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
July 20, 2020
Good morning, from a stormy, rainy Kansas!
Today, (very quickly, because things are flickering a bit with the storms passing through), I’d like to share with you the finish on the beginner goldwork and silk rose that I showed you a couple weeks ago and explain what it’s all about!
July 18, 2020
Over the years, I’ve compiled a whole lot of embroidery stitch tutorials & tips here on Needle ‘n Thread.
For Needle ‘n Thread newcomers and veterans alike, today, I’d like to recap some of my favorite groups of stitch tutorials, so that you can explore them all from one spot. Many of you may have seen these before, so this may just serve as a reminder that the tutorials are there for you. Plus, you can add this article to your bookmarks or as a home screen shortcut, so that you can have easy access to several different groups of stitch tutorials and tips.
If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, why not explore some of the tutorials and practice some of these stitches on a doodle cloth? It’s a great way to add to your stitching repertoire!
July 15, 2020
You know when you have an idea in your head that won’t go away until you at least try to do it?
Well, ever since I made the little tapestry smalls in my Thousand Flowers collection, I’ve had this idea to make a tiny treasure box using an extended version of the tapestry smalls – a version that incorporates all the animals and lots of flowers.
And I set about measuring and “engineering” the box mentally not too long after finishing and launching A Thousand Flowers. I charted the main piece I’d need. And not too long ago, I set up the project and starting some stitching on it.
July 13, 2020
I’m slowly making my way through the stack of needlework books on my side table, and today, I want to share a particularly lovely new book on the market dedicated to whitework.
Did you know that I actually read every book I review? I keep a stack on my side table, with a block of post-it notes and a pen. And when I have a chance, I dig into the stack. I can never quite seem to eliminate the stack completely!
But this book was a quick one to read, and thoroughly enjoyable.
The projects are beautiful! If you love whitework, or if you’re interested in learning and practicing whitework techniques, I think you’ll love it!
Let’s take a look!
July 10, 2020
After many requests for an update on my hexie project, I figured it’s about time to ‘fess up on where things stand with those thousands of little fabric hexagons just begging to be stitched up!
For those who are just making your acquaintance with this particular project, I’ll give you a brief background. Last year, I began a hand-pieced hexagon quilt made up of 3/4″ hexies. The quilt requires some 5,200-ish hexies for a full-sized quilt (sans border).
My purpose in undertaking this particular adventure was to have something ongoing that I can turn to whenever I want to do something with my hands that isn’t embroidery, and that’s portable, so that I can take it anywhere and have something to work on.
At the end of today’s update, I’ll link to previous articles on the project.
Let’s look at where things stand and chat about another organizational discovery that I’ve implemented.
July 8, 2020
Good morning, and Happy Wednesday! It’s a good day for a book review, methinks.
The book I’m going to review today has been in my reading stack for a while. It’s been on the market since last autumn, and perhaps many of you – especially if you are counted cross stitchers – already have it. It’s a book chock-full of finishes.
The book is Willing Hands: The Counted Thread Embroidery of Betsy Morgan. And even though Willing Hands concentrates on counted thread techniques, I don’t see it so much as a counted thread technique book. Instead, I see it as a book that overflows with fabulous ideas for finishing embroidery into useful and beautiful needlework accessories.
Let’s take a look at the book and then chat about how it is a universally useful book for embroiderers of every discipline.
July 6, 2020
Here in the studio, Anna and I have been having a boatload of fun, stitching and … well, stitching. (We do other things, but they aren’t always a boatload of fun.)
After Anna finished my Gertrude Jacobean design – which was a variation on this Jacobean design I just finished – she moved along to a beginner goldwork and silk project.
Anna makes a great guinea pig.
It’s wonderful to have someone to test stitching ideas and theories on. The idea I had for this particular design was to develop it into a beginner’s project for working with silk threads and goldwork techniques. So we picked out silk and gold threads, I gave her an overview of a general idea for stitching, and she set to it.
