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
July 30, 2012
The Royal School of Needlework has added to their collection of Essential Stitch Guides lately. The new title is Whitework, by Lizzy Lansberry. As soon as I heard the book was out, I ordered a copy right away – not only to review it for you, but also (and especially) because I love whitework. I figured if this book measures up to the other Stitch Guides produced by the RSN, then it’s bound to be a keeper!
And it does. And it is!
July 28, 2012
In the world of hand embroidery, there is quite a variety of isolated knot stitches. The Chinese knot is yet another knot stitch that can be added to the list. The Chinese knot is often illustrated worked as a line or filling.
July 27, 2012
Yesterday, I posted a how-to video for the cast-on stitch, and today, as part of the Stitch Play series, I’d like to follow up with a tutorial for making a very simple cast-on stitch flower. It’s the same flower I showed you in yesterday’s post – and we’ll go through it step-by-step, so you can get an idea of how to play around with the cast-on stitch.
Incidentally, you can substitute the bullion knot for the cast-on stitch and create a similar flower with a slightly different look, so feel free to play with both stitches. (I updated the video for the bullion knot this week – it’s much better than the old one!)
This is the flower we’ll create:
July 26, 2012
The cast-on stitch is a dimensional embroidery stitch. It sits up off the fabric, creating a textures stitch that works well for flower petals and for anywhere that you want clusters of texture on your embroidery.
July 25, 2012
Nestled in Herefordshire on the west boundary of England, up against Wales, and situated near the Wye River, is the little village of Brockhampton. In the little village of Brockhampton, there is a church – the church of All Saints. And inside the church of All Saints are some interesting textile-related items.
Today, thanks to Jac, who recently visited the church and took pictures, we get to travel to Brockhampton vicariously. Come along – let’s look at this pretty little church and its interior treasures!
July 24, 2012
The Hungarian Braided Chain Stitch (also called the Hungarian Chain Stitch or the Hungarian Braid Stitch) is worked in a manner similar to a reverse chain stitch or a heavy chain stitch, with one notable difference that gives a completely different look to the line.
I love this stitch! It is fun to work, it works up rather quickly, and it can be used anywhere you want a heavier chain-stitch-like line that has a bit of texture to it and looks braided. It really is a lovely stitch!
July 23, 2012
One request that’s been coming up on the website and via e-mail lately is whether or not I can provide a pattern for working a sampler of surface embroidery stitches, for practicing all the various embroidery stitches shown in the embroidery videos here on Needle ‘n Thread.
Good news! You don’t need to a pattern to work a sampler for surface embroidery stitches! Let me show you what I mean.
It’s important to understand, though, that I’m not “creating” anything specific here. There’s no finished whole as far as a picture goes, when all is said and done. At the end of the whole sampler process, you won’t see some beautiful needlepainted bird, or a lovely piece of goldwork, or anything like that. Instead, you’ll have a piece of fabric covered with a whole colorful bunch of all kinds of different stitches, worked pretty much according to whim.
