August 19, 2020

Embroidery Projects in the Studio

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…

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August 17, 2020

Tool Talk: Revisiting the Laying Tool

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.

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August 14, 2020

Ecclesiastical Embroidery on Linen with Floche

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…

hand embroidered pall on linen with floche

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August 10, 2020

Looking Ahead – Some Autumn Embroidery

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.

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August 3, 2020

Taking a Break!

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…

Hand Embroidery Tutorials

July 29, 2020

Quaker Stitch Tutorial: Perfect for Embroidered Writing

Years ago, I wrote a series of articles on hand embroidered writing. The articles take you step-by-step through different embroidery stitches that work well for embroidered writing.

Today, we’re going to add a stitch to that list – particularly, a stitch known today as the “Quaker Stitch” because it was formulated to work as the stitch used for the text on the Quaker Tapestry. The stitch is a combination of split stitch and stem stitch, so, in effect, it is a split stem stitch.

While at first glance, it might look like stem stitch, the ingenious splitting of the “inside” portion of the stitch raises the stem stitch line up to make a nice, precise, slightly raised line ideal for writing with thread.

Let’s take a look at it!

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July 27, 2020

Embroidery Needles for Newbies – and Beyond!

Good morning and a Happy Monday all around!

When it comes to hand embroidery, the needle is really the most important tool that you have.

Sure, a hoop is nice. But you can embroider without a hoop. Scissors are nice, but you don’t need them to embroider. (That said, I think it would be somewhat difficult – and inadvisable – to cut embroidery threads with your teeth…)

But you can’t really embroider without a needle. Something has to transport that thread in and out of the fabric, after all.

I’ve written many, many articles about hand embroidery needles over the years…

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

Embroidery Projects in the Studio

Tool Talk: Revisiting the Laying Tool

Ecclesiastical Embroidery on Linen with Floche

Looking Ahead – Some Autumn Embroidery

Taking a Break!

Quaker Stitch Tutorial: Perfect for Embroidered Writing

Embroidery Needles for Newbies – and Beyond!

Connect with Mary

How-To Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos