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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

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    A Collection of Instructional Articles

 
Uncategorized

November 2, 2012

Transferring Embroidery Designs: a Cautionary Tale

 

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My friends, my friends! Let’s talk about design transfer again today, shall we? It’s a wide-reaching subject in the world of embroidery, because eventually, we all have to do it if we ever want to embroider a design that isn’t in a pre-printed kit.

Today, I may shake you up a bit. I might even make some of you a little miffed. That’s not my intention! My intention is to caution you, to perhaps save you some heartaches, some time, some money. As my mom was wont to say, “I’m saying it because I love you” – preceding, of course, something I didn’t want to hear!

Embroidery Design Transfer
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Uncategorized

November 1, 2012

Clover Transfer Mesh – Testing 1-2-3

 

For the Hungarian Redwork project I’m currently tackling, I knew right away that the transfer was going to cause some difficulty. There are so very many different ways that we can transfer embroidery designs to fabric, and just like everyone else, I have my favorite methods. But they don’t necessarily work for Every Single Project.

To be truly content with needlework, I find that flexibility is an essential ingredient in my approach to things. Doing things Only One Way never gets me very far. I learn a lot when I troubleshoot different methods and techniques, whether in actual stitching or in the various peripheral activities that go on around stitching, like project set-ups, design transfers, finishing, and so forth.

So with the Hungarian Redwork project, I decided to try a different method of embroidery design transfer. It involves a product manufactured by Clover, called transfer mesh.

Clover Transfer Mesh
Continue reading “Clover Transfer Mesh – Testing 1-2-3”

Hand Embroidery Patterns

October 30, 2012

Free Hand Embroidery Pattern: Tree with Leaves – A Continuous Line Drawing

 

When I posted this leafy corner for a hand embroidery design, folks seemed to like the fact that it is a continuous line drawing. Designs like this made from a continuous, unbroken line can be used in all kinds of applications – they work great as hand embroidery designs, of course, but they can also be used for quilting patterns, braid work (soutache embroidery), tambour work, and all kinds of other crafting purposes, such as card-making, scrapbooking, and the like. Really, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

Today’s free hand embroidery pattern, from an old book published over 100 years ago, evokes the idea of a Christmas tree, thanks to its triangular shape, but it can also be used as an autumnal design. The leaf elements are quite fall-ish.

Free Hand Embroidery Pattern: Tree with Leaves
Continue reading “Free Hand Embroidery Pattern: Tree with Leaves – A Continuous Line Drawing”

Hand Embroidery Patterns

October 29, 2012

Hungarian Redwork Embroidery Project – Take 2

 

One of my favorite aspects of Needle ‘n Thread is that I can bounce ideas off all of you, and I can always count on your good advice! Many creative minds are better than just one, and you all are The Best of the Best when it comes to giving good input!

And so, after reading through your thoughts the last time we discussed this Hungarian redwork design, I did indeed re-vamp the design to add some kind of sensible completion to the blocky ends of the table runner layout. Like some of you, I didn’t mind the straight ends (and they certainly would make fabric finishing much easier), but I like the scalloped ends better.

Hungarian Redwork Embroidery Project
Continue reading “Hungarian Redwork Embroidery Project – Take 2”

Uncategorized

October 26, 2012

Bohin Needlework Tools for 2 – A Give-Away!

 

Time for some needlework tools!! Most of us have our favorite tools that we like to embroider with – whether it’s a favorite pair of scissors, a favorite embroidery needle, a favorite laying tool, thread organizer, light, magnifier, embroidery frame, floor stand. We all have our favorites, right?

Well, my quickly-emerging all-time favorite, overall best-ever, wouldn’t-be-without-it tool is just about any embroidery needle made by Bohin. More and more, I find myself preferring Bohin needles over other needles on the market. They are good needles.

I’ve been corresponding with Anita of Anita’s Little Stitches, because she likes Bohin needles, too. She’s currently stocking her shop with all kinds of Bohin tools, and especially all their needles, making available Bohin combo packs and even bulk packages of needles.

Thanks to Anita’s Little Stitches, then, today’s give-away features a collection of random Bohin tools, for two lucky winners!

Bohin Needlework Tools
Continue reading “Bohin Needlework Tools for 2 – A Give-Away!”