July 10, 2021
July 8, 2021
Dovo Scissors & Substitutes
Over the years, I’ve written frequently about my second-favorite embroidery tool: scissors!
My first favorite is the most essential embroidery tool – the needle – but they’re such small things and they don’t require huge investments, so we don’t speak about them in the same reverential tones that we often use when speaking of scissors.
Once you really get into needlework, you’ll probably find that one of the first things you’ll want to acquire is a really good pair of embroidery scissors. The qualifications for a good pair of embroidery scissors are pretty simple: they’re small, they’re sharp, they’re well-made, and you fit your fingers.
July 6, 2021
Embroidered Grapes 2: Three Basic Fillings
Here in the States, we enjoyed a three-day holiday for Independence Day this past weekend, and I took advantage of the break to finish my organizational and cleaning projects. Whew! Done for now! It was a crazy, dirty, sweaty, labor-intensive week last week – I’m glad to be back to some sedate embroidery this week!
Last week, we looked at the first installment on the embroidered grapes project. Today, we’ll move forward, looking at three basic fillings for embroidering solidly-filled grapes. We’ll also talk about the order of work and why it’s important.
You’ll need to think of this version of the project more as The Grape Sampler. I’ll be presenting all kinds of ideas for embroidering grapes, all in one design. It will look a little bizarre, because it’s not what we’d expect to see in a coherent piece of embroidery. The idea is that we can then pick techniques that we like best, and work a coherent bunch of grapes using one or two effective techniques.
June 30, 2021
How to Embroider Grapes, 1: Design & Initial Color List
The fourth project in our How to Embroider (Blank) series is a bunch of grapes. I shared a brief preview of the project with you a couple weeks ago, when we talked about making preliminary decisions and planning on an embroidery project like this.
Today, for those who want to follow along – or maybe you just want to stash this away for a future project – I’ll give you the design and talk about materials, including an initial color list.
We’ll also chat about what you can expect from the project, and how it is going to progress.
June 28, 2021
Hoops and Linens and Towels – Oh My!
Happy Monday, my friends!
It’s hard to believe that June has slipped away once more and we’re facing High Summer here on the Plains. Why is it always a surprise when July arrives?
Especially for those wise embroiderers who like to stitch ahead for the seasons, I have some exciting news for you! I’ve been really busy stocking those new utility shelves that went up a couple weeks ago, so I thought I’d send out a quick announcement to let you know what’s available and to tell you what’s coming!
June 25, 2021
Transfer & Stitch – Another Transfer Book!
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!
June 23, 2021
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.
