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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Transfer & Stitch – Another Transfer Book!

 

Amazon Books

This morning, I want to give a quick heads-up for another transfer book that’s on the market, for those looking for an easy solution for transferring embroidery designs onto your fabric.

You might remember my review earlier this month of the Embroiderers’ Guild Transfer Collection.

Today’s book – Transfer & Stitch – is another problem-solving transfer collection that covers a range of embroidery design types.

Many of you wrote in with enthusiastic thanks for pointing out the Embroiderers’ Guild collection, so I thought you might want to know about this one while it’s brand spanking new!

Transfer & Stitch - embroidery design transfers
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Necessary Trial Stitching: Size, Perspective, & Design Tweaks

 

A couple weeks ago, I shared this Happy Camper project that I embroidered and turned into the front panel of a quick tote for summer, perfect for favorite books, a project, or other totable things.

I’ve had lots of eager requests for the design by itself, or as part of the set (“Summer Wheels” – which includes a vintage bike and a wheelbarrow as a series of three designs), and as a pre-printed towel set. And they are coming! They really are!

Unfortunately, they can only come when they’re ready.

There’s one aspect of bringing a project to the Ready Stage that I never like to skip entirely, and that’s trial stitching. I’ll show you why, with this particular project.

Summer Wheels embroidery projects
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Re-organized Supply Room – Almost There!

 

Normally on Fridays, I spend much of the day preparing articles for the following week.

Last Friday, though, I was in the throes of the Great Studio Overhaul of 2021 – which perhaps isn’t as great as it sounds. Still, it’s functional and organized, there’s a place for everything, and hence, it’s a big deal to me.

So this morning, I thought I’d show you what was achieved at the end of last week and share a few suggestions in case you’re planning an overhaul job of your own.

Studio Shelving - a bit industrial
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Overhauling the Studio – Another Summer Job

 

One other notable, big project going on here in my studio is a bit of a studio overhaul.

And I will admit, it’s a big job, but it needs to be done. My trusty sidekick Anna is really good at this kind of thing, and she actually seems to like it (strange girl), which works out well for me.

She’s a Huge Help for this type of project, and I trust her organizational mindset. It is much better than mine!

Needle 'n Thread studio space set up
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Setting Up Grapes: Color & Stitching Considerations

 

A couple weeks ago, I sneak-peeked the colors for the next embroidery project in the How to Embroider (Blank) tutorials and asked you to guess what we’d be stitching.

Many of you chimed in with irises and other flowers, some chimed in with fruit, and, in fact, it’s grapes!

This is definitely a project we will feel our way feel our way through together, slowly. It’s going to be a little more complicated and challenging than the projects so far. But it’ll be fun, and, taken slowly, it’s definitely manageable.

How to Embroider Grapes
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Sea to Stitch – Finished Monogram!

 

At long last, here’s the finished embroidery on my Sea to Stitch monogram designed by Elisabetta Sforza and available in her book by the same name – which, if you’re interested in procuring a copy, is out of stock at the moment but you can drop me a line to be put on the advanced notice list when new stock arrives.

My blog publishing schedule and correspondence will return to normal by Monday. I’ve been on hiatus for a week, and without regular internet, but I’m back, catching up, and things should settle into the summer routine of moderately smooth sailing now, with only a few small schedule blips for a couple upcoming events. Thanks for your patience!

Sea to Stitch Monogram on Needle 'n Thread - finished embroidery
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Books for Embroidery Inspiration – but not Embroidery!

 

Inspiration for needlework can be found just about everywhere – and I like to find it in books that aren’t necessarily needlework books, but are somewhat art-related.

Last year, I added two books to my library, and I really, really like both of them. Especially if you’re interested in botanical subjects for embroidery, you might find them enjoyable, too.

For me, it’s the tie-in with literature and poetry and art that caught me with these two books, Botanical Shakespeare and The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.

Books for Inspiration for Embroidery
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