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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R is the Biggest Letter in the World

 

Amazon Books

The title might not be perfectly accurate.

But when you’re doing goldwork – endlessly couching double strands of passing thread – couching, couching, couching – it sure begins to feel like R is the biggest letter in the world.

Last weekend was a holiday weekend here in the States, and I used a portion of all three days to get the rest of the smooth passing thread couched down on this R. In the three days, I put in about 15 hours on the R, which was already well under way.

I can’t figure out why it took so much time! I think I was in Molasses Mode.

Goldwork embroidery: the letter R
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Jacobean Embroidery: Era & Style, not Technique

 

Something Jacobean-ish must’ve been rumbling about in the embroidery world in the last month or so.

I always surmise there’s a workshop or a new kit out or a new article or tutorial out there on a specific subject, when I suddenly get an influx of multiple requests for more information (or tips, or tutorials, or instructions) on that particular technique or topic.

I’ve had a number of emails lately requesting tutorials for Jacobean embroidery. Here’s one question (used with the author’s permission):

I’m doing Jacobean embroidery and I’m struggling with the instructions. Can you do some tutorials on Jacobean embroidery, or do you know of a book with illustrations or diagrams?

The reason this is a difficult question is that “Jacobean embroidery” is not a technique. We’ve talked about this before on Needle ‘n Thread, but the topic is buried a bit. So I thought I’d dig it up here.

Jacobean Sea: Silk embroidery in Jacobean style
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Good-bye August, Hello September: News!

 

Flabbergasted. Truly flabbergasted! How can it be the last day of August already?

Am I the only who feels this way?

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, this is the time of year when summer subsides, school resumes, and the impending Autumn triggers the close of the year, seasonally and calendorically. (I made that last word up myself.)

It’s also the time of year when I look around and realize I’m not where I planned to be.

Autumn Fire Stitch Snippets
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Restoring & Conserving Embroidery & Other Textiles

 

Today’s article is more of a Public Service Announcement than anything else – but it may also provide you with a weekend rabbit hole for further exploration of all kinds of topics.

I can’t tell you how many people have reached out to me over the years to ask how to clean, repair, restore, fix, or conserve a precious piece of embroidery that they’ve usually inherited from someone they love. When time, use, or environment have wrought havoc on an important textile that you want to keep because it has special meaning to you, what do you do?

Earlier this week, an article from Piecework caught my eye. It answers similar questions from the expert’s point of view, with helpful suggestions and resources.

piecework magazine online
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Embroidery Design: Summer Wheels!

 

In the spring of 2021, I dabbled about with a project that I thought I would bring out as a small group of designs with stitching & finishing tips. It was called Summer Wheels.

If you’ve been following along on Needle ‘n Thread since last year, you might remember that I finished the small camper into this tote bag.

I still use the tote bag almost every day. It makes a great project bag! I released the Happy Camper design for members on Patreon, but I never quite got the whole design group together and stitched.

Recently, I’ve had a couple inquiries about the bike.

Yes, there was a bike!

Summer Wheels embroidery design - bike
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More Adventures with Floche

 

This floche Garden-Bright thread pack that we released last month was a pretty big hit! I really thought we would have the threads in stock for a while, but they sold out quickly, and I’ve been compiling an advanced notice list for those interested in the next batch. (If you want to be on that list, please contact me to let me know – I’ll add you!)

We started preparing some new floche packs right away.

It’s a long and grueling process, but I think it’s worth it!

Floche thread preparation
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