If you add fusible web to fabric in preparation for applique, you’ve had this happen at some point. Somehow, the web and the fabric get bunched, and you wind up with ugly, permanent ripples or creases. Should you just throw … Read More ...
A trick for evenly spaced flower petals
Do you avoid embroidering flower motifs because it’s so hard to space the petals evenly and make them all the same length? (I do.) Mary Corbet to the rescue! Her solution is a snap for anyone with a computer and … Read More ...
Cool summer stitching
If you live in the northern hemisphere and it seems too hot for needlepoint–all that wool and a lapful of project–check out Janet Perry‘s tips for cool summer stitching. See her Nuts About Needlepoint post.… Read More ...
Tutorial: Damp stretching embroidery
If you press your finished embroidery–even if you press it face down on a fluffy towel–the stitches may be crushed. Mary Corbet of Needle ‘n’ Thread steps us through damp stretching, a process that smooths the ground fabric while preserving … Read More ...
Video tutorial: Basque stitch
Mary Corbet‘s instructional videos make even complicated embroidery stitches doable. Her latest is basque stitch. She says, “You can think of the Basque stitch as a combination of twisted chain stitch and buttonhole stitch, upside down.” It’s easier than … Read More ...
Tutorial: Stumpwork ladybug
If you love Elizabeth Braun‘s stumpwork as much as I do, then you’ll be thrilled to learn that she’s sharing the tutorial for this adorable ladybug! Go to her Sew in Love blog post for the instructions.
Looking … Read More ...
How to make a traveling stitch kit
This might be the most awesome needlework kit ever. It holds everything you need, from the hoop to the needles. It opens flat so you can lay it across your lap and use it as a work surface when you’re … Read More ...
Tutorial: Ending and restarting thread invisibly
What if you run out of thread in the middle of a complicated stitch? How do you keep the join from showing? Annet of Fat-Quarter shows her technique for solving this problem in a row of cable chain stitch. The … Read More ...
How to remove acrylic paint from fabric
It is possible to remove unwanted acrylic paint from fabric, even if it has dried. Diana of Closet Crafter explains how she does it, and her photos of the results confirm that her method works. Check it out. And … Read More ...
Tutorial: Sparkling embroidered dragonflies
Chris of Ella’s Craft Creations explains how to create embroidered dragonflies with gorgeous iridescent wings. See her tute.
The Dragonfly represents change, metamorphosis, adaptation, and self-realization in practically every corner of the planet. The shift that is … Read More ...
Tutorial: Applique with fusible web
If you’ve never tried raw-edge applique using fusible web, Kim of Big B has got you covered. She steps through the process of transferring a design to paper-backed web and then applying the applique to the ground fabric. After you … Read More ...
Handling curves: Video applique tutes
Wendi Gratz of Shiny Happy World is doing a rockin series of video tutorials on machine applique. If you have any discomfort about handling curves (and who doesn’t), you’re going to want to see these. Go to the post that … Read More ...
How Mollie designs a pattern
Mollie of Wild Olive has a guest post over on Whip Up that gives us a look at her process for creating an embroidery pattern. As always, Mollie is interesting, funny, and smart. And her demo design is sooooo cute. … Read More ...
Try this CQ scrap experiment
Inspired by a fabric-collage workshop led by Susan Carlson, Allie Aller experimented with applying one of the techniques to crazy-quilting. The awesome results are shown here. Go to her Allie’s in Stitches blog post to find out how she did … Read More ...
How to stitch a perfect bullion knot
Kathy of The Unbroken Thread reveals the secret to making perfect bullion-knot flowers. See her blog post.… Read More ...