Embroidery
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The Lowly Pincushion
A pattern for a hand-embroidered pincushion with two optional designs: one is cross stitched the other is reverse appliqué; both have silk ribbon embroidered pansies. Exploring the history of the lowly pincushion helps to realize that so much has been written about it.
Pins and needles were rather crudely made, rare and cherished items for centuries, so great care was taken for their storage. It wasn’t until sometime in the 14th century that they began being produced in factories in Europe and later in volume in England and in 1824 in the United States. The safety pin was invented around 1877 saving babies from bloody diapers.
Pincushions or ‘receptacles’ varied greatly in size and shape. The Victorians, masters at prolific, elegant decoration, created them in every conceivable container from silver filigree boxes to miniature boots, to very collectible ‘disc’ styles with pins placed in the ‘filling’ between the discs, to souvenir Scottish Tartanware and even place them on top of their sewing birds. They would spell out messages with specially made pins to celebrate weddings, friendships, births, and even deaths. Messages like ‘Welcome little one’, or ‘May you be happy”.
Soldiers (tailors) during the Crimean War were known to produce elaborate ‘message’ cushions to fill their time. These would be sent home to a loved one or brought home upon their return. Sailors were also known to make these message pincushions to fill their time at sea. All these are very collectable and rare.
Today we may think of the red tomato pincushion and its emery-filled strawberry with fond memories of our mothers but there is so much more. This article is an attempt to bring to our stitchery some of the elegance of the bygone days. Two styles of pincushion have been given, one in cross stitch, the other in reverse appliqué.
skill level Intermediate to Advanced
finished measurements
cross stitch sample finished size of exterior 3⅝” x 3¼”
reverse appliqué finished size of sample interior 3⅜” x 2¾” ≈, exterior 4⅜” x 3⅝”

Kaliada Goat Embroidered Wall Art
In Belarusan culture, the goat is a sacred, magical animal believed to easily make a person successful just by its presence in one’s personal space. The folklore says, "Where the goat walks, there the rye grows. Where the goat’s horns point, there is harvest growth". The goat is worshiped during the winter holiday season, namely the winter solstice time, when the year comes to an end and a new one begins. In the Belarusan language, this holiday is called 'Kaliady' from the word 'kola' meaning a circle. This is a fun-filled time of year when it’s customary for groups of people dressed in fancy clothes to solicit food door-to-door by singing carols, leading the magic “goat” around the master’s house for him to have a good harvest next year. The Kaliada Goat is worked using a variety of intricate embroidery stitches to highlight the beauty of the piece using canvaswork, blackwork, string art, couching stitch, Belarusan Nizanka, and beads. This is an advanced skill level.
Finished measurements design area 6½” x 8½” [16.5 x 21.5cm]
stitch count 158w x 210h stitches

Crewel Work Strawberries Wall Art
English needlework includes works with wool threads on heavy fabric. This style known as Jacobean decorated many household items. Many motifs were used in these pieces. The strawberry is a motif seen in some works. Strawberries symbolize fertility and love. This design allows practising some basic stitches of Jacobean embroidery.
stitches used
satin stitch, long and short stitch, French knot, outline stitch, wrapped back stitch, lattice, split stitch, fly stitch
skill level Intermediate
finished measurements
design area 3⅜” x 4⅛” [8.5 x 10.5cm]

Northern Lights Bookmark
Norwegian folklore is filled with tales of the Northern Lights and Vikings. Hardanger is the traditional needlework technique of Norway. It has a motif that reflects the Norse boats. DMC has a variation thread called Northern Lights. This design uses both to create a bookmark for your favourite reading.
The stitches used: Kloster, woven bars, dove’s eye, satin stitch, pebble stitch, hemstitch, picot edge, four-sided stitch, double back stitch
Includes: material list, order of stitching, diagrams for all stitches, and charts.
finished measurements
2¾” x 9” [7 x 23cm] ≈ (including the fringe)

Sashiko Stitching Meets the Zodiac Wall Art
Judith Marquis explores Sashiko stitching and embroidery depicting the astrological sign of Taurus. The zodiac signs are embroidered using embroidery thread on midnight blue fabric, and the backdrop is Sashiko stitched using white DMC Pearl Cotton 8 and Light Effects Pearlescent 5272. The pattern includes all 12 signs of the zodiac and options for expanding on the idea to many other projects. The pattern is easy to make and satisfying to expand on the idea. finished measurements design area 6” [15cm] square

Namitka, All Stars Are in Our Hands Embroidered Wall Art
Namitka is a distinctive headdress for a married woman as part of Belarusan traditional folk dress. It is a long thin fabric wrapped around the head and tied in the back. The ends of the fabric are embroidered with traditional motifs in red. This design is a delicately embroidered interpretation of the headdress and is worked using blackwork, canvaswork, and couching stitch. Worked on 25ct Lugana fabric in pewter to give it that wow factor. This is an advanced skill level. Finished measurements design area 10½” x 12½” [27 x 32cm]; stitch count 270w x 330h stitches.

Wish Upon a Star Doily
"Inspired by astronomy, Kim Beamish thought of the stars first. She explains, “We wish upon them and have used them for direction. This design incorporates those two things. The center has a compass rose for direction. It is surrounded by metallic stars. The areas of pulled thread include colours seen in many of the astronomical identities we see in photos.” The stitches used: wrapped back stitch (over four fabric threads), waffle filling, honeycomb filling, single faggot filling, wave filling, buttonhole, diamond eyelet
Includes: material list, order of stitching, diagrams for all stitches, and charts.
Finished Measurements 8⅝” [21.9cm] square"

Knot Gardens turn into Tile Work! Hooped Art
Ceramic tiles have been found in ancient archeological sites from as far back as biblical times and even earlier. The Greeks and Romans made great use of them as did the Turks to mention but a few. Depending on where they were used, tiles may have been ‘stand-alone’ pictorials or, as in ancient mosaics, just one small piece of a whole design. This Knot Garden is a very simplified version of a “Lover’s Knot” designed by Stephen Blake in 1664. It is based on an interlace design that might have been found in a wealthy family’s coat of arms. But turn the design just 45 degrees and could just as well be used in a tile design! As a tile, it could be part of a quilting border, for example, employing machine stitching for the lines, to create relief as the tiles ‘travel’ around the outer edge forming a border. Keeping this in mind, no doubt there are many other ways to make use of the design as a tile. The stitches used: closed herringbone, woven rose, colonial knot, French knot, lazy daisy, fly stitch and long-tail fly stitch, feather stitch Includes: material list, interlaced garden template for tracing, order of stitching, stitch diagrams, instruction photos, ideas of ways to use the design, and ideas for other ways to work the design Dimensions: 4 5/16” x 4 5/16” [11 x 11cm]"

Painted Tiles Mat
When Kim Beamish thinks of tiles, she thinks of squares of various sizes fitting together to create a pattern. This project has squares of Scottish stitch and pulled thread. Painted Desert was used for the variation of colour. You can use this colour thread or choose your own to fit your own decor. The stitches used to make this adorable mat are wrapped back stitch (over four fabric threads), hemstitch (over four fabric threads), Scottish stitch, single faggot filling, waffle filling, honeycomb filling, reverse faggot filling Includes: material list, order of stitching, diagrams for all stitches, and charts. Finished Measures 7 x 7” [18 x 18cm] (including fringe)

Blessing Embroidered Wall Art
In Belarus, embroidery is believed to be a spiritual activity, like praying to God. From time immemorial, Belarusan people have used ancient symbols to embellish customary items like a roushnik (towel) and magical powers are associated with these embroideries creating a talisman. When a baby is born, close relatives prepare a talisman for the baby, with a special symbol called Khresbiny (the four-pointed rosette) meaning christening. Iryna placed this symbol in the very center of her design surrounded by a flower representing joy and best wishes for the newborn life. It is perfect for gifting it for a birth, christening, birthday or any other such customs. It can also be gifted as a token of good luck, embroidering it on many household items like a cushion, a towel, a table centerpiece etc. And feel free to use your favourite colours too. The project is stitched on 32ct red linen fabric and worked with DMC variegated threads. Includes instructions and charts. Finished Measures 7½” x 7½” [19 x 19cm]

Herodotus Sea Banner
Belarus has no sea.
Still, I have something to say about the Belarusan sea. Scientists and historians say that long ago, there was a vast sea in the Polesie region in the south of the country. They call it the Herodotus Sea. It is named so after that famous Greek who made the first mention of the Belarusian Sea 2500 years ago.
The sea disappeared. Now in its place lies a country of numerous lakes, rivers, and forest swamps.
There is no sea in Belarus anymore. Though, the memory of it can be easily found in Belarusan past through its folklore in songs and tales… and in my series of Ripples-On-Water patterns. And of course, Belarusan dreams of paradise, of fabulous vacation or ultimate happy encounter are brought to life in thoughts about a sea, “to see the sea and die”.
Iryna Varabei recreates ripples using Belarusan Nizanka technique on evenweave fabric. This is an easy and beautifully reversible form of embroidery.
Includes instructions and charts
Finished Measures 10½” x 15” [27 x 38cm]

The Cutest Seaside Pincushion
To Kim Beamish, nautical means the classic blue and white, the dreamy shades of blue and turquoise, the sun reflecting on the water and waves causing a sparkle. Starfish and sea glass also come to mind. With this idea in mind, she used a variegated thread of blues and turquoise. Sparkle was added with seed beads and the piece was accented with ceramic starfish and sea glass. The filling pattern is called the Wave Stitch, which seems to be appropriate for the theme.

The Challenge: A Floral Crewel Stumpwork Design
While Bunny Goodman was taking the Embroiderers’ Association of Canada (EAC) Crewel Advanced course she was given a challenge by Helen McCrindle, her EAC Crewel Course Counselor at the time. She asked Bunny to design and complete a project by combining two methods of embroidery: stumpwork and crewel yarn work. Thus began a journey into the design of this project she appropriately named The Challenge. Before the invention of the camera, traveling salesmen would take along hand-drawn pictures or better yet a scaled-down model of what the full-sized project would look like. The Challenge’s first embroidery is the small, miniature salesman’s model; the second embroidery is the full-sized larger project. The Design Bunny incorporates motifs that are common and popular in crewel designs surrounded by an embroidered border. Everyone can identify carnations, pomegranates, and bumblebees. Nature at its best! The stitches used: stumpwork, crewel, couching, Turkey knot stitches, double buttonhole stitch, fly stitch, Pekinese stitch, vertical satin stitches, horizontal weave, and straight stitches Includes: design template, materials, instruction photos, and instructions are offered alongside the photos in an article format. It does not include how to make the stitches.
Bunny Goodman
EAC Seminar 2019
Recipient of the EAC Original Design Awards – Professional Division
[email protected]

Cottage Garden Needlebook
An old English cottage surrounded by a lush floral garden is the inspiration for Kim Beamish’s adorable needlebook. The stitches used to make the needlebook are Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, Wrapped Back Stitch, Lazy Daisy, Lattice Stitch, Bullion Knots, French Knots, Eyelet, Straight Stitch, Whip Stitch Includes: material list, flower diagram, order of stitching, and a tutorial on interesting ways to finish your punch needle embroidery.
Designed by Kim Beamish
www.craftycreations–beamish.blogspot.ca
[email protected]

Garden Lady Hooped Wall Hanging
Inger Waage, a Norwegian artist (1923-1995), explored whimsical garden scenes in her functional dinnerware and serving pieces for the Starvangerflint company in the middle of the last century. They were seen as very avant-garde and somewhat bohemian even then. Her work has enjoyed growing popularity among midcentury modern collectors today. In this homage to her work, Nancy Devine created a garden that begins in the gardener’s imagination and flows out to the world. She created her Garden Lady design on Essex linen and a myriad of variegated threads and embellishments that have lived in her stash for long enough. I hope you try this free-flowing design that holds heaven, wildflowers, and a sense of bliss. None of the stitches used are complicated, and even the placement template is just a guideline. Make this garden lady your very own. The stitches used to hand embroider the Garden Lady Wall Hanging: satin stitch, stem stitch, split stitch, lazy daisy stitch, French knots. Thread painting by machine was used for the leaves and flower centers.
Nancy Devine
nancywhiskeynancyo.blogspot.com

Mini Flower Bouquet Cushion
During Michelle Hartrick’s journey to create a memory of her mother and their shared love of colour she was inspired to create a project with a large monogram letter filled with small, embroidered flowers. The Design Appliqué feature on her HUSQVARNA® VIKING® sewing and embroidery machine allowed her to create a template for the small floral designs in the shape of the letter M. Of course, the Design Appliqué feature on the HUSQVARNA® VIKING® allows one to choose their own letter for your project. Once the machine embroidery part is completed, there are several options for using this machine embroidery piece, as a decorative cushion in this case. Includes: full material list including sewing feet, step-by-step instructions on how to accomplish this pattern using HUSQVARNA® VIKING® DESIGNER EPIC™ 2 or DESIGNER RUBY™ 90 or DESIGNER SAPPHIRE™ 85 sewing and embroidery machine. Instruction photos for piecing together the cushion cover.

