August 5, 2026
Blackberry Brambles & Blossoms – Kits Available!
Oh, today is the day! We are FINALLY off on another project together. I can’t wait to get Blackberry Brambles & Blossoms underway!
July 31, 2026
Weekend Diversion: Needle Lace and More
If you have not discovered Internet Archive for seeking out public domain publications on all kinds of topics – including needlework, design, and just about anything else – you should explore it some day!
Often, when I’m looking up information in old books, I’ll come across references to earlier publications that I’d never be able to see in person, except when I can find those references online in places like Internet Archive.
And often when I’m looking up something specific on Internet Archive, I’ll stumble across a little gem here and there that I find inspirational, interesting, amusing, or helpful.
July 29, 2026
Blackberry Brambles & Blossoms: Upcoming Stitch-Along
And it’s About Time!
I’m happy to say that there are still blackberries on the vine here in Kansas, so our upcoming stitch-along, Blackberry Brambles & Blossoms is still in season. I’m excited to get it launched!
To that end, I’ll tell you a little bit about the stitch-alongs I run here on Needle ‘n Thread, so that you can decide if you want to participate. I’ll also introduce you to Blackberry Brambles & Blossoms, let you know when the kits will launch and how that works, and share the initial timeline with you for this project.
Update Aug 5: The kits have launched and you can find them available here.
July 27, 2026
Free Hand Embroidery Design: Rose & Leaves Medallion
Happy Monday!
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted a free hand embroidery design here on Needle ‘n Thread!
This is my renovated version of a rose medallion (formed as a cross) from an old ecclesiastical embroidery-related publication.
While the design could also be used for secular embroidery – especially if you’re looking for something very symmetrical – the cruciform shape lends itself well to church embroidery.
July 24, 2026
Ground Fabric for Embroidery – Eye Candy!
I’m almost sorry to do this to you. I wouldn’t, after all, want to spark in you any deep yearnings or desires for the second Wonder of the Embroidery World: Fabric! (The first wonder, of course, being Thread.)
But at the same time, I’d like to share a little bit of the joy and pleasure I experienced when, with trembling fingers and antsy excitement, I recently opened up some long-awaited, highly-anticipated packages from abroad.
So today, I’m going to share a little eye candy with you.
Never fear! Ultimately, this is for you.
July 22, 2026
Carbon Transfers III: on Dark Fabrics
Recently, I’ve posted a couple articles on carbon transfers for getting embroidery designs onto fabric.
Carbon-style transfer techniques are useful enough that it’s good to be familiar with them. You never know when this approach might come in handy, depending on the fabric you’re using, the size or scope of your design, and so forth.
It probably won’t surprise you, if you’ve read the two articles (Part I here and Part II here), that these aren’t my go-to methods for transferring designs. I would rather trace with a pencil than use a carbon transfer method.
But you can’t always trace a design. In cases where you can’t, there are still other methods I prefer over carbon transfer.
Still, carbon transfer is a useful option to know, and it works well under some circumstances.
Today, we’re going to look at the method on dark fabric, using artist’s white “graphite” paper and DMC’s transfer carbon. Then, we’ll chat about a different approach for dark fabric, and I’ll make some suggestions on modifications and techniques you can try.
July 20, 2026
DMC Fine-Tipped Embroidery Transfer Pen
Have you seen DMC’s new fine-tipped, water-soluble embroidery transfer pen?
When it came out earlier this year, I grabbed a couple of them so that I could try them. I figured you might be curious about them and might want to know what they’re like.
So today, we’ll take a look at this new transfer pen and chat about it.
