Tag Archive | traditional embroidery

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Mornings

Jul2

In these posts I want to share some of my favorite pieces, which will include wall hangings, small works, pillows, purses, and just because pieces.

Summer Picnic

Summer Picnic: This is a small wallhanging that I created to showcase my line of embroidery stencils, Embroidery Stencils, Crazy Quilt Seam Design Collection. I used a collection of cotton prints to create the base, from a wedge-pieced block that I designed. I embroidered the seams and open spaces with perle cotton, and stranded cotton floss. I embellished the piece with 2-hole and 4-hole buttons, and novelty buttons.

Materials Used:

  • Perle Cotton: #8 and #12
  • Cotton Floss: 2 or three strands
  • Embellishments: Vintage and new buttons

Embroidery Details:

  • Border Row Stitches: Blanket stitch, chevron stitch, cretan stitch, cross stitch row, feather stitch, feather stitch single, fern stitch modern, and herringbone stitch
  • Detail Stitches: Cross stitch, fly stitch, French knot stitch, lazy daisy stitch, and straight stitch
  • Embellishment Stitches: Stitched 2-hole buttons, stitched 4-hole buttons

You can find a set of directions on the C&T Publishing blog, to make the basic block, and how to use the stencils here. If you would like to learn more about my three sets of stencils, you can read a blog post here.

Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Mornings

May21

In these posts I want to share some of my favorite pieces, which will include wall hangings, small works, pillows, purses, and just because pieces. The piece below is form my book Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New.

Bella Fleur Mouchoir, 25 1/2″ x 21 1/2″

Bella Fleur Mouchoir (Beautiful Flower Handkerchief): The base of this wallhanging is made from a group of vintage floral printed hankies that I found in a green satin bag in my mom’s “delicates” drawer. I combined the hankies with scraps of vintage feed sack and cotton fabrics from the 40’s, with new cotton fabrics. I created a border of crazy- and strip- pieced fabrics, and I used satin ribbons to hide the raw edges. I embroidered stitches around the edges of the hankies and ribbons and the seams of the pieced fabric.

I embroidered this piece over several months, making sure to add embroidered and embellished details to each seam and open space. I was able to use almost all of the embroidery stitches that I included in the book, that utilized the threads that I chose to work with.

I made ribbonwork flowers using vintage cotton bias tape and woven ribbons, and fabric yo-yos from the left-over bits of vintage feed sack and cotton floral fabrics. This piece is adorned with vintage and new plastic buttons, and new novelty buttons.

Materials Used:

  • Perle Cotton: #8 and #12
  • Cotton Floss: 2 or three strands
  • Additional threads: tatting and crochet cotton in various weights; cotton floss
  • Embellishments: Glass seed beads, plastic charms, vintage and new buttons
  • Flowers and Fabric: Rosette, crinkly flower, fuller flower, yo-yo

Embroidery Details:

  • Border Row Stitches: Backstitch, blanket stitch, blanket stitch up and down, blanket and chain stitch, blanket stitch closed, blanket stitch up and down, chain stitch, chain stitch double, chain stitch spiny, chain stitch zigzag, chevron stitch, coral stitch, cretan stitch, cretan stitch looped, cretan stitch up and down, cretan stitch with chain stitch, cretan with feather stitch, crossed wing stitch, cross stitch row, feather stitch, feather stitch cobwebbed, feather stitch double, feather stitch looped, feather stitch single, fern stitch modern, fishhook stitch, fly stitch fancy link, herringbone stitch, herringbone stitch twisted, shell stitch row, snail trail stitch, stem stitch
  • Detail Stitches: Cross stitch, cross stitch twisted, fleet stitch, fleet stitch with loose knot, fly stitch, fly stitch with French knot stitch, fly stitch with lazy daisy stitch, French knot stitch, lazy daisy stitch, lazy daisy with bullion tip stitch, lazy daisy with French knot stitch, looped tendril stitch, pistil stitch, shell stitch, stamen stitch, and straight stitch
  • Flower and Shape Stitches: Bell flower stitch, buttonhole circle stitch, fly stitch flowers, French knot stitch flowers, lazy daisy stitch flowers, spiderweb: corner stitch, straight stitch flowers, whip-stitch star
  • Embellishment Stitches: Clustered buttons, curved wing butterfly, embroidered buttons, single bead stitch, stacked bead stitch, stitched 2-hole buttons, stitched 4-hole buttons

Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen

Friday’s Favorites: More and More Hearts of Course! A Heart a Day: 24

Feb24

Heart Felt Wishes to you all! I love hearts, I love the shape, I love to decorate the house at Valentine’s Day, and I have a lot of hearts… so I decided to post A Heart a Day for the entire month of February.

