In deze blogpost lees je hoe je de Alabama Chanin techniek kunt toepassen bij het upcyclen.

Many moons ago, back at the end of last October, I made this rather humbling confession about my messy embroidery worktable. The problem posed was that I couldn't find my tweezers. Many of you chimed in with questions about my tweezers. Many wanted to know... "What are those tweezers?" I feat

Multiple layers of extensively repaired and patched fabrics... hand-sewn for practical purposes, for retaining warmth... ...

Here are the best types of embroidery fabrics and some things to keep in mind when choosing materials to embroider on.

In this tutorial, I'm going to show how you can transform a normal lazy daisy into a beautiful flower using buttonhole-knot technique. E...

Learn the ancient art of hand embroidery, including a supplies list, hand embroidery patterns, hand embroidery kits, and other resources.

Did you know that the centuries old Kantha stitch started of as a technique for upcycling cloth. Layers of rags would often be fused together by the humble running stitch and converted to something fancier and usable at the same time!Over the years, it has evolved and is now a la mode making its presence loud around the globe!This versatile scarf in pure Kosa Tussar comes decorated with colorful threads in eye catchy patterns that are created by thousands of stitched coming together!This handmade accessory can be effortlessly styled with casual, workwear and formal attires!Size: 78 by 22 inches approximately!SILK MARK CERTIFIEDNote: The base fabric is Pure tussar Silk and the embroidery is completely done by hand. There may be slight inconsistences residual stencil marks etc. that are characteristic and are not considered defects.Note: Colors displayed on screen may vary slightly from the actual product due to variations in screen settings and other factors.

Just a quick post to share with you the fabulous weekend I've just spent at Hope & Elvis with the very talented Jessie Chorley Here is a glimpse of some of her work ... tiny stitching and gorgeous embellishments... using found fabrics and buttons to create stories... dreams... and pages of loveliness. I want to live in her work! We started on Saturday with creating a journal from an old book. Jessie sells these in her shop on Columbia Road in London. We were given lots of ideas and inspiration before we started. I had started a journal on last years workshop so I decided to add to it rather than start another one. We all got a little 'stamp crazy'! Dresses, hearts and clocks... with added ribbons... I also made a page of patchwork hexagons. These were from Sarah Moore Vintage We had such fun just playing... and creating... I plan to make a 'princess and the pea' collection of mattresses for this bed. We shared our stories and work at the end of the day. Perfect! Day two was all about using stitching to create a piece. I used this gorgeous antique baby top to sew this lovely quote I found in a quilt book. I still have bits to add yet though. The only other piece of work I managed to snap a picture of was by the wonderful Mrs Bertimus Now there is the most marvellous story to accompany this piece if you click on the link above (as she tells it much better than me!) It was so fantastic to spend the weekend with such a lovely bunch of ladies. There were lots of laughs and some heartfelt stories told through the things we created. A great big thank you to Jessie and Louise for organizing such an wonderful day . Thanks for calling by. Love and hugs Daisy x

There's no time like today to start stitching!

A few years ago, I took a knitting class and learned just enough to realize that knitting needles are definitely not my needles of choice. I did manage to master the lowly garter stitch and now every so often find myself knitting scarves whenever I need something to keep myself mindlessly occupied. Luckily, my son can use these scarves in his Civil War reenacting so at least my efforts are not in vain! Here in California we don't have much use for wool scarves but once or twice a year I wear one myself when the weather is exceptionally cold. During the American Civil War, women and children on the home front knit many different kinds of items for the soldiers, including mittens, gloves, stockings, caps and scarves. I am amazed that little children of six or so years of age could knit stockings that would put me to shame. I can only imagine how many thousands of scarves were lovingly knit at home for all of the husbands, sons, fathers, and brothers away fighting in that terrible war. It's heartwarming to think just how grateful those soldiers must have felt when they happily received those precious items from home. Sandy

Learning hand embroidery is both fun and relaxing, plus it’s an easy way to create beautiful art with fabric and thread. Getting started in embroidery may seem intimidating at first, but most patterns only require a few basic stitches and our stitching tutorials fit the bill. Let us discuss the top never seen before embroidery...

