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
February 26, 2011
I’ve noticed a Saturday trend here – this seems to be the day that I update my progress on the miniature Cluny tapestry project that I am crawling along on. The 15 Minutes approach works, albeit slowly. And lately, I haven’t had (or haven’t been taking, I’m not sure which!) as many short spurts to devote to this piece.
February 25, 2011
The Pomegranate Corners wool embroidery project is coming along – errr. Well, it’s back to where it was a while ago, with the top bunch of leaves in…
February 24, 2011
The other day, we discussed the direction in which buttonhole stitch is worked, and I demonstrated that the direction you move with your buttonhole stitching can change the look of the buttonhole stitch. Well, the same principle is true with bullion knots. The direction in which you wrap the knot makes a difference in the way the bullion knot looks.
Now, this isn’t to say that wrapping in either direction is wrong; rather, that stitchers should be aware of the difference in direction in which they wrap the knot, and if their bullions are coming out looking different from each other, the difference may very well be due to the direction in which the thread is wrapped around the needle. Keep in mind that sometimes, you want one result or the other in your bullions.
A few photos will demonstrate this.
February 23, 2011
Here’s a free hand embroidery pattern for you. I mentioned it a while ago, but never published the complete pattern. It comes from a stitched design in the work New Patterns in Old Style by Emilie Bach, which you can find in digital format (PDF) online at Antique Pattern Library.
I think it’s an excellent design that would look great worked small, in silk and gold, or larger in crewel embroidery.
February 22, 2011
Did you know that the direction in which buttonhole stitch is stitched makes a difference in the finished look of the buttonhole stitch? You almost wouldn’t think it would – buttonhole stitch, after all, is buttonhole stitch.
There are two points that come to mind when speaking about stitch direction and buttonhole stitch: The downward stroke of the stitch, and the twisted rope-like edge that forms on the outside edge of the stitch.
February 21, 2011
This weekend, with the invaluable aid of some little advisors and half-way helpers, I got back to the project I mentioned last week, when I brought the subject of embroidery as craft, and asked you all if you have other creative pursuits outside of needlework. I think most needleworkers do. Maybe it’s the whole “hobby” thing: people who are prone to have hobbies or to be creative seem to cross over lots of interest areas, don’t they?
This past weekend, I got to dabble in a cross between embroidery and paper craft and… fabric manipulation, in a sense. It was fun (ish), and these are the results:
February 19, 2011
The week is over, and I haven’t made a whole lot of progress on my miniature embroidery project, but I did make some, and that’s what counts. The whole purpose of my “15 Minutes of Stitching Philosophy” is to assure that, even if progress is slow, it’s at least progress.