3 heart pins
embroidered felt hearts
3 embroidered hearts
3 heart ornaments

Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna work out fine if you only will.
– James Taylor

Happiest of heartfelt wishes for a wondrous day! ~Christen

Embroidery Samplers

Oct30

If I could pass on one important thought, it would be that practice just makes sense. Perfection is not something that I strive for, but I myself feel more confident when I understand the stitches that I am working on.

My book Embroidered and Embellished, by C&T Publishing is divided into four chapters, each chapter includes 20 stitches and 2 projects. I grouped the stitches according to the type of stitches and the materials that were used in each of these chapters.

Traditional Embroidery Stitch Sampler
Silk Ribbon Embroidery Sampler
Raised and Textured Stitch Sampler

At the beginning of each chapter I have included a sampler which utilizes all of the stitches included in the chapter. I used the above embroidery template (page 89) as a guide, and embroidered the design around the guide.

The Embroidery Journal Project above, is from my book, The Embroidery Book, by C&T embellishing. There are instructions in the book for making this little journal on page 43. Each page is 10″ x 6″, with the embroidered sections worked on each 5″ x 6″ half. You can refer to the samplers in the Visual Guide for the stitches to use, or use the samplers at the beginning of each chapter.

In my class The Embroidery Corner, I taught a 17 week course on embroidery. Each week, working with one stitch family, the student practiced their stitching on a 6″ piece of fabric. Here are some of my examples:

For a book that includes over 500+ stitches, see my book Hand Embroidery Dictionary, by C&T Publishing. If you would like to make a sampler of your own, you can download the free PDF lesson, Sampler Roll of Stitches.

I am confident that you will agree that by allowing yourself the time to learn and experiment with a new technique will never be a waste of time. You are worth the time that it takes to prepare for your journey into embroidery. May that be a long enjoyable journey, and may your needles fly!

Happy Stitching, enjoy~Christen

Day 13 of FLOWERS GALORE!

May13

Day 13 of FLOWERS GALORE!

Small Works!

This is a grouping of some of my favorite embroidered treasures. I keep these in baskets on my work table and book cases so that I can see them and love them everyday! These can be found as gallery examples in my ribbonwork and embroidery books from C&T Publishing.

Happy Stitching, enjoy~ Christen!

Day 8 of HEARTS! Wisteria and Sunflower Pillow

Feb8

Day 8 of HEARTS!

Many of you know that I love hearts! I love the shapes and all of the possibilities. This heart-shaped pillow was a project featured in my book Embroidered and Embellished. I really loved working the flowers and vines using variegated flosses, you never know how it will turn out!

Happy February to you!

~Christen

Tandletons: class/tutorial

Jan4

Tandletons: 2 lessons/$30.00

tandletonsTandletons=Tatted/needle lace/buttons. These little threaded works of art are just so much fun to make. I start with a base made from silk bias ribbon, stuffed with Polyfil. All of the stitches are created with a milliner’s needle, cotton and silk threads, silk embroidery ribbon or beads. The techniques that will be covered in class are Traditional Embroidery, embroidered Tatted stitches, Needle lace, Beaded Stitches, and Silk Ribbon Embroidery stitches.

Skill Level Intermediate: hand sewing, embroidery and beading knowledge helpful.

Lesson 1: First you will learn how to stitch the base that can be used for each embroidery technique. In this lesson we will cover these traditional embroidery stitches: buttonhole, chain, feather, lazy daisy and French knots; and the woven rose that is stitched with silk embroidery ribbon.

Lesson 2: This class will cover the embroidered Tatted stitches: basic, picot and twisted loops. Needle lace stitches: the woven star; buttonhole and twisted bar. Beaded Stitches: continuous beading, single bead with detail design, stemmed beads, and flower petals. This class will also cover the basic finishing techniques.

Class Information

These classes can be purchased at any time, there is no set schedule. The class can be ordered by contacting Christen: thestoreonthecorner@gmail.com. She will send you an invoice through PayPal.

Once the class is paid for, the supply list will be sent out. The lessons will begin one week after the purchase of the class, unless otherwise stated. You will receive an email with the lesson attached. The following lesson/s will arrive one week after the previous lesson.

A high speed internet connection is recommended, and you must have basic computer and internet skills. You will need to be able know how to download and save a document to your computer’s hard drive, open it and print out a copy.

You can contact Christen with any questions pertaining to the class/class information throughout the length of the class.

Class fees will not be refunded.

Happy Stitching,

~Christen

Tandleton Rose Bracelet: class/tutorial

Dec8

Tandleton Rose Bracelet: 2 lessons/$24.00

silk ribbon, embroidery, braceletsThese bracelets are so feminine, pretty and dainty, and perfect for your spring wardrobe! Each little beauty is made from a piece of bias ribbon that is first stitched and stuffed into a pillow shape. Each of these individual pillows is then embroidered with silk ribbon and embroidery threads, creating a rose, leaves and a vine. You have two styles of bracelet to choose from. The “Ring of Roses” is made up entirely of embroidered ribbon pillows, strung with beads and has a glass button for the closure. The “Band of Roses” is made from a ribbon base, covered in vintage ribbon with a few of the embroidered pillows stitched on top; a dainty embroidered button and hand-stitched button loop are the closure.

Skill Level Intermediate: hand sewing, embroidery and beading knowledge helpful.

Lesson 1: In this lesson I will cover the making of the silk bias ribbon base for the pillow shape. The embroidery stitches that will be covered are: the woven rose, the French knot, the feather stitch, chain stitch, buttonhole, and the lazy daisy stitch.

Tandleton RosesLesson 2: In this lesson I will cover the assembly for each of the bracelets. Ring of Roses will use beads and a button for final assembly. Band of Roses will have a stitched ribbon base, lace decoration, an embroidered button, and button loop.

Class Information

These classes can be purchased at any time, there is no set schedule. The class can be ordered by contacting Christen: thestoreonthecorner@gmail.com. She will send you an invoice through PayPal.

Once the class is paid for, the supply list will be sent out. The lessons will begin one week after the purchase of the class, unless otherwise stated. You will receive an email with the lesson attached. The following lesson/s will arrive one week after the previous lesson.

A high speed internet connection is recommended, and you must have basic computer and internet skills. You will need to be able know how to download and save a document to your computer’s hard drive, open it and print out a copy.

You can contact Christen with any questions pertaining to the class/class information throughout the length of the class.

Class fees will not be refunded.

Happy Stitching,

~Christen

Log Cabin Heart Etui and Pincushion: class/tutorial

Dec6

Log Cabin Heart Etui and Pincushion: 3 lessons/$30.00

pinchushionandetui1This is a very traditional project, with a contemporary flare. The heart shaped etui and base of the pincushion are both pieced with a version of the Log Cabin technique. The pieced sections are embellished with traditional embroidery stitches using two different types of thread, perle cotton #8 and 6-ply stranded floss. These make an excellent gift for any sewer!

Skill Level Intermediate: sewing machine and some embroidery knowledge needed

Lesson 1: In this class you will be piecing the base for both the etui and pincushion using a variation of the Log Cabin piecing technique. You will also form the decorative center of the pincushion.

Lesson 2: In this class you will embroider the base stitches across the seams, these include: chain, herringbone, zigzag chain, blanket and short-long-short blanket stitch. Next you embroider the decorative stitches to the base stitches, these include: fly, lazy daisy, closed buttonhole flower, curved open chain loop, and the French Knot. You will also embroider the center of the pincushion.

Lesson 3: In this class you will assemble all of the pieces and parts of the etui and pincushion.

Class Information

These classes can be purchased at any time, there is no set schedule.The class can be ordered by contacting Christen: thestoreonthecorner@gmail.com. She will send you an invoice through PayPal.

Once the class is paid for, the supply list will be sent out. The lessons will begin one week after the purchase of the class, unless otherwise stated. You will receive an email with the lesson attached. The following lesson/s will arrive one week after the previous lesson.

A high speed internet connection is recommended, and you must have basic computer and internet skills. You will need to be able know how to download and save a document to your computer’s hard drive, open it and print out a copy.

You can contact Christen with any questions pertaining to the class/class information throughout the length of the class.

Class fees will not be refunded.

Happy Stitching,

~Christen

Embroidered and Embellished by Christen Brown

Jun20

10901_frontcoverThe complete visual guide to hand embroidery & embellishing

This richly illustrated reference guide from embroidery expert Christen Brown covers everything you need to make beautiful magic with needle and thread. Learn to sew traditional and silk ribbon embroidery, make raised stitches, and embellish with beads, charms, buttons, and mirrors. Christen shows you how to combine and place stitches to enhance a finished piece and how to work with embroidery threads, ribbons, fabrics, laces, beads, buttons, and other embellishments.

• Step-by-step photo instructions show exactly how to sew 85 different stitches
• Includes 8 complete embroidery projects to stitch and embellish
• The essential embroidery reference for everyone from beginners to experts

My new book is now available through C&T Publishing.You can see a few of the projects here, on C&T’s Blog.

I will be teaching several classes from the book this year in Houston at Quilt Festival in the fall, and next year at Road to California, in January.

Happy Stitching, enjoy ~Christen