February 1, 2011

Taking Care of Embroidery Needles

Once upon a time, embroidery needles were precious commodities. They were hand made, sometimes made of precious metals, and they cost (relatively speaking) a pretty penny.

Today, needles aren’t so difficult to come by. In the scheme of things, they’re relatively inexpensive. I mean, what other embroidery supply can you buy, that you get 12 of for under $2? Because needles are so readily available, we have a tendency to replace our needles often, rather than caring for them.

But occasionally, you might have a favorite needle that you don’t want to get rid of so quickly, and yet, it needs… something. It’s not as sharp as it once was, it’s got a burr, or something is wrong with it.

And that’s where the strawberry comes in.

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January 31, 2011

Wool Embroidery Project: Pomegranate Corners Index

This is an index of all the articles for the Pomegranate Corners wool embroidery project. The index will be located under the first section of “Tips & Techniques” which can be accessed through the top menu on the website and where you’ll find a collection of other step-by-step embroidery projects featured on Needle ‘n Thread.

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January 29, 2011

15 Minutes: Update 2 on Micro Stitching Project

Last week, I introduced you to my current “15 Minutes at a Time” needlework project – a micro-stitching project featuring a miniature Cluny tapestry. Here’s my update for this week on the project, just to establish that 15 minutes here and there (admittedly, sometimes 30, and sometimes 10!) can add up!

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January 28, 2011

A Visual Feast: Needlepainting Up Close: By Hand, With Silk

Needlepainting – the art of “painting” with a needle and thread – is one of the most complex forms of hand embroidery. Realistic needlepainting is an art mastered by Chinese embroiderers in Suzhou, China. In this region of China, embroiderers create the most amazing masterpieces by hand using tiny silk threads.

I recently had cause to be in contact with Chunhua Mao, the founder of Su Embroidery Studio, and he graciously sent the photos of some of the needlepainted works at his studio that caught my eye. I asked if I could share them with you. You see, if you’re like me, you will be filled with wonder and delight when you see the detail and beauty of these embroidered pieces. To think that they are worked completely by hand with such accurate and perfect detail! It boggles the mind!

Silk Needlepainting - Hand Embroidery in Silk

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January 27, 2011

Wool Embroidery Project: The Leaves Go In. The Leaves Go Out.

Here’s my next adventurous phase on the Pomegranate Corners wool embroidery project. Here, I’ll show you what I did next with the leaves, which I had picked out previously because I decided I wanted a vein down the middle, where the two sides of the embroidered leaf meets in the middle.

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January 26, 2011

Brazilian Embroidery Inspiration and Addition!

Now and then, I get e-mail inquiries about Brazilian Embroidery – either from newcomers who are looking for learning resources for Brazilian Embroidery or from stitchers looking for supplies.

I was glad to receive an e-mail not long ago from Pat Kamperschroer, who is the newsletter editor for the Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery International Guild (BDEIG). Pat noted that I don’t have Brazilian Embroidery listed under the “Types of Hand Embroidery” section on the website. I suppose it was kind of cheeky of me, but I hinted (or maybe I asked outright!) that if I had some good photos of some Brazilian Embroidery, I could build a permanent page with resources. The last time I did Brazilian Embroidery was about 18 years ago, so I don’t have anything of my own to build a page around. Pat very kindly sent my reply on to some of the others involved in the BDEIG, and thanks to Loretta Holzberger, the treasurer, I now have some samples of Brazilian Embroidery to use to build a permanent page under “Types of Hand Embroidery,” and link it up to some good resources.

Thank you, Pat and Loretta!

Today, I’d like to show off some photos of Loretta’s Brazilian Embroidery and talk a little bit about this type of embroidery. And then later in the week, I’ll build that permanent page and do some linking up!

Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery by Loretta Holzberger

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January 25, 2011

Pomegranate Corners: The Stitching Begins

After finally getting Pomegranate Corners framed up and ready, it was time to start stitching. The thread selection for this wool embroidery project has already been discussed, but I’ll make a few clarifications here, for those who wish to follow along.

Now, one thing I should probably mention is that this project will develop a lot like the Crewel Rooster project developed last year. I’m showing it to you “raw” as I go. For new visitors to Needle ‘n Thread, this means that I will make mistakes and change my mind and pick things out and change them and try again – and maybe even again – until I get what I want out of the thread and the stitches. When I show this kind of embroidery project development on the website, you get stuck with the whole darned process! So it won’t be like receiving a kit with perfect instructions in it – instructions that have already gone through the process, have been tested and found successful!

So that’s my disclaimer. It’s sort of like “covering my six,” as my dad-the-pilot would say…. or basically just offering a really lame excuse for showing you my mistakes!

Wool Embroidery Project: Stitching on Pomegranate Corners

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

Taking Care of Embroidery Needles

Wool Embroidery Project: Pomegranate Corners Index

15 Minutes: Update 2 on Micro Stitching Project

A Visual Feast: Needlepainting Up Close: By Hand, With Silk

Wool Embroidery Project: The Leaves Go In. The Leaves Go Out.

Brazilian Embroidery Inspiration and Addition!

Pomegranate Corners: The Stitching Begins

Connect with Mary

How-To Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos