Twitter Tuesday #3: Well Embroidered

Today's feature is a gorgeous crewel work piece in progress by Well Embroidered (https://twitter.com/Wellembroidered), a Royal School of Needlework trained embroiderer.

It's been a joy watching this piece grow day by day - follow Well Embroidered on Twitter or on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wellembroidered/) if you'd like to see more!

Would you like to be featured in our Twitter Tuesday series? Be sure to follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/feelingstitchy), and tag your embroidery with #embroidery, #handembroidery or #feelingstitchy so we can find you!

Christmas Countdown #9: The Flossbox

This Old Christmas Feeling pattern by The Flossbox is just impeccable. The wool threads really give this sweet piece an heirloom feeling - there are so many lovely crewel patterns in The Flossbox's Etsy shop, and some really adorable cross stitch patterns.

Also, don't miss Emily's site for many wonderful embroidery tutorials and resources!

Wonderful Wednesday #10: The Noble Thread

Folk Garden Pattern by The Noble Thread

I absolutely love the wooly texture in this beautiful Folk Garden PDF Pattern - but I'm sure it would look equally lovely stitched up in DMC floss - the pattern includes color options for DMC, Appleton crewel wool, and Renaissance crewel wool.

It's hard to believe there are only 8 stitches used in this piece - it is so beautifully and delicately stitched, one would think it was far more!

Mountain Merino Wool Review and Giveaway!

Mountain Merino Wools and free pattern by Mollie Johanson

Hello all! Recently the nice peeps at Mountain Meadow Wool sent me 4 shades of their beautiful Mountain Merino wool, in a new weight made especially for crewel embroidery. And not only did they send me the wool for review, they are also doing a giveaway on Feeling Stitchy - stay tuned for the details later on in this post!

But first off, let's have a look at that lovely wool!

The wool comes twisted into hanks, like pearl cotton. Also like pearl cotton, the thread is comprised of two thin strands that are twisted together:

I was afraid it would be super-chunky to stitch with - not so! It fits easily through the eye of the crewel needle I embroider with, and the lines were a bit chunky, but not as thick as I'd assumed. I'd say it's equivalent to stitching with 6 strands of cotton embroidery floss. If you need really fine detail, you could divide the strand into 2 as necessary.

Here's a comparison of thread weights I had on hand, Mountain Wool on top, Appleton Crewel Wool next, DMC floss - 6 strands next, and DMC floss - 2 strands last:

Like other crewel wool, it has a nice, springy texture, and since it is hand-dyed there's a natural color variation - almost a heather texture to all the shades. I did notice it knots up a fair bit when pulling through the fabric - so my suggestion is to work with short lengths of thread.

The 2 ply thread makes it stronger than 1 strand of crewel wool, so it won't break when you pull it tightly. Since it's merino wool, it feels softer and less scratchy than regular wool under your fingertips - it's very nice to work with.

I used 3 of the shades they sent me - Geranium, Silver, and Teal to stitch up this wonderful free pattern by Mollie Johanson:

I used a back stitch and lazy daisy stitch on the leaves - You can really see the nice pearl texture. Knots were made by wrapping the needle once with the wool. The large letters were stitched with a split stitch.

So, to sum up my review - this is a very nice quality wool, with a wonderful hand-dyed texture that looks beautiful when stitched.

view large

Now for the exciting part - a giveaway! At last glance, the merino wools have not yet been added to the Mountain Meadow Wool site, so 1 lucky reader will be receiving a sneak preview of their Mountain Merino wools for embroidery!

This color card shows the full range of colors - please forgive the lighting in this pic and be aware that the colors may not be an exact match, but this is close!

To Win:
Tell us what your favorite shades are - for example - blues, reds, greens, yellows, neutrals, etc. Click here to see a larger version. Leave a comment on this post
by Sunday, 9 PM CSTwe've gotten such a nice response on this post that I'm extending the deadline through tomorrow, Monday 12 PM CST!

Thanks again to Mountain Meadow Wool for making this review and giveaway possible!

Review: Stitch it with Wool Craftsy Class

When I was contacted by author Kristin Nicholas to review her upcoming Craftsy class, Stitch it with Wool: Crewel Embroidery, I was excited about my first experience with Crewel embroidery. I really enjoyed this experience and recommend this class for crewel beginners - Kristin is a great teacher with a Matisse-like colorful style and her thorough lessons give you all the tools you need to get started! I'll walk you through the class, the materials I used, and the small project I stitched for this review.

The class includes an 8 page PDF with a list of supplies and 2 large designs for the pillows above, with a clear breakdown of color, and which stitch goes where.

Here's a brief overview of the class, which is divided into 7 lessons: Lesson 1 goes into all the particulars of threads, needles, hoops, fabric, and transferring your design. You'll also learn great tips if you have never embroidered, like how to start and end your thread! Lesson 2 covers basic stitches - if you have embroidered for any length of time, you probably already know these - but I would still give them a watch because Kristin gives some great tips and examples. Lessons 3 and 4 are where the good stuff starts for an intermediate stitcher - introducing stitches that build on the basics. Lesson 5 and 6 introduced me to lots of unfamiliar stitches that were not yet in my repertoire - and stitches that lend themselves particularly well to crewel threads. Finally, in Lesson 7, Kristin tells you all about untangling and managing wool skeins, finishing techniques, and a really interesting topic - knowing when to stop. :)

Kristin is a fabulous and thorough teacher - she explains every stitch carefully, taking the time to explain mistakes that you may make, and how to avoid and correct them. Kristin is calming and personable, and I really like that her emphasis is more on creativity and not on perfection, which makes this class a great springboard to create your own projects. I also like that she shows you finished examples of every stitch, so that you can better visualize how each stitch can contribute to an overall design. Her own work features imaginative lines, textures and vivid combinations of color with a lively, painterly style.

You may be asking, do I really need to buy a bunch of crewel wool?



I was going to experiment with my regular embroidery floss or finer weight yarns until I saw Kristin's online store, and was hooked by her beautiful crewel wool. I bought the Some of Each set (above). Kristin was also sweet enough to add a large square of linen, in the color of my choice - I chose a neutral gray, to make the bright colors of the wool pop.

After taking the Appletons crewel wool for a test drive, I cannot say enough, yes, if you have never stitched with crewel wool, you should certainly try it.



Stitching with wool is SO distinct from stitching with embroidery cotton floss - the wool fiber is very thin, spongy, and springy. It has a marvelous matte texture that piles up nicely as you stitch. If you take this class, I definitely recommend purchasing a few crewel wool skeins. Another important note is that if you stitch with wool, you should definitely use linen fabric (something I learned the hard way, a few months ago). :)

Here is my small project:



I decided to practice the Spiderweb stitch for this review, tracing random circles to create this design. I used 3 bright colors of Appleton crewel wool, along with 2 light yarns and one thicker white wool yarn from my stash. I have to say, the Spiderweb stitch is addictive and meditative, and I can't wait to try even more stitches from this class.

So, to sum up, Stitch it with Wool: Crewel Embroidery is a great class for beginners to learn crewel embroidery, and it's also perfect for a complete beginner who has never embroidered before. There is plenty of detail, instruction, and inspiration to get you started - whether or not you chose to stitch the pillow designs as they are, or create your own designs. Thank you Kristin, for allowing me to review your class and share it with our readers!

And, thanks to Kristin, for a limited time, we have one more thing to share with our Feeling Stitchy readers - a 50% discount on the Stitch it With Wool class: Get the discount. Hurry up, because that discount expires soon! Edit 7/5/2014 - Sorry guys, the discount has expired, but I still totally recommend the class!

Have any of you experimented with crewel embroidery or stitched with crewel wool? Let me know what you thought of it in the comments!

