A reader named Michella tipped us off to this almost-edible stitchery. Wonderful! See more in wardi’s flickr photostream.

Judy of POSSIBILITIES, etc.!  and FREEBIES, etc.! has posted a tutorial for stitching a basketweave border around any odd shape. She says,

Having seen a number of people having trouble stitching basketweave around shaped ornaments, I have begun a tutorial … to show…

Don’t miss Susan Elliott’s post about how a piece of needlework changed her life. Amazing story. And the photos deserve deep study. See the post on Plays With Needles blog.

Tara Ross of A Speckle of Twisted Whimsy has taken rug hooking to three dimensions by creating this adorable birdie ornament. Find out more from her blog.

Janet Stauffacher of Nostalgic NeedleART is sharing a crazy-quilt block pattern that would work equally well for a bride or a graduate. Janet says,

Print this block directly onto computer printer fabric with your inkjet printer, then use it as the foundation for…

Elsie Marley had this great idea: Make up embroidery “sketchbooks” for needle-doodling on the go. Quick, easy, and handy. Find out how on Elsie’s blog.

And many thanks to floresita of feeling stitchy for calling Elsie out!

WoooHOOO! SharonB of Pin Tangle blog is giving us the lowdown on how to create a needlewoven picot. So that’s how she gets those wonderful leaf shapes! See the tute.

Calamity Kim is sharing her secrets for making scrumptious chiffon flowers. Yea!!! See the instructions.

Urban Threads’ new free design, Fight Like a Girl, was made, UT says, “at the request of Theresa, who wanted something to stitch for breast cancer awareness. She and some friends are using all kinds of crafty strategies to raise money…

This little bikini is guaranteed to fit…your needlework project. Maria Diaz’s design is free from The Chart Shop at Cross-stitching.com. Get the chart.

I’m back from a throwdown with a respiratory virus, and I’ve got a backlog of rockin needlework news. I’ll catch you up as quickly as I can.

First up, Laura of Duo Fiberworks walks us through the steps she followed to compose a portrait…

Heidi of NeedleNecessities is sharing the chart for this simple but sweet primitive Christmas ornament. Get the chart.

Janet Perry of Nuts About Needlepoint walks us through using satin and long-and-short stitches to embroider realistic flower petals on needlepoint canvas. See the tute.

This exquisite temari completed by Jane of World Embroideries has 32 centers and multiple layers. You can become hypnotized by trying to absorb all the detail in the photo. Read more.