Hummingbird from the Vintage Chinese Screen

It sure sounds like several of you are chomping at the bit for the Hummingird Pattern from the vintage Chinese screen blog (thanks for the emails!).

I can hardly wait to stitch the design myself… and here’s the pattern.

The hummingbird can be worked in any surface embroidery method you choose, including redwork using outline stitch or stem stitch (stitched along the solid lines)worked in DMC 6-Strand Floss, with running stitch used as accents (stitched along the dashed lines).

Or, try embroidering the design in DMC Satin Floss in satin stitch to give the bird would have the same silky shimmer as the original.

You could also jazz it up with some Metallic Embroidery Floss or DMC Light Effects Floss accents!

To view and print the pattern full-size, double-click the image to the right.

You can also see the embroidered image in greater detail by double-clicking on the upper left photo.

Enjoy!

~Emma

Sharing My Newest “Find”

I’m a bit of an antique store junkie, and I do try to go “hunting” at least once a month.  While nosing through every nook and cranny of antique malls (and the occasional flea market), I am always on the lookout for needlework items.

Some awesome – and often valuable – pieces have been found on my forays. But, the downside is that my collection has outgrown the linen closet!

My find this week is not particularly valuable – in fact, I have no doubt this Chinese silk embroidery featuring tree peonies was probably mass-produced for export.

But, it’s pretty – and pretty old. The piece provides some outstanding inspiration!

The fact that I found it at all is a little strange, because I didn’t even see the needlework at first. Instead, what I saw was a rather ugly old painting on boards (see photo to the right) tucked in the corner – I moved it to get to the item behind it.

Once I moved the item, it opened to reveal 4 very pretty, tonal embroidered panels.

The two end panels are heavily worn and torn – as if the item had been folded and stuffed in an attic for a few decades, protecting the inside 2 screens. The tears give a glimpse of the Chinese newspaper that was used to pad the panels.

These photos are small, but you can click on them to make them larger, so you can see the details better.

While the panels are not as finely worked as a fine antique, they are worked in silks on silk fabric. The motifs are simple enought to be adapted for a beginner’s satin stitch project – which I plan to post at a later time.

The four panels feature a flowing floral design with branches that flow naturally from one panel to the  next, accented with humming birds.

I am planning to provide a humming bird pattern to be worked in satin stitch using DMC Satin Floss. It’s silky in appearance and I’d like to modernize the design with some hip color choices.

I’ll to post the pattern in a few weeks, but was so excited, I just had to show you what I found!

To learn more about Asian silk embroidery, I wuld recommend Painting with a Needle by Young Yang Chung or  Chinese Embroidery: Traditional Techniques by Josiane Bertin Guest.

Happy stitching – and hunting!

~Emma

Stitch Pink Kits at JoAnn Stores

Hi All,

I just popped into my local JoAnn Store for the StitchPink kit.

If anyone’s having trouble locating it in their local JoAnn Store, it can probably be found near the DMC Needlework Threads and CharlesCraft fabrics, instead of being near the other scissors and notions.

I love the pink scissors, and the pink zippered pouch is just the right size for my workbag – I’m already using the kit!

TIP: Be sure to remove the paper band around the kit carefully – there are free patterns on the opposite side of the paper, including on the narrow strips that wrap around the sides.

Think Pink and Keep Stitching!

~Emma

Terrific Towels

My pals at DMC are always sending me something exciting to try, and this week a box of CharlesCraft towels arrived at my front door (thanks, Allison!).

As soon as I opened the box I couldn’t help but think “SCORE!!!!!”

Inside were samples of every size and shape of Charlescraft (now owned by DMC) towels know to stitch-dom!

In my hot little hands were samples of Aberdeen hand towels, Maxton guest towels, Estate towels, Banded Huck towels, Showcase Huck towels (see below), Basketweave Terry, Cottage Check and hemmed KitchenMates towels – Enough to keep Emma busy for a long, long time…

What makes these towels even cooler, is that they come with free designs to stitch, perfectly sized for the towels. Awesome!

Check out the free designs available for the Showcase Huck Towels!  The grapes design, shown here, is perfect for Autumn stitching – and there’s an awesome Poinsettia design as well as gorgeous citrus, strawberries and peach themes.

These vertical, rectangular designs are 54 stitches wide by 74 stitches high and can also be worked on Charlescraft’s Kitchenmates Potholders.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?   Christmas gifts!

Happy Stitching!

~Emma

More Fun with Memory Thread

I’ve got Holiday Stitch-Ahead fever!

Did you catch the cute snowman ornament on the July/August cover of Just Cross Stitch magazine last month?

It features an adorable Snowman Ornament, worked in Cross Stitch and trimmed with garly, Memory Thread arms twisted to resemble twigs and swirling red Memory Thread buttons.

The project was designed by designer Amy Bruecken, and is absolutely adorable.

Memory Thread is so much fun to work with and can be twisted and bent into – and couched onto - different shapes to add a unique embellishment to your needlework and craft projects!

You can visit our web site for tips and tricks for working with Memory Thread, how to apply Memory Thread, as well as ideas and inspiration for other ways to use this versatile product!

Enjoy!

~Emma

Stitch Pink Project Update

Hi All,

I’ve been receiving some wonderful messages from everyone regarding DMC Thread’s Stitch Pink Cross Stitch Blocks drive. Thank you so much to everyone who has been participating and sharing your experiences.

Like many of you, I am also stitching one of the blocks for the Stitch Pink Breast Cancer Quilt that will be auctioned off.

Click here for the free pattern (or click on the image of the block) and stitch along with us to help fight, raise awareness, and find a cure for Breast Cancer!

Some of you are already finished (thanks, Doris!) and are ready to send in your blocks – this is so awesome!

The due date for all of the finished blocks is November 15th.

While the Stitch Pink kits are only available in the US, stitching the blocks for the quilt is open to everyone. We also hope this program inspires similar events in other countries.

We’ll need lots more blocks,so let’s all keep on stitching!

~Emma

“Stitch Pink” Kit Now Available!

Hi Everyone!

The Stitch Pink Kit is now available at JoAnn Stores. If you do not have a local JoAnn store, this kit may also be purchased online for delivery in the United States.

Click here to learn more about breast cancer and visit the Stitch Pink web page. Learn what breast cancer is, how to spot it, treat it, and prevent it. Print out our statistics page and share it with your friends!

We also have an additional free pattern for you to stitch in DMC 6-Strand Floss, DMC Color Variations Floss and glistening DMC Light Effects.

I’m thinking of stitching the pink ribbon chart in 22-count linen over a single thread – then finishing it as a pretty pin!

Stitch the ribbon and wear or display it proudly to show your support for breast cancer research, and the fight against this deadly disease.

Happy Stitching!

~Emma

Memory Thread “Loopy” Trees – Emma’s Progress

Last night I started stitching the design I posted yesterday for the Make-Ahead, Memory Thread Loopy Trees Stitch-Along (whew! That was a mouthful!).

Here’s what my stitching looks like after one sitting (click on the photo to enlarge it)…

Stitching with the DMC Six-Strand Floss (using 2 strands in my needle), I started with the center tree and am working my way outwards.

I must admit that I was very tempted to put the Memory Thread around the first tree after completing the cross stitch area to see how it would look in place – but knew I had to resist!

If I added the Memory Thread now, I wouldn’t be able to move my hoop around very easily – but oh, the temptation for a sneak peek at a finished tree was strong!

The pattern for this project has been provided in this blog today as a .pdf.

Click this link to print it – and be sure to following the Tips for Proper Printing I that I posted a few weeks back – the loopy tree is provided full-size, so it’s important to make sure you are printing the pattern properly.

The green trees should be finished later today and I’ll start working on the border. I’ll post another update soon so you can see my progress…

~Emma

Stitch Along with Emma – Holiday Trees in Cross Stitch and Memory Thread

Wow – Summer has sure flown by – it’s late August time to start my Holiday Stitching projects!

I’ve just finished designing a Scandinavian-inspired project as a Holiday Make-Ahead. I thought it would be fun to post this as a stitch-along project, so you can all share in the fun.

This design featuring three simple trees with a looped outline and ornate border is worked in Cross Stitch on 18-count White CharlesCraft Gold Standard Aida cloth, in 6 colors of DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss.

After working the trees, snowflakes and border in cross stitch, I’ll be outlining the trees in a pretty, loopy shape using DMC Memory Thread, which will be couched in place using matching shades of the 6-strand embroidery floss.

Here are the Materials you will need to stitch along with me!

• 1 package of 18-count White CharlesCraft Gold Standard Aida, size 15″ x 18″
• 1 skein each of DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss in colors 816 Garnet,  817 Very Dark Coral Red, 700 Bright Green, 703 Chartreuse, 798 Dark Delft Blue and 725 Medium Light Topaz
• 1 shuttle each of DMC Memory Thread in colors 6040 Red and 6160 Green
• Size 10 DMC Embroidery Needles, scissors, and a 10-inch embroidery hoop

I’m starting my stitching today and will post both the free pattern and my progress so far in tomorrow’s blog.

Happy Stitching!

~Emma

Autumn Wool Applique

There’s something about the Back-to-School season that makes me crave working with wool. Maybe it’s because winter’s right around the corner, but this is the time of year that I like to have a nice chunk of wool or wool felt and skeins of DMC Pearl Cotton in my hands, regardless of what’s left of summer!

Applique with wool is one of my favorite types of applique, because it allows me to combine basic shapes with hand embroidery, using my favorite DMC Embroidery Threads.

Threads used to attach the shapes to the background include 6-Strand Embroidery Floss, #3 or #5 Pearl Cotton, or for shine and shimmer, Light Effects Floss or Satin Floss!

Rosebud’s Cottage blog features some gorgeous ideas for woolwork embroidery (like the one shown above, left) using blanket stitch, cross stitch, running stitch and other decorative embroidery stitches.

The site also features an excellent tutorial on working the blanket stitch in wool.

The most common hand embroidery stitch used in woolwork applique is the blanket stitch. Not only does it attach the fabric shapes to the background, it also adds color, texture and interest to the project.

Looking for free woolwork patterns? Quiltmaker.com has a free downloadable pattern for these cute wool felt applique ornaments!

The Sew, Mama, Sew blog spot also features patterns and tutorials.

The online class featuring the Little Pink House in a hoop is adorable, and would be an awesome beginner project!

Happy Stitching!

~Emma