Books: Anna Maria's Needleworks Notebook

The wonderful people involved with Anna Maria's Needleworks Notebook were sweet enough to share a copy of this book to review on Feeling Stitchy.

And it's been awhile, but I am finally giving a brief tour through my favorite elements of this book and... if you read to the end... a giveaway! This post is a combination of my first dive into one of the book's projects and a brief overview of the book.



What I Made: One Night of Crafting 
I am so strapped for time these days, that before I begin a project I wonder if I'll be able to finish it. It's a count-the-cost mentality I've been forced to adapt, to be realistic with my time constraints. Do you ever do this, too?

In all my future reviews on FS, I want to include a quick-and-dirty snapshot of everything I was able to accomplish in one night of crafting, which for me equals 6PM - 11:30 PM on a weeknight. And, here you have it, the results of 5.5 hours, or one night of crafting:

As you can see, this is a detailed, cross stitch project that could safely occupy at least 3-4 additional nights of crafting. But I love the gorgeous colors and lines!

Book Overview

If you're already a fan of Anna Maria Horner, you will have plenty of reasons to love this book. I was so taken with Anna Maria's color language that I made a list of all the floss colors from my favorite projects and lined them all up, to really take in a sense of her style:

Pretty gorgeous, huh? By the way, all of the floss colors are listed as Anchor in her book, so I used this Floss Conversion Calculator to convert to DMC, since Anchor is not readily available in my region.

Now, on to the book! The book is divided into two sections: Grid Works and Free Works. Each section is further subdivided into helpful Common Materials and Tools, and Stitch Know-How sections with illustrated color guides to many, many stitches.

Under Grid Works, you'll find projects for Cross Stitch and Needlepoint.

The Needlepoint section is extensive, showing 11 different stitches that can be used (as a Needlepoint newbie - I had no idea there were so many!)

Under Free Works, you'll find projects for Embroidery and Crewel. The Embroidery section also has a 4 page illustrated color guide that shows you 13 different stitches.

The Crewel section has a 3 page color guide that shows you 5 stitches. Again, I loved the colors in these projects:

Lastly, the book closes with a section on Finishing your projects, and the Project graphs:

I love the graphs for their color and creativity, but they are colored blocks, without a symbol, so it can be hard to decipher if you have two very similar colors next to each other. On the other hand, it's a good springboard for the more creative stitchers out there, if you're planning to use your own colors and ideas.

Here are my favorite projects, in no particular order:

"home" crewelwork pillow

"menagerie at midnight" cross stitch

"star-crossed love" needlepoint purse

The Giveaway!
Overall, I think it's a wonderful book, both for inspiration and projects, and that's why I decided to give away 1 copy here! To win, all you have to do is leave a comment here - and tell us this: if you had to pick 1 favorite out of the following: Cross Stitch, Needlepoint, Freehand Embroidery, or Crewelwork - what would it be? Please include your email address so I can contact the winner!

I'll leave the comments open until 9 PM, CST on March 17, when I'll close the comments and announce the winner soon after. Want to win your own copy of Anna Maria's Needleworks Notebook? Tell us your favorite stitching category!

Patterns: The Planets Crewel Embroidery

The Planets Crewel Embroidery by The FlossBox

I always love how The FlossBox shows us patterns for crewel work that you wouldn't necessarily normally associate with crewel but work so well. Take this gorgeous solar system pattern for example, it works so well in crewel, specially the fill stitching, it just looks so stroke-able! I also think this pattern would look good using normal embroidery floss to.

You can find the pattern here.

Book Review: New Crewel: The Motif Collection by Katherine Shaughnessy

Today's book review is the latest addition to the world of contemporary wool embroidery by the author of The New Crewel:

New Crewel: The Motif Collection by Katherine Shaughnessy

The first book, The New Crewel, was a breath of fresh air into the slightly musty wooliness that traditional crewel tends to exude. Not that Jacobean embroidery isn't beautiful (it is), nor that it hasn't been done in more contemporary looks (it has), but there's been little outside the box. In her first book, Katherine took it outside of the box by, well, putting it into ones - lots of little square samplers with a wonderful retro 60s feel to the designs and colours.

