January 19, 2022

Morphing Embroidery Stitches – Some Explorations

When it comes to embroidery stitches, there’s not a whole lot that’s new under the sun. Pretty much all embroidery stitches build off what’s come before. Embroidery has been around for a long, long time, after all, so there’s a lot that has come before.

Still, occasionally, I like to explore ideas for embroidery stitches that don’t necessarily exist in the wide, well-known deposit of embroidery stitch collections.

For example, I was contemplating edging stitches for finished items. It started with this pin cushion, which I edged in one of my favorite stitches – one that I’ve used numerous times to edge finished items.

I got to thinking that maybe I’d play around with some ideas for other methods of edging. And while there are loads of stitches out there that can be used for edging an item, I started putting together in my mind possibilities for variations and approaches that I’ve not tried.

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January 17, 2022

That Happy Factor: Decorative Sewing Pins

When I was working to bring this pincushion project about (which we’re going to launch in about one week!), I started looking for decorative sewing pins.

You see, once in a while, I realize I need to put at least some effort into visual marketing. I don’t do this too often, admittedly. I wish I could. I wish I had The Flair. The Knack. The “perfect touch” sort of gift, to be able to bring about Instagram- and Pinterest-worthy photos that, by virtue of their meticulously styled visual perfection, they can entice people in, hooking them on a website or into … yes… (because for most of them, it’s all about marketing) … a sale.

But I don’t really operate that way. It’s never the foremost thing in my mind. Should it be? I don’t know. Some people say yes. Some people say no. But I really don’t know! These are things I think about.

Still, when this pincushion project began to materialize, I decided to go on a search for decorative pins, because I have long wanted decorative pins for pin-related photos.

Decorative Sewing Pins: Stitch Snippet Pincushion

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January 15, 2022

It is Ever Thus: That 2021 Sampler …

Oh, my friends. I hang my head in shame. After posting this update on my hexie project earlier this week, I’ve had a lot of questions about last year’s 2021 yearly sampler, which started here.

And so, today, I’ll update you on that. Shamefacedly. (But not really! It is, after all, ever thus!)

It was all a matter of priorities, you see…

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January 12, 2022

Stitch Snippet Sneak Peek

Last year, when contemplating the Stitch Snippets series for 2022, I wasn’t really sure what direction to go in with the series.

I had a notion of what I wanted to present, but it wasn’t until a little later in the year – around September, as we finished up this dragonfly project – that my ideas began to solidify.

Today, I thought I’d give you a little sneak peek of the first Stitch Snippet for this year, tell you some of its story, and let you know what you can expect with this particular project which will shortly begin to develop here on Needle ‘n Thread.

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January 10, 2022

Winter Needlework Project: Evenings with Hexies

This winter, I decided that my evening needlework project (as well as my grab-and-go, no matter where I go project) Must Be my hexie quilt that I’ve been working on for … oh… almost two years now. Otherwise, the thing will never be finished.

So, in the winter evenings, when it’s dark and cold out and it’s time to hunker down for the day and warm up a bit before heading to bed, I’ve been engrossed with those little tiny hexagons. Even though it’s not embroidery, it is needlework – I’m making a full-size hand-pieced quilt using English paper piecing – so I don’t mind sharing progress occasionally here on Needle ‘n Thread.

For those who are new to Needle ‘n Thread, I’ll share a little bit of the backstory and refer you to previous articles. Today, I’ll show you progress, discuss a few pitfalls, and mention three things that have improved my hand-piecing experience tremendously. I’ll also mention a couple tips on thimbles.

Hand Embroidery Books

January 7, 2022

The Design Collective: Pincushion – Book Review

Ahhhh, finally, at long last! I can share with you, up close, the first book in the new Design Collective series from Inspirations Studios, on Pincushions!

I mentioned before that I’m excited about this Design Collective series, for two reasons. The first is that the first book is on pincushions (which are manageable, small, makeable projects); and the second is that it’s a series. And a series is always a good sign in the needlework industry. It means more good stuff to come, and a confidence in the strength of in the industry and in the growing interest in the needle arts.

This first book is a doozy, on a number of levels. Let’s take a look at it!

Design Collective: Pincushions - Book Review

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January 5, 2022

Cutwork Embroidery – Richelieu Kits

A long, long time ago, I wrote about the Richelieu embroidery design booklets produced by Joanna Jakuszewska in Poland.

When it comes to new designs for Richelieu, Joanna is an excellent source. While cutwork is a gorgeous, and relatively simple-in-concept, whitework technique, it is not necessarily as easily accessible, design-wise, as other techniques. Because it’s a small niche under the greater whitework umbrella, it can sometimes be hard to find contemporary designs.

Today, I’ll introduce you to Joanna’s latest venture, since she is no longer publishing the Haft booklets, and talk a little bit about why I’m revisiting cutwork right now.

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

Morphing Embroidery Stitches – Some Explorations

That Happy Factor: Decorative Sewing Pins

It is Ever Thus: That 2021 Sampler …

Stitch Snippet Sneak Peek

Winter Needlework Project: Evenings with Hexies

The Design Collective: Pincushion – Book Review

Cutwork Embroidery – Richelieu Kits

Connect with Mary

How-To Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos