Needlework News

Wow: Electronic embroidery

Denise Felton — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:00:54 +0000

When I say electronic embroidery, I’m not talking about embroidery produced by a computer-driven machine. I mean embroidery that incorporates light and motion!

On the Craftzine site, Becky Stern says, “I’ll show you how to enhance your embroidery projects with illumination. I use conductive thread, a watch battery, and two light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to create a scene of a frog catching fireflies.”

See the video tutorial!

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Another great tutorial from Deepa

Denise Felton — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:00:15 +0000

Deepa Balagopal has posted another excellent tutorial for an Indian embroidery stitch. This time, she walks us through chemanthy work - a complex spiraling stitch. Check out the instructions and then take a stab at this lovely technique.

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Join the Tour de France stitchalong

Denise Felton — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:00:07 +0000

Kat Rocha of Cross Eyed Kat needlework designs is sponsoring a month-long stitchalong in honor of the Tour de France bicycle race. If you participate, you’re in for a lot of fun, not to mention some great prizes - free Cross Eyed Kat charts! Check contest details on Kat’s blog, and get to stitching! The party starts July 5!

Thanks for the heads-up, Kat!

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You can be Matisse!

Denise Felton — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:00:28 +0000

Okay, maybe you can’t actually become Matisse. But you can use his cutouts as design elements in your own needlework creations. See this great post by Janet Perry of Nuts About Needlepoint about how to take advantage of the Mastisse Artist Widget from Abrakadoodle.com. Thanks so much for the heads-up, Janet!

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Great stitch tutorial

Denise Felton — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:00:37 +0000

Jeanne at Just String blog has posted an excellent tutorial on spiral trellis stitch. The explanation is clear, and lots of photos guide us through the steps. Be aware that, because the post is picture heavy, it may take a while to load. But hang in there; it’s worth it!

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Free fireworks pattern

Denise Felton — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:00:31 +0000

With Independence Day coming up in the U.S. on Friday, patriotic patterns seem to be on everyone’s minds. Here’s a great free cross-stitch pattern with a seasonal flair. Thanks to designer Erica Michaels and Rainbow Gallery web site.

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Free embroidery pattern

Denise Felton — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:00:55 +0000

Badbird’s free embroidery pattern for July is available for download, and it’s a cutie. Meet Jacob the Octopus, another brainchild of Andrea Zuill. Download the free pattern from the Badbird’s blog.

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Teeny tiny tutorials

Denise Felton — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:01:54 +0000

Janet Granger is a goddess of miniature needlepoint; and her site, Dollshouse Embroidery Kits, will help you become one, too. Janet’s free online tutorials walk you through everything from basic equipment to working with fine fabrics such as 32-count silk gauze. Several additional tutorials are coming soon. Even if you’re not likely to take up this tiny artform, take a look at Janet’s kits. The scale and detail are fascinating.

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Great idea: Filigree + embroidery

Denise Felton — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:00:17 +0000

I’ve just discovered Guyot Brothers, a manufacturer of filigree jewelry findings. The Guyot Brothers site notes a use for these metal bits and baubles that never before occurred to me: They can be used as miniature needlepoint or embroidery canvases.

The site says, “Another product more recently considered as a base for needlepoint is filigree stampings. With its symmetry and range of sizes and shapes, filigree is an interesting alternative for those who want to mix stitchery with jewelry making. Brooches, pendants, and even earrings can be made with needlepoint, adding new dimension, textures for the needlepoint artist, and a multitude of color choices for the jewelry maker…Guyot Bros. manufactures scores of filigree items that can be used as needlepoint canvases including brooches, buttons or even Christmas tree ornaments.”

As the example shown here proves, the results can be spectacular. Guyot sells directly only to manufacturers and volume users. But the site offers a list of outlets that sell in retail quantities.

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Help Brenda find a threader

Denise Felton — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:00:15 +0000

Reader Brenda Gomez asks, “I need a REALLY good needle threader. Or a better way to thread a needle. I hand embroider. I have broken 12 threaders in 2 months. The wires come out.”

I hear you, Brenda! A needle threader is a necessity for me. I’m not only at the bifocal stage of my life, but also I have a tremor that makes precise tasks difficult. I don’t like the little threaders that look like a shred of wire on a piece of tinfoil. They don’t hold up for me, either. So I looked around on line to see what other options might be available. Here are some of my finds. I can’t vouch for them from personal experience - I haven’t tried any of them. But they all look as if they have potential.

Wire needle threader in a tube
DMS needle threader 3 in 1
Clover embroidery needle threader
Black oval needle threader
Needle threader that works like a stapler
Timeless Touches needle threader for thick fibers

So what’s my tried-and-true personal needle-threading technique? I use dental-floss threaders. (This is another side-effect of aging: I have bridgework; and my dentist gave me some floss threaders to help me clean the area between bridge and gums. I immediately saw the crafting potential!) Floss threaders are little loops of a material that feels like fishing line - thin but strong. They eventually break apart under pressure; but because they’re so inexpensive (or free, if your dentist is generous), it’s no problem just to grab a new one. Check the toothpaste aisle of your discount store.

If you’ve tried one of the threaders I’ve listed and you have an opinion about it, or if you have a favorite threader that isn’t mentioned here, please add a comment to this post. Brenda - and I - would appreciate it.

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