Jennifer Stern of CraftStylish explains the embroidery term “baste in the hoop.” And if your machine doesn’t have this feature built in, you can download free basting stitches from Jennifer’s site! (See the post for the link.) Thanks, Jennifer!

Check … Read More...

Karen of Kquilts Studio has posted a tutorial for a handy-dandy pincushion and thread catcher that will make any needleworker’s life easier and neater. Thanks to Natalie Zee Drieu of Craftzine.com for the heads-up.

Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood of CraftSanity has started a new collaborative project with fellow-quilter Bev Laing. Posted Stitches is a monthly art-quilt challenge between these two artists, and we get to watch what happens. I’m in love with their first effort, … Read More...

Judy Coates Perez has a new DVD available from Quilting Arts, Painting Fabric for Wholecloth Quilts. On her blog, Painted Threads, Judy says, “This DVD gives information on using textile paints, mixing color, painting demonstrations for glazing, … Read More...

I adore smocking on children’s clothing, but I’ve never had the gumption to try it myself. It seems too precise for my skills and too time-consuming for my schedule. SWAKembroidery.com has an answer for folks like me. They’re offering machine-embroidery … Read More...

If you’ve been wanting to try your hand at miniature needlepoint but you’ve been intimidated by the scale of the thing, Janet Granger Designs has the solution. Janet’s site offers not only the supplies needed for this minuscule craft but … Read More...

The free cross-stitch chart of the week from The Chart Shop at Cross-stitching.com is this adorable design from Jenny Barton. Download the chart. And be sure to look at the whole Happy Hippo series.

If you’re in the southern hemisphere, you’re probably enjoying the approach of spring. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, you know spring will be here again before you know it. Either way, you should consider downloading the pattern for this … Read More...

Anyone Can Quilt blog has posted a machine-quilting tute for newbies that will make you smile while teaching you everything you need to know to get started. This is how modern quilters do it.

And thanks to Happy Zombie for … Read More...

Marie at Make and Takes blog has come up with another simple and simply beautiful idea for a hand-stitched greeting card. Get the free pattern and instructions.

And thanks to Jenny Ryan at Craftzine.com for pointing to this great … Read More...

Pipers Girls blog posted a great idea for needlepunch lovers. “There are not as many patterns available for needlepunch,” the blogger says, “so I like to use the many that are meant for applique. This is a small quilt that … Read More...

Pimp Stitch is offering new patterns this week from each of the designers, including some awesome Christmas designs. What’s more, you can buy the Summer 2008 patterns in money-saving “bundles” – six patterns for US $15. Get all the details … Read More...

I just stumbled across a perfectly amazing blog: Christmas Ornament Stitch-A-Long. Did everyone know about this site but me? The project claims a huge crew of needleworkers, listed in the sidebar. (Lots of great blog-hopping there.) Each month, the … Read More...

Jenna Z of CorgiPants blog is making this sweet border pattern available exclusively on Needlework News at CraftGossip! (Just right-click the pattern and save it to your hard drive.)

She’s also sharing free chicken-scratch patterns (for personal use) in celebration … Read More...

Not all that easy, but certainly doable even for a novice, is this precious dimensional stitched portrait by Amy of LucyKate Crafts. Amy does a wonderful job of stepping us through the project, and the results are irresistable. … Read More...

CC of Lace ‘n’ Ribbon Roses blog has made available a vintage (1960) pattern book from Coats & Clark. When you click the images, larger versions open. The text is still a bit hard to make out, but the images … Read More...

SharonB of In A Minute Ago blog just turned me on to a cool online tool for designing your own fonts: FontStruct. There are dozens of applications for a font engine, of course, but the possibilities for needlework designers … Read More...

J Casa at JCasa::Handmade blog has put together a tutorial for creating a little quilted notebook to hold all of your lists. It’s precious. In fact, it’s probably the ideal Christmas gift for that sweet obsessive-compulsive person on your list. … Read More...

Whether or not you’ve signed up to participate in the Stitchers’ Angel swap, you can try your hand at this month’s project. A tutorial for making this handy stitcher’s armchair caddy is available now on the Hugs from Helen… Read More...