Anna of Mochimochi Land blog is documenting the basics of cross-stitch. If you’ve been wanting to try your hand at this style of embroidery, you’ll enjoy her clear instructions and plentiful photos. Go to Anna’s blog post.… Read More ...
Become a SWAK fan, get freebies!
That says it all! Go to Facebook and “like” SWAKembroidery’s fan page. Go on!… Read More ...
Free patterns: Hand embroidery
This cross-stitch roundup is all about free patterns. We have created this quick list with links to each Cross stitch pattern. We have tried to choose free patterns to suit something for everyone.
Please note that these patterns were free … Read More ...
Free patterns and charts: Leftover valentines
My day job and the flu kept me from timely posting of some of this year’s rockin valentine designs. Here are some you might want to download and save for next year’s love-y stitching.
This cross stitch roundup is all … Read More ...
Tutorial: Brazilian hydrangea
Kathy Shaw (Shawkl) demos a tricky but gorgeous Brazilian embroidery stitch. This hydrangea flower uses boucle thread, which gives it extra texture. See the tute.… Read More ...
Martha cross-stitches
For the March issue of Martha Stewart’s Living magazine, her crafty minions (known as The Crafts Dept.) forayed into cross-stitch. The upshot: a rockin tutorial for beginners, free patterns for some charming silhouette images and simple alphabets, and ideas … Read More ...
The importance of stitch direction
Does it matter whether you stitch right-to-left or left-to-right? Mary Corbet says it does. Find out why from her Needle ‘n’ Thread blog post.… Read More ...
Free sampler charts: Sins and virtues
Kell of Kincavel Krosses follows up her individual Seven Deadly Sins charts with a pair of free samplers: Seven Deadly Sins and Seven Heavenly Virtues. You know you want them!… Read More ...
Stitchy tutes
The web is full of tutorials for basic and fancy embroidery stitches. If you’re new to embroidery or could use a refresher, check these out:
(1) Woven picots from Sarah Whittle
(2) Coral stitch from Carina’s Craftblog
(3) Crown stitch … Read More ...
Needles for newbies
If you’re new to needlework, you may not yet realize that needles are not created equal. Betsy of She Twinkles gives a quick rundown of the most-used types of needles. See her post.… Read More ...
How to turn a couched corner
Jeanne of Just String has a great trick up her sleeve. She says,
… Read More ...When stitching a couched border such as this, you may face a dilemma because the couched thread ends in a hole at the corner and then has
Tutorial: Lacing needlework
Susan Elliott–with her typical patience, clarity, and excellent photos–shows us how to lace finished needlework onto a backing. She says, “The goal of lacing is to have a stretched piece of needlework with even tension, without bumps and bulges.” … Read More ...
Free floral alphabet from Blog di Gloria
Don’t forget: The free floral alphabet series continues on Blog di Gloria. Go to the blog to see the latest designs.… Read More ...
Make a hanging tuck
Debra of All About ME follows up her pillow-tuck tutorials with lessons for creating hanging tucks — fabric frames for displaying needlework. Go to her blog post for the links.… Read More ...
Stitch a salute to Will and Kate
CrossStitcher magazine sent us this great heads-up:
… Read More ...With the Royal Wedding fast approaching, the team behind the UK’s leading cross stitching magazine has commissioned a funky commemorative sampler to mark the occasion with style!
Issue 238 of CrossStitcher will feature