I'd love to tell you that I am already working on my handmade holiday gifts, but honestly, it's not happening. I do like to give gifts with handmade elements like quilting and embroidery, but this year, I'll have to streamline those efforts if I'm going to get it all done.
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One-point motifs in various sizes and
bead treatments. |
One of the ways to do that is by adding a handmade touch to store-bought items like clothing, accessories, and home décor. With my love for hand embroidery and a new book on bead embroidery patterns, I'm feeling more optimistic.
Bead Embroidery Stitch Samples by CRK Design and Yasuko Endo is really three books in one. It offers a primer in hand embroidery stitches, shows you how to add beads to those embroidery designs, and includes how-tos for using those patterns to embellish t-shirts, baby shoes, ribbon, napkins, and more.
Bead Embroidery Stitch Samples is laid out in a pretty and easy-to-follow design. Each of the embroidery stitches (such as lazy daisy, blanket stitch, fly stitch) is presented with a full page of colorful examples so you can see how that stitch will look with different beading treatments. There are instructions for creating the stitch with pictures, plus a small project.
In the back, the embroidery stitches are illustrated step by step, with tips.
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Bead embroidery adds charm
to ribbons. |
The One-Point Motifs shown here are so pretty. I can see using them on some holiday ornaments I am planning.
Beads contribute such sparkle to small projects, and adding this particular stitch to my repertoire will certainly spice up the often repetitive stitches. This flower could be a bird's eye, or the star at the top of a tree.
Some of the edging stitches presented in Bead Embroidery Stitch Samples could be added to napkins or even the collar of a crisp white shirt. I also like the idea of adding bead embroidery stitches to ribbon and wrapping that around a jar of homemade jam.
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| How to make a one-point beaded embroidery motif. |
A little sparkle is just what's needed this time of year, don't you think?
Bead Embroidery Stitch Samples would make a wonderful addition to any embroidery lover's library.
P.S. Have you tried bead embroidery? What are your favorite stitches or techniques? Please share!