I’ll be showing this form of embroidery in two very different materials: one is a sampler I stitched with embroidery floss on huck cloth/popcorn fabric, and one is an afghan my grandmother stitched in yarn on monk’s cloth. For each one, I have a larger overall photo and then some closeups.
The photo on the left is a discontinued kit – Pralines and Cream, from Avery Hill Designs. The directions included little gold beads all over it, but I disliked the effect so I left them off.
This was the quickest type of embroidery I’ve ever done. It really covered ground in a hurry. This kind of fabric has little raised threads all over it – you take your thread and run it under them, creating a couched effect. The thread doesn’t pierce the fabric except where you tuck the threads in at the end of a row. The back of this is blank. I’d like to experiment more with using different materials.
Mary Corbet has a post on huck embroidery, with more details on how-to.
The photo to the left is the afghan from my grandmother. I love the colors, it’s just beautiful. Huck embroidery is often done on monk’s cloth with yarn to make afghans. With floss on a smaller scale it’s often used to decorate towels, runners, and placemats.
Places you can find patterns and/or kits: Nordic Needle, Thistle Needleworks, and Stitch On It Direct.
embroidery for ducks 
I think I have a piece of the fabric somewhere – I’ve been meaning to have a go for a while. I might get around to it next year…
Next year is actually very soon!
This is so gorgeous! I’ve never heard of this type of embroidery before. I’ve always loved white-on-white embroidery. The first photos are the ones you made, right? I’d love to try this, maybe with just a pillow at first =) Thanks for sharing; I love your blog!
Thanks! Yes, the first ones are my work. Huck embroidery is not always white-on-white but it looks good like that anyway. Go for it!
I love this very neat and beautiful
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As a wedding gift 58 years ago I received some beautiful huck towels with this embroidery. I still have them and they are really durable. A few years ago I found a book with these patterns and bought it along with huck toweling. It’s very enjoyable to do and much faster than traditional embroidery (which I also enjoy). Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures and stories.
you’re welcome!
Is there a pattern available for the beautiful bed cover shown in your blog? I am referring to the cream on cream. It is so beautiful! If yes, where can I get it.
I will email you about this!
I just got started in Swedish embroidery and love it. I also love the same cream on cream pattern. Where can I find this pattern, and the fabric, too? It looks different from simple monk cloth.
Do you know the pattern name your Grandma used ? It’s very beautiful, the colors and pattern.
My dear friend is a designer of SW with a book for beginners. She also does gorgeous triloom weaving. http://SandrasStitches.eboard.com
Where do I get the patterns for these lovely swedish weaving. Thank you, Linda
Michaels carries 2 booklets at any given time. But there are some freebies online and, of course, you can go to my friend’s eBoard and ask her about her patterns! http://SandrasStitches.eboard.com
Instead of starting big with a bedspread using Monk’s cloth, try Aida cloth towels which are finished already, except for your stitching with floss and/or perle cotton.
On Monk’s cloth, it’s 7 stitches per inch using worsted yarn; on Aida, it’s usually 14 sts per inch using floss/perle.
Monk’s cloth takes preparation before stitching – zigzag edges BEFORE washing/drying. Washing/drying will shrink the 100% cotton between 15% and 20% so an adult afghan should be purchased at 2.5 yards. For a bedspread you’ll have to do piecing for width.
Worsted should be acrylic or cotton — not wool.
Look on YouTube for huck weaving or huck embroidery and/or Swedish Weaving.
Don’t confuse the SW by hand with the Swedish Weaving by loom.
You can also make up your own designs!!!
My suggestion for First-timers – do a towel. That’s much less costly to put aside if you don’t like the technique. http://Gentleasyougo.eboard.com – to see my SW et al
I love to Swedish weave. I have been weaving for about 6 years. Once you start you will be hooked. Currently I am doing a white on white afghan. I am very interested in the pattern with the cream on cream. Thank you
The Pralines and Cream pattern is out of print. This is such a beautiful pattern and I would love to get my hands on it! If anyone has one that that are through with I would love to buy it from them.
I agree with the above. I would love to buy the pattern as well, digitally would be great
I recommend you contact the company and ask them about it. I don’t have the copyright on it 🙂
For anything out of print try eBay. You might get lucky. But always check with the designer.