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
July 14, 2011
As promised, here’s the beginning of step-by-step stitching instructions for the goldwork & silk Tudor-style rose. You’ll find all the tutorials for this embroidery project listed in order under the Goldwork & Silk Embroidered Tudor-Style Rose Index listed on the Tips & Techniques page.
July 13, 2011
Last month, I brought up the subject of needlework price tags and the needlework things that stitchers save their money for. I was mentioning especially the big needlework events that cost a lot of money, but are great things to attend, in order to learn techniques and to connect with other needleworkers.
But national seminars are decidedly more expensive than regional seminars, and local workshops are even more affordable. Local workshops are also smaller – not nearly as overwhelming people-wise or class-choice wise.
July 12, 2011
Just a short little post today to share with you the embroidery pattern for this Tudor-style rose. I figured you may as well have the pattern if you want it, before I go step-by-step through my stitching process, right? There’s a PDF version below, too, with four different sizes included.
July 11, 2011
Last time I mentioned my little embroidered Tudor rose in silk and real metal threads, it was almost finished. “Almost” when working on something like this doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be finished “shortly.” Taking the rose from the almost finished state to complete took several hours. But at long last, it was finished, and here it is:
July 9, 2011
Today I want to show you how to satin stitch to a sharp point. Sometimes, on your embroidery designs that you’re working, you might find an small element (like a leaf or a petal or a bird beak) that requires a sharp point. You satin stitch the element, following the “stitch-just-over-the-outline rule” that seems to govern satin stitching, and …. you end up with a slightly rounded tip to your leaf, or at least it isn’t as pointed as you thought it should be.
The two things that will ensure a pointy point on a satin stitched element are the length of the first center stitch and the angle of all subsequent stitches.
Let me show you what I mean:
July 8, 2011
Goldwork embroidery is great fun, but it’s a time-consuming type of hand embroidery. It’s not something that can be rushed. And when you’re feeling your way through an embroidery design – not quite sure what thread will look just right – there’s bound to be some trial and error.
July 7, 2011
The last couple days, I’ve been working out the details for the small rose motif that’s repeated on the current ecclesiastical embroidery project I’m working on.
And really, when I say the last couple days, I mean just that – two days. Two! Sure, we’re not talking about stitching 24 hours a day, but all my stitching time has been devoted to this one thing for two days, and – woe is me! – I haven’t even finished the thing!