Hello Friends! Offering you the first of many-to-come designs for you to embroider! and my very very first-EVER downloadable file to save you on shipping and offer you that wonderful instant gratification that we SO crave ~ !!!! ***PRINTED/SHIPPED PAPER PATTERN Available in my Etsy Shop*** This project is called 'Dove Basket Pocket' from ©Notforgotten Farm 2015 I have been revisiting my love of simple & humble embroidery stitches and am using them to create lovely little things ~ the stitches I used in this project are: french knot, satin, lazy daisy, feather, chain, straight, 1/2 cross, stem & seed stitches…very easy to do! The fabric I chose to stitch my design onto is 'chocolate' prairie cloth…a great, nubby uneven weave fabric that looks very old & early ~ {{ you can find it here on Etsy in my friend Laurie's shop: woolyredrug }} and I used beautiful #8 Valdani pearl cotton in O 538 ~ finished size approx. 8" x 10" {not including strap} For your purchase you will receive: One DOWNLOADABLE Embroidery PATTERN Pocket Template Complete finishing instructions Color Photo Supplies list Look for more humble embroidery patterns to be released in a few weeks :) Many thanks for visiting, come by again soon & Blessed be! Lori from Notforgotten Farm

There's no time like today to start stitching!

" forget me not though we're apart for you carry me within your heart" A humble but glorious spring flower, a cute little bookmark for any book readers to make sure that you never lose your place in your favourite book Each is carefully hand embroidered with an attention to details. Design and hand made in our studio. Made from high quality linen fabric and comes with colourful wooden beads tassel. Measurement: W4cm X L12cm ( W1.6'' x L 4.8'') Plastic free packaging. *** Suitable for: Those who love hand embroidered products Book readers Flower lover mum, nan, girl friend, friends etc *** Perfect for: Christmas gift & Stocking Mothers day gift Graduation gift for her Birthday presents Anniversary Wedding guest gifts Housewarming gift Any occasions For more designs, please visit https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/840501081/flowers-embroidered-bookmark For International delivery, please allow between 1-4 weeks depends on postal service. We send it by Royal Mail International Standard- No Tracking. If you need it arrive sooner, please contact us for more detail.

I made this to hold my brooch collection.

Sarah Whittle has posted a couple of excellent basic-stitch tutorials recently. If you’re a beginner or you could use a little brush up, check them out. Blanket stitch variations The humble b…

Hello all, Today I would like to start a series on the folk or national costumes of Iceland, in the local language Ísland. Iceland was first settled by the Norse in 874, the first known settler being Ingólfur Arnarson, although it is known that Gaelic monks had lived there earlier. The settlers were mostly from what is now Norway, with some admixture of Irish and Scots. The Icelandic language is little changed since that time, being the closest of all Scandinavian languages to that of the Vikings. Iceland is a large island northwest of the British Isles. It is a favorite site for geneological research, because there are not a large number of people, and the ancestry of every person has been meticulously documented since their arrival. There are no traditional regions, the population being mostly on the coasts. The capitol is Reykjavík, and this is their flag. For more information see this article. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland Íslenski Þjóðbúningurinn is the name for the national or folk costumes of Iceland, you will notice that buningur is from the same root as the Norwegian bunad. To help you pronounce this, the first letter is called 'thorn', and is pronounced like th in thin, the fourth letter is pronounced like th in this. Old English had these letters and then gave them up, a bad idea in my opinion, since English still has these sounds. There are five types of buningur for women, which are not regional, but all of which belong to the entire nation. Rather they come from different periods and had differing uses. 1. Faldbúningur 2. Upphlutur 3. Peysuföt 4. Skautbúningur 5. Kyrtill For men there are only two types, an older form and a more modern, formal form. Faldbúningur is the oldest form, and had gone out of use by around 1850, but has been to some extent revived today. It was also the starting point for most of the other forms. It is characterized by a large white headpiece that curves forward. This was called the krókfaldur. The form shown above was typical in the 18th cent. In the 19th century the headdress had become flat. This variant was called the spaðafaldur. Linen does not grow in Iceland, so it is not known what was used for the chemise, possibly a thin white wool was used. A full skirt with matching apron was worn, sometimes ornamented with ribbons, as seen here above. Sometimes the hem of each was covered with split-stitch embroidery. A bodice was worn, and a jacket over that, each of which was often ornamented with ribbon or embroidery. Gold embroidery was often used. The bodice was laced with silver chain. In some periods the jacket was shorter than the bodice, but at other times they were about the same length. If the skirt and apron were embroidered, a matching 'loose pocket' was often worn with them. In the mid to latter 18th cent, the high headdress began to be replaced by a stocking cap with a large tube and tassel, which was adapted from the men's costume. Rich jewelry was worn, including intricate metal belts. A silk kerchief was often tied around the neck. Soft slippers or silver buckled shoes were also worn by those who could get them. I will close with a few more examples of this costume. I will cover the other variants in future postings. Thank you for reading, I hope you have found this interesting. Feel free to contact me with requests for research. I hope to eventually cover all of Europe and the Former Russian Empire/Soviet Union. I also gratefully accept tips on source materials which i may not have. I also accept commissions to research/design, sew, and/or embroider costumes or other items for groups or individuals. I also choreograph and teach folk dance. Roman K. [email protected] email A good article on the various types of buningur. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icelandic_national_costume Here is the Heimilisiðnaðarsafnið textile museum website http://textile.is/ The Iceland national costume website. I have relied heavily on this site for information. http://www.buningurinn.is/?i=2 Other sources: Hildur Hermóðsdóttir, 'Icelandic National Costumes' Reykjavik, 2012 Elsa Gudjónsson, 'Traditional Icelandic Embroidery', Reykjavik, 1982 Charles Holme, 'Peasant art in Sweden, Lappland and Iceland', London, 1910

There's no time like today to start stitching!

