Do you tend to stick to a few tried and tested favorite hand embroidery stitches?
I know I’m guilty of primarily working in cross stitch and the standard needlepoint stitches, the tent or half-cross stitch.  I may bring out the lazy daisy or back stitch if I’m not working on gridded canvas or Aida cloth…
But there is a world of stitches out there!

Have you ever heard of the “Droit stitch” or the “Stepped Sheaf stitch”?  How about the exotic-sounding “Turkey”, “Egyptian” or “Romanian” stitches?
If you’d like to expand your stitching repertoire, the Stitchopedia website is the place to start your search.  …read more

Since I covered my five favorite sewing supplies yesterday, I thought I should take a look at my embroidery supplies today
Since I do both machine and hand-embroidery, but covered sewing yesterday – I’m just going to share my 5 favorite hand-embroidery supplies in this post.
In no particular order…

A good embroidery hoop – I have very particular likes and dislikes when it comes to embroidery hoops.  I plastic hoops that are between 4″ and 6″ across (I find that larger hoops strain my wrists), that adjusts with a screw (I don’t like spring hoops) and one that has a …read more

I’d like to try tackling my first cross stitch sampler.  I’ve done many, many embroidery projects over the years – I’ve even charted my own cross stitch patterns.  But I haven’t done a sampler yet…
But I have to admit, I don’t like charting cross stitch (or needlepoint) letters and numbers.
I was just tickled pink when I found this great free online site for creating your own cross stitch alphabet!

StitchPoint has six different alphabets that you can choose from.  Just enter your text, print out your pattern and start stitching.
The interface takes a little bit of time to get comfortable (I …read more

I think this is such an amazing project – and a great way to try out some new fiber art techniques too!
“I am very pleased to announce the next project at hand for the 2008-2009 year for the International Fiber Collective.  The title of this sculpture is called Interdependence. We will create a full sized tree that will be on display in April 09′ at Big Springs International Park in Huntsville, AL.
Much like a live tree is interdependent on it’s leaves/roots for survival, like minded societies are interdependent on the greater whole, family units, communities, countries.
The collective is calling for …read more

Each week we will feature an article on needle work.  Today’s article is on the history of needlepoint.
In the Middle Ages, the term Needlepoint encompassed a wide range of needlework. It is not unlike the work done today, but had a broader spectrum of techniques. Today, needlepoint is exclusively recognized as the tent stitch. In the Middle Ages, it was referred to as canvas work in technique – it incorporated the tent, brick, flat, cross, and braid stitches.
Early examples of canvas work are found on ecclesiastical items such as copes, altar cloths, chasubles, and mitres. In later centuries, it is …read more

From the time I was a child I wanted to do needlepoint. My mother did seat covers for our dining room chairs. I thought that was really something cool so I asked her to teach me. She said she couldn’t because she was left handed and I was right handed! Her project got finished and I soon forgot about wanting to do needlepoint.
Years later I saw a very pretty needlepoint that a friend had done and I remembered my mother’s project. I decided to teach myself – so I did. My first project had …read more