Monograms

I have really come to like doing monograms on my husbands hankerchiefs. However, It is so hard to find nice monograms. I have seen some for $45.00. Surely I could find them cheaper.? I have tried downloading fonts that might do, but they never seem quite right.

The monogram above is an example of what I mean. It looks nice but it's too blurred to know which lines to trace or leave out.

I guess there is no point to this post other than to vent. Ideas are always welcome :-).

The Biscornu Tutorial

Inspired by International Hand Stitchers and La Fee Rie.

Biscornu is French and means irregular.
In this case an irregular pin cushion.

First I created this design...

First start by transferring pattern to fabric. Pattern should be 4" X 4" plus 1/2" seam on each side. I used various stitches for each part of the biscornu. The leaves are a chain stitch while the corners are a feather stitch. The stitches are marked on my pattern if you choose to use it.

When embroidery is finished you can begin to attach sides. For the first stitch, I come up from underneath on the bottom side and loop through the front and bottom at corners. From there I loop through every two stitches, pulling to close gaps (as with slip stitching). For the corners I do all three surrounding it instead of skipping.
Sorry this picture is a little blurry but it is an important step. As you stitch, pin the next corner as shown below. It helps to make sure you don't miss align even the smallest amount.
To stuff leave the last two corners free. I would suggest putting plastic pellets in the bottom for weight. Finish up last two corners securing thread at the end ( I knot mine).

(You can see in this picture where I messed up connecting the front to back. I had to take all of it out and reconnect it, making sure to pin corners as I went and to only go my ever second thread and not by thirds mixed with seconds. I failed to retake a picture of this stage, but you see by the first picture it turned out much better.)

Last, but not least, is sewing the bead in the middle of the top and the bottom. Pull needle through center from bottom. Leave an 1/2" from knot on thread. Put bead on thread and pull needle back through to bottom. Place another bead on thread. Pull thread through the 1/2" of access thread. Pull tight. Secure.

And now you have your first Biscornu!

Lo, children are...

copyright: Practical Creations

We will serve the LORD...

copyright: Practical Creations

The house is blurry due to scanning issues. I off centered the verse on purpose. To change this print it out, cut and reposition on another sheet of paper.

Embroidery Template

This is free to copy! I have wanted to do embroidery verses for some time. I will put out more as I create them. My lazy daisies are not so nice. I did them on the computer but would rather have drawn them.

If you have trouble copying it contact me and I'll see what I can do :-).

What's In a Hoop?

Currently a Day-of-the-Week towel :0). I so need to get this finished, lol.

However this post is not actually what is in the hoop, but about the hoop itself.

I found this hoop at a Mennonite yard sale. I absolutely love it! I have used if for a year or more. The spring is great. I know some do not like this because it will pinch your fabric if you take it off in a hastily manner. I have not had a problem with it doing any damage. The tension is perfect on it and I love the wood! The wood is smooth unlike the cheepies from Walmart.

So the reason for the post is... Who knows where I can get more of these? It is made by HoldTite in the USA or was. I have not seen anything like it since and for those of you out there that have one and would like to get rid of it, I am will to buy if from you.

The Art of...

REDWORK

About three years ago I began my quest to find an alternate outlet for machine sewing, which I have been doing for eleven years. My husband had surrendered to preach about a year and a half previous to my search. I wanted to be open to whatever the Lord might have my husband do. If he was called to be and Evangelist or Missionary, I wanted something that I could enjoy doing on the road.

I was at Hobby Lobby in Alexandria when I came across Anna Griffin's Silk Ribbon Embroidery. I was so excited to find it and loved her style! I used her templets from her book to make a couple of hankerchiefs for my husband and a friend. I enjoyed the mixture of the floss with the silk ribbon.

I was hungry to complete more projects with this method. Finding the combination of ribbon/floss, that were not too complicated, in a style I like proved to be a little difficult. Not to mention the price for some of the kits, although I'm sure worth every penny.

Coming across several redwork sites in the process of looking for that perfect something,I decided this was the way to go. I could certainly be more creative with it rather than with a kit and I could tackle simple projects in no time.

I have been doing redwork style embroidery every since. I should add that I have realized that embroidering in a car makes for bad results, lol. I am also happy to note that my husband feels led to Pastor a Church in the UP of Michigan.

Here is a pic of one of my first red~works...

This was made for my son Greg. The picture came from one of his school books. There was no trigger guard on the pistol. When my husband noticed it, he made me put one on, lol.

The little star on the handle came about because of research. I looked high and low for an early American pistol with a decorative wood handle. To my surprise the only decoration on the pistols I came across was beautiful engraving on the metal. The only handle decoration I could find was a diamond shape whole for the screw, lol. So that is what I did.

The leather looking fabric is actually faux suede which I had left over from making my friend Angela a purse.

The frame came from a yard sale find. It had a drawing of a lighthouse in it. I almost hated to remove it but felt a homemade gift from mom was worth the sacrifice. I did keep the lighthouse picture and am waiting for the perfect frame.

Here are a list of some great embroidery sites...

NeedleNThread ~ Great how-to resource. Check out the video library under "The Editor's Floss"

Needlecrafter ~ My first stop for designs and the best part is it's free!

Ladies In Red ~ also free (music is only on first page)

Bareroots ~ Affordable patterns (country style)

Crabapple Hill ~ Affordable patterns (elegant style)

Great Needlework Site

I came across this site today~ Sage Stitchworks . I really like this picture...

Here is their blog as well... Sage Stitchworks Blog .