So I sat down and thought about what kind of advice I would give to beginner stitchers and managed to write a whole essay, haha. These tips are mostly for those who only start hand embroidery, I tried to remember myself at that stage and think about what I wish someone told me back then and what I would tell my “students” if I were an embroidery teacher. Which, in some way, I actually am here on Stitch Floral. So, take a cup of tea or coffee and sit comfortably because, apparently, I had a lot to say, haha. Related: Needlepainting for beginners e-course 1. Be kind to yourself First and foremost, I hope you don't pressure yourself too much. There are sooo many beautiful hand embroidery works out there, right? We stumble upon them on Pinterest and Google all the time. And maybe you got inspired by one of such works and decided, hey, I'm going to start embroidering like that! But then... your results are a bit underwhelming compared to what you had in mind :( Does it sound familiar? Well, you should remember that we all need practice to master something. And the beautiful needleworks you see on the web were produced after the artist had gained enough experience. So, comparing your works as a beginner to the works of someone who has existed in this world of hand embroidery already for a while, is not fair to yourself. If you compare yourself to someone, then only do that in a positive way – as a motivation to work harder, as a goal to look forward to, If you fail at that and instead, feel disappointed, then better avoid comparing at all. You have to remember that, at the very least, you and your body have materials and tools to get used to. As simple as fabric, thread and needle sound, they will still require some time for you to get familiar with and learn to use with maximum efficiency. And then, after a while, your hands will get more used to moving the needle the right way, your eyes will adjust and spot where to insert the needle for the better look, and so on. As long as you keep practicing, you will get where you want :) Related: 4 things to remember when talented stitchers intimidate you 2. Start small The thought here is that you shouldn't overwhelm yourself with big projects and choose something adequate to your skills instead. You might find a really beautiful pattern or design, but if it is on a bigger scale, consists of many different techniques, some of which are very new to you, then... it may happen that you overwhelm yourself with too much information and eventually get lost in all the stitches and techniques, and as a result won't be able to finish the project. And that would lead to disappointment. Of course, no one knows your capabilities better than you do. It may be that such projects, in fact, will work perfectly as a learning ground for you! That is, if you have enough positivity and patience to tackle it. In this case, you will most certainly finish the project and will feel like a Hercules who tamed Cerberus! Otherwise, don't overwhelm yourself too much. It is okay to start small, to try something simple first – no matter how big or modest your steps are, they will still form a path that will lead you to your goals :) 3. Consider practice before theory This is a suggestion based on my personal experience. And it is mostly for those of you who are only taking your first baby steps at hand embroidery. Take any needle you find, any thread, any piece of fabric and try to make some stitches: back stitch, stem stitch, french knots, for example. Well, anything you want, actually. You can just move your needle around randomly, playing around until you figure out how this whole “embroidery” thing works. Then you can read some posts on fabrics and needles, take a better thread (DMC is a common option), find a hoop, and upgrade your practice a little. Having different materials and tools, you will notice the difference it makes on your embroidery. Now, you can start with other stitches, try working a little flower, a leaf, a small animal etc. Whatever you want. After practicing like this for a while, you will make your own observations on what works better, develop your own habits and tricks. With these observations, new questions will come as well. You might find the answers in books, tips, or ask an experienced stitcher for their personal insight. After that, your practice will upgrade again. Of course, this pattern is exaggerated. You can very well be researching the topic of hand embroidery fabrics and practicing at the same time. But I hope you understand the general idea. There is a lot of theoretical information on hand embroidery out there, but it will be easier for you to understand it if you already have some experience, have something to compare. Well, that's my personal opinion. I believe that the new abstract knowledge glues itself better on practical knowledge – at least, that's what I observed during my own journey. 4. Don't be scared of working with 1 strand of thread Majority of what you see on my blog can be referred to as “fine embroidery” - meaning, worked with 1 strand of thread most of the time. On my Instagram account, I've recently done a little survey, where one of the questions was about working with 1 strand of thread. The answers showed that there are quite many stitchers who want to try it, but are actually afraid/anxious about using 1 strand of thread, thinking it is too difficult or too time-consuming. Now, if you don't really like working with 1 strand of thread – that's another topic. You do you! Just do whatever makes you happy! But if you actually like fine embroidery but think that “it's not for you”, that “it is too complicated”, that “it is for some specially gifted artists”. then you couldn't be further from the truth. Just give it a shot! All the difficulties you might face can be tackled with time. And if you are only at the starting point of your hand embroidery adventures, my tip is to try working with 1 strand of thread in any case. If you don't like, if you decide it's not your cup of tea – switch to 2 strands or more. But at the very least, you won't have any prejudice/fear about using 1 strand of thread. You will know that it is possible and you can do that, but it is your conscious decision to work with more strands because you like it more. No regrets. You know what I mean? In my case, the very first stitches I made were with 1 and 2 strands of floss. It was a piece of wild grass, so I worked the stem with 1 strand and the elements – something like little leaves, with 2 strands of floss. Later I moved to using 2 strands mostly, even for long and short stitching, because it seemed like the effect was pretty much the same, while in terms of time, working with 2 strands was faster. However, after a while, I returned to 1 strand stitching because I missed the “delicate” feeling. It was easy for me to switch back to 1 strand of floss because I didn't have any prejudice. I knew I was capable of that. And that's what I wish for you too: that you know that you are capable of finest stitches. And then you can decide what you like more. 5. Take it easy with materials Seems like we are at the point where some handy tips come up, finally. :) What I mean by “taking it easy” is that... generally speaking, one would recommend you to get specialty fabrics for your hand embroidery. Even weaved linen from needlework stores – the best option. However... it is costly. To be very honest. And it is that type of material that you don't want to mess up, haha. Soo... I wouldn't call it a nice option for beginners. But also... I wouldn't recommend you to use something really cheap. Because when you work with bad quality materials/tools, it really affects your experience in hand embroidery. That's why my tip is to strive for the golden middle. Between cheap but bad quality and expensive but high quality, there are lots of affordable options for your needlework adventures. Affordable but pleasant to work with. That's what I would call that. But at the same time, you can use some cheap pieces of fabric if you need to just train some stitches or techniques. 6. Get your tools as you learn You might find very explicit articles out there on which tools you need for hand embroidery. The list is usually quite long and you might find out that fabric + needle + thread are not the only things you need. Surprise! However, I think you don't need to pressure yourself too much about these things. Invest in your materials and tools according to the stage you're at, taking your skills, style and goals into account. Like, if you are just making your first steps in hand embroidery, the only things you need are: fabric, needle, thread, scissors (to cut fabric and thread) and a hoop. That's pretty much it. It will be enough for you for quite a while. I will tell you more – I didn't even have a hoop when I started. I used a photo frame, stretched the fabric over it and secured with office clips. I still use it sometimes, for example, after ironing – you can catch a glimpse of how it looks like in the end of the post. And only then you can consider the secondary tools. Thimble if you hurt your fingers (I don't hurt mine, so I never bought one). A mat and fabric cutter – if you want even, nice looking squares of ground fabric (if you use linen you can cut without scissors or fabric knife, by the way). Threadener if you have difficulties with threading your needle without wetting it with your saliva. Thread conditioner - I still do without it, to be honest, so I will leave it up to you to look for advantages and see if you need it. Fabric glue – well, I can think of a few instances where you might use it (including making a brooch) but I personally still didn't buy one because there is no need yet. I mean, if you want to buy all of these to feel better prepared then you do you. All of us crafty folk are like little hamsters, haha. I just prefer to invest in threads and fabrics so I think twice whether I need this or that instrument or not :) And at the beginning of your hand embroidery journey, you won't need much. Related: 5 hand embroidery rules that I break 7. Take your project out of the hoop I have spoiled one of my needleworks because I didn't come across such a tip in my time. So, when I started stitching a pattern, I hooped it and left it there in the hoop until I finished it. Which took a few weeks. As a result, there were very visible wrinkles – traces from the hoop – which didn't disappear even after I washed and ironed multiple times. That's how much the ground fabric “remembered” this position. So, always, always take your needlework out of the hoop when you stop stitching for the day. When you want to take it up again, you hoop it up again. In between the stitching sessions, your fabric needs to have some rest. Also, bind your hoop! If you follow the link, I explain there all the advantages of hoop binding and also, there is a tutorial on how to that without any glue. 8. Health matters Health issues are something that we don't talk about enough in hand embroidery world. Which is a pity. I actually think it is an important topic that deserves a separate post. But to put it briefly, think of hand embroidery as a desk job. You sit in your chair/couch for a few hours, moving only your arms and hands, your head is in the same position most of the time and your eyes are straining. That's why, like with any desk job, it is important to be careful with your health. Make sure to stand up once in a while and move your body, stretch your muscles a little, including neck, maybe jump and do some sit-ups? No need for a full work out, just move a little so that your blood keeps circulating as it should. Kep your posture upright! I've struggled with my posture for a long time, even before embroidery, but I noticed that after I picked up this craft, it actually became worse. So now I watch myself and have family members watch after me, I also do push-ups, planks and other exercises that help my back “memorize” the right position. Thank God, it got better and right now I'm sitting perfectly upright and it actually feels wrong and uncomfortable when I slouch. You should also take care of your eyes! I experienced something bad with them that you can read here. When I say be careful, I really mean it. There are real consequences to our mindlessness, don't repeat others' mistakes and don't be careless just because “nothing bad happened yet”. Consult with your ophthalmologist about glasses, you might need ones for hand embroidery and others for daily routine/reading. Also, you might consider using a magnifying lens if your sight requires it. There are special ones for hand embroidery and other crafts. And make sure to embroider under good lighting, whether from a window or from a daylight lamp. Never embroidery under bad lighting! 9. Do what you like Now, about pressure from your family and friends. Unfortunately, not always people from our circle support us in our craft, our dreams, and ambitions. The only thing I can tell you is that if you are really passionate about it, you need to persevere. Uh... to be honest, I had experienced this kind of thing and still receive some kind of side-eyeing. Not only in relation to my hand embroidery ambitions per se, but I also received comments saying if I do this, then at least I should do ribbon embroidery instead, that I'm better at it and it looks prettier. Well, I don't really want to talk about it in detail. But I will just say that I held my ground quietly: shrugging my shoulders and saying with a smile that “this is what I like and want to do”. You know better what makes YOU happy, so do what YOU like. You can't please everyone. Arguing and fighting your close ones will definitely bring the mood down for both sides, and it is possible that, whatever you have to say, they will still not change their mind unless you show them some kind of “success” or achievement. Deal with this with love and/or patience. Demonstrate that this is what makes you happy. Show your smiles and joy. Maybe they will understand you and accept your interest as it is, without any “proof of success”. If not, at least, they will hopefully see that you're stubborn enough to keep at it despite negative remarks. It happens with many of us, so if that is any consolation, you're definitely not alone. Keep moving and be proud of yourself. And I'm proud of you too :) 10. Pat yourself on the back Whether metaphorically or literally, but pat yourself on the back. Give yourself the credit, approval, praise you deserve. You're doing great! And you will do even greater! Being your own support system is not anything to be shamed for. If there's no one beside you to tell how awesome your embroidery is, then spoil yourself so much until you have cavities. And even if there is someone that praises you, then why can't you add something from yourself? Look at that stitch! How neat! And this one, look how perfectly it is lying on the fabric! Wow! The precision. The excellence. Top class! Can anyone else do it like that? No, you're the best in the world. Period. Pamper yourself, feel no shame! :) * Aaand, here is the end of this 5 page essay, haha. Sorry of the tips here were not practical enough. But these things are also important to know and remember :) If you are an experienced stitcher, share your own tips in the comments! And if you are a beginner, you can leave your questions below, we will help!

