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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Ta Dum! An Embroidery Finish, with Close-Ups

 

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Finally and at long last… the Jacobean piece is finished.

Yay! Yesterday was a banner day, so I’m calling this embroidery project officially finished.

Now, that doesn’t mean I won’t make some changes. There are a few spots that I am mulling over, but I’m going to set the project aside – still on its frame – for a week or so. Then, when I look at it fresh in a little while, I’ll be able to make better decisions if I want to adjust anything.

Today, I’ll show you the finished design, close ups of the different sections, and share some random thoughts on the project as we examine it.

Jacobean design embroidered with silk
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Embroidery Update: Two Down, Two to Go

 

Good morning, my friends! Today, just a quick update on my Jacobean Sea embroidery project. It’s been a while since our last update. And yes, you’d think I’d have it finished…

It definitely should have been finished by now, and, while I’ve managed the last two large “leaves,” I still have two small ones to go!

I’m not necessarily completely finished with these two large leaves, either. The base leaf is ok – I think I’ll probably leave it – but the side leaf is awaiting one more color of thread, and I’m not quite sure I’m satisfied with it. We shall see!

So here’s a very quick update just to show you where I am.

Jacobean Sea Embroidery Project
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Tool Talk: Aficots & Laying Tools

 

Every hobby, craft, and artistic pursuit requires tools.

True, not all tools are essential to the craft.

If you take embroidery, for example, as things go, it requires very few tools. At the minimum, embroidery simply requires a needle. I suppose even scissors could be considered unnecessary – if you have good teeth!

But the fact is, good tools can make embroidery less frustrating and more efficient. And beautiful good tools can also add a certain aesthetic value to the embroiderer’s experience, enhancing the embroiderer’s pleasure while using them just by virtue of the fact that they are beautiful.

As you progress in your embroidery journey, it makes sense to add tools to your embroidery workbox that are not only useful, but also beautiful.

Today, I want to show you some beautiful and useful embroidery tools.

Aficot and matching laying tool
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Hoop Talk: Stitch Ezi Embroidery Frame-Hoop Review

 

Good morning, and Happy Wednesday! I hope last weekend was marvelous for you, and that you were able to get in some good bonding time with your needle and thread!

Today, we’re going to continue my mini series of embroidery hoop-related product reviews that I’ve shared with your recently.

Back in May, we looked at this Nurge hoop-holding floor stand, and then a couple weeks ago, we looked at this Morgan double hoop combo lap stand.

Now let’s look at the Stitch-Ezi Embroidery Frame Hoop, a hoop lap stand that I had heard about a while ago, so I purchased it to check it out. It’s another one of those needlework products that has definite pros and cons. In my book, it leans more towards cons (I’ll tell you why), though it does have a couple notable pros that many needleworkers would appreciate.

Stitch-Ezi Embroidery Frame-Hoop Review
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Needlework News Snips, June 2020

 

Howdy-ho and good morning! It’s been a while since we’ve browsed together through online needlework resources for inspiration, instruction, and interesting resources!

This morning, that’s what we’re going to do. You might savor delving into some discoveries over the weekend, too! There’s plenty here to explore, especially if you’re looking forward to a wet and rainy weekend like I am!

So, get comfortable, grab a cup of your favorite morning libation, and let’s have a bit of a wander together…

Needlework News Snips - June, 2020
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On the Grid: Calculating & Considerations for Counted Needlework

 

I’ve recently had some questions about changing fabric sizes for gridded embroidery, especially in relation to petit point on silk gauze.

The questions stem from my Thousand Flowers miniature silk gauze projects, because the kits are available again and several intrepid folk who love the medieval tapestry look and who enjoy a stitching challenge are working the projects as we speak!

I thought I would address the question here, for those who struggle with calculating fabric size for counted work. I also want to point out four important considerations when changing fabric sizes. This way, when questions comes up, I can direct folks here as a resource.

No matter what type of counted work – whether it’s petit point on silk gauze, counted needlepoint, counted cross stitch, or other myriad counted techniques – the concepts we discuss below will apply to them all, to some degree.

For those of you who are experienced in counted work, this will be old hat to you! For those who prefer to work off the grid, no worries – we’ll be off it again soon enough!

A Thousand Flowers miniature petit point silk gauze
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Morgan Embroidery Hoop Combo Review

 

In an ever-curious effort to seek out hand embroidery tools that may improve our hand-embroidery experiences – or that may help you avoid making costly financial mistakes – I’ve been hunting down, purchasing, and testing different embroidery hoop & stand solutions.

A few weeks ago, for example, I reviewed this Nurge embroidery hoop stand.

I have two other hoopish tools to share with you. Today, we’re going to look at the Morgan Lap Stand Combo Hoop.

Some of you may already use it, since there’s a fairly wide fan base of this tool out there. Some of you may have seen it or heard about it and are curious about it. And some of you may have never seen it or heard about it! So this review is for the latter two groups. I’ll show you the tool up close and offer some pros and cons for your consideration.

Morgan Hoop Combination Lap Stand
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