Our Posts
Introducing the new ‘Concept Kits’
I was first introduced to the term ‘Concept Cards’ when my hubby took up card crafting. It is the term used for cards that are a little bit unusual, innovative or showcase a specific technique. The word itself is actually defined as ‘an abstract idea’ which I thought would be perfect the term for my […]
You’ve been Framed! A personal guide to hoops and frames.
When I’m asked what hoop to use I find it hard not to give a simple answer! The fact is there is no one hoop or frame that is correct. I tend to use different ones for different projects, based not only on their technique but function. Put in simple terms, hoops and frames serve […]
Reasons why you should take up Embroidery in 2018 (QVC Style!)
I have a dark secret …..I LOVE watching QVC Shopping Channel! Now don’t get me wrong, I’m no shopaholic but as a bit of a retail nerd (as well as an embroidery one) I find it not only strangely calming in the background (It’s Nina Leonard fashion on at the mo!), but I have unwittingly […]
New Design Finished!
Remember those lovely Cast On Stitches?….well the whole design is finished and I’m just finishing the instructions which are a technical challenge in themselves! Here they are in all their glory ; the mauves and then the peach version. It is so amazing how different the same design looks in different colours! I love it […]
Tuedsay Tidy : Elizabethan Pattern from a 1938 Needlecraft magazine
This week I have been having a scout through some of my old Needlecraft magazines and think I have several years worth of patterns to share with you! I think one of the most striking things I notice is how ageless so many of the designs are! This one comes from January 1938 and is […]
End of an era for needlework shops?…..
I was wandering through some of my magazines ready to write Tuesdays Blog post and I found this picture for which I couldn’t help feeling a twinge of sadness at it’s account of the thriving needlework shops of the past. I have to confess the night before I had watched about the closure of […]
Free Convolvulus PDF Instructions
I was looking through some pictures of my old shop whilst editing the web site and came across this lovely picture of the Pearsell’s silk I used to stock. Sadly although the name still exists, the silk doesn’t but this picture brought to mind a couple of projects I embroidered with them. One of them […]
Monday Musings……..Memories in Stitches
When my dear Grannie died my mother asked me if there was something I wanted that belonged to her. I had two simple requests. One was her much worn hooped hearings containing several hoops of differing interchangeable colours. The other were the two rather tatty patchwork bedspreads which adorned the beds my sister and […]
Website Wednesday…..In celebration of the Straight Stitch!
When I designed the Beginner Blossoms kit a couple of years ago I think I underestimated the power of the simple Straight Stitch! Not only has this design encouraged hundreds of you to pick up the needle but to my delight has also inspired many variations. You have added beads, sequins, different stitches entirely and […]
Threadcandy Thursday …on Wednesday!…..Catch on to Cast On Stitch!
This is a Cast On Stitch flower!….Gorgeous isn’t it?!!!….Well if you can work a Bullion Stitch, then you can do this one too!…..in fact, if you can knit, you will be even further ahead! This divine stitch looks gorgeous in variegated threads like the one I used at the weekend for the flower (See this […]
Website Wedneday…….Cast On Conundrum
When I design a piece I have some general idea about what I want to achieve but I must confess the finished product comes of trial and error, happy accident or as with the flower I was working on this weekend, problem solving! The popularity of the ‘Maud’ & ‘Alice’ kits has been a delight […]
Tuesday Tidy…..Groovy 1970’s electronic scissors
Tuesday Tidy brings you some of the random and not so random things in my collection! This week something that just makes me laugh! Super Groovy Japanese battery operated scissors c.1970’s! I have actually tried them out and they are about as over engineered as you get! They are uncomfortable and you actually end cutting […]
Monday Musings…….Colours of the countryside
I think there are probably very few artists or writers who are not inspired by their surroundings be it urban or rural. I live in a town centre and am constantly fascinated by the patterns of Victorian tiles in the shop doorways or old walls left standing in front of new buildings as the final […]
FunFact Friday…….Did you know?…..
Did you know…..the oldest known thimbles are from Old Corinth c.9th-12thC!
Threadcandy Thursday ……The mystery of the missing Colour Variations
Thursdays are for all things threads and stitches! ……. Recently I was picking the threads for the next project and wanted to incorporate some of DMC’s lovely Colour Variations threads. I buy all my sample threads from http://sewandso.co.uk and whilst looking through their Colour Variations range, found something odd which I must reveal!….. As […]
Website Wednesdays!…Introducing ‘Jessica’
After trying to keep Blogs in the past, lack of time to do all the usual promoting and sharing rendered my attempts rather lame. I always knew that the only way I would really enjoy keeping one was with my own web site. Nearly 6 years after starting Maggie Gee Needlework my experience selling […]