I don't know whether this stitch already exists, but I got the idea for this stitch from Sharon's Kiko's flower stitch .In Kiko's stitch, y...

This pillow features Marguerite Embroidery with a knife edge finish. Happy and humble, the embroidery is an irregular hand-stitched floral design on a linen ground. Subtle irregularities in the wool yarns create dimension and quaint charm. Back of pillow is Savannah Linen. Pillow includes a feather/down fill insert and hidden zipper closure. Contents: 65% Linen, 30% Wool, 5% Polyamide Care Instructions: DRY CLEAN RECOMMENDED less

I made this flower on both sides of the petal, hence naming it double buttonhole-knot flower. Make a straight stitch from A to B with 2 s...

Welcome! What a blessing to have each of you here and making the launch of t*t*d such a success! Thank you! This week we have a great thought for you, it is a thought on hand stitching the very popular trend that is popping up on so many layouts, and...

As I’ve just finished a matelasse waistcoat, it’s high time I (finally) finished my matelasse terminology post and added the term to the Great Historical Fashion & Textile Glossary! Matelasse or Marseille’s cloth (sometimes shortened to marcella or called pique de marseilles) is also known as woven quilting, because it is a weave specifically designed to imitate quilting. It looks like a fine quilt, or like a slightly bubbly, blister-y brocade. Matelasse is sometimes patterned in simple geometrics, or (like my waistcoat), in elaborate foliate designs. It can range from a heavy, bulky fabric, to a fairly light but still puffy and squishy crepe. A very similar fabric (sometimes sold as matelasse, and it’s difficult to tell the difference on some examples), is cloque. From a technical standpoint: Matelasse is a figured fabric made with either three or four sets of yarns. Two of the sets are the regular warp and weft yarns; the other sets are crepe or coarse cotton yarns. They are woven together so that the yarn sets crisscross. When the fabric …

detail ~ Stitch Ritual by Jane LaFazio Stitch Ritual by Jane LaFazio (60x24") This quilt truly combines my two artistic loves, dr...