Beading embroidery and cross stitch: how to add bling to your projects
Beading embroidery and cross stitch projects doesn’t have to be hard, and it can add a wonderful flash of bling to your pieces. This cross stitch tutorial demonstrates the various kinds of needles you...
View ArticleColor variations thread: using variegated floss like Coloris
If you’ve ever been wooed by the various color variations threads like DMC’s new Coloris line on your shopping sprees, you’re not alone. These gorgeous variegated threads can be subtle or striking, and...
View ArticleWhat’s the big deal about copyright?
If you’ve been in any online forum or group for long enough, at some point the dreaded “c” word will come up — copyright. It’s an issue that affects both designers and stitchers, as well as the...
View ArticleWhat needle threader is best for you?
If you’ve ever struggled to thread needles and wondered if there’s a better way, the good news is there are many options. Whether you use a needle threader, or whether you do it by hand, you don’t have...
View ArticleCross stitch needles: choosing the best needle for you
Sometimes it can be confusing when shopping for cross stitch needles, to know which brands to get and which sizes or types. Tapestry needles are the most commonly used in cross stitch, but there are...
View ArticleIntermediate backstitch techniques: handling long runs
Sometimes you look at a pattern that has a lot of backstitch and you’re like “ohhh noooo, what did I sign myself up for?” Particularly if the backstitch doesn’t follow the exact colours or outlines of...
View ArticleCross stitch fabrics: Aida, evenweave, and linen
If you’ve ever been to a needlework or craft shop, it can be overwhelming (in a good way) to see all the cross stitch fabrics that are available these days. Cross stitch fabrics come in a wide variety...
View ArticleAssembling a biscornu (plus a free biscornu pattern)
The word “biscornu” is derived from a French adjective meaning odd or bizarre. They are lovely projects, and can be used as pincushions, or smaller ones as scissor fobs or even needle minders if you...
View ArticleWhen is it time to ditch the 24 size needle?
This is a guest post by the very talented UK cross stitch designer, Lord Libidan. I hope you enjoy his tutorial on needle sizes! The cross stitch needle guide is a pretty well-known table by now,...
View ArticleTop 3 ways of transferring embroidery patterns to fabric
Transferring embroidery patterns to fabric doesn’t have to be difficult at all, but there are a variety of methods to choose from. The texture and thickness (and colour) of your fabric will often...
View ArticleEmbroidery tutorial: straight stitch, backstitch, and running stitch
If you’ve ever wanted to start learning embroidery but weren’t sure where to start, this tutorial hopefully will help! This embroidery tutorial includes the straight stitch, backstitch, and running...
View ArticleEmbroidered roses: how to do the woven wheel stitch
If you’ve ever wondered how to stitch beautiful embroidered roses, they’re not as tricky as you might think! One really simple stitch that can add a lot of beauty and dimension to your embroidery is...
View ArticleReview: The Mr X Stitch Guide to Cross Stitch
I was lucky enough to be contacted by the publisher of the newest cross stitch guide to hit the market, The Mr X Stitch Guide to Cross Stitch, and asked to give my honest feedback. I was thrilled to be...
View ArticleEmbroidering letters: the stem stitch and split stitch
Embroidering letters and text are a great way to make a personalized gift, and the stem stitch and split stitch are two embroidery stitches that are perfect for this. The stem stitch (as its name...
View ArticleEmbroidery stitch tutorial: the chain stitch and lazy daisy
One of the prettiest embroidery stitches is the chain stitch. There are a lot of variations to it (like a square chain, twisted chain, cable chain, etc), but in essence the chain stitch is a very...
View ArticleSatin stitch embroidery: a beginner’s guide
Satin stitch is a lovely embroidery stitch, but many people find it intimidating. We’re so used to seeing “perfect” satin stitch as done with machine embroidery on badges, labels, baseball hats, etc,...
View ArticleLeaf stitch: how to embroider leaves
The leaf stitch is such a pretty hand embroidery stitch, it can be used in all sorts of ways. Similar to the fishbone stitch, the leaf stitch is a great textural stitch (which is obviously perfect for...
View ArticleChanging colours in an embroidery or cross stitch pattern
For some embroidery or cross stitch patterns, it’s normal to want to change some colours (say of a girl’s hair, or a dress, etc). Changing colours is not as simple as it can seem at first, so below is...
View ArticleAligning letters in a hand embroidery pattern
Sometimes when you write delicate text onto your fabric from an embroidery pattern, your lines may look “wobbly”, especially if the letters are quite small and delicate (like a single line of...
View ArticleSulky thread for embroidery and cross stitch
One of the best things about being a stitcher is getting to experiment with so many amazing threads, fabrics, and tools. This tutorial is demonstrating some of Sulky’s threads, particularly those that...
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