’s for publication in a book (2014), and I’ll tell you more about it (and the book – I’m just contributing, not writing it) closer to publication time. When I was asked to contribute a project, at first, I was a bit hesitant. But now that the project is this close to being finished, I’m glad I participated. I’ve learned a lot!

Because the piece is for publication, I can’t really show you the whole thing. But I can show you snippets, and I can even troubleshoot some aspects with you, and discuss different techniques involved. So today, I’ll show you a technique that’s called “stippling” in art, but in embroidery, we just call it seed stitch or seed stitch filling… but if we want to, we can call it stippling, too.

Seed Stitch Filling
Continue reading “Project Progress: Seed Stitch, Stippling & Snipping”

Uncategorized

November 30, 2012

Have You Seen These Miniature Needlepainting Kits Yet?

 

Have you seen Trish Burr’s miniature needlepainting kits yet? Inspired by Victorian vignettes, they’re called Vintage Miniatures, the newest addition to her collection of beautiful needlepainting kits. There are two Vintage Miniatures in the collection so far, but I suspect (and hope!) the collection will expand!

The Vintage Miniatures are a combination of Too Cute for Words and Really Pretty.

(Too Cute for Really Pretty Words? Hmmmm….)

I thought I’d review one “out of the envelope” so that you can see what they’re all about. I’ll show you what’s included, chat a bit about some finishing ideas, and then discuss how to get the kits, and maybe how to save a little money doing so.

Miniature Needlepainting Kits Trish Burr
Continue reading “Have You Seen These Miniature Needlepainting Kits Yet?”

Uncategorized

November 29, 2012

Offspring of Berlin Wool Work

 

Originating in Germany in the early 1800’s, Berlin wool work spread to England and then to America by the mid-1800’s as a popular form of needlework. It was among the first amateur needlework techniques to become all the rage for the middle class women in Victorian England.

Relying on “point paper” (graph paper) charts made more accessible thanks to innovations in colored printing, and using a soft, thick wool that took dye well (hence, it was available in many colors), Berlin work relied primarily on tent stitch to fill the needleworker’s canvas. Floral designs were popular, and often abundantly lavish – abundant lavishness in decor being something the Victorians managed quite often.

Berlin work began its demise with the advent of the Arts & Crafts Movement, which moved needlework in totally a different direction.

Berlin wool work is the direct predecessor of today’s canvas work and counted cross stitch.

Berlin Wool Work Firescreen
Continue reading “Offspring of Berlin Wool Work”

Uncategorized

November 28, 2012

Blissful Beginnings – Winners Announced!

 

Today, I have the pleasure of announcing the two winners (drawn randomly) of Blissful Beginnings: Embroidered Blankets to Cherish, a beautiful new book by Country Bumpkin featuring a collection of gorgeous hand embroidered blankets and matching accent pieces.

It’s a lovely, lovely book. And the blankets – ahhhh! They’re works of art! And they make me want to snuggle. (There aren’t too many works of art you can say that about, are there?)

Blissful Beginnings: Embroidered Blankets to Cherish
Continue reading “Blissful Beginnings – Winners Announced!”