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
Contact Mary
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
Contact Mary
August 24, 2020
If you say the word “sampler” or “samples” over and over again, they will both start sounding like very weird words.
I hesitated to use the title of today’s post, because it seems somewhat redundant. Sampler Samples. That’s like saying samples for samples of samples. But they really are sampler samples.
Last week, I mentioned an idea I wanted to develop this year and here’s a little more development on the idea.
August 21, 2020
Sometimes, beginner embroiderers jump into embroidery with enthusiastic gusto, leaping into projects that might seem too advanced. This can sometimes lead to frustration, feelings of inadequacy, or even quitting altogether.
I’ve always believed that, if enthusiastic and determined enough, you can tackle a more advanced project from the very beginning of your creative journey – as long as you tackle it through an accessible route.
And that is the approach that I’m pretty much taking with the ecclesiastical project that I first mentioned here.
Today, I’ll show you how far along my sample project is, and tell you how to make a seemingly advanced-looking project accessible for the beginningest of beginners.
August 19, 2020
Happy Wednesday! We’re halfway through another week, and I thought I’d take the opportunity to share with you some of the embroidery projects underway on my side of the computer screen.
I’m trying to streamline my stitching time and balance it a bit with my computer time, both of which I’m trying to juggle with my “life-sometimes-gets-in-the-way” time. It’s the Best Laid Plans problem, and it is ever thus when it comes to human endeavor. We can plan all we want. But as Robert Burns put it so aptly, The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft a-gley.
I’m pretty sure he just meant that plans go awry – though he said it with a much more musical lilt…
August 17, 2020
Do you stitch with a laying tool?
There was a time when the laying tool was an infrequent visitor at my stitching spot, but over the years, it’s become a tool that I use more and more frequently. On some types of embroidery, I can’t do without it!
Today, I’m going to recap what a laying tool is, talk about how to use it, and explore what to look for in a good laying tool.
August 14, 2020
Recently, I was asked if I would teach a local class on ecclesiastical embroidery – specifically, how to make what is called a pall.
Things being what they are, the preparations were a little rocky. And I haven’t progressed as far as I’d like in my sample project for such a class.
And in fact, I’m not sold on my sample project, as little as it has progressed!
But I’m going to show it to you anyway and share some thought processes…
August 10, 2020
After about two weeks straight of hexies-only stitching (due to the reasons mentioned in this article), it will be good to (eventually) get back to some hand embroidery.
Don’t get me wrong – I love my hexies and I love their portability. But really, I love hand embroidery better, and I can’t wait to do some again.
In the meantime, these casual bits of autumn embroidery have been developing behind the scenes. I kept my cohort Anna busy, despite her broken leg, by test stitching some fall designs.
August 3, 2020
Well, it is inevitable. Something had to give, and I’m afraid it’s this week on Needle ‘n Thread.
I mentioned last week that my mom was in the hospital. She was discharged a week ago Saturday and ended up back in this past Wednesday. I’m the designated visitor. Only one visitor is allowed, and it has to be the same visitor for the duration of the patient’s stay, due to recent health regulations. You can imagine what this does to the rest of the family, how exhausting it is for the designated visitor, and what it does especially to my 90-year old dad, with his wife of 65 years wondering where he is and not understanding why he can’t be there with her.
It’s not exactly a fun situation, and it’s a little stressful. But I figure where there’s stress, there should be handwork. It can at least help alleviate some of the stress.
So I’ve been taking my hexies with me as my companions in distress. And they’re holding up well…
