The arrival of this book in my house provoked squealing, jumping, and uninhibited happy dancing. Not from me; from my manga- and anime-loving daughter! Don’t get me wrong: This colorful book full of lively needlework designs made my heart sing. … Read More ...
Book review: Stitchy Kitty Fuzzy Puppy
Interweave Press has done it again! On a cuteness scale of 1 to 10, the projects in this book rate at least a 12. You’ll enjoy every page of Stitchy Kitty Fuzzy Puppy: 60 Motifs to Stitch Everywhere
. Interweave … Read More ...
Book review: A Rainbow of Stitches
Here’s the perfect holiday gift for your stitchy friends: A Rainbow of Stitches
. As the subtitle notes, it covers embroidery and cross-stitch basics and includes more than 1,000 motifs and 80 projects. It’s not exactly a stitch encyclopedia — … Read More ...
Free chart: Mini wall hanging
I admit it: I’m a miniature fanatic. I have a 1:12 dollhouse. I love all things small — the tinier the better — especially miniature needlework. So I am crazy for Anja’s Dollhouse, a hobby site where Anja displays … Read More ...
Free tat pattern: Bookmark three ways
Looking for a beautiful little gift that you can tuck inside a Christmas card? Whip up some of Crazy Mom Tats‘ simple bookmarks. She offers the free pattern in three variations — from fluffy to plain (left to right … Read More ...
Free patterns and charts
This week, we’ve gathered the greatest hand-embroidery patterns for you to try! We offer something for everyone, whether you’re a novice or an expert. Our free patterns range from simple cross-stitch designs to more complicated flower and animal motifs. … Read More ...
Free charts: Christmas
Christmas Embroidery is a great way to add a festive touch to any holiday project. With a wide range of designs and patterns, it’s easy to find something to suit your style. From traditional snowflakes and reindeer to more modern … Read More ...
Inspiration: Liliane D.
The dimensional applique of this quilt absolutely takes my breath away! The piece was posted by BDcouture and is the work of her mother, Liliane D., based on art by Gaelle Boissonnard. Brava!
Dimensional applique is just that, applique … Read More ...
Spotlight on Russian embroidery
Enjoy John Hopper‘s short history of Russian embroidery on The Textile Blog. He says,
… Read More ...It is difficult to see a definite framework for style and pattern as there are so many regional variations within a country the size
Giveaway: Sibling Craftery
Kandra and Renee of Sibling Craftery are celebrating their first blogaversary with a blow-out giveaway! Prizes include gorgeous fabric scraps, DMS floss, stitchable tea towels, and a copy of Embroidered Effects by Jenny Hart. Go to the blog post to … Read More ...
Embroidering with shirt buttons
Here’s a surprising element from SharonB‘s For the Love of Stitching Sampler. She says,
… Read More ...It is a little sampler that is a section in its own right. This area was an experiment with plastic shirt buttons as I was
Afghan Hands teaches and supports
Please visit Rayela’s Fiber Focus and learn more about Afghan Hands. Its founder, Matin Maulawizada, says,
… Read More ...Afghan Hands teaches skills to help Afghan widows gain independence, literacy, and a livable wages. At our centers in and around Kabul, women
Learn to stitch on line with HEN
Online classes are now live on the Hand Embroidery Network! The HEN blog says,
… Read More ...All courses are provided with online tutor feedback which you can choose to take part in or work on your own, at your own pace, in
What the heck is a lucet?
Until this morning, I’d never heard of luceting. It’s a cord-making technique that uses unique tools and can yield results similar to tatted motifs. Tatskool recently attended a class led by “Mr. Lucet,” Ziggy Rytka. She reports on her … Read More ...
New free monogram alphabet: Fan Flowers
Mary Corbet of Needle ‘n’ Thread blog is adding a new monogram series to her collection. She’s posted the first letter in the Fan Flowers alphabet and promises that additional letters are forthcoming as time allows. As Mary notes in … Read More ...