The Scroll Stitch is a beautiful, looped surface embroidery stitch that can be used in bands and borders, or to outline shapes.

This graceful stitch is worked by looping the thread under the needle as you stitch, creating a stitch that resembles scrollwork.

The size and weight of the scrolls depends both on the weight of the embroidery thread used (in the sample, I have used #8 Pearl cotton) and the stitching tension (loose tension results in larger, mre defined scrolls). You can see a larger, more detailed photo here.

This stitch is definitely one that is worth a try, and has been added to theStitch Diagrams section of the site.

I had been gifted a bunch of old family photos years ago, but for one reason or another have never had much time to go through them. Labeling the photos for future generations is a task that's definitely on my "to-do" list before I forget who every one is.

This photo from my Dad's side of the family (Canadian) definitely caugh my eye!

The black and white image shows by great-grandmother (us kids all called her Granny) working on her embroidery. You can clearly see the embroidery hoop in her lap. Granny always had embroidery in her hands, and I have shelves stocked high with her finished surface embroidery projects, including entire bedspreads, lots of pillowcases and table runners.

This photo dates from about 1964, because I was just a small child when we made the treck by train to Toronto from the west coast to see my dad's family.

I guess this means I come by my love of embroidery naturally via genetics, LOL! I'm going to frame this photo and hang it above my desk for inspiration.

Thanks for the DNA, Granny!

It seems like no matter how many times a day I tidy up my workroom, it's difficult to work in. The bins of embroidery threads, fabrics and collections of books, tools and patterns seem to be everywhere, and always in the way. No amount of Spring cleaning seems to tame the mess.

So, I've been taking bids over the past 2 weeks from local cabinetmakers and custom closet designers to find out just how much it would cost to redo my little 6x10" work space. It's very small, with a 36" wide door at one short and and a window along one side, making it impossible to use ready-made cabinetry.

So far, the bids have been all over the place - from too good to be true to those that are surprising or prohibitively expensive for such a small craft room.

I'll keep you posted on my progress, and hopefully willl be showing you how things are going along the way, as well as the finished, completely reorganized product!

I've completed the embroidery for the Thistle Pattern, which is now ready for you to print and stitch!

This new, free hand embroidery pattern features a thistle flower. The flower is the symbol of Scotland, and has been worked in basic surface embroidery stitches common to crewel embroidery. Like the Autumn Acorn Pattern, this design is round in shape and was inspired by a design carved in an antique wood butter mould.

The thistle is considered a weed to many, but this native European plant also has uses in herbal medicine, are a common seed used in bird feeders, and the blossom is a common component in dried flower arrangements.

To work my version of the thistle flower, I have worked the pattern on evenweave linen fabric in seven colors of embroidery floss.