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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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  • How-To
    Videos

    Over 75 Embroidery Stitch Videos to Help You Learn

  • Embroidery Tips & Techniques

    A Collection of Instructional Articles

 
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March 26, 2025

Testing Some Ideas for Appliqué – Two Problems

 

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Cloth of gold is an interesting “misnomer” today. When cloth of gold was really cloth of gold, it was… well. Cloth of gold!

Today, cloth of gold is more like “cloth of metallic with no gold in it” – or cloth of gold-colored metallic.”

I’m not really complaining, because if cloth of gold were Cloth of Gold, it would be entirely unaffordable. As it is, cloth of gold-colored metallic is already pretty pricy.

In any case, I’m playing around with some fabrics to figure out how I want to appliqué some gold lettering for another “vesperale” or altar cover – similar to the one I made here, but not as complicated, and not featuring heavy goldwork.

Gold applique lettering for altar cover
Continue reading “Testing Some Ideas for Appliqué – Two Problems”

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March 24, 2025

A Touch of Whimsy for Monday Morning

 

Welcome to Monday. This is one of Those Mondays. I’m not as prepared for it as I should be.

I knew it was coming, but I’m just not ready for it.

Mondays are so inevitable, sometimes.

This morning, I’ll share a touch of whimsy with you. This is a design set we’ve been working on because we’ve gotten multiple requests for something gnome-themed for our ready-to-stitch towel sets over the last few years.

Gnomes for All Seasons
Continue reading “A Touch of Whimsy for Monday Morning”

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March 21, 2025

French Sampler Style Stamped Cross Stitch & that Blue

 

Remember Wednesday (I don’t know about you, but on Friday, I’m lucky if I can remember Wednesday!), when we talked about this table top needlework stand?

I’ve received much feedback and enthusiasm – thanks so much! – and I’ll be in touch as stock rolls in.

But that’s not what we’re chatting about today.

I’m always surprised what catches people’s eyes in my blog post photos! Sometimes, I don’t pay much attention to the details of the “extras” in the photos. Sometimes, we really are just using props – they aren’t things we’re actually working on at that very moment. So sometimes, I have to go back to look at the article, to find out what folks are enquiring about.

French Sampler Style Stamped Cross Stitch Design in Blue
Continue reading “French Sampler Style Stamped Cross Stitch & that Blue”

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March 19, 2025

The Modern Needlework Stand: A Close Look and a Question

 

It’s been a long time since I’ve reviewed a major piece of embroidery equipment on the blog.

I haven’t reviewed a high-dollar, costly-investment item in a while, even though I know that many of us use equipment that the non-needlework-world (or the entry-level stitcher) might find a bit extreme, budget-wise.

When it comes specifically to needlework, it’s the needlework stand that tends to fall into this category. Good needlework stands are not inexpensive.

Today, I’m going to show you an expensive piece of embroidery equipment. It’s a needlework stand, but it’s not like any other needlework stand I’ve used. For many stitchers, I think the pros of this stand will outweigh the higher cost of it.

Let’s take a look at it!

Potoky MODERN needlework stand
Continue reading “The Modern Needlework Stand: A Close Look and a Question”

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March 17, 2025

Happy St. Patrick’s Day – and Some News

 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Out in here Kansas, the day is celebrated only in small pockets of green here and there.

Growing up on the east coast, St. Patrick’s Day was a much bigger deal – especially when we lived outside Boston, but also in the South. Through high school, I marched in my high school band in the parade in Savannah every year. It was a hugely anticipated event and lots of fun!

In Kansas, though, it’s a bit lower key. I wore green to work today, nevertheless. (I was afraid Anna might get a bit pinchy.)

Whitework embroidered shamrocks on green linen
Continue reading “Happy St. Patrick’s Day – and Some News”

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March 14, 2025

The ABC of Padded Stitch – Elisabetta’s New Book!

 

Did you know that Elisabetta Sforza has a beautiful new book out?!

I’m so excited, because this particular book focuses on Elisabetta’s approach to padded satin stitched monograms – which she does so, so beautifully.

ABC of Padded Stitch is both an instructional book and a project book, and it has some really nice aspects to it that will surely appeal to anyone who wants to try, practice, and master the padded satin stitch, especially when used in monogramming.

That said, the techniques in the book can also be applied to other uses of padded satin stitch, besides monogramming. If you are a lover of whitework embroidery, this is right up your alley!

The ABC of Padded Stitch
Continue reading “The ABC of Padded Stitch – Elisabetta’s New Book!”

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March 11, 2025

Art Nouveau Embroidery Design: We Have a Finish… and a Name!

 

I love it when a plan comes together…

The Art Nouveau project that we’ve been developing here in the studio is finished. This is Anna’s piece, more or less. I was just the advisor, after a fashion – colors, threads, techniques, troubleshooting – that was my part. Anna she drew the design and she stitched it. Hurray!!

When we talked about it here last time, I was musing over a name, and many of you piped in with some great ideas! Thank you!

So below, you’ll find the floofy name we came up with. I picked it. I’m not sure Anna loves the name, but it’s an artistic technique popular in the Art Nouveau era, seen frequently in jewelry (I love, love, love it in jewelry – but just for looking at, because real jewelry of this ilk is way beyond any imaginable budget!), and I think it evokes what we were trying to do with this piece.

Art Nouveau embroidery in silk and gold
Continue reading “Art Nouveau Embroidery Design: We Have a Finish… and a Name!”