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
January 23, 2012
I spent the past weekend kitting up embroidery projects. I love doing this! I’m not exactly sure why I love it, but I do find great satisfaction in separating out supplies, counting things, fixing up little bags of thread, poking a variety of needles into felt squares – call me nuts, but I think it’s fun!
January 21, 2012
For those of you who like to combine needlework and travel, and whose travel dreams might be turned towards Europe this year, there are a couple nice events coming up worth taking a look at. And, of course, if you live in the general area where these events are taking place, you don’t even have to travel to get there!
This happens to me once a year, by the way. In January, when my warped notion of what the seasons of the year should be overrides the reality of Kansas winter, I start getting the itch to travel. I think it’s because, now that the year is underway, I expect it to be spring. (Shouldn’t it be spring?!)
In any case, I’m not going anywhere! But if you are traveling this year and these would be a good fit for you, you might check out these needlework-related events.
January 20, 2012
This is how I cut the felt shapes to use for padding under long & short stitch filling on the monogram in the middle of the Medallion project. There are various ways and products you can use for cutting clean shapes from felt. Those of you who do a lot of appliqué are probably familiar with all kinds of ways to go about cutting shapes, and you’ll find that this particular method I’m using is not anything new!
But what I’ll point out here is why this method works well for padding for hand embroidered objects, whether you’re doing goldwork or working regular embroidery stitches in floss on felt.
January 19, 2012
Yesterday, we mused over the stitching of the central monogram on the Medallion project. I was considering padding the monogram with felt, and working long & short stitch over the felt to fill the monogram. But the felt that I chose was a very dark blue, deeper in color than the silk thread I am using for the stitching. And this presented a problem: I couldn’t see the stitching well enough against the dark blue felt.
January 18, 2012
After finishing the background for the Medallion project, my next step was to tackle the monogram in the middle of the design.
January 17, 2012
When you’re setting up a hand embroidery project, the way you cut your fabric makes a big difference in the outcome!
The concept I’m discussing here – fabric grain – applies to any woven fabric, but when it comes to cutting on the grain, I’m demonstrating working specifically with linen that has a visible weave.
January 16, 2012
Well, well, well. Who would’ve ever guessed it? I had to re-draw for one of the Inspirations Magazines subscription winners from the 12 Days of Christmas!
