Embroidery

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.

I thought it would be fun to give you a sneal peek of an upcoming embroidery pattern that will be posted in time for summer stitching.

This brand new, free hand embroidery pattern features a thistle - the symbol of Scotland - and is worked in basic surface embroidery stitches.

I've completed nearly half of the work, and will announce the posting of the pattern in the weekly newsletter!

Celebrate the anniversary of the Seattle Space Needle! Built for the 1962 World's Fair, the iconic structure located in the Seattle Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

You can join in the celebration by stitching the futuristic building on a table runner, kitchen towel or tote, complete with treetops and the ubiquitous Seattle rain drops. Or, for a sunny Seattle day, eliminate the raindrops.

The new free Space Needle Pattern can be enlarged or reduced to any size, and embroidered using your favorite embroidery stitches.

I love a good tongue-in-cheek, edgy embroidery pattern, and this Home Invasion pattern fun project by Sarah Terry is available free on her web site.

Choose your favorite invader - a house fly, cockroach, bedbug or spider - and stitch it on a ready-made item using basic embroidery stitches in your favorite embroidery thread.

So much fun, and perfect for summer stitching!

I've been busy compiling the Needlework Shop Directory pages, one listing at a time, and I'm pleased to report that lists for the East Coast and Canada lists have now posted.

Thank you so much to all who have emailed the information in their favorite LNS. Your feedback is very helpful, and much appreciated!

During this year's "travel season" you'll be introduced to several additional shops here on the blog, as I'm preparing for visits to locations in San Diego, California and British Columbia, Canada, and you just never know where I'll pop in next!

Attention Blackwork Embroidery enthusiasts - the Embroiderers' Guild of America (EGA) has issued a Call for Entry and is seeking work for an exhibition of contemporary blackwork embroidery.

The entries will be on display at EGA National Headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky February 1, 2012 through June 29, 2013. The exhibition is open to all members of the EGA, the Embroiderers Association of Canada, the Embroiderers' Guild UK, the Association of New Zealand Embroiderers Guilds, the Australia Embroiderers Guilds, and the American Needlepoint Guild (ANG).

See the Call for Entry for rules, deadlines and additional information.

I've visited countless needlework shops over the years. Each LNS is unique, with it's own strengths and quirks, and I love them all.

This week, I've come across a shop in the tri-cities area of Washington State that actually made me stop in my tracks and think, "huh?" I've added it to the West Coast Shop List, but with some hesitation...

After checking their web site I noticed that they still had announcements from a December/January holiday break on the main page - even though it was the 25th of April. Their web site apparently is not updated regularly, so if their hours do change for the better, customers may not be aware of it.

I'd love to see this little store actually thrive and develop, as a full-service needlework store is needed in the area. If the information on this shop's odd hours or limited inventory changes, please let me know and I will update the information.