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
June 4, 2011
Lately, I’ve gotten quite a few requests for a video demonstration of twilling, an embroidery technique used in quilting that’s become very popular here in the Midwest. Well, I’m very happy to oblige with a video – no problem at all!
This is what twilling looks like:
June 3, 2011
Lefkara Lace Embroidery by Androula Hadjiyiasemi is perhaps the only thorough book written on Lefkara lace. I’ve hesitated to review the book, because it’s Really Hard to find at an affordable price. So far, I’ve only found one or two copies online, and they’re running about $90. Today, I’ll show you what the book is like, so that, if you are are interested in Lefkara lace, you can decide whether or not it’s worth the investment to buy a used copy of the book or the effort to hunt one down somewhere! The library system can be very handy for this, though I haven’t found the book available in many collections.
While I take you through the book, I’ll point out some differences between Lefkara and Hardanger embroidery, too. Many folks saw similarities between the vintage linens I wrote about the other day and Hardanger. There are definite similarities, but Lefkara leans more heavily on the traditions of Italian needle laces. The book clearly points out the connections and gives an excellent history of the development of Lefkara lace.
June 2, 2011
I’m in the midst of cleaning up a bunch of ecclesiastical embroidery designs and developing several new ones. Today, I’ll share a little decorative cross with you. It’s definitely suitable for all types of hand embroidery, but it would also work well in other arts & crafts designs, too – banners, applique, paper crafts, leather work, printing and coloring, and so forth.
I’ve also got a question for you, especially for those of you interested in church embroidery patterns – but I’ll save that for the end!
Here’s the embroidery design:
June 1, 2011
About eight years ago, bumming around Kansas City one day, I ventured into an antique store wherein I found one of those happy little treasures – a complete set of vintage table linens, including a table runner, what I think must be a tea tray liner or sideboard cloth (larger than a placemat, but not long and narrow like a table runner), eight placemats, eight napkins. They were an oatmeal-ish color and in very good condition. I liked their simplicity, and I liked the drawn thread work and embroidery that adorned them. And the price was actually very good. They were asking $60 for the set, so I thought it would be All Wrong just to leave them there. I almost felt morally obliged to take them home! Heck, I just like vintage linens. I didn’t really need to convince myself…. (Are you with me?)
May 31, 2011
Not much stitching went on this past weekend in my house! In fact, It’s taken me about a week now to tie up loose ends before the “official” beginning of summer, and in there, the needle didn’t get a whole lot of companionship! I’ll show you what I managed:
May 28, 2011
Last summer, I had the pleasure of spending some time looking into Lefkara lace, which is a cutwork, drawn thread, and hand embroidered lace originating from Cyprus. You’ll find three previous articles here on Needle ‘n Thread about Lefkara lace: Lefkara Lace from Cyprus, More Lefkara Lace and Resources, and Lefkara Lace Up Close, if you’re interested in reading a little bit about it.
May 27, 2011
Pat Young wrote me a little note as I was nearing the completion of the Cluny miniature embroidery project, and told me about a needlepoint project that she began way back in the early 1990’s and had not finished. She tenaciously decided that she would finish it this year, and set about doing just that, tackling a little bit at a time, much in the manner of my 15-minute stitching philosophy (even if you only stitch 15 minutes here and there, you can make progress on a project).
Well, Pat finished ahead of her set deadline, and she sent a photo of the finished piece. And wow. Talk about tenacious! Here it is, and a little bit about it:
