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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Developing a Spot Sampler: Herringbone

 

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After we added a bit of blackwork to our spot samplers, the next step for the Needle Arts class was to look at some other stitches – aside from cross stitch, backstitch, running stitch, and Holbein stitch – that could be used in counted techniques.

There are LOTS of stitches that can be used in counted thread embroidery, but what I wanted to accomplish with my students was to get them comfortable with working more complex stitches, following stitch diagrams, and working out variations. For this exercise, we focused on the herringbone stitch, which can be worked effectively on either even-weave or plain-weave fabric.

Developing a Spot Sampler: Herringbone Stitch
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Assisi Embroidery: A Wee Rabbit & A Book

 

A couple months ago, I worked up a tiny Assisi Embroidery motif, so that I could demonstrated what a “voided” area looks like in embroidery. I picked a bunny for the voided subject in a little medallion, just because I like bunnies.

I thought I’d show you the little fellow, which is stitched in tiny cross stitch that covers the background completely. Often, in Assisi work, the cross stitched area is not quite so compactly filled, so that more of a lacy look is achieved. But with this piece, I’m stitching on 25 count fabric, over one, with one thread of stranded cotton, which pretty much fills the background pretty solidly.

Assisi Embroidery: Rabbit Medallion
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Colbert Embroidery Revisited

 

About a year ago, I wrote a post about Colbert Embroidery, which is a technique that combines surface embroidery, counted stitches, and voided areas on even-weave fabric. The technique interests me, because it provides a nice balance of color with bold, voided (blank) areas. As I mentioned in the last article on the subject, it seems like it would be a great technique to combine with Wessex-style stitchery.

Colbert Embroidery
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Introduction to Needle ‘n Thread Site Sponsors

 

This past August, there was a major change here on Needle ‘n Thread, and if you’re relatively new to the site, I’d like to take a little time to tell you about it. For those who have been following along for a while, you know that in August I introduced for the first time four commercial advertisements, to help cover the increasing costs of Needle ‘n Thread. Continue reading “Introduction to Needle ‘n Thread Site Sponsors”