Mountain Meadow Smocked Landscape
This piece was a total experiment, stitched freehand as a challenge to break free of the normal boundaries of graphed smocking pieces/designs. Judith recreates a landscape painting in a smocked piece of art that has a different orientation than the original painting. Included in the instructions is how to convert a painting into a smocked landscape and diagrams for embroidery stitches used.
Designed by Judith Marquis
Amberlane & Amberpetites
www.amberlane.ca

All You Need Is Less Wall Hanging
Using appliqué and simple running stitches, this stitched piece is quick to make. This piece was Olesya Lebedenko's response to the pandemic where needing less was inspired by living a quiet and simpler life. The design size is 7"x 8".
Designed by Olesya Lebedenko
Patreon.com/olesyalebedenkodesign
[email protected]
Instagram
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Woven Diamonds
Woven Diamonds is a smocked work of art inspired by the knitting technique, Entrelac. It's a great exercise on spacing and colour changes in smocking that create the challenge, making the final product an Entrelac look-alike to cherish forever.
Designed by Judith Marquis
Amberlane & Amberpetites
www.amberlane.ca

Slutsak Belt
Inspired by the luxurious damasked belts of medieval Belarus, Iryna creates her own beautiful design in this reversible belt stitched in the meditative Belarusan Nizanka style.
Designed by Iryna Varabei
Spirit of Belarus
www.ivarabei.wix.com/spiritofbelarus
www.facebook.com/SoB.design

The Folktale of Baba Yaga
Iryna Varabei depicts through string art, cross stitch, and blackwork embroideries, a millenium-old Belarusan folktale.
Designed by Iryna Varabei
Spirit of Belarus
www.ivarabei.wix.com/spiritofbelarus
www.facebook.com/SoB.design

Moroccan Mug Rug
The inspiration for this design was a window grate in a photo of an old door in Morocco. But in this feature, Judith also gives you many options for capturing design ideas to embroider. The Moroccan Mug Rug instructions include design options on the same theme and diagrams, including diagrams for embroidery stitches used.
Designed by Judith Marquis
Amberlane & Amberpetites
www.amberlane.ca

Tooth Fairy Cushion
This little cushion is simple and so perfect for trying your hand at the art of smocking. Make this little tooth fairy cushion for the precious little ones in your life.
Designed by Judith Marquis
Amberlane & Amberpetites
www.amberlane.ca

Talisman for Good Luck
In this talisman are three ancient magical symbols to bring luck, success and happiness to all who wear it on their person. A different design on each side, it measures 2" x 2".
Designed by Iryna Varabei
Spirit of Belarus
www.ivarabei.wix.com/spiritofbelarus
www.facebook.com/SoB.design

Spring Bliss Doll & Book Cover
In this show-stopping embroidered set, you'll learn the art of stumpwork. Stumpwork makes stitching look rich! Full instructions and templates for the doll, and instructions for the embroidery for both, the doll and book.
Designed by Lucy Garvin & Sherry Del Rizzo
Toronto and Oakville, Ontario

Hramavik the Thunder Spirit
My Hramavik - Thunder Spirit design is the result of three sources of inspiration: a Belarusan motif pattern, the Trianglepoint stitch technique and the colour palette proposed. This can make an extraordinary placemat and by repeating the design, can also be adapted into a runner. Instructions and charts included.
Designed by Iryna Varabei
Spirit of Belarus
2203 – 40 Teesdale Place
Toronto, Ontario M1L 1L3
416.691.3993
[email protected]
www.iv.belaruscanada.com

Pulled Thread Pastries Part 4
This is Part 4 of the Pulled Thread Pastries. This series is about introducing you and getting a good feel of what pulled thread embroidery is all about. The whole series focuses on the basic and essential pulled thread stitches reviewing in detail three in each of the four parts. In Part 4 Kim Beamish gives instructions with charts and photos of the steps involved in executing the Cobbler Filling, Step Stitch, and Pebble Filling.
Designed by Kim Beamish
craftycreations-beamish.blogspot.ca
[email protected]

My Loot Business Cards
Imagine finally getting around to making good use of those 'treasures' you've saved up for years to make your personalized cards. Oh joy oh bliss! Use your favourite pieces of fabrics, yarn, buttons, paper snippets, threads, trimmings to make this 'loot' represent who you are in the fibre world.
Jean Stephens
Quilting/Fiber Artist
[email protected]

Beaded Designer Flip Flops
In this feature, the humble flip flop is transformed into a glitzy accesssory when the occasion calls for it! Your flip flops can be transformed using needle, thread and beads into your own special designer footwear.
Designed by Nubia Moreira
That Sewing Place
16610 Bayview Ave # 10
Newmarket, ON L3X 1X3
905.715.7725
thatsewingplace.ca
facebook: TSPNewmarket

The Lure of Birchwood
Nostalgia strikes in this piece embroidered with love for the birchwoods of Belarus. Embroidered using straight stitches, it's a contemplative piece, as contemplative as birchwood.
Designed by Iryna Varabei
Spirit of Belarus
www.ivarabei.wix.com/spiritofbelarus
www.facebook.com/SoB.design