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 27, 2026
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
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
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
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.
July 17, 2026
When I was finishing up the hem on Clara’s Garden – which we last looked at here – I found myself sad that the hem stitching was coming to an end. That meant the project was coming to an end.
It was late at night. I was wide awake. I was enjoying the rhythm of working the hemstitch, and all was well with the piece. I had a mere four or five stitches left. It was, for all practical purposes, finished.
And I didn’t want it to be!
I didn’t have another “home project” set up. What would I do at night, when I needed something to occupy myself?
In a moment of impulse, I said to myself, “Hey, why not withdraw another strip of threads and work another line of hem stitch a little further in?”
And I answered myself, “Hey! What a great idea! I’ll do that!”
And I picked up my scissors, and I started snipping fabric threads.
July 15, 2026
What feels like eons ago – but was really only month before last – we had this little chat about using carbon transfer methods to transfer embroidery designs onto fabric.
Today, we’ll pick up that topic again and talk about a different type of carbon transfer medium.
In the first article, we looked at dressmaker’s carbon. Today, we’ll try something else!
July 13, 2026
If you’ve been hanging around Needle ‘n Thread for a while, you probably know I’m a sucker for embroidery tools and accessories.
Tools that are useful, pretty, well-made, and affordable are hard for me to resist. If a particular tool can help make embroidering easier or more pleasant, if it can enhance the results of my embroidery, if it can serve a useful purpose and look great while doing so – well, that’s the type of tool that set my little tool-lovin’ heart a-flutter!
Recently, in the dead of night, unbeknownst to the wider Needle ‘n Thread World, I slipped two such tools into the shop. I brought them in because I have been using them and I like them! I find both tools very useful. They’re just nice tools!
Let’s look at them!
