A free hand embroidery stitch guide to download
Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 6:15AM | Sharon B | 43 Comments | in Challenges, Hand Embroidery, Have a Cuppa, Needlework, News, Resources Hi all I was so busy and over excited about the fact that I was teaching at An Adventure in Crazy Quilting alongside famous Crazy quilters such as Allison Aller and Betty Pillsbury that I totally forgot my 6th blogaversary!
I thought since it was my 6 years and one month mark I would release a treat for my readers. That is right, if you check the archives I have been sitting at my key board happily tapping away, most days for 6 years! It does not feel that long but here is the traditional link to my first ever post. I guess I am no longer a baby blogger…
A free gift …
I have put together a free stitch guide! 12 Surface Stitches for Beginners is the 12 basic stitches that new hands to surface embroidery need to know. These same stitches, are also the basic stitches that crazy quilters use and build on. So anyone new to crazy quilting should find the file handy too.
I have edited down the instructions so that the stitches fit 2 to a page. This means a small print out which is easy to carry around or keep with you.
I have also taught all these stitches to children. So if ever you need to organise an activity for children you might find this file handy. So thanks for being a reader, download, stitch and enjoy.
Note: 12 Surface Stitches for Beginners is a PDF file which means you will need Acrobat Reader to open and read these files. You can download a free reader on the Acrobat site
What is going on recently …
There are quite a few things cooking at the moment so it is worth doing a bit of a round up. So make a cuppa and if you have not touched base here for a while its worth scanning over what is going on as there is a lot!
I started a newsletter as too many people who swing by only occasionally emailed me about it. Sharon B's Stitching News is an announcement only newsletter used to let people know about challenges, community events, classes and special bibs and bobs such as when stuff gets given away 12 Surface Stitches for Beginners.
An Adventure in Crazy Quilting - I am teaching there!
The really BIG news is that Maureen Greeson is organising An Adventure in Crazy Quilting in Glastonbury, Connecticut, of the United States. I am teaching there! People have oodles and oodles of time to save their pennies as it will be in April, 2011 but if you are interested do drop Maureen a line. Other teachers that will be there are Allison Aller and Betty Pillsbury ... this is going to be a really good event.
At the moment Maureen needs to know who is interested. So contact her if you are thinking of joining us.
TAST 2
TAST 2 is fast approaching as the first TAST stitch for 2010 will be announced Tuesday March 2nd. There will be a new stitch every week until the end of the year. These stitches are all surface embroidery stitches. To make that clear they are not canvas, evenweave, pulled or drawn thread stitches. This means many crazy quilters will be interested in these stitches.
All skill levels are welcome but I will be working under the assumption that people know at least the basic stitches. Those that did not do TAST 1 check out 12 Surface Stitches for Beginners and the first series of TAST stitches to get an idea how people explore stitches see the stitchin fingers group and the flickr TAST site
The fact that I have found enough new stitches to run another challenge like TAST has me quite thrilled. I am sure many will prove to be new and interesting and a little different for people.
The Challenge:
Each week I will take a stitch and suggest people experiment with it, push it a little and see what possibilities the stitch holds.
If working a challenge stitch every week scares the daylights out of you. Take a deep breath ...That is OK we understand... Last time some people simply worked the stitches that interested them. From my point of view I am happy to see people stitching and sharing what they learn. So if you want to swing in and out of the challenge as life dictates that is fine.
How to join:
To sign on leave a comment here with your name, and blog or flickr account.
If you don’t yet have a site to post images to you will need to set up one. You will need at least a flickr account or somewhere to have your images on the web. If you don’t have one go to http://flickr.com and join it is free and not difficult to use. The point is the share what you do so other stitchers can see what you have done.
The way it will work is when you have experimented with stitch you come back here, and leave a comment to say where you can see what you have done.
The start date:
Tuesday March 2nd
Skill level:
All skill levels are welcome but see what I have said above.
Spread the Word
If you have a blog, if you enjoyed TAST or simply reading about TAST, spread the word and a list of those who are participating and guidelines page up soon I promise!
The stitchin fingers community
First up Stichin fingers grew to a huge online community of fibre folks. As I write we have just over 2,700 members! If you are a member but only occasionally swing by do take a look as the community is bubbling along and every morning enjoyable hour coffee cup beside me, browsing the photos. Stay tuned too as I am looking to add a few resources to this site.
Another freebie from me
My personal mini design challenge this year is to produce a free desktop wallpaper with a calendar each month. You will find a new free desktop wallpaper for February here
Online classes coming up
I do not quite believe people might have missed this but every time a class starts I get an email from someone saying they did! Classes often run just once in the year so it is worth thinking about them when they do come up. I have two classes currently on offer which you may be interested in. The first is Studio Journals: A Designer’s Workhorse which will commence on February 24th.
Sumptuous Surfaces which will commence on March 11th. If you have not taken an online class before this is how online classes work.
Wipes brow...That is it!
I think that is all … wanders off to make another cuppa … you can bet I forgot something!
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Reader Comments (43)
Happy blogiversary!
The print out is really welcome.
I would love to try TAST 2. I am interested in learning more embroidery and crazy quilting, so I think this will be very beneficial!
http://eternal-arts-n-crafts.blogspot.com/
Please sign me up for this challenge. I am looking forward to it. I am also looking forward to your coming to the states. Hope I can be at the retreat with all you wonderful ladies.
The TAST sounds interesting. I'd like to join, and will create a flicker account before the start date.
Wow, you have so much going on I have no idea how you manage to fit it all in! Congratulations on your 6 years of blogging and thankyou for including me in your "M" list of interesting blogs .............. it is really exciting to get a mention!
Hi Sharon ,
would like to join TAST 2. This is a great opportunity to learn and share and is really going to be great fun. My blog is..
http://sadalas.blogspot.com
lakshmi
Congratulations on 6 years of blogging! Yours is one of my very favorites that I look forward to reading every day. :o)
I am very excited to be joining in on TAST 2. I will be posting my progress on my blog at http://wyrdneedles.blogspot.com.
Thank you for all the wonderful stitching and information you have shared with us over the years!
Hi Sharon, please include me in the TAST2 group. I not only enjoyed the first round but learned many things about stitches and how they work with different threads.
Thank you for the Basic Stitch freebie. I've printed it out for my visiting young GKs and sent the link to DD Catherine for her school projects.
Your freebie calender looks great on my desktop and is the handiest thing for remembering the day at a glance. LOL
Maureen
http://crazyqstitcher.wordpress.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crazyqstitcher/
Hi Sharon
Happy Blogaversary
very interesting blog from where i have learnt a many things
thanks Sharon
ansu chennai
Hi Sharon, please include me in the TAST2 group. I also have a flicker account. http://www.flickr.com/photos/slavetobeads/
I would like to join TAST2! I am just beginning in CQ and have been practicing stitches from your site on 28 ct linen with the equivalent of size 5 perle cotton.
My flickr site is DeaStrega's Photostream. I do not have a blog.
hi,
pls include me inTast 2. i'm very much interestedin hand embroidery.
thanks in advance.
Hi Sharon, I cant remember if I have already signed up to this, I was in the original Taste so looking forward to more. Penny in South Australia
Please sign me up! I have wanted to be a part of TAST for a long time. I can't wait.
Thanks, Cynthia Landrie
Happy anniversary Sharon.
I would like to join the TAST 2 for this year.
Regards,
Carolyn
Hi Sharon--wow 6 years that is wonderful.
Count me in for TAST 2 --if it is half as much fun as TAST 1 was I will be one happy stitcher.
Doreen G
http://doreeng.blogspot.com/
HI Sharon! Doesn't blogging time fly? This June will see me marking 5 years in the blogosphere!
The stitch guide looks great and I will be passing on the link to a lady I 'met' on-line from back home whose just getting into embroidery.
I think I'll try and give TAST2 a go, although I can't promise to be too regular with it. I'll try though.=) Blog in the usual place.
Hi Sharon, happy bloggiversary! I'm looking forward to TAST2. I've even set up a new blog for TASTing!
http://smockerytast.blogspot.com
I can't wait! I loved your classes!
Happy Bloggiversary and than you for the stitch guide! You make the world wide web so much more wonderful. :)
I'd love to play around with TAST 2 when I get a minute here and there. I never seem to be able to really keep up with challenges but if it is acceptable to pop in with work on an irregular basis, I will do so. I'm also trying to make a rational decision about whether or not I can actually make it to Adventures in Crazy Quilting, it sounds like a wonderful conference.
Also, thank you for including my little rambling blog on your 'L' segment. I'm honored. :)
Hi Sharon, I found you on Twitter because I follow @CraftGossip Thank you for this wonderful post. I'm running out the door but I look forward to treating myself with relaxing browse of your site later.
Happy to be with again!
I would like to join TAST2. My blog site is ....www.nidynoddyscorner.blogspot.com
wow...would love to join in as it will motivate me
So looking forward to another TAST!
http://mindblogglings.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/playswithfibers/
Hi sharon
congratulations on completing of blogging!!!. happy anniversary
I would like to join TAST 2010. You are a great teacher.Thank you for sharing:-)
Congrats on 6 years! Thank you for the print out. I'm printing it and putting it in a duotang folder as a go-to resource. Maybe I'll join TAST 3?!?! I'm pretty new at surface design and need to make more time for it in my schedule to enjoy and learn it. I took a studio journal course from you last year and am still enjoying the results:) Here's to more great blog posts!! Thanks again.
Hi,
I would love to join too!
Emily
http://www.theflossbox.com/blog
Hello,
Happy Anniversary. Six years is a great accomplishment and also a very generous gift that you have offered everyone and anyone. Thank you. I have just found you recently, but at a time when I am thinking of pulling out needles, thread, ribbons almost daily. Thank you for the added inspiration. I am thinking of sharing in your TAST 2. I will have to start a new blog or flicker account. If I follow through I will come back and let you know. It sounds wonderfully fun. Thank you, Tammie
Hi Sharon i am so glad i have just found this, i would love to join your Sumptuous Surfaces because i lack in design and this sounds perfect for me.
Jennie x
http://jennie61.blogspot.com/
Happy bloganniversary Sharon and thanks for learning us so much. I have registrated
for the Adventure in Crazy Quilting and am so much looking forward to it and of course meeting you! Hope I can make time to join TAST2.
Wilma from the Netherlands
Hi Sharon. I would like to join the TAST 2010 group. I will set up a flickr account and get that info to you this week. Thanks for doing this! Paula
Congratulations on your blog anniversary. I would like to join TAST 2.
Annet
http://fat-quarter.blogspot.com/
Hi Sharon, I would love to have a go at the Tast 2 challenge, but maybe could not commit to the weekly stitch.
Flickere site www.com/photos/damasena just created this ready to start.
Thankyou
Juliette
Hi Sharon.
I completed TAST 1 and I a have a binder of all our stiches - it is a great reference. I've missed the weekly introduction of new stitches and look forward to TAST 2. You may recall that I work in art quilts use the stitches in non-traditional ways.
Thanks for doing this! You have raised the popularity of hand embroidery and increased our knowledge of the stitches - worldwide!
Hi Sharon, I would love to join TAST 2 as well. Looking forward to the challenge. Thank you so much for making this possible, also congratulations on your 6 year "blogaversary"! , and thank you for been so generous with the time you have spent helping and encouraging so many embroidery/quilting /textile enthusiasts. My flickr account details are below.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smg1955
Hi Sharon,
Very new CQer. I'm also trying to learn more about SRE. I would like join the TAST2 challenge. My flickr account is flickr.com/photos/miniknit
Hi Sharon,
Here's my Flickr account link (nothing in there yet!). I'd like to join the TAST 2010 group. I'm not clear on your blog vs Stitchin Fingers for accessing and participating in the group. Can you help me out?
Thanks.
Paula
http://www.flickr.com/photos/studio167/
Hi Sharon, Happy anniversary, I would like to joing the TAST 2010 group as well.
I will look forward to it.
Shirley
This is very exciting... I will love to join TAST 2 , please ! I really need to push my basic hand embroidery to a new level ... Thanks for the opportunity !
Blog link: http://myfirstbambina.blogspot.com
Flickr link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mygoals_mismetas/
Hi Sharron
I would like to participate in the TAST 2 please.
Dear Sharon, I will try to follow TAST2 - may be not regularly - because of travels. I just opened a Flickr account. I am not so sure if everything went ok.
Very keen to see things develop.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchinwoman
Nothing in yet.
Happy Aniversary ,Sharon.Thanks for the pdf
.Best wishes