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
November 3, 2011
Yesterday, I was toying with the idea of contrast achieved by using different stitches in an embroidery project. Today, I want to show you an update on my current church embroidery piece, where you’ll see a subtle contrast achieved through changing the thickness of the thread and switching to just a slightly darker shade of color.
November 2, 2011
While mucking about the other day with floche and satin stitch, I found myself wanting to check out a theory about contrast in stitches.
November 1, 2011
No, no. I’m not embroidering with chopsticks. But I am embroidering in the company of chopsticks. And I don’t mean that annoying piano piece we all learned as kids – you know, the one that can effectively drive even the most resilient person nuts in a matter of seconds?
I really do mean chopsticks, as in Asian eating instruments.
You may remember that a couple weeks ago, I showed you my slate frame set-up for the commissioned embroidery piece I’m presently working on. And you might remember I was worried about the close quarters of the piece within the slate frame, because it didn’t leave me any room for tensioning the piece further if I needed to.
Enter: the best part of Needle ‘n Thread. You.
October 31, 2011
Even though today is Halloween, and I know many people expect something pumpkin-ish, orange, or scary, I’m afraid I don’t really have anything to offer in that regard. So how about a splash of color, instead?
This past weekend, I had a blast at a local festival that featured booths and costumes and performances highlighting different countries and their cultural customs, costumes, foods, and so forth. Besides being fun, the festival is always a huge splash of color. I don’t often take photos at it (and I didn’t take very many this year, either), but I did snap a few shots of this Polish vest that’s covered with sequin and bead embroidery. The girl who wore it is my nieces’ friend, so I was able to cajole her into some shots and take a look at the vest’s construction.
October 28, 2011
For your browsing pleasure, here are a few needlework-related articles, resources, and fabulous things that have caught my attention lately. Perhaps within the mix, you can find something that is particularly interesting or useful or inspirational for you, too!
Let’s start with the academic, just so we don’t feel as if we’re wasting time!
October 27, 2011
The angle at which you slant your satin stitch makes a difference in the outcome of your stitching. Have you ever asked yourself this question: “Why do they say to start the satin stitch in the middle of an element and work to the edge? Why not just start at the edge and work across?”
One of the reasons (there are two, in my mind) is that it’s in the middle of the element that you set the slant of your stitches.
Let me show you what I mean.
October 26, 2011
This week, I’ve made a little progress on my Medallion project I showed you a couple weeks ago. It’s a commissioned piece of church embroidery that needs to be finished this coming spring. I’m shooting for February.
The piece goes quickly enough when there are good chunks of time to devote to it. I’ve got about 6 projects going right now, but this is a priority, so more time is spent on it than on the other projects… You know how it is!
