December 18, 2011
Free Hand Embroidery Pattern: Snowflake!
As promised, here’s the snowflake pattern I’m using for the silver, silk, & suede hand embroidered snowflake! I hope you find some use for it!
December 17, 2011
Silver Thread, Silver Thread…
This is a little update on the Silver, Silk, and Suede Embroidered Snowflake project.
There’s a little bit of silver on the snowflake, finally! With out-of-town company and Christmas preparations, I haven’t had a chance to do much stitching this week, but I did want to at least try the silver threads on this pseudo-suede fabric stuff. As it turns out, this is a tough kind of fabric for sinking real metal threads into, so I had a bit of a time with it! The outcome isn’t too reprehensible, but I’ll do things a bit differently in the next section and hopefully smooth out some of the rough spots.
December 16, 2011
The Necessaire Floor Stand – The Millenium Frame’s Best Friend
Back in November, I reviewed the Millenium needlework frame, and about a week later, wrote a follow-up article on the Millenium frame to answer some questions about it.
Needle Needs, the company that produces the Millenium frame, also makes a floor stand that accommodates the Millenium frame well. It’s called the Necessaire floor stand.
December 15, 2011
Sneak Peeks – Upcoming Adventures on Needle ‘n Thread
After Christmas and into 2012, there are some exciting things coming up here on Needle ‘n Thread, and I thought I’d give you a little sneak peek at part of the line-up.
December 14, 2011
Colour Confidence in Embroidery: Book Review
This is it – my last book review for 2011, and WOW – what a book! Trish Burr’s new text, Colour Confidence in Embroidery, is the first of its kind. Sure, there are several color theory books out there that have to do with textiles, but these are generally geared towards fabric, with the exception of a couple color theory books that have to do with color choice in abstract needlepoint and cross stitch design. These latter books rely on technical color theory, adhering rather rigidly to the dictates of the color wheel, and advancing color theories through technical language and hypothetical design scenarios.
Until now, we’ve yet to see a book on color, focusing on embroidery, that is accessible, instructive, practical, applicable, and beautiful.
Trish has achieved all of the above with her new book, Colour Confidence in Embroidery.
When pondering an embroidery project, if you’ve ever found yourself asking, “But what colors should I use?” then this is a book you need. (And haven’t we all asked that question at some point or another?) It’s THE color reference book for hand embroiderers – and it will not go neglected on your bookshelf.
December 13, 2011
How To End Couched Goldwork Threads
Working the background of the Medallion project in this vermicelli goldwork technique, I don’t actually have to end the goldwork threads too often. I start and stop the thread only once in any given space, always either at a corner of the space, or somewhere along the edge.
When using couched goldwork threads, it’s really very easy to end off the thread. Let me show you how it’s done.
December 12, 2011
Don’t Underestimate the Stitch
Never underestimate simple stitches.
Take, for example, the running stitch. It is the simplest of embroidery stitches. But you can do a lot with it! The running stitch can be used as a filling, it can be used to form the foundation of compound stitches, it can be “dressed up” by being laced or whipped with another color of thread. Simple – yes. But versatile, too!
Here, I’m working with the wrong thread, the wrong fabric, and the wrong needle. I was demonstrating pattern darning to a student, explaining that running stitch should not be poo-pooed just because it’s such a simple stitch.
