Category Archives: embroidery

Ribbon Embroidery on a Photograph

Ribbon Embroidery on a Photograph

I am taking a class on Domestika on embroidering on photographs. I have thought for years of printing photographs on fabric and then embroidering details. I never thought about embroidering on the actual photograph until I found this class.

So, here I go. I didn’t have shades of orange in my ribbon stash, but I did have yellows and 2 shades of orange Sharpies!

I stitched my first flower. Can you tell?

I learned several things:

1. Premium photo paper is tough. Even with pre-punching holes for my stitches, it’s very much like hand sewing leather. (Flashbacks to sewing ribbons on my daughter’s ballet shoes.)

2. This is an inkjet copy. The ink rubs off on your hands AND your ribbon.

3. This technique requires a lot of photo handling. A big border is essential. So is a white cotton glove on your non-dominant hand. It prevents fingerprints. (Due to #2, the glove doesn’t stay white.)

I stitched my glove several times. Better the glove than my finger!
I got quite a bit done, tonight, but it’s hard to see. I think that’s a good thing!

Pinterest just got Better!

Pinterest just got Better!

How I love it! They have a new little “pinning” gadget, tonight. I like it. Here’s something I pinned:

tiny flower embroidery

No, excuse me, I love the new gidget. When you choose a pin, you are presented with a text box that includes a flashing cursor, and a scroll list with the 3 boards you used last, followed by a list of the rest of your boards. The good part is you can start typing the name of the board you choose and it pops up, without having to scroll through the whole list! This is something I had suggested to them in a post a long time ago. They tried something similar for a while and then took it away. I assumed people didn’t like it. Either that, or you could pin so fast it crashed their server! I’m so glad it’s back! I love Pinterest, but do not enjoy scrolling through all 79 of my boards when I choose something to pin! Hurray!

Stitch-opedia!

Stitch-opedia!
Stitch-opedia!

This just in from BOMC2:

It’s a keeper. I learned something by just leafing through it: Stumpwork (raised, 3D embroidery,) was traditionally used to embellish the costumes of Spanish bullfighters!
Ole!

Here’s my old go to, however:

A trio of plump, ripe strawberries are embroidered on a Gold Stripe Tea Towel.

A trio of plump, ripe strawberries are embroidered on a Gold Stripe Tea Towel.
A trio of plump, ripe strawberries are embroidered on a Gold Stripe Tea Towel.

A trio of plump, ripe strawberries are embroidered on a Gold Stripe Tea Towel. Here’s another source of free designs and products for hand embroidery!

A Confession

A Confession

I love hand embroidery (except for satin stitch–aaargh!) However, I have purchased a used embroidery machine. It’s being dropped off tomorrow. I don’t have much invested in it, and it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, it’s just to play with.