To celebrate her birthday, Pat of Bird Nest on the Ground is giving gifts. You could receive this lovely CQ heart pin plus “a selection of black jewels” from her collection (delicas, novelty beads, buttons, and more). Go to Pat’s … Read More ...
Video portrait of a needle artist
Oh, my! You have to see this video showcasing the incredible free-motion embroidery of Indian artist Rita Rakshit–on a treadle sewing machine! Many thanks to Lakshmi of Hand Embroidery from Sadalas for sharing this link. See the video.… Read More ...
October Stitch Explorer Challenge
SharonB (Pin Tangle) has announced the October Stitch Explorer Challenge: laidwork foundations. To see abundant links to resources and to join in the fun, see SharonB’s blog post.… Read More ...
Christmas-y CQ seam treatment
If you’re doing a bit of Christmas CQ stitchery, you’re going to want to include this seam treatment charted by Shawkl. Wouldn’t this rock as a multicolor design! Shawkl has posted quite a few new charts recently in her … Read More ...
Tip: Alternating needlepoint stitches
Janet Perry (Nuts About Needlepoint) has come up with a simple but brilliant trick for staying on track while stitching an alternating stitch. She says,
… Read More ...This technique will work with ANY stitch that alternates and goes over only
Tips: Embroidery on perforated paper
I have a little stash of perforated paper that I bought on a whim, but I’ve never come up with a use for it. Thanks to Mary Corbet (Needle ‘n’ Thread), the stash is likely to become a … Read More ...
Left-handed stitcher’s bible is ready for preorder
Lefty alert: Yvette Stanton‘s major opus is available for preorder. The new work is The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion: A Step-by-Step Stitch Dictionary
. If you follow Yvette’s blog, White Threads, you know what a labor of love this … Read More ...
Free embroidery patterns from Sprite Stitch
If you’re crazy for Sprite Stitch’s lively game-inspired images, here’s a huge treat: Servotron has compiled a master list of free patterns posted on the Sprite Stitch discussion board. Pure gold! See the list of links.… Read More ...
Pincushion giveaway
Lisa of Ivory Blush Roses is celebrating her 100th blog follower by giving away three of her exquisite CQ pincushions. Go to her blog post to enter before 8:00 p.m. (Arizona time), Sunday, October 18.… Read More ...
New tutes: Embroidered text
Mary Corbet of Needle ‘n’ Thread blog has started a new free tutorial series on using lettering and text in hand embroidery. You’ll want to get in on this! See the first post.… Read More ...
Indian embroidery: Toda
Have you been following Sailaja‘s Summers of India blog? She’s posting a series of informative articles about history and techniques of traditional Indian embroidery. Her October 12 post, for example, explains and illustrates Toda embroidery, “tribal embroidery from the … Read More ...
Tutorial: Montenegrin stitch
Learn Montenegrin stitch via the tutorial at Rittenhouse Needlepoint blog. See the tute.… Read More ...
Free from UT: Breast-cancer-awareness design
Urban Threads is sharing this rockin pattern in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Karline of UT says,
… Read More ...This punchy “Girl Power” design is available in formats for machine embroidery, hand embroidery, and digital stock art, so crafters of all
Great idea: Tatted luminaries
TATBit Tats notes that Febreze’s flameless luminaries are the perfect base for needlework such as tatting. Just add some tatted bits to the translucent shade. Or, if you’re sensitive to fragrances, replace the scented paper with some pretty scent-free handmade … Read More ...
Gum Tree freebie #2
Among the Gum Trees has released the group’s second Christmas freebie: a placemat with a darling redwork Christmas-pudding design by Joy of Joypatch blog. Get the pattern.… Read More ...