Category Archives: Embroidery

August 23, 2022 · 5:17 pm

Cross Stitch – Cinnamon Stars

Cinnamon Stars by Plum Street Samplers

I have returned to my stitching class; every friday I join some lovely ladies and stitch for three hours. It’s the only time in the week that I get to sit for any length of time.

I have plans to make a cloth, memory book; a page for everything that is special to me. I shall attach all my special trims and fabrics. I have bought a lovely hemp/silk fabric to use as the base.

However, that project is still in the planning and collecting resources stage, so I am working on my Cinnamon Stars cross stitch. I find the process very relaxing, almost meditative (I have to concentrate a bit too much for it to be meditative – all that counting).

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August 2, 2022 · 8:37 pm

Hand Embroidery 2

Hand Sampler

I have finished the first of my samplers, this is the flat stitches.

From top to bottom

  • running stitch
  • back stitch
  • whipped running stitch
  • split stitch
  • stem stitch
  • fern stitch

I have started the next sampler

Transferring the pattern

This one is the looped stitches, I’m currently working on chain stitch.

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July 14, 2022 · 3:53 pm

Hand Embroidery

Hand Embroidery Sampler

A number of years ago (it’s a bit embarrassing to remember how many) I subscribed to Craftsy for a year (before it became Bluprint and then Craftsy again). As part of my subscription, I got to keep certain classes forever, and one of the classes I chose to keep was Design it Stitch it Hand Embroidery. I finally decided to try it.

My base fabric is calico and I transferred the design using a window and a pigma micron pen, which I also bought years ago, when Juanita’s was an art store and not a bar. I am using DMC cotton floss, and I just picked 6 colours from my stash.

I am quite keen to learn some stitches and then create a piece, with different sections in different stitches, but nothing too formal or designed – like a doodle but in stitches.

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February 9, 2022 · 8:07 pm

Cinnamon Stars

Cinnamon Stars Progress

I have been working on my Cinnamon Stars cross stitch. It’s going quite well, slow but steady progress.

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January 30, 2022 · 11:58 am

Halloween Cat Is Finished

Halloween Cat – Finished

I finished my Halloween Cat cross stitch (from Satsuma Street). I started in June 2018, so that took quite a while to finish!

Next up Cinnamon Stars from Plum Street Samplers.

I have purchased all of the ‘called for’ threads (the weeks dye works and gentle arts ones) and I am using 32 count linen in a grey shade

Fabric for Cinnamon Stars

I bought this fabric at a craft fair and it had no information apart from count and size.

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January 27, 2021 · 3:21 pm

Halloween Cat Cross Stitch

Halloween Cat Progress

I am still working on my Halloween Cat – progress is slow, but enjoyable.

I have been listening to An offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn (the Audible version) while stitching.

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April 4, 2020 · 4:47 pm

Project Bag

Sock Knitting Project Bag

I have made a new project bag for my sock knitting. I wanted it to fit my knitting (obviously) and an A5 notebook. I also like the zip closure rather than a drawstring.

The machine embroidery design is from Urban Threads.

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March 19, 2020 · 8:37 pm

Jane Austen Embroidery – Jennie Batchelor and Alison Larkin

Jane Austen Embroidery – Jennie Batchelor and Alison Arkin

This combines two of my favourite things – Jane Austen and Embroidery.

Jennie Batchelor writes about Jane Austen, textile history and The Lady’s Magazine. Alison Arkin designed the projects based on embroidery designs in The Lady’s Magazine.

It’s a beautiful book with lovely designs and illustrations. There are designs for all kinds of things; phone pouch, work bag, table cloth, cushion, clutch. My favourite is the design on an apron (I am not sure if I would ever make an apron, but I like the embroidery).

Work bag, Apron and Illustration

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December 16, 2019 · 4:55 pm

Lace Stars

Lace Star – design from Urban Threads

These stars appealed to me – decorations, present toppers, etc.

Stitching the Star

I found two layers of water soluble stabiliser worked best (hooped perpendicular to each other).

I used the same thread as both my top thread and my bobbin thread.

I have slowed my machine down to 500 spm. I am not sure if that is necessary, but everything just seems to work a lot better. At this speed it does take 70 minutes, but there are no colour changes.

Red Star

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September 30, 2019 · 1:40 pm

Making embroidered Fabric

Embroidering on Silk Dupion

I oiled my machine (a Janome 500e). I had been putting it off because it seemed a complicated business, but in the end it was fine. Just read the instructions and do one step at a time. And I am sure next time it will be even easier.

I was keen to use it after that. I have been wanting to make embroidered fabric – that I could then use on another project, so I decided now was the time. I used one motif from Graceful Embroidery (Dainty Vines collection) and I copied it and rotated it until I was happy with the layout (I used Embird).

Finished version

I am going to make a zipper pouch out of it – need to make fabric for the second side.

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