Mary Corbet of Needle ‘n’ Thread shows us how to use a plunging lasso to pull goldwork threads to the back of the work. See her tute.
What to do with an old CD
I love this piece by Annet of Fat-Quarter for so many reasons. Two at the top of my list: It makes beautiful use of a bead-and-ruffle technique she learned from Luiz Vaz. And it’s mounted over an old CD–one … Read More...
Free cross-stitch charts
What is this stitch?
Mary Corbet of Needle ‘n’ Thread is asking for readers’ help identifying the stitch used to create the flower at the center of this image. She suspects it’s a type of bullion stitch, and she issues this challenge:
… Read More...I’m going
Wind your floss…cheaply
Cristy of Lots of Neat Stuff has an opinion about floss bobbins that’s easy to agree with:
… Read More...They sell these in either a hard plastic or a flimsy cardboard. I used both kinds for my own storage. The plastic ones
Spy on Hand and Lock
Hannah of enbrouderie treats us to a two-part tour of Hand and Lock Embroidery of London, courtesy of her foreign correspondent–her mom! Hand and Lock is a favorite here at CraftGossip–an exemplar of embroidery fit for royalty and haute couture. … Read More...
Stitch a birthday keepsake
Astrid of Red Red Completely Red gives us a peek at the keepsake tablecloth she created, initiating it at daughter Tilly’s first birthday party. She says,
… Read More...The idea is get everyone who celebrates Tilly’s birthday with us to sign the
Inspiration: Heather Louise
Heather Louise of The Doll Farm has been busy again. She’s calling her latest series The Angels of Dirt. Don’t ask me why. Just go look at them.
Video tutorial: Stitching on paper
Wendi Gratz of Shiny Happy World is sharing a video tutorial for embroidering on paper. Check it out.
Tutorial: Finishing a sampler
Kathy of The Unbroken Thread shows us step-by-step how she stretched and finished this sampler. See her tute.
Artist interview: Katie Kutthroat
Carina of feeling stitchy has posted an interview with stitchy star Katie Kutthroat. You’ll enjoy the story and the close-up photos of Katie’s gorgeous, quirky work. Go there now.
Sand your pattern
Here’s an excellent tip from Mary Corbet of Needle ‘n’ Thread: Sand the back of your prick-and-pounce embroidery patterns to get clearer chalk impressions. (This seems like a good idea for prick-and-stitch designs on paper, too. Sanding would open … Read More...
Tutorial: Woven-trellis pumpkin
For those of us in the northern hemisphere, fall will be here before we know it. Get a jump on stitching for the season with a tutorial from Annet of Fat-Quarter: Learn to stitch a woven-trellis pumpkin. See the … Read More...
Free chart: Cause-ribbon buttons
Remember these cause-ribbon buttons stitched by Fourteen Countess? She’s now offering the chart for the design as a free download. She points out that it can be stitched in any color to represent the cause of your choice–perhaps for … Read More...
Free hand-embroidery patterns
We’ve chosen the best hand-embroidery patterns for you to attempt this week! We offer something for everyone, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned veteran. Our free cross-stitch patterns range from simple cross-stitch patterns to more complex floral and animal … Read More...
Tutorial: Punto antico bullion flower
Jeanine in Canada of Italian Needlework demos how to create a punto antico bullion flower. Gorgeous! Go to her tute.
Inspiration: Anja Rieger
Check out this awesome map created by Anja Rieger (Anja Rieger Design) for a contest at They Draw and Travel, a collection of illustrated maps by artists where “Each map is one-of-a-kind, highlighting off-the-beaten path sites and … Read More...
Recent stitch tutorials
Make a skein holder
Kathy of The Unbroken Thread has posted a tutorial for making a simple holder for the skeins of wool used in crewel or needlepoint. This inexpensive project is a must-have for traveling stitchers. See the tute.
Paint your hoop
But of course! Why use just a plain wooden hoop to display your stitching? Why not paint it to accent the color scheme of your work, as Carina of Carina’s Craftblog did! See a bigger, better photo at Carina’s blog … Read More...