About

Mary Corbet

writer and founder

 

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

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On Pins and Needles

 

Amazon Books

When talking pins and needles on a needlework blog written near the end of the school year by a teacher, I guess we could approach the subject two ways: metaphorically or literally. Metaphorically, I’m in the same state as most students at this time of year: a bright cloud of anticipation is hovering over me as we get closer to The End. But in every end, there’s a beginning, and in my case, the beginning of the summer signals a time for fulfilling all those solid plans and even wispy daydreams of the Creative. So, yep, I’m on pins and needles in that regard, kind of floating in a state of suspension while struggling to remain very focused on my job.

Literally, though, let’s talk pins and needles – you know, real pins and needles. The-tools-of-the-trade pins and needles. You know the kind!

Needlework Needles and Sewing Pin Storage
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Hand Embroidery Pattern: Hungarian Design #6

 

Lilly’s Legacy of Hungarian hand embroidery patterns continues, with this combination of hearts and tulips in a medallion-shaped design suitable for embroidered cushions and household linens. Besides hand embroidery, the design is perfect for quilt appliqué, paper crafts, toll painting and stenciling, and myriad other applications limited only by your imagination!

Hand Embroidery Pattern: Hungarian Design #6
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Scraps: Goldwork on Velvet

 

When I think “scraps,” the last thing that comes to mind is goldwork embroidery on velvet. But I’m not sure what else to call this! It’s a remnant, certainly – the remains of something never quite finished, and then apparently somehow damaged… it’s more than a scrap, though less than whole. But it’s still neat to look at and wonder!

Goldwork on Velvet Remnant
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Simple is Good: Straight Stitch Flowers

 

Hand embroidery does not have to be complicated in order to be effective.

Take, for example, the under-rated, under-estimated, under-valued, plain-old-every-day straight stitch.

The straight stitch is exactly what it sounds like: a straight stitch. It is the most basic stitch. You bring your needle up in the fabric at some point, and you take it down at another point, pull your thread through, and voilá! You have a straight stitch.

You can’t get more basic than that!

Straight Stitch in Hand Embroidery: Flowers
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Inspirations & Organization

 

Several months ago, I was offered one of those deals I couldn’t pass up. A fellow needleworker had purchased in bulk a massive quantity of magazines from some source, because she wanted to acquire certain issues of a different magazine (hm… is that confusing?) Anyway, she had to buy this whole quantity of magazines, in order to get the magazines she was actually after.

Once she sorted through her acquisition of hundreds of back issues of various magazines (some 200+), she grouped together the leftovers, which included all of Inspirations issues 1-25, plus numerous back issues of Piecework and other needlework related magazines. And I bought them!

Inspirations Magazines Issues 1-25
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