welovefrenchknots

Simone made this mug rug up right quick with Natalie's new free pattern. It's a great example of how to incorporate your embroidery in projects! 

A feature on Karen Ruane's (Contemporary Embroidery) work is coming in October. I adore her white on white work!

The depth of this work from Hand Knitted Things is amazing...

And here's another incredible example of tightly packed design creating gorgeous depth from Dozy Dotes...

To be featured, please be sure to add your stitching to our flickr group! 

In my humble opinion, you can use almost any stitch as a fill... It doesn't need to be a satin stitch every time, right-e-o? And each stitch you choose gives a different texture or feel to the work.

Of course, French knots are my favorite of fills (hence the name... and the millions of French knots I've made).

Here are just a few examples of fills that are in fact not a satin stitch:

I thought I had made a lot of French knots... but check out the work done by Yuko Uemura.

I'm guessing that the green wings and face on this vintage embroidered owl from Ebbie Mae are stem stitch. and the rest would be satin stitch. Let me know if you have another guess on that.

On this pattern (pdf on my website) I've used backstitch in the chandleir and the legs and seat of the chair and bullion roses and French knots in on the chair back...

On this embroidery I've used chain stitch to fill parts of the dresses...

And here (the applique/embroidery version of the doll above from my Soirree quilt)... my old stand by again, French knots on the bottom of the dress.

I'd love it if you'd add your photos to the We Love French Knots Flickr Group so we can see more great examples of fills. Show us what you've got! I'll add them to this post.

 

In the past most of my embroidery work was free-style (AKA: Flying by the seat of my pants without a pattern). If I wasn't free-stylin' I simply traced the pattern using a light box and a pencil, or more recently I've been using a Frixion pen. 

I like this method for most of my work. However, when doing very tiny or detailed patterns, it's not super easy to trace accurately. For instance, the lettering on the Sewing Room Sampler got a little wonky. In fact, on the spool, I ended up pulling out all my stitching.

In the meantime, I had ordered Transfer-eze to try out. With Transfer-eze, you simply photocopy (or print out if you have a pdf) the pattern onto the sticky side of the paper. Then you just remove the freezer paper backing and place the printed pattern onto your fabric. It's like a sticker. You simply stitch over it and then it dissolves off your fabric in cold water.

I tried it with the spool design, and I'm absolutely loving it. Take a look at the difference in these two embroideries:

Traced and Wonky...

 

Neat and Transfer-eze-ized...

If I had the heart, I would have pulled out all the lettering and re-done that too... but I didn't... have the heart or the stomach for that. 

If you'd like to try Transfer-eze, I ordered some for my shop and it will be here next week. I also ordered nifty iron-on transfer pens and vellum for tracing. And the heat and bond woven cotton fusible interfacing arrived this week. 

PS... I did in fact finish my sampler. Just not before I got home from vacation. I'm making mine into a bag. Shocking, right?

PPS... I got the adorable red polka dot handles from Daisy Cottage Quilting. Man, she has everything!

I'm pretty picky about my book selections these days. I am trying to get over a *minor* book addiction, and I'm very seriously out of shelf space. But though the publisher sent me a pdf of this one to review, I'm actually going to buy a hard copy. For reals, do not tell Super Husband. I'm sneaking this one in. I'm over the moon in love. And can't help myself.

I can't resist this ship embroidery. And each and every one of the projects is to die for... creative and uber-stylish.

For the Love of Hand Stitching with Jan Constantine is beautifully photographed with 20 truly imaginative projects plus a "Pop Art" quilt that uses many of the designs. I don't know about you, but I think that it is sort of genius to put them all together in a comprehensive project. You can see how the designs can translate into many projects and how you can use them over and over. Besides for being part of the quilt, the crab design is on an apron in the book, and that gorgeous butterfly is on a pillow.

 

And the best news of all is this isn't just a pretty book. All of the instructions are very clear and templates are included. Plus the stitches are all included. I'm thrilled about this. It seems like a no brainer to include stitches, but I've seen several embroidery books that don't include the stitches which is downright befuddling. No befuddlement here. Stitches? All illustrated and explained.

 

I'm thinking the butterfly will be my first project. Can't wait!

Bullion knots can be used in many different ways. I like to use them to create pretty roses and lavender. I've even seen them used as the curls in Goldilocks hair. Above I've grouped Bullion Roses and French Knots with Lazy Daisy leaves.

What other great uses have you seen or can think up for bullion knots? 

 

 

In this shot I've used bullion knots vertically to create the look of lavender. The green leaves are long lazy daisies.

Here's a little illustration on how to do this stitch as well. Ignore the fig numbers as they are from one of my patterns. Hope this helps!

PS You can keep placing knots round and round to make the roses as big as you wish.

 

 

Beautiful hand embroidered monograms and lettering from around the web:

From Leslie Hunt

 

 

From Kootoyoo

 

from Chez Sucre Chez

 

From Oktak

 

From Wendi Gratz

From Belinda Shreeve

 

 

From Paloma Nunez-Regueiro of Three Kitchen Fairies, this story will be the first in a series of your embroidery stories. Submit yours by emailing me at Bari at BariJonline dot com.

By Paloma Nunez-Regueiro

My first recollection of an embroidery is my big girl's bed sheets. I remember caressing the satin stitches of the heart-shaped flowers that my mother embroidered with a floss in orangy shades on a set of pastel yellow bed sheets. Growing up I remember my mother stitching for long afternoons while my brother and I played in the yard. I always wondered what was that strange power that took her so far away in her mind... I was mesmerized by the embroidery patterns printed in tracing paper. She kept them by her night table, and from time to time I went to that place to unfold them and look at all the little flowers on the pattern, full of swirling little stems, and leaves.

 I was always drawn toward anything crafty, and colorful: from friendship bracelets to cuts of fabrics that I bought with my allowances. Around my tenth birthday I learned my first embroidery stitches; satin stitch was always the most difficult.

Time went by and my love for crafts and art landed me in college. I earned a degree in Fine Art from RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology in NY) I double majored in painting and printmaking. As soon as I finished studying I got pregnant. At that time I was warned about the dangers of painting solvents, and how printmaking acids and fumes could harm my unborn child.

 
I was happy for my pregnancy, and sad for my career as an artist.  I got slower as my belly grew larger; I had to look for something to keep myself busy, and kill some time from the long wait.

I looked in the public library for crafts books, and found myself  face to face with embroidery and all the memories of my embroidered bed sheets, and embroidery patterns of my childhood. My first embroidery at that time was my own design: little white ships on a light blue flannel baby sheet. I found myself embroidering in the same way as I would carve into a wood printmaking plate, in the same direction of the grain, with no borders. My fear for satin stitches made me use a running stitch that went up and down the ships' bodies filling the space with white floss. I was happy that besides the traditional stitches there was a lot of room for "free style" stitching. I also felt free to make my own patterns. Although there are many talented embroidery pattern makers (Follow the White Bunny is one of my favorites)  I mostly embroider  my own creations or I use pictures from the web to turn into embroidery patterns for personal use.

Embroidery brought me full circle into my childhood memories. I discovered the magic that took my mother's mind away while holding her embroidery hoop, needle and floss. I guess in my case (and I guess my mother's case too) embroidery gave me a space that I can control to perfection. Those first years of motherhood are quite uncertain and full of chaos. We can't fully control our lives, marriages and children. In the midst of that chaos I found that when stitching I could control the perfecting of the technique, I could unstitch and try again without harming anyone. I had the freedom to choose my pattern, and floss color, the stitches, the time to finish a project. Embroidery is that little grand place that saves us from the world.

The French knots came later, when my baby girl grew a bit, she asked to learn embroidery. We got her
the Klutz Embroidery Book, and we learned the French knots together. Hopefully the French knots will bring her full circle again.

 

 

Our very first profile is of the sweet, lovely and talented, Natalie Lymer. I met her at the Fall Quilt Market in Houston last year, and truly really and honestly she is as charming as her work. I just adore her! In addition to enduring my questioning, Natalie has been kind enough to offer a free pattern download for us as well.

Here's what Natalie told me in answer to some of my burning questions.

 

BARI: Your embroidery is so whimsical and happy. What inspires your designs?

NATALIE: There are so many things that occur from day to day that might inspire my designs in some way or another.  Just a simple wander down the street or story time with my daughter often gets my mind thinking about new ideas or creatures to draw.  I find inspiration is all around if I just slow down and take a moment to look past the surface.

BARI: When did you learn to embroider? Who taught you/or are you self taught?

NATALIE: I guess my first introduction into embroidery was in the mid 80’s – sewing classes were compulsory for the first three years at my high school, it was here I was introduced to cross stitch and basic embroidery techniques with simple samplers.  I remember our teacher would wander around the class and if the back of our work was messy or not quite right we were made to unpicked the threads and started again.  Actually, this is still one of the things I am still very conscious of - if I am not happy with how my threads or stitches are sitting on the fabric I will always remove them and the back of my work is nearly as neat as the front (call me crazy but that teacher is watching me).  Many of the embroidery stitches I now use in my designs I have learned and taught myself from embroidery resource books or just playing with the threads.

BARI: Did you go to art school to learn any part of your craft?

NATALIE: This is a question I get asked often and sometimes I wish I had a really awesome answer for you.  The truth is I didn’t study fine art at University (although some days I wish I did) but I certainly have taken private fine art lessons over the years studying different drawing & painting mediums and techniques (ink, charcoal, watercolour, pastel, oil and pencil).  I fell in love with art and drawing long before finding my needle and threads. 

