January 27, 2025

Holey Overused and Still Going Strong

Do you ever use stretcher bar frames for your embroidery projects?

I do. I use them especially for small-to-medium sized projects that will take longer to work, but not as long as projects that I’d set up in a slate frame – which are usually pretty extensive projects.

I like stretcher bars because they’re quick to set up compared to a slate frame, they provide excellent tension if they’re set up correctly, and, if you’re using certain stretcher bars, they’re adjustable.

When I use stretcher bar frames, I always use Evertite Stretcher Bars, and since I’ve received a repeated question about stretcher bars and about Evertite Stretcher Bars in particular, I thought I’d answer that question here.

Evertite Stretcher Bars - they last a long time

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January 23, 2025

The Backside: Stop.

wildflowers in wool complete embroidery kit available now

Remember last week when I asked you to let me know your questions, challenges, hurdles, mountains, molehills, difficulties, and what-have-yous that might cause you frustration when you embroider?

I received a lot of emails about the backside of embroidery. It kind of made me sad, because it tells me that people are adding undue stress to their creative projects that are supposed to be stress relievers.

So today, I’m going on record to say this, once and for all:

STOP.

Please stop stressing about the Back of your Embroidery.

Now, I’m not saying “Don’t ever think about the back of your embroidery.”

Rather, I’m saying “Don’t worry so much about the back of your embroidery that it becomes a crippling, stressful factor for you.”

Pull up a chair, pour yourself a nice cup of something warm and soothing, and let’s have a good old-fashioned natter about this topic. Hopefully, we can put to rest some misconceptions and give you some general guidance to relieve your anxieties over the back of your embroidery.

The Back of Embroidery - tips and considerations

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January 20, 2025

Process: Color Options

Part of the embroidery design process is choosing color options. This aspect of designing a needlework project from scratch can be a stumbling block for many people – including me!

If you find choosing colors for needlework intimidating or difficult, you are not alone! Still, my most basic color-choice guideline when people ask me about colors, is this: it isn’t rocket science. There’s no hard-and-fast rule. The colors you choose for your own personal needlework projects should be, overall, colors that you like, that please you, that make you happy.

If they’re not, you’re going to fall out of love with your project pretty quickly.

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January 17, 2025

On My Table and What’s Your Problem?

This morning, I’m Musing Over Things.

Actually, I’ve been musing over Things for the past many weeks. But this morning, I’m developing detailed lists from my musings on Things.

I want to fill out my Topic Lists with some more relevant, useful needlework topics – topics that you find relevant and useful. So I’m going to propose a question to you, and I hope you can take a little time to answer it.

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January 15, 2025

Ecclesiastical Embroidery: Techniques & Projects – Book Review

I’m going to indulge in one of my favorite needlework topics today – ecclesiastical embroidery. When I found out that there was (finally!) a new book on the topic coming out, you can bet I was pretty excited!

I ordered it right away from the UK (it’s not released in the US until this April) and received it last week.

Ecclesiastical Embroidery: Techniques and Projects by Heather Lewis is both an instructional and a project book, as the title promises. It’s a hard-bound book published by The Crowood Press. It covers the standard approaches to embroidery used to embellish the accoutrements of worship, as well as information on symbolism, design, and construction of some liturgical items.

Let’s take a look at it up close, shall we?

Ecclesiastical Embroidery by Heather Lewis - book review

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January 13, 2025

English Embroidery at the V & A – On Demand

Is 2025 your year to learn a bit more about the history of embroidery? If it is, then you’ll want to check out a new offering from the Victoria & Albert Museum!

The Victoria & Albert has this on-demand lecture course on English embroidery available, and of course, I am intrigued.

Besides the notable subject matter, you’ll see that it’s a self-paced lecture course, and it’s very reasonably priced (and the British pound is relatively low right now).

English Embroidery Class on Demand at the V & A

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January 10, 2025

Coming Soon on Needle ‘n Thread!

Well, there’s a lot coming soon on Needle ‘n Thread – a lot of embroidery content, tips, techniques, tutorials, projects, supplies, books, resources, and more. Everything you expect on the website… with a few new twists and surprises for 2025. Like hand embroidery, the Development of Things here is a slow process, but you’ll see the fruits of our labor as 2025 unfolds.

Right now, it seems that the biggest “coming soon” is that we will be coming (back) soon. We’ll be back to the full swing of work on Monday. I’m counting on the upcoming above-freezing weather to do its job and clear up our roads this weekend.

In the meantime, I’m still working from home. As we speak, I’m looking out at the steepest and longest hill street in our town (believe it or not, this part of Kansas is not flat!), which happens to be the street bordering the west side of my home. It is still compacted with snow and ice and barricaded. My driveway, halfway up that hill, is inaccessible. Needless to say, the street has become the premier destination of every kid with a sled. It’s fun to watch!

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

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Holey Overused and Still Going Strong

The Backside: Stop.

Process: Color Options

On My Table and What’s Your Problem?

Ecclesiastical Embroidery: Techniques & Projects – Book Review

English Embroidery at the V & A – On Demand

Coming Soon on Needle ‘n Thread!

Connect with Mary

How-To Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos