Quilting Daily : Quilting Stitches

The Easiest Way to Hand Applique

Vivika_Blog — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:13:00 GMT

Perhaps it's my Scandinavian genes, but there's something about felt appliqué that really gets my heart racing. The charming motifs, the soft felt, and the simple embroidery stitches remind me of my grandmother's kitchen.

Felt appliqué projects from
Mollie Makes Feathered Friends.

To me, an hour with a few pieces of good-quality wool felt and embroidery supplies is an hour well spent. You can create many different projects with the blanket stitch alone.

You can vary the look of this appliqué technique by changing the size and spacing of the stitches as well as matching the thread to the felt or playing with different color combinations that contrast.

Here are basic instructions for the blanket stitch (also known as the buttonhole stitch).

1. To begin the blanket stitch, find your baseline. In the illustration, the baseline is the dashed line at the bottom of the stitches.

2. Come up at A.

3. Insert the needle into the fabric at B and bring it back out at C. Your working thread must be under the needle so that it catches. The resulting stitch should resemble a backward L.

How to make the buttonhole stitch for hand appliqué.

Note: If you are left-handed, the resulting stitch will look like a standard L. Generally, right-handed stitching begins on the left end of the seam and left-handed stitching begins on the right end of the seam.

Now all you need is a hand appliqué or embroidery project on which to practice your skills. I can think of no better source than Mollie Makes Feathered Friends: Creating 18 Projects for the Home, a book full of charming projects and techniques using appliqué, embroidery, and other needlework techniques.

P.S. How do you use the buttonhole/blanket stitch creatively? Leave your comment below.

Let Your Sewing Techniques Take Wing

Kristine Lundblad — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:46:00 GMT

While Vivika is on leave, guest bloggers are filling in, and we're also revisiting some of our readers' favorite posts. This one, Vivika's first as editor of Quilting Arts, looks at how she makes her bird quilts look so realistic through fabric choice and sewing techniques. ~Kristine Lundblad, Quilting Arts assistant editor

Detail of on of my robins captured in fabric and stitchery.

The more closely I watch birds, the more fascinated I have become with trying to capture their colors and textures using fabric and stitchery.

I have developed a design and sewing technique for "capturing the moment" in cloth and quilting stitches.

Here is the basic overview of how to sew a quilt that will "take wing.":

You will need:

A copyright-free pattern of a bird or a simple drawing (I like to use ones found in coloring books)
Tracing paper
Freezer paper
Fabric glue
A selection of fabrics to match your bird (and branches, flowers, etc., if desired)
Iron
Background fabrics or papers
Sewing machine and thread
Optional: Embellishments and hand-stitching supples

1. Trace the drawing onto tracing paper.

2. Trace each individual piece of the bird separately onto the dull side of freezer paper.

3. Roughly cut out your pattern pieces and iron them onto the right side of your chosen fabrics.

4. Cut out each pattern piece on the marked line.

5. Carefully peel the pattern pieces from the fabrics. Place each fabric piece onto the traced pattern.

My 'Robin and Apple Blossoms' quiltlet.

6. Glue the bird together, beginning with the body and wing. (Gluing is easier than sewing appliques. However, you could stitch them or iron the pieces onto fusible web and press them in place before stitching.)

7. While the bird is drying, make your background; cut, glue (or fuse), and stitch it in place.

8. Place the bird on the background exactly where you want it. Attach with a bit of glue and iron. Then machine stitch. Machine quilting stitches add depth and detail to your bird. You could also add details with hand embroidery. I sometimes use hand embroidery techniques to sketch in the bird's features and add texture to branches and feathers.

9. Embellish with beads, etc., as desired.

Fabric Selection Tips

There are many considerations in choosing fabrics for small compositions. Keep the following in mind:

Loosely-woven fabrics are more likely to fray and should be avoided.

Textures and geometric designs in fabrics often add interest and suggest movement when used appropriately.

Your composition will be examined closely--give the viewer something interesting and unexpected.

Scraps are your friends. Look at large- and small-scale fabric prints for transitions of color, shading, and feather pattern.

A new book I want to get my hands on is Mollie Makes Feathered Friends: Creating 18 Handmade Projects for the Home. In it, Mollie shows how to make bird-themed art and craft projects with sewing, quilting, applique, and crochet techniques. My creative imagination is already soaring.

P.S. Do you use bird motifs in your fiber art? What's your favorite avian subject? Leave a comment below.

Bump Up the Texture in Applique Quilts

Vivika_Blog — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 05:12:00 GMT

I enjoy raw-edge appliqué for many reasons. It's certainly a faster way of appliqué quilting than hand appliqué and I like the extra texture it brings to my fiber art. For example, when I appliqué leaves and branches onto my nest quilts, the little wisps of thread that poke out here and there around the edges give the leaves and bark more life, I think.

Raw-edge appliqué is enhanced with hand stitching,
machine stitching, embellishments, and a little touch
of black. Art by Jane LaFazio.

If you like to pack your appliqué projects--or any fiber art piece--with texture, I have several tips for you, courtesy of one of the queens of raw-edge appliqué, Jane LaFazio. Jane is always experimenting with her mixed-media fiber art. She embraces "wonkiness" and isn't afraid to mix fabric with paper. In fact, she came up with her recycled circles technique while playing with the juxtaposition of paper and fabric in her art.

Here are some of the ways Jane adds texture and interest to her art:

Include both hand and machine stitching in the same piece. In her recycled circles, she uses the fused appliqué method to stick down the fabric arcs. Then she uses the decorative stitches on her machine plus hand embroidery stitches to anchor the fabric and add interest and texture to the design.

Use variegated thread. Jane chooses to use hand-dyed, variegated thread because, in her words, "each stitch looks different."

Cut with scissors. Scissors will give you a more ragged edge than a rotary cutter, upping the texture and "wonkiness" factor.

Add a bit of black. Jane says that using a bit of fabric with black in it-or even black stitching-makes the other colors pop.

Embellish. Beads, buttons, embroidery stitches, charms, and metallic touches all add dimension and texture.

Jane's appliqué quilt before the quarters are stitched together.

Piece in some paper. Many papers are stitchable, and they definitely add a different texture to fabric-based appliqué quilts.

Jane demonstrates her techniques for appliqué and enhancing textures in her new Quilting Arts Workshop^TM video, Layered and Fused Appliqué Quilts: From Fabric Scraps to Recycled Circles. These 12" x 12" quilts are so fun to make, and you can create different looks for them just by changing the color schemes and embellishments. Plus, you can adapt the techniques and priciples to all your fiber art adventures that need a little extra texture.

P.S. Do you appliqué? What's your favorite techique: machine appliqué, hand appliqué, fused appliqué, or a combination?

Sewing Techniques for Quilters - A New Free eBook

Vivika_Blog — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 05:23:00 GMT

When it comes to quilting and sewing a quilt, you have a lot of options. You can choose to use a free-motion motif, add straight lines for a modern appeal, or even use a digitized pattern if your machine has the option.

Likewise, there are many options for piecing a quilt. I usually piece my quilts by machine, but have also tried using hand piecing, foundation piecing, and English paper piecing on occasion.

In this free eBook, Sewing Techniques for Quilters: 5 Free Articles on How to Sew a Quilt Including a Sewing Tutorial on English Paper Piecing, we give you four options for how to sew a quilt from expert quilt artists, plus a basic guide to sewing machine techniques, including a quick reference guide to basic tools and terms.

Quilt artist Ana Buzzalino reveals how she decides on quilting techniques for her quilts in How to Quilt Your Quilt. She reviews everything from doodling designs to choose the right thread and needle.

Of all the sewing machine stitches, the satin stitch can play a significant role in how to sew a quilt together. This often underrated quilting stitch can be used to finishing the edges of a quilt, joining quilted blocks, free-motion quilting, and creating shapes. Kathy York's tutorial on the Versatile Satin Stitch has a wealth of information on quilting techniques using the satin stitch.

Kathy York demonstrates sewing machine techniques with the satin stitch.

Hexagon quilting has experienced a revival recently among contemporary quilters. In Linen Coin Purse with Hexagons, Jen Eskridge offers a step-by-step sewing tutorial on English paper piecing to help you achieve perfect points and seams. Plus you'll end up with an adorable coin purse!

Did you know that quilters in past centuries used newspaper for paper piecing quilt patterns? Elizabeth Dackson references quilting techniques like paper pieced quilt patterns and foundation piecing in her sewing tutorial on how to make a Spiderweb Quilt.

If you've ever wondered what it means to "square up" a quilt or how make a "fold binding," you will appreciate our Sewing Basics guide. It includes a list of sewing essentials, a glossary of terms and sewing techniques and a stitch glossary.

Jen Eskridge made the hexagons on this coin purse using English paper piecing.

Sewing Techniques for Quilters: 5 Free Articles on How to Sew a Quilt Including a Sewing Tutorial on English Paper Piecing gives you so many useful quilting techniques and tips, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

P.S. Do you have friends who like to make quilts? Forward this link to them so they can download their own copy of Sewing Techniques for Quilters: 5 Free Articles on How to Sew a Quilt Including a Sewing Tutorial on English Paper Piecing.

Appliqué Quilts That Tell a Story

Vivika_Blog — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 05:08:00 GMT

When I first laid eyes on Dijanne Cevaal's "Blue Travelers' Blanket," a rich example of appliqué quilting, I fell in love with it.

'Travelers' Blanket' (detail), shows the hand
appliqué work of artist Dijanne Cevaal.
(Photos by Tony Summers)

First, I loved the story behind the piece, one of series of "Travelers' Blankets" Dijanne has made. She was inspired by the Silk Road travelers, and imagined how they would record the patterns and textures that they saw on their journeys in stitches, sewing fragments on the blankets they used to keep warm—a visual and physical aide-mémoire.

Dijanne used a similar technique to appliqué scraps of hand-dyed fabrics onto "blankets." Rather than use machine appliqué to attach the scraps, Dijanne takes the time to hand appliqué each square onto the blanket base using tiny straight stitches and embroidery floss. She also embellishes each scrap with simple embroidery stitches.

"I use many different stitches in these pieces and have expanded my repertoire to include variations of colonial knots, buttonhole stitch, and feather stitch. I look to embellish each piece of fabric I have appliquéd to give the whole piece a joie de vivre," says Dijanne.

'Travelers' Blanket,' 35" x 55",
by Dijanne Cevaal.

Appliqué quilts like Dijanne's represent, to me, what art quilting is all about: unpredictable, freeform, organic, and unique creativity. Is it any wonder this quilt graces the cover of Quilting Arts' December/January 2013 issue?

Whether you like appliqué quilting, machine embroidery, surface design techniques, hand stitching and embroidery, or digital imagery, I can promise you that all the Quilting Arts issues in 2013 will offer inspiration and techniques from the most innovative and accomplished fiber artists on the planet.

You won't want to miss a thing, so be sure to subscribe to Quilting Arts or renew your subscription now.

P.S. Dijanne says she finds stitching the appliqué scraps very meditative and stories come to her while she stitches. What do you think about when you stitch? Leave your answer below.

Bead Embroidery Stitches Add Sparkle to the Ordinary

Vivika_Blog — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 03:38:00 GMT

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.

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.

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.

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!

Machine Embroidery Exercise for Blending and Shading with Thread

Vivika_Blog — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 04:23:00 GMT

One of the differences between art quilting and traditional quilting as that in art quilting, thread is almost always part of the design. The choice of thread in machine embroidery, in particular, can affect the look of the quilt.

Selecting a single color thread, a variegated thread, a thread that contrasts with the fabric or one that matches are all conscious decisions that inform your embroidery designs.

Thread painting requires a whole new level of thread selection. In this form of machine embroidery, embroidery stitches are layered close together so that the thread colors blend to create variations in color and shading.

If you've never tried these embroidery techniques, here's an exercise you might try. It's from internationally known artist Carol Shinn's excellent book Freestyle Machine Embroidery: Techniques and Inspiration for Fiber Art.

	1. Paint a square in a medium-value color, then draw lines to create four equal quarters that will be stitched with different colors of thread.

	2. Stitch the entire square with a color that matches the paint.

	3. Stitch a second layer in each quadrant, using a lighter value in the first; a complement in the second; a grayed, duller color in the third; and an analogous color in the fourth.

	4. Stitch a third layer that appears to be a mix of the original and the second layer colors.

	5. Stitch a final layer of the basic color across the entire initial square so that only bits of the other colors pop through the thread matrix. Take a moment to note which color combination appears the smoothest or most evenly colored. Which appears the most textured?

Try this exercise with different colors and see what you can create. Keep track of your experiments, recording the colors you used, for future reference.

Freestyle Machine Embroidery: Techniques and Inspiration for Fiber Art is full of practical advice, tutorials, and beautiful pieces of machine-embroidered art. No art quilter's studio should be without it.

P.S. How do you use thread choice in your art quilts? Leave a comment below.

Hand Sewing Doodles for Every Day - Tips on the Feather Stitch

Vivika_Blog — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 04:28:00 GMT

Every time I think that I am too busy to make any art, I come across an artist who has found a way to fit fiber art into her day—even if it is just a bit of hand sewing.

Four of Kathy's "Daily Squares' sewing projects.

Kathy Loomis's tiny, everyday sewing projects are the latest example. Her charming needlework doodles, each done on a scrap of fabric, comprise her "art every day" project for 2012. The handwork sketches are simple, quick, and satisfying. As she finishes each square, Kathy uses a running stitch to hold the pieces together, creating a kind of fabric calendar.

Here's how Kathy describes her process in Quilting Arts in Stitches, Vol. 7.

"I cut a 4" square of solid Kona cotton (my favorite quilting fabric, which I already own in dozens of colors) and make a little drawing or doodle with embroidery floss.

"Although I already owned bags of miscellaneous floss dating back many years, I splurged in honor of this project with three new packages of floss in a huge variety of colors.

Kathy's needlecraft "calendar."

"Often I simply make doodles, practicing old familiar embroidery stitches. Spirals, circles and grids show up often. I also like feather stitches, and frequently turn them into plants with French knot flowers. For a while I carried an embroidery pattern book with me and tried out new stitches."

Here's Kathy's tutorial on how to hand sew using the feather stitch.

Feather stitch, like a feather, arranges itself along a central spine. You can work with an imaginary line, or make a line on your fabric. I never use a marker, because you can make a nice line or crease with your thumbnail or the end of your needle.

1. Bring the needle up at the end of the spine. Make a stitch that goes down away from the spine and comes up right on the spine. The thread loops around counter-clockwise under the needle.

2. Pull the thread through the stitch and tight enough to make a V, but not so tight that the fabric puckers.

3. Your next stitch is just like the first, except this time you work on the other side of the spine and the thread loops around clockwise under the needle.

The feather stitch.

4. Keep alternating right and left as you work down the spine. If you would like, you can make the spine a curve instead of a straight line.

For a fancier feather stitch, make your first little V, but for your second stitch, shift toward the left. For the third stitch, shift toward the left again. Then make three stitches in the opposite direction, shifting each one toward the right.

"I love the structure of doing art every day," says Kathy.

"Each bit can be quite small, and doesn't have to be perfect or terribly well-thought-out, so you can have a little low-risk 'flight of fancy.' It reminds me, even on busy days with other preoccupations, that I'm an artist."

You can see more of Kathy's artwork and process, and get tips on how to create the French knot and the coral stitch in the eMag in Stitches Vol. 7, now available for the iPad.

P.S. How do you squeeze fiber art into your busy schedule? Do you make time for large projects or focus on small sewing projects? Share your advice below.

Hand Embroidery Tips and Tricks

Vivika_Blog — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 04:47:00 GMT

Idle hands were frowned upon in my house when I was growing up. There was always something to do. If I wanted to watch TV (and I wanted to watch TV!), I had to be doing something productive at the same time. So I would sit down with either knitting or embroidery, and watch to my heart's content.

Detail of some embroidery
stitches on one of my
Prayer Flags.

I remember knitting a hat during the Olympics one year, an intricate pair of Norwegian mittens during the first run of "Brideshead Revisited," and countless rows on a sweater that I will always associate with Julia Child.

Embroidery, in my mind, is tightly associated with Erica Wilson's Saturday morning show and hot tea that I would sip in front of the fireplace as I stitched reproduction samplers in the '70s and '80s. Those practice sessions led me to a real appreciation for handwork, and helped shape my love for fiber arts in general.

There is a wonderful resource in the early issues of Quilting Arts from the modern crazy quilt enthusiast Leslie Levison. I saw her work first-hand at a guild meeting when I first moved to Connecticut, and she's one of the reasons I love my back issues of Quilting Arts Magazine.

Fish motif using the
herringbone embroidery stitch.
By Leslie Levison.

Leslie ran a semi-regular series in the early issues (2-16) that takes the 125-year tradition (or so) of Crazy Quilting and turns it on its head. Leslie illustrates dozens of stitches, using threads, fibers, sequins, and beads. Her work incorporates traditional hand stitching with contemporary subject matter, and makes an incredible statement.

I don't make crazy quilts, but I do use embroidery in my own contemporary fiber art. Sometimes the embroidery is the focal point (as in the Prayer Flags), and other times it is just a small embellishment technique that ads to the overall piece (as in stitched lines and patterns in the background of either birds or other contemporary pieces).

However you chose to incorporate these stitches, there are always a few things to keep in mind which will lead to a better finished project.

Hand embroidery patterns using the herringbone stitch. By Leslie Levison
in Quilting Arts Spring 2002.

My tips for hand embroidery:

Handwork takes a long time, and it should be done with the best quality of supplies that you can afford. There is a difference in quality in threads and fabrics, and you should use what works best for your project.
Learn how to use a thimble—it will save your fingers!
Threading the needle with multi-stranded thread can be tricky. Try folding it over the eye of the needle and pinching the fold between your finger and thumb nail. Sometimes it is easier to get a folded strand through the eye of the needle rather than a raw edge of cut thread.
Keep your supplies for your current project (threads, scissors, and instructions) together and store them in an inexpensive pencil case (available for $1 in the school supply aisles of discount stores.)
Use a fishing tackle box or a kid's matchbox car holder to organize your stash of needles and threads. These boxes are much less expensive than embroidery-specific cases, and often can be stacked more easily in tight studio spaces.
Hand-dyed thread is wonderful to work with and does much of the design work for you!
Learn a new stitch, try a new technique, and challenge yourself to move beyond your comfort zone.

What about looking through your back issues of Quilting Arts and trying one of Leslie's more unusual embroidery stitches or using one of her bead embroidery patterns to spice things up on your fiber art? Now, all the back issues from the first 10 years of Quilting Arts are available together in the 2001-2010 Quilting Arts CD Collection.

With 10 years of Quilting Arts back issues at your fingertips offering dozens of hand embroidery designs, your hands won't have an idle moment all summer!

P.S. How did you learn hand embroidery? Do you watch TV while you do your embroidery stitches? Tell me about your experience in the comments section below.

Hand Embroidery Tips for Contemporary Fabric Collage

Vivika_Blog — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:17:00 GMT

Fiber artist Deborah Boschert and I share a love of hand embroidery. Although hand embroidery stitches are often associated with antique and vintage textiles, Deborah uses classic embroidery stitches to add interest and texture to her contemporary quilts and fabric collages.

Hand embroidery stitches add interest and movement in this
fabric collage by Deborah Boschert.

Today, I've asked Deborah to share some of her hand embroidery tips with you:

1. Hand embroidery is totally portable! I have several projects in plastic bags that I can take upstairs and stitch while I watch TV with my family. Each bag includes pre-chosen floss colors, needles, and notes about what stitches I've planned for the design.

2. Don't worry about matching colors exactly. I've got lots of floss, but sometimes I run out of a specific color. Rather than going out to buy more, I just choose a close match and keep stitching. Often this will even add more interest to the design.

3. Keep tabs on fugitive floss. When using just two or three strands of floss from a six-strand skein, I drape the remaining strands over my shoulder so I know exactly where they are when I'm ready to thread a new needle.

4. Go hoopless. I use felt for batting on my small art quilt collages. The felt gives the collage a lot of body so I don't even need to use a hoop when I embroider. Felt is great for stitching through, too. No bearding! (That's when bits of batting pull through to the top of the art quilt.)

These elongated Y embroidery stitches are a signature of Deborah's art.

5. Break the rules. Play around and explore new ways to put stitches together. Create your own motifs, patterns, and fill designs.

6. Listen to the hand. If your fingers are feeling raw, you need a thimble. If your wrist is getting achy, you need a break. (Confession: Sometimes I forget to follow this advice myself!)

I love these tips! Deborah demonstrates how to design and compose fabric collages plus how to add hand embroidery stitches to contemporary fiber art on her new Quilting Arts Workshop^TM video, "Contemporary Fabric Collage: Design, Stitch, and Finish." Her techniques are fun, easy to follow, and will have you running to your stash ready to create.

P.S. What's your favorite hand embroidery tip? Share it in the comments section below.

Machine Embroidery Designs: No Perfection Required

Quilting Daily — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:14:00 GMT

Strategically placed embellishments can
cover machine embroidery imperfections.
Art by Terry White.

We often advise artists to practice, practice, practice if they want to improve their machine embroidery skills. But practice doesn't have to make perfect. In fact, I recently spent time with two artists who embrace imperfections in their machine embroidery designs.

Fiber artists Candy Glendening and Terry White have very different styles and use machine embroidery techniques in different ways. But they both agree that perfection in their embroidery designs is overrated and unrealistic.

As Terry put it during an episode we taped together for "Quilting Arts TV" Season 9, "Of course it's not perfect. That's because it's art," she said.

Terry showed how she uses the programmable decorative stitches on her sewing machine to create interesting lines that frame her focal point (in this case a whimsical bunny), stitching directly on the fabric or on top of a strip of contrasting fabric that has been fused onto the background.

She used free-motion machine embroidery to trace the lines around the rabbit, adding curlicues and other details. Then she took a fine-tip permanent marker in a color matching her thread and went over the stitching to make it stand out even more. Terry kept close to the stitch lines, but didn't worry if her marker strayed off course, because that showed the hand of the artist.

When I asked about her technique for turning the corners with her machine embroidery stitches, her answer made me laugh. "If the stitching looks good, I put the button [embellishment] here," she said, moving the button away from the corner. "If it doesn't, I put the button here," she said, placing the button on top of the not-so-perfectly turned corner.

Extend an olive branch to imperfection, as
Candy Glendening does in her free machine embroidery designs.

Candy expressed a similar sentiment while demonstrating her machine embroidery sketching technique in the same "QATV" episode. Unlike most people who draw designs with their free-motion embroidery, Candy does not draw her out her design in her sketchbook or practice first before stitching her botanical images.

"I know I'm unusual, but I have an idea of a plant in my head and I just sit down and stitch it," she says.

Candy points out that the picture you embroider your thread doesn't have to be perfect, especially if it's from nature.

"If you look at the leaves of a plant, each one is a little bit different, so it's OK if yours aren't all the same," she says. "Besides, even though I'm using a machine, I want my artwork to show that a real person did it."

That makes sense to me. After all, do you want to spend your time experiencing the joy of stitching creatively or striving for perfection? Take a look at "QATV" Series 900, and discover how imperfection makes perfect sense.

P.S. Do you fret over imperfect stitches or embrace flaws? Where does perfection have its place in your studio? Leave a comment below.

The One Hand Embroidery Stitch I Can’t Live Without

Quilting Daily — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:38:00 GMT


French knots and other hand embroidery stitches decorate Jane LaFazio's quiltlets.

All these new TV shows about fairy tale characters in the contemporary world casting spells and carrying out age-old vendettas has me thinking: If an evil fairy/stepmother/witch cursed me so that I was left with ability to create only one hand embroidery stitch, what would it be?

I wouldn't have to think very long—in that split second before the wand flicked its malevolent sparks my way, I'd choose the French knot.

There are several reasons why I'd pick the French knot over, say, the buttonhole stitch (which is so useful for edging) or the backstitch (which can create lines).

First, the French knot gives you a lot of textural bang for your buck. French knots literally rise above the other basic embroidery stitches, popping right off the fabric.

Second, you've heard the term "connect the dots"? Well, you can make a series of French knots close together to form a line or map out a shape, like a constellation.


How to make a French knot like the ones dotting Jane's flower.

Third, French knots stitched close together will fill in a shape and provide shading, especially if you vary the thread colors.

Fourth, French knots are very organic. Depending on the color, size, and placement, this embroidery stitch can serve as a lone blossom, a scattered field of flowers, or the honeycombed center of sunflower.

Fifth, they're just so much fun to make. I love winding the fiber around the needle, piercing the fabric, and then pulling the thread through to create that perfect little knot. The motion is so relaxing and satisfying.

Here are some tips for making a French knot.

1. The general rule is, don't wind the thread or fiber around the needle more than twice. If you want a bigger knot, use a thicker thread.

2. After wrapping the thread, place the point of the needle right next to the place it came up from, rather than back in the same hole. That way, the knot will stay anchored on top and not slip right through to the back of the fabric.

3. To add dimension to your French knots, use a variegated thread.

Pick up just about any back issue of Quilting Arts and you'll probably find at least one French knot somewhere within the pages. But one of my favorite articles is Jane LaFazio's piece on embroidered quiltets in the October/November 2009 issue. There, she shows the versatility of the French knot, as well as several other embroidery stitches like the blanket stitch, backstitch, and more.

What's your favorite hand embroidery stitch, and why? Could you limit yourself to one? Tell me about it in the comments section below.

Patchwork Quilt Runner Comes Full Circle

Quilting Daily — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:46:00 GMT


Felt Circles Patchwork Table Runner by Michelle Lizcano.

I'm known for my high energy, but sometimes my life gets so busy, I feel like I'm running around in circles. That's when I have to schedule an hour or so in my studio for some artful R&R.

When I saw this patchwork quilt style runner by Michelle Lizcano in the Winter Issue of Stitch magazine, I immediately put it on my list of quilt therapy projects. It combines many of my favorite fiber art techniques: appliqué, hand embroidery, patchwork, and quilting. Plus, it puts those circles squarely where they belong: in a piece of art!

Plus, it's an easy project to break down into stages so I can fit it into my busy life a little at a time.

First, you cut the background squares. Then you appliqué the felt circles onto the squares (the ones you hand stitch with a back stitch or whipstitch can be done while traveling, a bonus for me).

Next, you piece the squares into three columns and then stitch those together. And finally, you attach the batting and backing and edgestitch to finish.


Appliqué the circles to the squares using hand embroidery stitches like backstitch and whipstitch.

You can change the colors to fit a holiday theme or to match your dining room. I happen to like these happy gumball colors.

The patterns for the circles and a diagram for positioning the patchwork pieces are included in this issue of Stitch, along with full directions.

Circles seem to be a theme in this issue, appearing on several home dec, personal accessories, and patchwork projects. If you find yourself running around in circles like me, gather those circles and head to the studio with a copy of Stitch Winter 2011, also available as a digital edition you can download right now.

P.S. I'm curious, which geometric shape do you gravitate toward to use as a quilting motif: circles, squares, or triangles? Leave your answer in the comments section below.

How to Fix Bad Machine Quilting Stitches

Quilting Daily — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:03:00 GMT


My free-motion quilted fly ATC.

Oh, how I love being seated in front of my beloved Bernina®, moving my latest creation under the needle in a steady rhythm, free-motion quilting away until...the thread breaks; I notice the stitches are skipping; or a little tug tells me there is a problem underneath the fabric, like an unsightly nest of bobbin thread.

That's when the tension starts to get to me—and I don't just mean the kind that lodges in my shoulders.

Let's face it: sometimes stitches go bad, and tension is usually the culprit. But not always. Sometimes there is a problem with the needle, the thread, or even (cough) lax machine maintenance.

I put together a little video about how to pull up the bobbin thread to avoid those unsightly bobbin nests.


Click on the arrow to view "How to Pull Up the Bobbin Thread."

As for the other little issues that can create annoying machine stitching problems, Australian textile artist Dijanne Cevaal has some very helpful advice.

As a quilting teacher and author of several books, she really knows her stuff.

Though Dijanne says you shouldn't worry about your stitching looking absolutely perfect, when stitch issues get in the way of your quilting enjoyment and artistry, you should consider the following:

Regardless of what the instruction books recommend for your machine, you will almost certainly have to adjust your tension for free-motion machine quilting.

It is impossible to say exactly what tension you should use, as it is dependent on the thickness of the thread, the needles you are using, the thickness and density of the batting you are using, and the backing fabric.

It is best to keep a small sampler piece of the materials you are working with so that you can check that the tension is right for the materials you are working with.

If you are having problems with the top of your work, such as threads breaking or stitches skipping, first check your needle; you may need to change it.

If you have changed the needle and the problem continues, there is usually something going on with your bobbin. Give it a good cleaning and then rethread it, making sure that your bobbin is properly wound.

If there are problems underneath your work such as tension or bunching of threads, it usually means there is a problem with the top of your machine. Rethread the top of your machine completely. With free-motion machine stitching it is possible for the threads to slip out of the tension plates, and tension is needed to make good stitches.

Armed with Dijanne's machine stitch tension tips, I feel more relaxed already!

You can see Dijanne's machine stitching method for adding texture with thread and read many more of her tips in Quilting Arts In Stitches Vol. 4, now available.

P.S. Have you ever "dared" to alter the tension on your bobbin? Success, failure, tips? Share them in the comments section below.

Enjoy Free Hand and Machine Embroidery Designs and Techniques

Quilting Daily — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:39:00 GMT

Machine and hand embroidery are the hallmarks of art quilt design and construction. Depending on the stitch and the thread or fiber used, embroidery techniques can give your quilts a contemporary edge or vintage charm.

In this free eBook, Essential Embroidery Stitches: Free Hand and Machine Embroidery Designs and Techniques, we've assembled four of our best articles on machine and hand embroidery techniques. Each one gives you tips, hints, and instructions for adding embroidery patterns to your quilts.

First up, internationally known expert Ellen Anne Eddy reviews the basics of free-machine embroidery in her article "Defining the Line: Free-motion Embroidery Skills." Ellen offers tips and hints for how to get started, from which foot to use to how to sign your name in machine embroidery stitches.


Satin stitch embroidery by Kathy York.

One of the most versatile machine embroidery stitches to master is the satin stitch. In Kathy York's article of the same name, she explains how satin stitch embroidery can play a unique role in the making of art quilts. From using it to finish the edges of a quilt, to joining quilt blocks, to free-motion quilting and creating shapes, the satin stitch is one you'll use over and over again.

Susie Williams shows how to incorporate a hand-embroidered motif into a pieced quilt in "Off-site Embroidery." This method involves creating a design with hand embroidery on a piece of fabric, cutting the finished embroidered image off the base fabric, and appliquéing the motif to your artwork. You could even use some bead embroidery techniques or stamped embroidery designs for your focal motif. It's a great way to add detailed hand work without your piece becoming too bulky.


Hand embroidery created off site and stitched to a quilt.

Finally, in "Reverse Appliqué & Bobbin Embroidery with a Twist," Yvonne Brown teaches you to combine painted tissue paper, fabric, and machine bobbin embroidery to create flowing, textured, and layered embroidery designs. Because you wind the specialty threads or ribbons in the bobbin, you stitch with your work face down on the machine. A more challenging embroidery technique, but the results are worth the effort!

We know you'll use the knowledge and inspiration from Essential Embroidery Stitches: Free Hand and Machine Embroidery Designs and Techniques again and again to enhance your hand and machine embroidery skills and artistry.

Download Essential Embroidery Stitches: Free Hand and Machine Embroidery Designs and Techniques now, for free!

P.S. Do you have friends who enjoy machine or hand embroidery? Forward this link to them so they can download their own free copy of Essential Embroidery Stitches: Free Hand and Machine Embroidery Designs and Techniques today!