Needlework News

Fabric intarsia: Felt-inlay patchwork

Denise Felton — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:01:02 +0000

I’m enthralled. It never occurred to me that it’s possible to create inlay with fabric — much as woodcrafters do with veneer. And yet this needlework technique has been around at least since the 14th century! Crafting with wool felt is at a fever pitch right now, and here’s another perfect application for this luxurious fabric. Needleprint blog tells us a bit about technique and a bit about history, directs us to an exhibition in Vienna, and shares some fantastic photos. See the post.

Tatting tip: When a ring won’t close

Denise Felton — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:45:47 +0000

If you’re frustrated by a tatted ring that refuses to close, TATBit Tats has the answer. See her tip.

Oh, and don’t drive yourself crazy looking for a unclosed ring in the image. The picture is up there just because the tatting is gorgeous, not because it’s flawed!

Free pattern: Prick-and-stitch wreath

Denise Felton — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:36:49 +0000

DJ of Prick and Stitch Is My Craft is highlighting this lovely holiday card stitched by reader Capricorn. The prick-and-stitch pattern for the motif is free. Capricorn made it her own by replacing the stitched berries with flatback gems and adding a peel-off greeting and edging. So pretty — and quick to make! Get the pattern.

Inspiration: Rachel Loves Bob

Denise Felton — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:19:22 +0000

The dimensional embroidery of Rachel Loves Bob is totally swoonable! Silhouettes formed of buttons, with vintage beads tucked here and there to fill in. Just lovely. See the Etsy shop.

And many thanks to Penguin & Fish for pointing out this charming art.

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Tutorials: Four SRE stitches

Denise Felton — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:07:24 +0000

Hifa of Craft Patterns and Tutorials has posted tutorials for some of her favorite silk-ribbon embroidery techniques: feather stitch, gathered ribbon rose, loop stitch, and fly stitch. See the tutes. And watch her blog — she says more tutes are coming!

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Tutorial: Fence stitching

Denise Felton — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:56:05 +0000

kakariki of Radical Cross Stitch has joined “the realestate4ransom prankster campaign against the rampant land speculation plaguing Melbourne’s suburbs.” Thus, she is sharing a tutorial for a bit of gentle vandalistic protest: fence stitching. Yes, you can “cross-stitch” an image on any chain-link fence. Ordinances or conscience may prevent you from fence stitching on others’ property, but you can always stitch your own fence! Yarn-bomb your own property with Christmas trees, menorahs, or seasonal sayings! See the tute.

Giveaway: June at Noon patterns

Denise Felton — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:46:45 +0000

Gretchen of June at Noon is giving away two original, adorable Matryoshka-doll embroidery patterns. Go to her blog post to enter before 10:00 p.m. (Eastern USA time), November 24. The winner will be announced November 25.

Free patterns and charts: Christmas

Denise Felton — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:32:56 +0000

(1) Vive Noël from Brodyzen Créations
(2) Christmas Tree Angel from Madame Chantilly Cross Stitch
(3) Biscornu Noël from Le blog de kali
(4) Biscornu (2) from Le blog de kali
(5) Un petit ange from Le blog de Mamou
(6) SAL de Noël – Partie 18 from Echevette
(7) SAL de Noël – Partie 19 from Echevette
(8) ABC … Noël (4) from et patati et petites croix
(9) ABC … Noël (5) from et patati et petites croix
(10) Coeur Noël from Le blog de kali
(11) Joyeux Noël (2) from Le blog de kali
(12) Les cadeaux de Noël de Lutinette from Les chroniques de Frimousse
(13) Needlepoint Christmas Decorations from Happy Threads

Free chart: Festival of Lights frame

Denise Felton — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:41:30 +0000

The needlepoint chart for this photo frame with glowing silver menorah (designed by Judi Kauffman) is free from FreePatterns.com. Get the chart.

Free patterns and charts

Denise Felton — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:34:17 +0000

(1) Fashionable vintage squirrel from doe-c-doe
(2) Fly Away Home from June at Noon
(3) Médaillon 1 from Aurelle
(4) Un dinosaure from Les grilles de Thiarlou
(5) L’arrivée de Mamigoz au chalet du Chat Noir from Chez Mamigoz
(6) Petit lapin – réédition from les loisirs abbygaelle
(7) Circle Design from Le blog de Liselotte
(8) Happy vintage kitties from mes petits bricolages et mes chats
(9) Petite fille – réédition from les loisirs abbygaelle
(10) Petshop golden retriever from au fil de mes croix

New brooches from Karen Ruane

Denise Felton — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:45:49 +0000

Karen Ruane of contemporary embroidery is making new brooches. Be still my heart! See close-up photos and find out more from Karen’s blog post.

Tutorial: Braid stitch

Denise Felton — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:30:44 +0000

KerryKatieCakes has put together a tutorial on braid stitch — an effective seam or border treatment for CQ or even a garment. See the tute.

Beaded long-and-short stitch

Denise Felton — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:25:50 +0000

If you’re one of the throng who avidly followed Mary Corbet’s instructional series on long-and-short stitch, then you appreciate the difficulty of this shading technique, and you’ll especially enjoy Carol-Anne Conway’s stab at beaded long-and-short stitch! Carol says she’s not satisfied with the angles of some stitches or the color transitions, so she intends to rip out this work! Holy mackeroly. Imagine how incredible the “fix” will look! See the blog post.

Observations on Inca textiles

Denise Felton — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:09:53 +0000

The complex design of this antique tunic would be impressive enough if it were embroidered. In fact, the pattern is woven. Really. It is of pre-Columbian Inca origins. John Hopper of The Textile Blog notes,

Although this was not a tunic to be worn as an everyday domestic piece of clothing, the standard that had been achieved by Peruvian weavers at the time of the Inca Empire, was considered so high and woven patterned textiles had become such an integral part of the life of many Peruvians, that in many cases textiles were considered to be more precious than gold or silver.

Susan Elliott’s garden

Denise Felton — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:57:15 +0000

Susan Elliott is stitching a garden. I don’t know what the completed work will be, but the photos of the journey take my breath away. I literally couldn’t decide which image to entice you with, so the pearl-encrusted fern shown here is a random selection. See more astonishingly fabulous close-up photos of Susan’s remarkable needlework on her blog post.