Tag Archive | traditional embroidery stitches

Artistry in Alchemy

Oct30

The term gold-work embroidery was originally used to describe a form of decorative embroidery that employed real gold threads in a mixture of surface applications and techniques that use both laid and stitched yarns. The term now is extended to gold-work and metallic thread embroidery and includes all metals: gold (though this proved costly for most industries and was not used much after the 10th century), silver gilt, silver, pewter and copper, and metallic (alloy or synthetic) colored threads and yarns.

Vintage French Handbags with Metal Thread Embroidery
Vintage French Handbags with Metal Thread Embroidery

These two examples of incredible metal-thread embroidery are part of my vintage purse collection. The handbag I purchased at an estate sale, has copper, green and bronzed colored embroidery threads. The coin purse is mainly copper and silver colors, and I found this on eBay.

Happy Stitching, ~Christen

National Sewing Month

Sep19

Day 19

Question: Do you like to embroider over a pattern or print: I like the fact that I can follow a guide, but mix it up a bit and add more color to the piece. You can find the following pieces in my book the Hand Embroidery Dictionary by C&T Publishing.

20″ X 19 1/2″

Glamour Girl by Christen Brown

This piece started with the fun print that was used in all four blocks. I loved the colors that were used and found additional fabrics in both stripes and prints in those same colors. I also incorporated a few precious strips of vintage batik fabrics. The piece is embellished with rickrack trim, grosgrain and novelty ribbons, embroidery, beads and sequins, and novelty buttons.

21 1/2″ x 12 3/4″

Big Leaves by Christen Brown

This piece started with the large linen leaf print. I chose Valdani perle cotton, from Rusty Crow Quilt Shop, for the embroidery stitches because of the ombre and variegated colors. The printed fabric gave me so many opportunities to use a variety of embroidery stitches. I used a wide grosgrain ribbon for the border, and embellished this with vintage wooden buttons.

12 1/2″ x 13 3/4″

Misty Blue Hills by Christen Brown

I used a printed upholstery fabric for the center that had great lines and colors that I could work with. I pieced the simple border with blue and creme colored printed fabrics. The embroidery stitching follows the pattern in the center, using a variety of stitches. I used a Sashiko style of stitching on the border fabrics. Many vintage glass, metal, shell and celluloid buttons were used for embellishments, along with two bone dragons.

Happy Stitching, ~Christen

By the Shore

Aug27

I love the sea, the shore, and collecting treasures along the sand, rocks, and tide pools. Growing up in Southern California is a gift that I treasure every minute of the day. Here are some examples of my interpretations of this life.

Sea Urchins
Sea Urchins

Sea Urchins, were made from synthetic felt, one embellished with mother-of-perle buttons, and glass beads; the other embroidered with hand-dyed perle cotton from Artfabriks, with a vintage brown muscle button in the center. Scattered amongst the sea urchins are a group of carved, vintage abalone buttons. This piece and the one below it, can be seen in my book, Hand Embroidery Dictionary.

Tidal Pool Rocks Group
Tidal Pool Rocks

Tidal Pool Rocks was a piece that I created, intending to add found objects, and other small embroideries. The rocks are made from synthetic felt, and are embroidered with a variety of solid and variegated perle cotton threads. The small bits of “sea ephemera” were created from ribbons, felt, and floral stamens. A ribbon trim poses as kelp, with found shells and starfish skeletons sprinkled around the rocks.

Tidal Pools

Tidal Pools was a piece that I created for my book, Beaded Embroidery Stitching. The felt base for this piece and the rocks above are based on the “Blowing Bubbles” project in that book. The base is made from synthetic felt, and is embroidered and embellished with seed and larger glass beads, miniature sea urchins made from silk bias ribbon, found shells, vintage buttons, charms, sequins, dentalium shells, fresh water pearls, coral beads, and abalone chips.

Happy Stitching to you! ~Christen

Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New

Aug15
Sage and Cornflower

I have a new book coming out in March 2023 called Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old With the New, by C&T Publishing. The book has 17 projects: 3 Projects by Design with step-by-step instructions and 14 Stash Projects with creative ideas, and minimum instructions for using your stashed bits and precious treasures.

It includes loads of information on vintage stash items, embroidery stitches, embellishment stitches and tips on dyeing. There will be plenty of inspiration to help you create with your stashed, hoarded, and handed down bits and pieces of special treasures!

There are plenty of examples of innovative uses for all kinds of embellishments ― like lace, vintage linens and hankies, trims and ribbons, buttons of all sorts, and vintage notions ― through techniques and projects.

I just finished this piece Sage and Cornflower, which is an adaptation of one of the Projects by Design, Lace, Doilies, and Appliqués. The base started as half of a stained doily, which I dyed (sage), with Colorhue dyes. The (blue) lace and rickrack trims were dyed, as well as the embroidered (ocher) lace. I embroidered the piece with Finca perle cotton, Valdani carried by Rusty Crow Quilt Shop, and a wonderful colorway called Wild Rice, by Laura Wasiloswki of Artfabriks. I embellished the piece with seed and larger glass beads; vintage glass and celluloid buttons; and brass charms.

Happy Stitching to you! ~Christen

Day 18 of FLOWERS GALORE!

May18

Day 18 of FLOWERS GALORE!

Ribbon Embroidered Brooches

This project the Ribbon Embroidered Brooch, is a class that I just love to teach. The project is simple and elegant, and one the student can easily finish one in a few hours. There are just a few stitches, the woven rose, lazy daisy, French knot, and chain stitch, with a couched cord edge. These stitches can be found in my book The Embroidery Book by C&T Publishing.

Happy Stitching, enjoy~ Christen!

Day 17 of FLOWERS GALORE!

May17

Day 17 of FLOWERS GALORE!

Crazy Pieced Needle Case

This is a close-up view of a needle case that I made for a class that I teach. The base is crazy-pieced with cotton fabrics and embellished with ribbonwok flowers, silk ribbon embroidered flowers, traditional and silk ribbon embroidery stitches, buttons, charms, vintage tatted trim and appliques. Many of the stitches can be found in my book The Embroidery Book by C&T Publishing.

Happy Stitching, enjoy~ Christen!

Day 2 of FLOWERS GALORE!

May2

Day 2 of FLOWERS GALORE!

Four Square

This is one of nine blocks that were designed for my class the Stitch Along Sampler series. The embroidery stitches included both traditional and silk ribbon techniques.

The stitches can be found in my book Embroidered and Embellished by C&T Publishing.

Happy Stitching, enjoy~ Christen!

Day 28 of HEARTS! Three Generations of Love

Feb28

Evelyn’s Heart

embroidered felt hearts

Christen’s Heart

Gwen’s Heart

Here we are gathered together for mother’s day, 12 years ago.

Day 28 of HEARTS!

Many of you know that I love hearts! I love the shapes and all of the possibilities. Here is an example of three generations who love hearts. The first image is of an embroidered greeting card that my mom made. The second is an image of the beginnings of my class Embroidered from the Heart. The third is my most favorite valentine, from our daughter Gwen.

Happy February to you, and thank you for letting me share my love of hearts!

~Christen

Day 27 of HEARTS! Country Hearts

Feb27

Country Hearts 1, 7 1/2″ L x 8″W

Country Hearts 2, 7 1/2″ L x 8″W

Day 27 of HEARTS!

Many of you know that I love hearts! I love the shapes and all of the possibilities. These two wall hangings begin with a jean fabric base and one of my favorite fabrics, the floral print that the hearts are cut from. The heart shapes are bordered by a dyed leaf trim, and are surrounded by silk ribbonwork flowers and leaves, and silk ribbon embroidery.

Happy February to you!

~Christen

Day 22 of HEARTS! Blue Heart Etui

Feb22

Day 22 of HEARTS!

Many of you know that I love hearts! I love the shapes and all of the possibilities. This heart-shaped etui is another example of my class Log Cabin Heart Etui and Pincushion. It was featured as a gallery example in The Embroidery Book.

Happy February to you!

~Christen