Needlework News

How to wash silk ribbon embroidery

Denise Felton — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:06:51 +0000

Vani of Vani’s blog explains how to wash silk ribbons in preparation for using them and how to wash and refresh a finished SRE project. See her post.

Tutorials: Silk-ribbon blossoms

Denise Felton — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:05:32 +0000

Carol Daisy of Silk Ribbon Embroidery blog is posting a series of tutorials that even experienced SRE enthusiasts will enjoy. Recent examples: jonquils, delphiniums, tulips, snowdrops, loop flowers. See the blog.

Tutorial: Arlee’s Frankenstitch

Denise Felton — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:04:46 +0000

Arlee Barr of Albedo Design Journal uses text and video to teach us her Frankenstitch embroidery technique. Improvisational and textural, this stitching style will force you to loosen up and get modern. See the first tute post.

Christmas ornament idea from a CQer

Denise Felton — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:03:38 +0000

Jo in NZ is busily preparing her handmade Christmas gifts for this season: embroidered snowflakes on felt. Her great idea was inspired by…a gift bag! Find out more from Jo’s blog.

Tutorial: Whipped-backstitch lettering

Denise Felton — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:02:03 +0000

Mary Corbet’s series on embroidered lettering and text continues with a lesson on whipped backstitch. Look at this example; you know you want to try it! Get the lowdown from Mary’s blog, Needle ‘n’ Thread.

Embroidered jewelry from Chris Gray

Denise Felton — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:01:20 +0000

Chris Gray describes her latest embroidered jewelry:

All covered with seeding stitches and surrounded by the tiniest seed beads…with a piece of hammered annealed copper…on matching colour memory-wire chokers (in this case purple).

Original and beautiful. Find out more from Chris’ blog.

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Guzzisue’s bobbin-lace experiment

Denise Felton — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:16:03 +0000

During a recent low spell (healthwise), Guzzisue of Travel, Fibre and Thread blog experimented with making bobbin lace from embroidery floss. Cool! See more on her blog post.

The Tarnished Tatter invents spiral earrings

Denise Felton — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:59:35 +0000

These rockin spiral earrings are the brainchild and handwork of Heather, The Tarnished Tatter. She says, “I used the method of encapsulating a ring to do it on wire then curled the wire on a dowel rod.” Brilliant! See more on Heather’s blog.

An introduction to Crimean Tartar embroidery

Denise Felton — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:53:34 +0000

John Hopper has posted a brief history of Crimean Tartar embroidery on The Textile Blog. Fascinating. He notes,

It is probably not an exaggeration to say that nearly every aspect of the daily life of the people of the Crimea was affected by the use of embroidery. It would have been both a part of every day life, but would also mark the special occasions and festivals in their lives.

You’ll enjoy the details and beautiful images of this article. And John promises a more in-depth feature in the future. Yes! See the post.

Allie’s angelina lilacs

Denise Felton — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:41:07 +0000

This beautiful block is the latest in Allison Aller’s adaptation of a vintage CQ-flower quilt design. She says,

These are little angelina flowers made into a lilac spray. The leaves are of wool and silk felted onto cotton, with the beads added to the outlining buttonhole stitch.

Beautiful! Enjoy the entire series on Allie’s blog, Allie’s in Stitches.

Blue-and-white embroidery…and a free chart

Denise Felton — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:33:45 +0000

Go to Needleprint blog to enjoy a comparison of and a bit of interesting speculation about traditional blue-and-white embroideries of the Amager Dutch community and rural China. A full-size chart of an Amager sampler is available for US $10.00. Or download the free chart of a Chinese motif shown here.

New and vintage Banjara patches available in the USA

Denise Felton — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:07:04 +0000

Run over to Rayela’s Fiber Focus and check out Rachel Biel Taibi’s latest imported treasures, Banjara patches. Rachel says,

These patches are wonderful as you can incorporate them into larger textiles, attach them to bags, jean jackets, hats, and other accessories, or frame them as a small textile sample. The smaller ones are about 3×4 inches while larger ones can get up to 5×5 inches. All are hand embroidered by women who were traditionally nomadic in India.

As always, Rachel explains a bit of the history and culture surrounding her finds to help us more fully appreciate and respect the work and the workers. She’s briefly offering a 10% discount on this shipment. If you’re interested, hurry over to the blog post – her traditional textiles usually sell out quickly!

No affiliation. I just love this stuff.

Inspiration: Karen Ruane

Denise Felton — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:56:11 +0000

I never tire of Karen Ruane’s work or her lovely blog, Contemporary Embroidery. Her creations are unique. And her photos are as exquisite as her needlework. If you haven’t visited her lately, go see what she’s been up to.

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A design of many uses

Denise Felton — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:49:46 +0000

Brookelynn of Craftzine.com shares a pattern developed by artist Maria Merlino. Brookelyn says,

Maria Merlino, of Crochet Living, has transformed the peacock papercut into a fillet crochet pattern! Her work in crochet is creative and skillful, and she just happens to also be a member of the Guild of American Papercutters. Maria’s pattern is the perfect intersection of two distinct craft medias, and I love that she created the crossover.

It’s a gridded design, right? So I’m thinking…why wouldn’t this pattern work with cross-stitch, too? I think it would. In fact, it might even be adaptable to needlepoint. Check Janet Perry’s guidelines for adapting cross-stitch patterns to needlepoint and see what you think. In the meantime, go to the Craftzine post to download the pattern.

Hand-stitched-clock love

Denise Felton — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:35:26 +0000

Prudent Baby blog steps us through the making of an appliqued and embroidered clock built on a stretched painter’s canvas. The Tea Party Time idea is adorable, but it’s just the beginning of the possibilities available with applique and embroidery. Brilliant concept! See the tute. And many thanks to CraftGossip sewing editor Anne Weaver for giving me the heads-up on this great find.

And if you’re not yet in cute overdrive, then check out the gnome-home clock by Laura of Duo Fiberworks. While she’s not providing a tutorial for her techniques, she is making her hand-dyed wool felt available through her Etsy shop. Check out the blog post for links.