Book Review: Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery

I received Sharon Boggon's book, Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery, for Christmas. This book is a visual guide of 120 embroidery stitches. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced embroiderer, this book encourages you to create new patterns by playing with the stitches. For example, to manipulate the height and width of a stitch, to overlap and stack stitches, to combine laced and threaded stitches . . . Page 27 has a list of 21 questions to consider when using a particular stitch, such as

• How does this stitch behave on a curve?
• Can this stitch be laced with another thread?
• What happens if I add beads?

Lots of stitch combinations to consider!

You won't be disappointed with the coloured photos throughout the book.

You are probably familiar with Sharon's website, Pintangle. If not, and you are interested in hand embroidery (beginner or experienced), please check it out. 

Another TAST (Take a Stitch Tuesday) challenge started today. So it's time to get your threads and doodle cloth ready for stitching!

More links about hand embroidery:

• Nordic Needle   (free patterns)
• Freebie Gallery  
• Needle 'n Thread Network (Mary Corbet)
• Jo Butcher, artist  
• Emma Mattson, artist  
• Needle Work,  Needle Painting
• DMC free patterns   
• Tanja Berlin, Canadian designer 
• EAC, Embroiderers' Association of Canada   
• 10 Contemporary Embroidery Artists   

Enjoy!

First Circle Stitched - Instastitchwithsue

Here's my first circle stitched from Sue Spargo's instastitchwithsue on Instagram. I'm very satisfied with this one. The cream fly stitch, lime pistil stitch and burgundy colonial knots, are embroidered with Valdani threads. The bullion knots, variegated outer edge and center, are from Sue's collection which were purchased at Sew With Vision, Halifax.

I do have number 2 finished but I am thinking of adding another colour to it as I'm not happy with it. I'll post the before and after photos on my next post.

Stay safe, stay home and wash hands! I keep a fragrance free hand lotion on the bathroom sink to help with skin dryness.

A few links to check:

• Stitch Dictionary from Pintangle
• Mary Corbet's Needle 'n Thread stitch videos
• Tutorials from Shawkl Designs (Stitches for Crazy Quilting)
• Kelly Fletcher Needlework Design 
• Pinterest HERE (stitch tutorial from Kelly Fletcher)  

Enjoy

This & That

Have you been checking out the Canada 150 - It's in the Bag Tour, that I posted about yesterday? The participating quilters are doing a magnificent job on their bags.

I have a few more links for you to check:

• How to Frame a Mini Quilt    
• Stitchers Challenge from Pintangle   (This is a long term project)
• Paper Pieced Logo for Canada's 150th to use in the Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild Project
• My post on projects for Canada's Birthday   
• Canada 150 Mosaic  scroll down and check out some of the finished ones

   

Sewing Portifolio (2)

Sharon Boggon, from Pintangle, posted about What is a Hussif . I'm not going to rewrite what she has written as you can visit her blog to do that. She has made her own hussif in the crazy quilting / embroidery style. I, too have been interested in making sewing cases for carrying my stitching project supplies. A few years ago, I designed and created my very own and entered it in a show. It sold! Then, of course, I had to make another one for myself.

Closed, it measures 8" x 12" and when opened, it is 12" x 25". I used Bali Batiks for this project with nylon window screen used for the inside pockets. Some machine embroidery has been added to the pocket edges with variegated embroidery thread. I considered using fabric for the pockets but then I would never know what's inside them. As you can see, the front has been embellished with some of my Fantasy Fish. A magnetic bag clasp keeps it together. I added a length of green Velcro along one fold to hold small things such as a glue stick. The cotton threads are strung on a cord with a plastic toggle which keeps the threads from sliding off. There is a place for most of my small sewing / embroidery gadgets and supplies!

I did post about this same project in 2010. However, this post has more close up photos.
Enjoy!



The back of sewing portfolio with another pocket



Nylon window screen is used for inside pockets.

Note the clasp on cord to hold small pair of scissors and the
toggle on the cord beneath the threads,

The edges of the nylon window screen are embroidered

Velcro is used so needle case, pincushion and holder can be removed

Fold over pocket



Velcro stuck to the glue

So Logical - Why Didn't I Think of That ? !!!

I was just taking a break from sewing and decided to read some email. The latest from Pintangle caught my attention! For those of you who use transparent stencils, this post is for you. To keep these stencils from been invisible on the worktable, put stickers on them. How simple is that!

I guess it's another trip to the Dollar Shop unless I just use some coloured dots I already have on hand. For more stuff from the $ Shop, check out my December post on Dollar Shop Finds.

stickers

Hand Embroidery

Today the focus is on hand embroidery web sites and blogs.

• Mary Corbet's Needle 'N Thread is the 'go to' site for almost everything you need to know about hand embroidery. 
• Mary Joan Stitching has lots of sites with free patterns and tutorials
• Sharon B's Pintangle
• I Sew Free   
• About.Com Embroidery
• Needlework Craft Gossip
• Bad Birds 
• Needlework
• Eglantine Stitchery
• Craft Leftovers
• Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials
• Sublime Stitching 
• Hand Embroidery Network
• Stitchin Fingers
• Textile Artist
• My Sweet Prarie

Previous Posts

• Hand Embroidery (May 2012)
• Hand Embroidery (Feb 2010)
• Embroidery (June 2011)
• Happy Stitching (Jan 2012)

These two pieces are original designs. The applique and hand embroidery evolved from the hand embroidery piece. I was pleased with the outcome.

Applique and Hand Embroidery

Hand Embroidery (Crewel with Appleton Wool)