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PDF Pattern // Sad Valentine

Yesterday I posted about miniature, embroidered shrines and one had some funny-looking French knots. I promised to tell you how they were made, and I am keeping that promise. It's not hard at all. In fact, it's so easy, this tute only has two images. First, you need to know how to work a French knot.

Good with that? Right on. Okay: to make a pistil stitch, all you do is enter (return) your needle at a longer distance away from the exit point when completing the French knot. (As I'm doing in the photo above.)

Um, that's it. 

Now, start firing yer pistils!

image via Ask Sister Mary Martha

Not having been raised Catholic, I only recently discovered these traditional miniature shrines called "détentes" ("relaxation" or "release" in French). Pockets shrines, hand-held objects of devotion with extremely delicate embroidery in gold and silver threads. They are like tiny jewels.

image via Altar Ardor

Would you like to know how the long French knots extending fromt the heart were made? I can show you!

First, you'll need to know how to work a French knot, so get good at that and check back next entry for the trick! (Hint: it's not just an extra stitch, but it's almost as easy as that.)

Check back for the tute!

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Related: My Love Is True PDF pattern (registered stitchers)

NEW PDF Pattern with color guides! "My Love is True" 

Let's get real. No bucked-tooth teddy bear is going to serve up this message properly. I wanted to do a large, tattoo-style, slighty gory, flowery heart-n-banners design to say: this is serious love.

But- don't run off just yet. First, I bet you want to know how I did those stitches around the heart, yes?

Chain Stitch Tutorial. Well, it's a little different from the traditional way. Not because I'm so clever, but because I was actually doing it "wrong" from the traditional technique for years. Let's say I was doing it differently. I don't really believe in "wrong" when it comes to stitching, because it turns out that I prefer to do it this way. What's wrong with that? If you have a copy of my book Embroidered Effects, look up "plain chain" and you'll get the full story on the two ways to work a chain stitch.

Since it's a big design...

I used one of the 11" x 11" Q-snap frames.
It fits perfectly! What did I stitch it on?

Bam! Zippered pillow cover. I transferred the design with one of these transfer pens. 

♥ Words of encouragement ♥ If you get the design, and then start feeling all stressy about stitching it up in multiple colors or fancy stitches, don't. This design would look awesome in one color all over: RED. Stitch the whole silly thing in just a back stitch and it will still be a bold, beautiful piece of embroidery.

Let's re-cap:

NEW PDF Pattern with color guides >> "My Love is True" 

Chain Stitch Tutorial

Back Stitch Tutorial 

11" x 11" Q-snap frame

Zippered pillow cover

Transfer pen

or

Carbon transfer paper

Why? Because I WUV YOU THIIIIIIIIS MUCH! (eye-roll) xoxo

I adore the mix of old stitches with new. Crystal Rhew took some already-embroidered, vintage linens and added the Michael Sieben and Jim Woodring patterns to them. The results are sweet and curious: 

Using colors to match those already found on the linens is an especially nice touch! Be sure to visit her blog to see her meticulous work up close and in detail!

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Related:

Michael Sieben Embroidery Patterns

Jim Woodring Embroidery Patterns

Embroidering on vintage doilies:  "This Work Never Ends"

Sublime Stitching is in Mollie Makes! This is a looovely UK-based magazine...that I wish were available here. But, don't fret. There is a free PDF on their site of my patterns and stitching diagrams! You can download them here, dear (top of the page). Cheers!

HOLD ON! They offer overseas subscriptions and it looks like you can get back issues via Amazon!

More woven labels are here! The first two designs were so popular, I've created more: Made With #%*&!? and "Made With Love" in Japanese. (There are a lot of Sublime Stitchers in Japan, but I also think it just looks cool.) Thanks to PinkuRocks for the sweet and thoughtful translation:

She said the first character is actually Chinese, but it's incorporated into the Japanese "Made With Love" because it resembles a heart. As for this one...

...no translation needed.

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 Here they are! Made With #%*&!? and "Made With Love" in Japanese

Workshops? Did someone ask if I'm doing any workshops? I will be giving a talk, participating in a discussion panel and teaching an embroidery workshop at Craftcation Indie Business & DIY Conference in Ventura, California. March is coming sooner than you think! Sign up now to ensure a seat (and discounts on tickets and hotels).

Visit > > www.CraftcationConference.com for full details

Can't make it? Okay then...the next weekend I will be doing another workshop:

photo : Kenneth B. Gall

The  Fowler Museum of Art at UCLA has invited me to teach an embroidery workshop in conjunction with the upcoming exhibition: Order and Disorder: Alighiero Boetti by Afghan Women. Please come not just to learn embroidery, but to learn about the incredible work of this Italian conceptual artist and his collaboration with Afghan needleworkers.

Visit > > Needlework Revoution: Embroidery Workshop with Jenny Hart for full information and to sign up for the class.

Seats are limited to twenty! I want to see your smiling face!

This is SO META. Embroidering embroidery. Stitching stitching stuff. Falling into the matrix of needlework...Okay, okay. Craftopia is back in the house, and there are a ton of new designs on it. Most notably: I've added embroidery tools! There's also a glue gun on there, too. How could I have ever left those off? No other sheet has gone through so many changes!

Let's give you some free stuff. How would you like that? You'd like it a whole bunch, I bet. Okay then! I have three books for three lucky duckys. Here they are:

1st Prize: Fabric-by-Fabric: One-Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins These are my ladies! Rebecca of (sock monkey dress fame) and Patricia (owner of Crafty Planet) are Minneapolis-based DIY friends I've now known for many years. I am thrilled to see their latest book come out!

2nd Prize: Creative, Inc. by Meg Mateo Ilasco & Joy Cho This is a signed copy, I'll have you know. If you don't already have this book in your personal reference library, well...maybe you will soon!

3rd Prize: A Life in Stitches: Knitting My Way Through Love, Loss, and Laughter by Rachel Herron

You don't have to do all of these things (just whichever one you prefer, mom):

Tweet: Boyoboy, I sure hope Sublime Stitching gives me a free craft book! @iloveembroidery #books

or

Facebook: Post a comment under the entry about the give-away (please, not just anywhere on the wall) about your favorite thing to make! 

or login and comment below (comments will not appear until after they are approved for moderation -so don't panic if your comment doesn't show for a while, okay?)

Three participants will by chosen at random by 6pm PST on Tuesday, January 17th. Winners will be announced via Twitter, Facebook and an update to this blog post on Wednesday, January 18th before 12pm PST.  

That's it! Easy, right? Good luck, and remember to check back here to see who wins the books! (I hope it's you. xo)