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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Twinkle, Twinkle Part 1: Introduction, Materials, Set-Up

 

Amazon Books

Welcome to Part 1 of Twinkle, Twinkle, a Stitch Snippet stitch-along here on Needle ‘n Thread, where we will explore together how to create a very pretty Christmas Star ornament.

The stitch-along will be published here on the blog in installments. Unfortunately, we are sold out of materials kits, but of course, you can source your own materials or make substitutions if you want to follow along.

And even if you don’t want to make the ornament itself, you can certainly follow along for stitching tips that you can use in any of your own embroidery projects!

If you’re a member of the Needle ‘n Thread Community on Patreon, you have already received this installment, plus the next one (with the first stitches), all in one PDF.

Today, we’ll talk tools and materials, design and set-up.

Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Star Ornament stitch-along, Part 1
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Project Index for Twinkle, Twinkle: A Christmas Star

 

Here’s the Project Index for our current stitch-along here on Needle ‘n Thread!

As the stitch-along for Twinkle, Twinkle progresses, I will add each lesson to the list below, in chronological order, so that you can easily find each lesson as you need it.

This project index will be available under “Tips & Techniques” in the main menu on Needle ‘n Thread. If you’re following along and working this project, you might consider bookmarking the Project Index page, so that you can easily find it.

Twinkle, Twinkle: A Christmas Star Project Index
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G is for Granitos!

 

Needle ‘n Thread Archives from A – Z is a series I’ve been running over the past may weeks, popping up here and there, to share articles, projects, tutorials, and more that are hidden deep in the website archives and that haven’t seen the light of day in a while.

We’ve done A through F so far, and today, we’re on G.

G is for the Granito – a great little stitch!

The granito is what I consider a rather undervalued stitch, especially when you use just the right thread for it. Let’s look at it!

Granito embroidery stitch
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Twinkle, Twinkle: Ornament Kits are Ready for You!

 

Woohoo! I’m excited!! Today, we’re launching the materials kits for Twinkle, Twinkle: A Christmas Star Ornament, so we can get our last stitch-along of 2026 underway!

You can find the materials kit for Twinkle, Twinkle: A Christmas Star Ornament available right here in the shop.

If you’re wondering what a stitch-along is all about, I’ll explain below how they work. I’ll also show you what’s in the kit.

Additionally, we’ll chat about a new aspect of this particular stitch-along – exciting news!

Here we go!

Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas star ornament stitch-along
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Kits a-Coming! Twinkle, Twinkle & Other Christmas…

 

Good morning, and welcome to November, my friends!

Today I’ve got some exciting news for you – we’ve got kits coming out on Wednesday! YAY! (I love it when a plan comes together.)

Besides the materials kit for the upcoming stitch-along for Twinkle, Twinkle (more below on that), I’ve brought it some other cute, crafty Christmas kits that we’re also putting in stock this week, so I’ll show you those first and tell you a little about them.

And then I’ll let you know the details on the release of the materials kit for Twinkle, Twinkle – when and what you can expect.

Let us commence the chatter…

Wooden Craft Ornaments for Christmas
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Crewelwork Then & Now, Reviewed

 

Today, I’m reviewing a book produced from a clever angle. It offers a unique way of examining crewelwork by combining the expertise of two well-known names in the world of embroidery, each of whom has a contrasting approach to the topic.

Newly published, Crewelwork Then & Now by Hazel Blomkamp and Phillipa Turnbull is a project book that offers the reader the opportunity to experience both traditional crewelwork and contemporary interpretations of crewelwork.

Let’s take a look at it…

Crewelwork Embroidery Then & Now book review
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Pumpkins, Autumn, and Embroidery

 

Autumn is my favorite season of the year, hands down! And I especially love autumn when it is particularly autumn-ish.

In Kansas, we often have autumns that are very, very slow to arrive – summer just wants to linger – and then, bammo! Fall is gone. And winter is here.

But sometimes, we enjoy nice, lingering, lovely autumns, replete with a beautiful color change, crisp blue skies, chilly nights, and all the other quiet attractions that make the winding-down of the seasonal year so very pleasant.

This year, we had summer through the last part of September and most of October, despite the cool-weather tease that we had in August. So I haven’t had a chance to get in a fall frame of mind. I feel like I’m careening towards winter at break-neck speed, and next time I look up, it’ll be time to prune my hydrangeas.

One of my favorite fall stitching projects I’ve ever worked is this set of towels called Autumn Variety.

Autumn Variety Pumpkin & Acorns flour sack towel
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