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
October 4, 2023
Sometimes, I sit and ponder an embroidery design for a long time before I settle on a particular stitch to use on it.
Or sometimes, I dive right in with a particular stitch in mind, find out it’s All Wrong, take it out, and then ponder.
I find it’s usually more efficient to ponder first, but I tend to learn more when I dive right in. Ahem. I learn things like the fact that it’s more efficient to ponder first…
October 2, 2023
We can talk all we want about favorite needlework tools – the best scissors, the necessity of a good hoop or frame, the perfect needle, our favorite accessories, the can’t-do-without somethings that we habitually reach for when we stitch – but there’s a non-contestable Absolute in the world of needlework that I think we can all agree we can’t do without if we want to stitch.
These are built in tools. They are unfathomably complex. And, if we’re doing needlework, every one of us uses them.
You know what I’m talking about:
Our eyes.
September 29, 2023
Yesterday, when all was calm and quiet in the studio, the blinds were drawn against the sun (because, yes, we’re up near 100 degrees here in Kansas! gaaaaaaah!), a book was playing in the background, and I had the place all to myself… I started a new and small embroidery project.
This is the type of project I really love, because it can be finished in a weekend.
And I don’t mean a weekend only devoted to stitching, either. It’s a project that you can start on one of those Friday evenings when the weekend has started, the weather is cold, the dark comes early, you don’t feel like going out, but you need something to do. Creative things fill that need well!
You start the project, you entrench yourself in it, you work most of the embroidery that evening. Saturday comes, you want to get back to it but you have all those typical Saturday chores, so you get them done and – voila! You’re back to your project. You finish the embroidery. And at some point on Sunday, you take an hour or so from your day and you finish the project into a beautiful little something.
It’s that kind of project. I love that kind of project.
I’m not going to show you the whole project just yet, but I promise that I will soon! For now, I just want to introduce you to it and chat a bit about “quick” slow stitching.
September 27, 2023
As I was trucking along on this embroidery project I showed you on Monday, finishing all the line stitching and venturing on to the satin stitched berries, I decided to put two powerful – and yet very beautiful – embroidery tools to use.
I’ve mentioned these tools and their maker before, but this particular set of tools is so intriguingly beautiful, so luxurious to hold, so exquisitely balanced, so smooth and glassy while being nicely weighty… aaaaahhhhh! I just have to share them again.
September 25, 2023
I managed to get in a bit of stitching this weekend!
That’s Big News! Once upon a time, weekend stitching was a normal thing in my life. I’m trying to reclaim that.
And while I didn’t get massive amount done, it was nice to get something done. Just a little bit of progress is always better than no progress at all, after all.
The stitching I’ve been doing on this project is very simple, very relaxing, not complicated at all.
September 22, 2023
And here we are! At the final installment of Sweet Marguerite – the longest stitch-along in the history of the world, in relation to the size of the actual finished piece of embroidery (or so it seems!).
This project has been quite a journey, not so much because of the project itself (which is relatively small, but somewhat challenging), but mostly because of all the interrupting episodes of life that have gone on in the last five months.
But today, we draw the project to a close! Yay! Then we’ll have a little break in stitch-alongs before we approach the next one. Never fear, though – we’ve got lots of Other Stuff going on to share with you during that break.
Just a reminder to members on Patreon, you presently have all this information in the last PDF that was posted over there.
Come! Let us finish up Sweet Marguerite!
September 20, 2023
Today, very quickly, we’re going to look at the functional side of the hemstitch on Sweet Marguerite.
Last week, we worked the functional hemstitch on the drawn thread area, using the hemstitch to pick up a bit of the hem with each stitch.
Today, we’ll work the opposite side of the drawn thread “frame” in this short tutorial.
If you are a member on Patreon, you have already received all this information in the most recent PDF posted for members over there. The PDF covers all the hemstitch and takes you through to the end of the project.
