November 3, 2026

What’s Needle ‘n Thread? This is a Good Belly Laugh!

Today, I have to share something that gave me the greatest, most delightful belly laugh that I’ve had in a long, long time.

And since it has to do with Needle ‘n Thread, I have to share it with you. I know it’s a sorry excuse for a blog post, but it is so dang funny, and we all deserve a good chuckle now and then!

My old Bitmoji self below (when Bitmojis were actually fun) gets across only a fraction of the laughing-out-loud that I did when I saw this.

In fact, that I’m still laughing! Oh. My. Gosh.

https://www.needlenthread.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/LOL-Bitmoji.jpg

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October 29, 2026

Do You Like Sparklies like I Like Sparklies?

Each year, I try to find some beginner-level stitching projects for Christmas that I can carry in the shop – the types of projects that are low-pressure, enjoyable, satisfactory, and just fun.

Craft nights, gift giving, long winter evenings, weekends meant for relaxation – these are times when small, quick kits are the perfect companion.

Last year, I brought in these really cute Christmas ornament kits featuring wood foundations with simple designs for stitching. Beginners and beyond enjoy stitching them, and because they’re also boxed nicely, they’re perfect for gifts. Kids can do them! Adults can do them! They’re just fun! We’ve had requests for them already this year. Yes, they’re coming – we have a shipment of them arriving in the first week of November.

But I was itching to add something a bit more blingy to the offerings for this year. I like things that sparkle – especially during the holidays – so I started hunting around for something that twinkles and glitters and glints. When I came across these little bead embroidery kits featuring a variety of birds, I knew I had to pursue them. And lo! I found more! A whole range of bead kits that can be finished as ornaments. Jolly!

I bought some of the kits to test so that I’d know if the kit contents and instructions were satisfactory. These are some of the samples we stitched up.

bead embroidery kits for ornaments - birds and more

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October 27, 2026

Tried & True Embroidery Tips for Beginners – 10 Years Later!

Over the past weekend, I was searching through the archives here on Needle ‘n Thread, to find the answer an email:

Hi, Mary, I’m new to embroidery. I did some small kits and liked it and want to learn more…especially about what fabric and thread and making my embroidery look better… I came across your videos that are really helpful and they led me to your blog. As a beginner, there’s are a lot information out there to learn. What should I concentrate on for learning or what tips do you have to get started with?

Despite the explosion of needlework information online that’s happened over the past 20 years, I still get similar questions all the time. I would love to sit down with each person who contacts me, work with them, answer their questions in person, show them things they want to see in person, let them feel fabric and threads, explore ideas with them… but this is obviously a regretful impossibility!

To answer the “beginner tips” question, I wrote an article almost exactly ten years ago, with a concise list of tips to which I could direct beginners.

Now and then, it’s a good idea to re-visit these types of lists, tips, and explorations, whether you’re a beginner or not! You’d be surprised what tips you might pick up that you missed before, or what little reminders might spark a new idea for you!

Tried & True Embroidery Tips for Beginners

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October 23, 2026

The Next Grab-and-Go Project – Elaborate!

Well, welcome to a late Friday! Normally, I write blog posts at least a day in advance. When in full Work Mode, I plan, outline, and write up to three weeks out! And then I adjust before publishing to bring current events up to date.

But it doesn’t always work that way when life is up-ended with other concerns. And so, here I am, on a late Friday morning, catching you up with a current project.

I always like to have a grab-and-go project on hand, for any circumstances, even when everything is going well. You just never know when you’ll have the opportunity to, say, stitch over at a friend’s house, or sit outside on the porch with someone, or when you’ll have time to stitch when you’re traveling. And that’s when a grab-and-go project comes in handy!

If you spend time taking loved ones (or yourself) to medical appointments, or sitting in hospitals, nursing homes, or the like, grab-and-go projects can be a godsend. They help while away long hours. And they’re also great conversation starters!

Elaborate Celandine Folk Cross Stitch Project

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October 20, 2026

Quilts and Coverlets: American Needlework in White

Hey, ho! This is exciting!

Well, for this midwest gal, anyway…

Just down the road in St. Louis, there’s a free exhibition at the St. Louis Art Museum until April 18, 2027.

The exhibition is titled Quilts and Coverlets: American Needlework in White, and it promises to be a good excuse for enthusiastic needleworkers, textile lovers, needlework historians, and quilters to visit the Gateway to the West!

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October 15, 2026

My Night Project Which Became Portable

I’ve mentioned quite a few times this past summer that I had a “night time” project going, while I’m at home taking care of dad.

The project I’ve been working on is the Santorini Floral kit that I carry here in the shop.

These kits have been a bit of a Godsend for me lately. They allow me to have something I can do with my hands in the evenings, that don’t require much thought, planning, magnification, or even specific lighting.

While I know some stitchers find counted work more exacting when it comes to attention, thinking, and so forth, I find it just the opposite. The kits supply everything I need. I don’t have to think of stitches (!) or colors or anything. I’m just following a chart, but only up to a point. Because these folk designs often involve a lot of repetition with their classic border motifs, I can generally work without the chart once I’ve done a motif or two.

Still, I did manage to make a good mistake on this piece. I’ll show it to you below and I’ll tell you what my solution is for it.

Santorini Floral folk embroidery cross stitch kit

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October 13, 2026

Embroidery Transfer on Dark Fabric: Two White Pens Compared

Howdy, all, and good morning! It’s been a while!

I’m sorry about the hiccup in my blogging schedule lately. I’m going to try for a couple articles a week right now. I have a little bit of time to catch up at work, but I’m not sure how much time. My sister from Florida arrived this past weekend to help with dad care and “sitting” while he’s at a rehab hospital, so we’re all taking turns with that. The goal is to get him home, but how that goes – and how fast it goes – depends on much.

Today, we’re going to chat about transferring embroidery designs on dark fabrics, and specifically, I’m going to show you two white transfer pens available on the market. They are “heat erasable” pens – not always my favorite option, and I’ll show you why below. Still, they may work for certain stitching situations, even if they don’t work for all stitching situations.

Every transfer tool has its fan base, I’ve discovered, just like pretty much every tool (ok, maybe not this one – I still find it useless) has its good uses. But there’s no doubt that some brands and some tools are just better than others. So I’m hoping that this ongoing discussion of transfer options helps you make informed decisions about what you are willing to try and invest in.

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

What’s Needle ‘n Thread? This is a Good Belly Laugh!

Do You Like Sparklies like I Like Sparklies?

Tried & True Embroidery Tips for Beginners – 10 Years Later!

The Next Grab-and-Go Project – Elaborate!

Quilts and Coverlets: American Needlework in White

My Night Project Which Became Portable

Embroidery Transfer on Dark Fabric: Two White Pens Compared

Connect with Mary

How-To Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos