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Hand Embroidery Patterns

October 29, 2012

Hungarian Redwork Embroidery Project – Take 2

 

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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
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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
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October 24, 2012

Hungarian Redwork Project: Preliminary Design Preparations

 

Well before posting this Hungarian redwork embroidery pattern a week or so ago, I knew it was a design I wanted to work up into a small table runner or centerpiece. Being a bit unsure how to tackle the whole pattern, I’ve been sitting on it for a while. But once I started working with the pattern to make it available for you on Needle ‘n Thread, the juices started flowing, the Muses started humming, and next thing I knew, an idea sprang into my head.

I don’t know if it’s a good idea – many times, when I set out on an embroidery adventure, I start by feeling my way forward in fits and starts, until settling with certainty on the approach. So far, this is the approach I’ve settled on.

Hungarian Redwork Embroidery Project
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Hand Embroidery Books

October 23, 2012

The Redwork Circus – Book Review

 

Ok, prepare yourself for some Serious Cuteness! Jenny McWhinney’s new book, The Redwork Circus, is just exactly that – seriously cute!

I should start with a little caveat: I do not, as a rule, like clowns. I have a huge aversion to them, like some people have an aversion to snakes or spiders or slippery eels. Clowns in parades, clowns in children’s books, clowns in movies (whether creepy or not), me as a clown on Halloween as a kid … I just have never liked clowns.

But when I saw The Redwork Circus sneaking out onto the market, I discovered clowns that I actually do like. This book is adorable.

Redwork Circus
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