December 1, 2023

First Explorations of the St. Matthew Embroidery

A few weeks back, I shared the initial images of this St. Matthew embroidery that I acquired via an eBay auction.

It’s been a long time since I’ve explored a similar piece of embroidery (I wrote about one here). There is so much I enjoy about owning a piece like this – not least of which is the fact that I can handle it and do whatever I want with it.

My first approach to any piece of embroidery like this is to take some initial pictures of it – especially photos that will get me close-up to all the nitty-gritty details you might not see when you step back from it. Then, I just start exploring it from all kinds of angles. Every time I look at it, I generally find something new that interests me or excites me!

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November 29, 2023

Wreath Ornament – Fabric Layout Correction!

I’m dropping in very quickly this morning to let you know that I made some corrections on yesterday’s article introducing the Christmas Wreath stitch-along, specifically concerning the ground fabric for the wreath ornament.

You need a 5″- 6″ square (or rectangle) piece of fabric to embroider the ornament on. If you are not using the kit, I recommend a 6″ square to give you more hoop room, if you’re using a 4″ hoop.

If you have purchased the Materials Kit for Twelve Wreaths, you have a 6″ x 15″ piece of natural colored linen in there. You can do two things with it. The first method below is preferred, especially if you want a little more hoop room with your fabric.

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November 28, 2023

Stitch Snippet: Christmas Wreath Ornament, Part 1

Here we are, about a month before Christmas, with just enough time to squeeze in one more Stitch Snippet before the end of the year!

We’re going to create a little embroidered wreath ornament from my latest project PDF, Twelve Wreaths for Christmas, which is available here.

If you’ve already purchased the PDF, you have the basics for this wreath – plus a whole lot of other wreath designs just waiting for your needle and thread. Here on the blog, we’ll go into a little more detail on certain aspects of the project.

The wreath that we’re going to work through together is the traditional evergreen wreath with the red silk ribbon bow, Wreath #1 in the e-book.

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November 23, 2023

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here in the States, it’s Thanksgiving Day – and a great day it is, too, unless you happen to be a turkey.

No matter where you live, even if you’re not officially celebrating Thanksgiving Day, I think we can all understand the universal idea of Gratitude and taking time to be thankful for the blessings we have. I hope that your life is filled with abundant blessings to be thankful for!

Without a doubt, you are all a huge blessing in my life and I am especially grateful that you are a part of this online needle-and-thread-loving community! Thank you so much for your ongoing enthusiasm, inspiration, participation, and support over the years as we keep a little fire burning for all things hand-embroidery!

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November 21, 2023

Perfectly Portable Projects!

Do you ever make a decision to do something and then wonder, What the heck was I thinking?!?

I do that with embroidery projects all the time (if you hadn’t noticed). More to the point, I do it with embroidery deadlines.

After all, it’s one thing to say, on a day like January 12th, For Christmas this year, I’m giving everyone a hand-made ornament.

It’s another thing altogether to say the same words on a day like, for example, November 1st.

But I tend to do things like that.

Twelve Wreaths for Christmas - portable projects

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November 17, 2023

Twelve Wreaths (and Snippet) Kits Available Now!

Oh, good morning and Happy Friday!

Before I start blathering, I’ll cut to the chase and let you know that the Twelve Wreaths for Christmas kit (which also works for the next Stitch Snippet) is now available. Woohoo!

The downloadable PDF project book that goes with the kit is also available. I chatted about both of these in yesterday’s blog post, if you’d like to read more on what they’re all about.

Twelve Wreaths for Christmas kit and e-book

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November 16, 2023

Tomorrow! Stitch Snippet, Kits, and New Projects!

It’s hard to believe we are at the mid-point of November and rushing towards the close of 2023, isn’t it?

Anna and I have been working like little fiends… errr, elves… here in the studio for weeks and weeks, with an eye on tomorrow. And at last, tomorrow is here! (Almost.) And we are ready for it! (Almost.)

Tomorrow, a couple things are happening here on Needle ‘n Thread: we are launching a new project e-book (a PDF download), and we are also launching a materials kit that goes along with the e-book. The same materials kit can also be used with the final Stitch Snippet stitch-along of 2023, which will begin here on the blog the week after Thanksgiving.

So, three things with noting: we have a new project e-book coming out, we have a new kit coming out that goes with that project book, and we have a Stitch Snippet coming up that also corresponds with the kit and the project book.

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

First Explorations of the St. Matthew Embroidery

Wreath Ornament – Fabric Layout Correction!

Stitch Snippet: Christmas Wreath Ornament, Part 1

Happy Thanksgiving!

Perfectly Portable Projects!

Twelve Wreaths (and Snippet) Kits Available Now!

Tomorrow! Stitch Snippet, Kits, and New Projects!

Connect with Mary

How-To Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos