January 9, 2011
Needlework Around the Traps
How about a short little tour of needlework-related “stuff” going on out there in the Great Big Needlework World? Just a few little stops that have caught my eye recently…
January 8, 2011
Jacobean Jumble: Sneak Peek
Here’s a sneak peek at my current embroidery project! This from the beginning of the sample project. I’m working on a test piece, and when an element works out the way I want it to, I move over to the actual project, embroidering the element anew, with confidence that it’s exactly what I want… not just guesswork. This process makes for slow going towards any kind of definite finish, but it gives me a chance to work out several thread scenarios and make the threads do what I want them to do.
January 7, 2011
Design Resource: Italian Renaissance Textile Designs
While digging through my bookshelves lately, trying to arrange books by “type,” I realized that one of my favorite types of needlework books are not necessarily needlework books at all. They are what I call “resource” books, usually dealing with design ideas. I’ve have quite a few of these types of books – books that struck me as useful sources of inspiration for embroidery designs.
Some of these books are not directly “design” books; they contain elements that can be converted into embroidery designs, or that inspire color combinations, or texture combinations and so forth – all useful stuff that can be interpreted or converted into elements in embroidery. And some of these books have designs that can be copied directly from the books and used in personal needlework projects. If the books are still under copyright, of course, the designs can’t be reproduced or sold, but they still make great designs for personal projects.
In the latter category falls the book Italian Renaissance Textile Designs by Dolores Andrew. This is a book that contains line drawings and interesting patterns that can be used directly as embroidery designs on their own, or as elements of larger embroidery projects.
January 6, 2011
S-Twist vs Z-Twist Embroidery Threads, Stitched
Yesterday, we looked at the difference between s-twisted and z-twisted embroidery thread. Today, we’ll look at how the twist affects certain stitches, just so you know that you should be aware of the difference in how z-twisted threads take to certain stitches.
January 5, 2011
S-Twisted vs. Z-Twisted Embroidery Threads
Have you ever looked closely at the twist on your embroidery floss?
January 4, 2011
Free Hand Embroidery Pattern: Pomegranate Corners
How about a free hand embroidery pattern for today? This is a variation on a design – meant for cutwork or Battenburg lace – from an old Herrschner’s catalog. I have a collection of four of these old catalogs – one from the early 1920’s, one from the early 1940’s, a “supplement” from the 1940’s, and the better-known edition from 1907, which is also available online at Antique Pattern Library.
These catalogs are gems. Much like the Thomas Brown & Son catalog from the turn of last century which features embroidery patterns for ecclesiastical needlework, the catalogs have small line drawings that provide a wealth of inspiration from the past for embroidery in the present.
Take, for example, this design:
January 3, 2011
Give-Away Winner!
Wow! Lots of good response on last week’s give-away question: what’s your favorite needlework accessory or tool, or what type of needlework accessory or tool would you like to have… and why? (Don’t you just love the “Why” question? It’s a teacher-thing!)
The most popular answer was probably scissors, and after that, a good craft light, then embroidery hoops or frames or stands, then needlebooks and similar “etui” type items, and thread organization items. I loved reading everyone’s answers as they come in. I loved hearing especially about those items that were given as gifts or handed down from a mom or a grandmother – things that we really couldn’t buy replacements for. Or, those items that we’ve used for so long, that they’ve become comfortable and familiar, like having a good friend around.
Thanks, everyone, for participating in the New Year’s Give-Away! It was fun! There were over 525 responses (a few were accidental duplicates and so forth, so they’ve been weeded out), and I’d love to be able to send out 525 little New Year’s packages, but instead, I had to pick just one winner, who gets this collection of needlework accessories…
