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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Vintage Transfers for Your Consideration & Some News

 

Amazon Books

Recently, I was the happy recipient of a box of antique pattern transfers. The owner didn’t want them to be thrown away, and she thought I might be able to add them to my collection of old patterns and whatnot.

I love going through this kind of stuff! Early this week, we had the opportunity to sort and categorize the patterns, and I took a few photos along the way – mostly of the patterns that amused me!

You know the saying “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should“? I think that can apply to design. Take a look at these old pattern transfers! I have theories about them, and we’ll talk about those down the road when I share some other photos of already-transferred designs with you. But for today, to lead into the three-day weekend, here are some photos for your consideration.

vintage pattern transfers
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From Rose to Rose by Elisabetta Sforza – Book Review

 

Today, I want to introduce you to Elisabetta Sforza’s newest embroidery book, Di Rosa in RoseFrom Rose to Rose, a collaboration between two artists: Patrizia Silingardi who paints with watercolor, and Elisabetta Sforza who paints with thread.

From Rose to Rose features a collection of delicate rose and floral sprays that originated as watercolors and were then ingeniously interpreted into stitches by Elisabetta. The result is embroidery that is exquisite, ephemeral, airy, and just really beautiful.

Elisabetta combines traditional and basic embroidery stitches to create these light sprays of flowers that are slightly dimensional and quite realistic.

Let’s take a look at the book!

From Rose to Rose by Elisabetta Sforza
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Hoops, and Kits, and Books, and a Sale, Oh My!

 

Good morning, and Happy Monday!

I spent most of the weekend working on all kinds of Needle ‘n Thread Things, good and bad. It always fees great to tie up loose ends!

This morning, we’re having a sale on a few things in the shop! I rarely run sales on tangible goods, but it’s time to make a little room.

We’ll also chat about hoops and books coming in and embroidery kits and other bits and sundries.

embroidery books on sale
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Cotton Quartet 3: Stitching Sampler Bands F – J

 

In the previous installment of Cotton Quartet, we covered several sampler bands to the right of the center embroidered band on the sampler cover of the tool wallet.

Now we’re going to shift to the left side of center for a little bit, and I’ll tell you why. We’ll also talk about “filler” bands, spacing, and project orientation while you work.

Cotton Quarter embroidered sampler bands F - J
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Cotton Quartet Project Index

 

Since this is a stitch-along project, you’ll find it helpful to have a project index where all the lessons for Cotton Quartet are listed in one place.

In this project index, you’ll find all the lessons listed in chronological order as we work through the project. I’ll also take you on a small tour of my website, so you know where to find this project index (and lots of other embroidery projects!), if you’re new to Needle ‘n Thread.

Cotton Quartet Project Index
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Reticello Progress, a Tip, a Tool, and Books

 

Buongiorno! Good morning! Or just plain howdy, as we say in Kansas. (Well, some of us do…)

While getting back into the Studio Routine last week after a short break, I revisited my impromptu reticello sampler and discovered that it doesn’t take long to forget certain important steps. It’s weird how a week away from routine can be so disorienting!

Today, I’ll show you some slight progress on my sampler, I’ll share a tip and a tool with you, and then I’ll share some news about some fabulous books that I’ve brought in for you!

reticella sampler
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Cotton Quartet 2: Stitching Lines C, D, and E

 

Welcome to the second installment of Cotton Quartet!

If you’re just joining us, you’ll find the first installment of this stitch-along project here, with background information and instructions on getting started.

Today, we’ll add a few more rows onto our sampler tool wallet, using some pretty simple stitches. (Hey! Never underestimate the power of simple stitches! You can do a lot with them!)

If you are a member on Patreon, you’ve already received these instructions in the PDF download posted week before last, so you’re ahead of the game. You also have the stitch dictionary at the end of the PDF, so that you have access to the stitch instructions in one place.

I’ll also share a couple tips today that may help you avoid some frustrations. These are points that occurred to me while I was writing today’s blog post, and thankfully, I already had some pictures.

While the lesson today is relatively short, two of the stitched bands take a while to stitch, so you’ll have time to get those finished before next week’s installment.

Cotton Quartet sampler tool wallet instructions
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