Category Archives: Embroidery styles

Debate: Flower cluster colors

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Hannah

I’m traveling, y’all, that’s why my posting is off schedule. I resolved my trunk color debate: I am keeping the gray tones (dark, medium, light), but I switched to a darker gray for the shaded side of the trunk. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Crewel, My work | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Kiswah: Religious goldwork on an enormous scale

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Hannah

My Saudi friend helped me out again! The picture below shows the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Kaaba (Arabic: الكعبة‎) is a cube-shaped building in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is the most sacred site in Islam. The Qur’an states … Continue reading →

Posted in Embroidery around the world, Goldwork | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Book review: Crewel Embroidery

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Hannah

This is a review of the book Crewel Embroidery, edited by F. Anderson. Octopus Books Limited, London, 1974. ISBN 0-7064-0319-3. A tip I picked up from this book, which will entertain my fellow Americans no end: remember the rainbow (red, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, Crewel | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Machine Embroidered Portraits

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Hannah

I saw a post about artist Harriet Maxwell on Mr. X Stitch, and just had to pass the word along. She uses an Irish sewing machine to create detailed portraits. Y’all, what is an Irish sewing machine? Is it just … Continue reading →

Posted in Surface embroidery | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Flowerpot Tablecloth

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Hannah

My grandma gave me this tablecloth. Usually when I see embroidered tablecloths, I think to myself “Wow, that is huge and way too much work!” But this one is bright and fun and uses 6 strands of floss, so something … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandma, Surface embroidery | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Debate: Trunk Color

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Hannah

OK, folks, I’m looking for some opinionated people. The trunk (according to the kit) should be in 3 shades of gray. I’ve started work on it, but it’s not too late to change! I’ve had one commenter who prefers brown. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crewel, My work | Tagged , , , , , | 25 Comments

Plas Teg Bellpull Kit!

Posted on April 22, 2011 by Hannah

OK, I gave in to temptation and started it (original post describing the kit). Two strands of floss with crewel stitching covers so much more ground than one strand of silk in satin, so I feel like I’m making progress. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crewel, My work | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Blackwork and Color Theory

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Hannah

Kathy at The Unbroken Thread recently completed an absolutely beautiful blackwork piece. The first photo is the finished piece. The second photo is missing some of the border, but it is at less of an angle so you can see … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackwork, Color and design, Free resources online, Goldwork, patterns and designs | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

History of Colcha embroidery

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Hannah

Monique worked as the sound recording archivist of the John Donald Robb Archives of Southwestern Music at the Center for Southwest Research. She sent me more information on the history of colcha, and here is an edited version of her … Continue reading →

Posted in Castelo Branco, Colcha embroidery | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Monique’s Colcha Embroideries

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Hannah

I had a colcha expert write in! Hurray!!!! Today I’ll show two examples of Monique’s work. Next week I’ll follow up with information she gave me on the history of colcha embroidery. You can check the colcha embroidery section of … Continue reading →

Posted in Colcha embroidery, Embroidery around the world | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments