Cross stitching 123 ABC

Olá! Since I was a child I remember to wonder why so many cross stitch patterns have letters and numbers... 

Recently I found the reason why this happens... Maybe you know it... Maybe not...

Many and many years (centuries) ago young girls learned needlework skills at the same time they learned basic literacy and numeracy. As so, cross stitching the alphabet and numbers helped them to practice both.

That's the reason why you'll find so many samplers with these elements... In Portugal we don't use the literal translation of  the word "sampler", instead we use mapa (map) or mostruário (showcase). And the use of "map" has also to do with the education of girls, once some of the samplers (maps) intended to teach geography, too...

One of these days I'll tell you about ancient Portuguese mapas...

But today I leave you with this pattern... Stitching it I felt I was back to school...

Turkey Feast

Are you ready for Turkey Day? Xperimentl 's adorable turkey feast makes me almost feel guilty for nibbling on the gobbler...almost...

Flip Dolls & Other Toys Review and Giveaway!

Hello Everyone!

We recently received a copy of Laura Wilson's book, Flip Dolls & Other Toys that Zip, Stack, Hide, Grab & Go, here at Feeling Stitchy and it is super fun! There are a variety of patterns included in the book for projects ranging from easy to advanced sewing skills. There were so many dolls I wanted to try making, but I had to decrease the list, although I hope to eventually try all the patterns.

The items in the book are organized into four different sections of projects: Zip & Stack, Hide, Seek & Go, Show & Tell, Flip & Turn. The projects reflect each section in which they have been included.  There is a darling watch with an embroidered face in the Show & Tell section that I think would be great for helping young ones learn how to tell time. The Hide, Seek & Go patterns are good for those sneaky little squirrels who like to keep tiny treasures in secret places. There are so many wonderful projects included in this book, that it is difficult to pick favorites.

I highly recommend a close reading of the first 25-pages of the book as it includes techniques, supplies, and all the necessary details for completing the projects in the book. My most favorite part of the book is a history of flip dolls included in this introductory section. I did find that the book had a short section on how to add embroidery to a doll or pillow, but it was lacking in detail, specifically the hiding of knots. Because embroidery is the last to go on the exterior of the project, it would have been nice to have a few more detailed instructions or tips and techniques for that.

Each project comes with a supply list, in addition to difficulty levels, and necessary skills to complete the project. As you can see in the photo below, the Secret Message flip pillow is at a moderate difficulty level and requires the use of embroidery. 

I tried two different patterns, one each from the Hide, Seek & Go and Flip & Turn sections. Gulp the Whale, of the hide and seek toys, quickly caught my eye. Once assembled, items can be put inside Gulp. It's super adorable. 

When it came to the Flip & Turn projects, I had difficulty choosing between the Circus Flip Doll with a bearded lady and conjoined twins or the bat and vampire. Being that I was still wishing it was Halloween, I went for the vampire/bat. I read each project thoroughly, then made sure to go through each step accordingly. An element of the assembly process that I really appreciate, is that there are periodic, "check your stitches," reminders that ensure a completely assembled final product.

I started to make the Secret messages pillow, but had some difficulty with the final stitches. This was my only challenge with the book. Occasionally, there were sketches of the assembly process, but not for each step. For some reason I just couldn't get the final assembly to work, no matter how many different ways I tried. I think if I had a photo, it would have helped greatly by providing that visual to go with the description.

Overall this book is darling and the projects are quite fun. I still have a few more patterns I would like to try. In particular, the alligator on the cover of the book. I really think he is adorable. With the holidays looming, I think this book would be great as a gift, in addition to anything made from the book. 

In that spirit of giving, we'll be giving away one copy of the book to a very lucky Feeling Stitchy reader! Our sincerest apologies to our international readers, this giveaway is limited to readers in the U.S. 

We have a random winner! 

Dagan - I still have most of my dolls from my childhood, but my cow Baa is one of my nearest and dearest. 

Our Feeling Stitchy editor will be emailing the winner with all the details!

Thank you to everyone who entered and thank you to Lark Crafts for the book! 

Hope you all have a very happy Tuesday!

Interview with Mana Morimoto on Artchipel

Embroidery on paper by Mana Morimoto

Have you seen the gorgeous, slightly creepy, and amazingly geometric embroidery of Mana Morimoto?

There's an awesome interview with her on the Tumblr blog Artchipel - go check it out!

New life for old embroidery

Olá! This week I bring you a very inspiring and simple story about very simple and inspired people. This story begun more than 50 years ago in Paredes de Coura, a municipality in the North of Portugal, Minho Region, near form the frontier with Spain.

All around our country, fifty years ago, unmarried girls prepared their bridal trousseau with their own hands. In this big family living in Paredes de Coura, sisters gathered at night after work to embroider, make lace or spin... The images I show you are from a linen bedsheet embroidered during those late sessions by one of these sisters.

Old embroidery

Reproduction of old embroidery

These girls were not experts... And there were no patterns (riscos as it is said in Traditional Portuguese embroidery) to follow. Paredes de Coura is not a place especially recognized by its embroideries like other municipalities from Minho Region are. So these girls used a pencil and by their own hand traced the motifs without having to respect any rules... only as their hearts dictated. And I believe that's the reason why these motifs are so incredibly naif and beautiful.

Old embroidery

Reproduction of old embroidery

This bedsheet was embroidered with the monograms of the embroiderer and her fiance "B & N". As you can see in the photos, the "old stitching" was not perfect... And I even cannot recognized some stitches... I believe they were guided by instinct instead of being "official" stitches (maybe I did not made myself clear...).

The imperfect stitching, the lack of rules in tracing the patterns and the color choice (green for flowers) in my opinion, make this piece of embroidery absolutely charming, showing what happened late at night in many, many Portuguese homes fifty years ago...

Old embroidery

Reproduction of old embroidery

But this story doesn't end here...

Many years later the artist of the original piece of embroidery made it a gift to her niece, Maria Alice, knowing that she would appreciate it. Besides being a great embroider, Maria Alice belongs to a traditional folklore dancing group (rancho folclórico) and she could use it to recreate traditional costumes.

But Maria Alice came out with better idea... She decided to make a reproduction (or maybe a recreation) of the original embroidery using the same linen of the bed sheet. And she gave the original piece and the recreation to both daughters (her cousins) of the embroiderer from 50 years ago. I believe this was such a surprise for them...

Original and reproduction

This is a very simple story, but I believe that it tells a lot about our (simple) country... And stories like these are the reason why I always say that Portugal is a living museum of embroidery...

November Full Moon

Did you know that the November full moon is called the Beaver Full Moon? This was the time of year when beaver traps were set before the pond froze. Who would want to trap this cutie? Beatrice the Beaver aka Queen of the Dam was stitched up by SeaGypsy16. I love the little nose and teeth!

Winners!

I'm sorry guys - it seems I've been remiss about posting winners - I notified our random winners right away (so they already know they've won - but here's an update for you all. So sorry if you've all been crossing your fingers - we'll have more giveaways soon, I promise! :)

Also, just so you know, whenever we feature a book we include a link to Amazon with our associates account code. When you buy a book through Amazon after clicking through our link it adds a bit of change to our account, which we in turn use to do more giveaways! So, if you like giveaways, feel free to purchase through the Amazon links we provide - so we can do more! But no pressure, if you don't. :) We also let you know whenever a publisher or author sends us a book to review, and when they provide the book to winners.

Hoop-La Giveaway Winners!

We have our random winners!
Book Winner #1:
Courtney- I find embroidery hoops in my mom's craft stash bin!

Book Winner #2:
Sally - I always look out for hoops at charity shops, apart from them being cheaper I much prefer them with a slightly aged look. And this book looks amazing, I would love to win it, thanks for giving us all a chance.

Winner of Original Art Hoop:
Vikki - ebay is the best for good prices on unusual sizes (very big or small) - otherwise I just nip to John Lewis on my way to work, since it's handy. It costs more than online stores, but it works out once postage is paid.
i just love this book - I was looking at a copy in Foyles the other day and added it straight to my christams list :)

Sew & Stitch Giveaway Winner!


Book Winner:
Rhonda R - Thanks for the giveaway - I am also enamored with the owl pillow!

Lisbon with its houses of various colors

Olá! This week I've received a very special email from a reader. Among many other nice words he told me that he discovered Lisbon some years ago and... " I was so fascinated by this city that I’ve been going back there every summer since". Coincidentally, last week I was checking Felizarda's work on her blog - açafate dos retalhos, and discovered these lovely embroidered key rings inspired by Lisbon houses. I believe these are two great reasons to show you something about the Capital of Portugal!!!

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the oldest city in Western Europe. In 1147, the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, reconquered the city that had been captured by the Moors centuries before. Some years later it became the capital of our country...

I won't use many words to describe Lisbon as the videos I found do it in a much better way... And yes, there are many reasons to love Lisbon, but you have to know that Lisbon is famous for its magic light, the light reflected from the Tagus river and that illuminates all the seven hills of this unique city in such a special way.

Lisbon house by Felizarda

The old city has inspired many, many artists, especially painters and among them there is a very famous woman, Maluda, who has devoted her life to portraying Lisbon houses.

I've chosen these pieces of embroidery, stitched by Felizarda, to show you some images that represent this beautiful city... Her work talks about one of the most pictorial features of Lisbon's landscape - the houses of Lisbon (casario) described so simply by the great poet Fernando Pessoa:

"Lisbon with its houses

of various colors"

Lisbon houses by Felizarda

Listening to this poem while watching a beautiful video about the casario of Lisbon you will understand how well these stitches capture Lisbon's soul.

There is also a very famous song that describes these typical houses so well... All Portuguese know and sing this song... It is a Fado, our national song that was born in Lisbon. This song is called Uma casa portuguesa - "A Portuguese house" and it says:

Four whitewashed walls, / a taste of rosemary,

a bunch of grapes, / two roses in a garden,

a St. Joseph tile / under the sun in spring,

a promise of kisses

two arms waiting for me ...

It is a Portuguese house, for sure!

It is certainly a Portuguese house!

Lisbon's tram by Felizarda

I could not speak of Lisbon and forget the eléctrico. Lisbon's tram is so typical of this city!!! And the carreira 28 (notice the detail on Felizarda's stitches) is the most famous ride of all. Don't forget to watch this video and visit Lisbon by tram...

And now...  To end this trip, imagine you're arriving Lisbon from the sea...

Yes... I do believe that stitches tell so many stories...

Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Today's tutorial has a few uses. As we head into the gifting season, it can be used to give a gift card, or it can be gifted as a wallet or business card holder. It can also be made for personal use, because sometimes we have to make gifts for ourselves, right? Either way, this tutorial is quick, easy, and can showcase embroidery in a very unexpected place.

 

To make this card holder, you'll need:

- embroidery supplies
- sewing machine and supplies
- iron and ironing board
- two pieces of 9 1/2 by 5-inch fabric
- One piece of Wonder Under or light-weight fusible interfacing 9 1/2 by 5-inches

Step One: Transfer your embroidery pattern to the exterior fabric, at least 4 1/4-inches above the short edge, and stitch. The bottom of the design I stitched is 2 1/5 inches from the short edge. I used the retro star pattern from Jenny Hart's Sublime Stitching Stitch it Kit. 

Step Two: Following the manufacturer's instructions, attach the fusible interfacing to the back of the exterior piece of fabric. If using Wonder Under, the gritty side of the paper-backed interfacing should be ironed to the wrong side of your fabric, once cool, you gently peel off the paper. You'll be able to feel the interfacing web attached to the fabric.

Step Three: Place the exterior and lining right sides together, stitch a 1/4-inch seam around the exterior edge. Leave a space open on one short end for turning. I found that it was easier to sew the fabric with the interfacing down and the plain fabric facing up, that way the sewing machine teeth can help pull the interfacing forward.

Step Four: Clip the corners and flip the fabric so that the right sides are facing outward. Push each corner out and press.

Step Five: Stitch a 1/8-seam along each short edge. This finishes what will become the fold of the card holder and closes the space used to turn the fabric.

Step Six: Fold the card holder in half and press along the fold to create the center crease of the card holder. Open the card holder and fold each edge in 1 3/4 of an inch in toward the center and press.

Step Seven: Using a 1/8-seam, stitch a straight line from one long end of the card holder to the other, catching the edged of both folds. This seals the fold and creates a nice finished edge. Repeat for other side.

Step Eight: Add your cards or cash, and your card holder is good to go!

Hope you enjoy this tutorial and have the chance to give it a try! Have a great Tuesday!

Craftster Challenge with Sew Lovely Embroidery

Craftster has teamed up with the very wonderful, very generous and very talented Sew Lovely Embroidery to bring you this awesome needlework challenge on Craftster.org! What's the challenge you ask? Well, I'm going to tell you! Sew Lovely has designed a pattern exclusive for Craftster.org and it is just dying to be stitched up by you! Have fun with it! Alter it! Make this pattern yours! Want to tint the embroidery, then go for it....want to stitch it on paper, do it! Just make sure you keep an element of the pattern in your design. 

Specifics:

 Go to this thread and prepare your pattern.

Crafting time for this project is November 1st-December 2nd

Entries are due from December 2nd to December 9th.  On December 2nd, 2013,

Voting will happen from December 10th-December 17th

Only ONE entry per person! 

Now for the most awesome part of the whole challenge! There will be 3 winners! EEEPPP!Check out what the prizes are! 

Celebrating St. Martin

Olá! Today I decided that next Saturday I'll participate in a craft show. I had nothing prepared and I needed to think of a very, very simple project inspired by the craft show theme: chestnuts... Yes... Chestnuts...

November is the month of the chestnut in Portugal. We celebrate St. Martin's Day preparing a magusto festivity. In that day you will find us eating roasted chestnuts and drinking água pé -(literal translation is "foot water") - a traditional and very mild alcoholic drink.

All this is stated by a a typical Portuguese saying:
É dia de São Martinho;
comem-se castanhas, prova-se o vinho.
(It is St. Martin's Day,
we'll eat chestnuts, we'll taste the wine.)

We will celebrate St Martin's day next 11th November and, as always, we expect very shinny days!! At that time the weather is always different from the other Autumn days... Very good and warm. That's why we call this period Verão de S. Martinho - St. Martin's Summer. The legend tells that on a very cold and rainy day Martin, a Roman soldier, cut off half of his cloak and offered one part to a beggar that was dying of the cold. Then the sun begun shinning, by God's intervention, and Martin was able to return home safely. All our children learn this legend at school!!

So... I needed a very easy project that could be made by someone that does not know how to embroider... Trying to find out what to do, I took a look at my working surface and I found my favorite materials: burel (a Portuguese felted wool) and cork. With them I knew I could create a chestnut!!! And the next step was, as I usually do, trying to find a simple pattern. As my drawing skills are terrible, usually I google images using words like "chestnut coloring"... And I always find very simple drawings that children use to color... Of course, in the end, I never make like the pattern I found, but  for me it is a very powerful inspiration source!!

So I had the materials and the pattern...

Portuguese materials: cork fabric and burel

And decided to make a coaster using the chestnut pattern and Portuguese materials. But I made a mistake (not for the first time...) and it ended up very small... What a pity!! Next time I will make beautiful coasters to decorate my S. Martinho's table!!

100% Portuguese chestnut

So, I had to think of something else... And I remembered of making something to decorate the table, maybe we can call it a centerpiece...

Using the same materials, I applied the chestnut into a burel piece and with a very thin cork strip I created a simple finishing all around.

Chestnut inspiration!!

It's not perfect but I believe it will be a good project for someone that does not know how to embroider and is not familiar with these materials... But I confess I would still prefer the chestnut coaster...

Did you know that these two colors of burel only use the natural colors of wool, no dying materials?

Craftster Featured Artist

I don't know if there are enough words to describe how talented the Craftster Needlework Featured Artist, Ludi, is. I am constantly blown away by each stitch. Ludi's pieces are rich in texture and hauntingly beautiful. Let's find out a little more about this amazing artist. 

Tell me about your little bit about yourself.

I live in the country with my husband and a bunch of animals; 5 cats, a dog, 5 sheep, many chickens, and of course all the wild animals.  My husband and I make things for a living, we have a business making specialty costumes and props for the entertainment industry.  In addition we both make things for fun, so we end up spending most of our waking hours making things.  I consider myself primarily a sculptor and have only taken up embroidery in recent months.  My other hobbies include gardening and reading.

Do you have a favorite out of your recent needlework projects? 

It’s hard for me to choose, I have so much fun with each piece.  I really enjoyed stitching “Zombie and the Moon” for MissingWillow in the One Tiny Thing October Holidays swap.

Who/What inspires you?

I’m tremendously inspired by literature, especially my favorite author Mervyn Peake.  He’s been my inspiration since my teens.  I’m also inspired by other dark fantasists such as HP Lovecraft, HR Wakefield, Poe, etc.  Other artists inspire me, and I love looking at other people’s art in all media.

What are you working on next?

I have so many ideas for new embroideries!  I hope eventually to do more portraits of fictional characters, but my next project will probably be a “Meowl” a cat-owl hybrid, for my sister.  And I want to try my hand at miniature embroidery.

Check out Ludi as well as other amazing needlework artist on Craftster.org.

Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

I have a roundup for you all today with some great Autumnal projects. I can't believe how quickly Fall has rolled around, but these projects are excellent for this time of year and sure to help you enjoy the season. 

Casey of Elegant Musings has a wonderful tutorial for embroidery on a cardigan. This is perfect for reviving cardigans or embellishing new ones. 

Jessica and Mandy of Little Birdies, put together this adorable Fall Leaf Pillow tutorial for Make and Takes. It sure to bring Autumn into any room. 

 

If you are looking for Autumnal decor, Kelly of The Lilypad Cottage has this great tutorial for creating a door hanging using an embroidery hoop. 

Does your dining room need a little update? Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching has a fun Upcycled Napkin Ring Tutorial. I absolutely love the resourcefulness of this tutorial, and if you switch up the embroidery patterns, you could have napkin rings for every season!

Hope you enjoy these tutorials and give some of them a try. 

Happy Tuesday!