BARI: Do you have a favorite pattern?

NATALIE: I do have favourites and often my latest design is one that is most special to me mostly because I am still caught in that design moment.  For many reasons Tail Feathers is one I will love forever, I designed and made the quilt when my daughter was just a few months old.  I would sit in the rocker feeding her at 3am when it felt like the whole world was asleep and imagine what mischief the little birds would create then madly jot ideas down on paper so I could remember in the morning.

BARI: Are there other embroidery artists that inspire you?

NATALIE: Yes, there are so many and each has their own style – which I love the most.  My two favourite would be Leanne Beasley (from Leanne’s House) and Sarah Jane (Sarah Jane Studios).  I Love their work and design approach it’s purely blissful.

BARI: Do you have a favorite stitch?

NATALIE: I don’t really have a favourite stitch, I find them all therapeutic and relaxing on the mind.  If I had to pick one from the crowd it would be backstitch because it’s a simple stitch that defines my design and drawings beautifully.

BARI: Your new book, Cotton Floss, is absolutely gorgeous. What was your favorite and least favorite parts about writing a book?

NATALIE: Thank you Bari – the making of a book was an incredible process filled with many different emotions.  My favourite part was coming up with the design ideas, drawing the designs and stitching each creation.  I guess pattern writing would be the most tedious or least favourite part, translating what is in my head into words anyone can understand. I guess because I am a ‘maker’ I would prefer to be sewing and drawing my next creation than stuck writing notes.

BARI: Is your upcoming fabric line based on/in keeping with your embroidery designs?

NATALIE: I am so excited to finally see my drawings on fabric, yes the first fabric line will feature many aspects from my embroidery designs – I am so looking forward to showing you....soon!

BARI: Can you share any helpful hints for beginners?

NATALIE: Relax and enjoy, hand stitching is pure bliss.

BARI: Do you have any favorite materials to work with?

NATALIE: I love working with linen because of the natural texture and feel – it’s beautiful to work with.  Thread wise – I adore variegated threads like the Season’s ones from COSMO, they can make a design POP just the right way and add loads of personality at the same time.  

Thank you so very much, Natalie! And thank you for this lovely pattern. I know everyone will enjoy it!

Click HERE to download Natalie's free pattern, One Wee Home. 

 

 

I've noticed bicycle designs are a big trend in stitching. Here are just a few I've found:

Bike Girl from Knitting Lemonade

An embroidery for her Girl on Bicycle quilt by Aneela Hoey

An embroidery on linen by Town Mouse

Mean Miss Gultch by Digital Misfit

It's time to get us stitching! I have tons of great content coming your way. Interviews and projects, inspiration and loads of fun.

Let's get this party started!

We've got lots of great prizes to motivate you to start your stitching!

Here's how to win one... Just start stitching my free pattern, Sewing Room Sampler. Click HERE to download. Get at least two squares finished (I'd love if you'd do more, of course.) Then take a photo of it. Post the photo to our flickr group by no later than August 25, and you are entered to win! 

I've already got mine started... too bad I'm not eligible to win.

My piece will be finished before we get back from vacation which is tomorrow really because I'm writing this on the 20th and you'll be reading it on the 25th. So, tomorrow I'll post the updated photo. Normally I wouldn't add borders until I'm finished, but I wanted you to have a nice picture... so do as I say, not as I do, k?

In the next week, I will have all of the stitch videos you need to finish my project up and ready to go.

Wanna' know what you can win? Our sponsors have offered lots of great prizes! 

One lucky winner will win a $50 gift certificate to buy supplies at Daisy Cottage Quilting!

Missouri Star Quilt Co has offered a $25 gift certificate to two winners.

Wondrous Woven has offered a pair of these adorable scissors, and two patterns from Crab-Apple Hill.

Rosebud's Cottage has offered 4 sets of Sullivans seasons floss!

Quilt Fabric Delights is offering an array of flosses including stranded, perle 8 and 12 plus rick rack and wool felt!

Stash Books is offering a copy of For The Love of Handstitching to one US based winner.

And Lecien is giving away two sets of Cosmo Seasons floss in a handy roll up pack to two winners, a set of Cosmo Sparkles plus an embroidery hoop and a yard cut of Meg Hawkey's gorgeous linen to one winner, and a set of 5 Cosmo Multiwork floss spools plus an embroidery hoop and another yard of Meg Hawkey's linen to yet a fourth winner!!!

 

10 prizes to 10 lucky winners!

To pick winners, I'll number each Flickr entry by date, and the prizes will be awarded in the order listed in this email. i.e.: the first winner I pick (using random.org) gets the first prize and so on and so forth. The winner will be drawn on August 25.

Happy Stitching!

Bari

PS Keep your eyes peeled tomorrow. I've interviewed Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches and she has a goodie for all of you too!