The Motif Collection goes along a similar vein, although here she's moved from boxes to circles. These patterns, inspired by nature and her kids drawings, are arranged around and displayed within circles. Like the first book, they're relatively modest in size - something appealing for beginners or stitchers who are after a quick finish. However they are also versatile and expandable, as the book goes on to show in the Projects section.

The first few motifs could have been straight from my scribble book when I was a kid as they seem created with a Spirograph. In the Projects section, these patterns have been displayed as china plates and are surprisingly convincing. The rest of the motifs range from the straightforward to the whimsical, many belonging to the family of "patterns radiating from a central point" but an equal number that could be expanded into any shape you choose.

The Projects section in any book is where, as they say on Cribs, the magic happens - where we can see exactly how these individual motifs could look when put to work. And Katherine doesn't disappoint: from a cute embellished linen skirt to the crewel cilia pillows that look like they could have come from any top designer boutique. I would have liked to see a few more finished pieces, but that's because I'm all about the eye candy.

The final section of the book has the motif patterns printed in full colour, but also includes a CD containing all the motifs as .jpgs, so you can resize, mix around and alter the patterns to be exactly what you are after.

The primary disappointment to me was that we weren't introduced to a new range of stitches. Admittedly, the basic stitches are the ones you need to have to be able to stitch anything at all, but The Motif Collection includes only three more than The New Crewel. All are well described and illustrated, but this book is more about the motifs than the techniques. But this is, of course, not really a problem after all!

All-in-all it's a fun book of small contemporary embroidery patterns, all of which are fairly quick finishes that could be stitched in wool, silk or cotton. If you're deciding between the first or second book, I'd personally lean more to the first (although that may say more about my colour tastes than anything else), but if you enjoyed the first, then this is a very reasonable addition to your pattern book collection.

Rating: 3 1/2 gold needles (make sure it's one with a long eye - wool's pretty thick!)

'Patterns': Buttons

Embroidered buttons by vvvanessa

Not so much a pattern this week, as more a kit. Vanessa embroidered these extremely cute buttons using a kit from Tako Fibers. It looks like Tako Fibers are on vacation right now, but definitely worth checking back on them when they return I think.

Patterns: Kitchsy Fruit Crewel Embroidery

Crewel Embroidery: Fruit (front) stitched by Allspiceabounds

This is Carolyn's (Allspiceabounds) first attempt at crewel embroidery, isn't it perfect? The pattern is from June Craft and is so bright and springlike. June Craft is also worth checking out for this gorgeous crewel bird pattern, as well as some gorgeous prints and make your own softies.

Crewel embroidery may seem a little daunting but it's very similar to normal embroidery and June Craft's pattern .pdfs come complete with comprehensive stitch instructions. If you would like to stitch these patterns but don't want to do them in crewel wool or just simply can't get hold of it, the .pdfs also come with the same design, sized for both embroidery thread and tapestry wool, so no excuse!

Patterns: Jacobean Leaves

Jacobean Leaves cushion by Kel Fletcher

Ooh I love it when pattern designers I haven't noticed before post to the Embroidery Flickr pool, so it was a real treat when I checked in this morning to find this beauty. Jacobean Leaves cushion by Kelly Fletcher is a Jacobean crewel work pattern, the pattern also includes instructions on how to make the piece up into a cushion. I love crewel work patterns and there aren't that many out there, so it's a pleasure to discover a new source. You can find the pattern here, also check out Kelly Fletcher's other beautiful patterns, I particularly like the Celtic Leaves pattern. Kelly Fletcher's patterns range from beginner to advanced (Jacobean Leaves is listed as intermediate) and include crewel work, applique and beading. Some of the pieces are intended for framing but as with Jacobean Leaves, those that are intended to be made into something, Kelly gives instructions on how to make the item to.

Kelly also publishes a quarterly hand embroidery digital magazine featuring what look like lovely embroidery patterns, you can find further details about the magazine, called The Stitch and Thimble, here.

Patterns: Daisychains ABC Crewel Work Pattern Sampler

Daisychains ABC Crewel Work Pattern Sampler by Alicia Paulson

Last month Alicia Paulson over at Posie Rosy Little Things launched the Daisychains ABC Crewel Work Pattern Kit, which sold out like hot cakes, but luckily she now has the pattern for the very same sampler in her shop, so we can still recreate it, hooray! I've already treated myself to the pattern and it's not often you see quite that much instructional detail in a pattern .pdf, so I can't wait to get stitching and try some new stitches.

I can thoroughly recommend checking out all the Posie Rosy Little Things site, as there are lots of other gorgeous patterns including some free ones!

Vintage Crewel Color Blowout

Melissa Davison, aka SweetStitches on Twitter, tweeted a link to me of this wondermous wall-hanging in colorful crewel. It's still available for sale in Lady Jane Collections' etsy store. But for how long...?

ETA: Not long. It sold already!

Sweet bird

Stitched by maybeemily

Loving this sweet crewel bird by maybeemily. Wonderful!

Working by the pool

stitched by woolly fabulous

I'm loving these chunky stitches and bright colors. If wool didn't make me itch so much, I might have to go out and grab some.

There was love in the pool

Valentine's Day was not overlooked in the Embroidery Pool. Here's some of the love that people shared.


Felt hearts by ChicaCraft


'Perfect pairs' cushion by myweddedbliss



Sweet Valentine tea towel by Sweet Jessie

Love to everyone in blogland - especially our embroidery friends!

Boo! ha ha ha

It's moments away from halloween here in Australia. There's some more scary halloween stitching being posted in the Flickr pool, so if you're too scared to go and have a look, just take a peak here.

This very scary black cat and white ghost have been posted by I am Susie. The black cat looks like a zombie with red eyes!


Pipstitch has been busy this halloween, with some really cute - I mean spooky - stitching. This cute little hanging ornament is just one thing she has posted.


How frightful is this 'drunk on ze blooood' bat stiched by Mooshee (drawn by her hubby)? I lerv it.


Binah06 is busy as well. Not only is she working on this cottage, she has a very cool halloween picture with crewel embroidery in her flickr photostream too. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished projects!


There's still time to post to the pool with your halloween embroidery projects, so please share your work!

Happy Halloween everyone! Anyone with left over chocolate can post it to me. We don't do the trick or treating thing much here in Australia, so there's no extra chocolate in my house. ;-(

Featured Book: The New Crewel

Artist Katherine Shaughnessy has introduced modern design to the traditional world of crewel in her book, The New Crewel: Exquisite Designs in Contemporary Embroidery.

Katherine hopes "to honor the old and celebrate the new, weaving the traditional crewelwork methods and materials of the past with the modern sensibilities and design elements of today." She has done just that; this book is filled with beautiful designs that reflect a new generation of stitchers who enjoy tradition but want a fresh approach. The New Crewel introduces the reader to crewel, the history of this form of stitchery, and then the basics of construction. And one of the basic questions posed is, "What is crewel?" Katherine explains that crewelwork is the art of embroidery using wool thread stitched on linen fabric.


The New Crewel is designed for stitchers of all levels. The basics of embroidery that include: materials, tools, techniques, and a variety of stitches are all addressed and provide the basis for completing any of the thirty designs supplied in the book. Project ideas are also featured from crewel greeting cards to an eyelet hole lampshade. The rich texture of the wools, the beautiful linen fabric, and the clean design make an inspirational palette that any stitcher could enjoy. Thumbs Up!



...And here are some flickr members that have been enjoying the book, Amanda, Wendy, and me!