Stitch Point’s free online text tool

Text in Stitches is for me, at the moment the coolest online tool grab a cuppa and I will tell you why. You can make a charted design out of text. You simply click in the font you wan then select the letters you want to use by clicking the pink letter keys. Clear directions are on the site.

The reason I am so excited about it is that of course just this week over on the Hand Embroidery group in the Stitchin Fingers Textile Community we started a stitch along and I have started mine on pieced foundation fabric and it will l be added to my band sampler.

As I have discussed before in the past as I have stitched these samplers I have often added a little bit of what was happening as I was stitching it.

Now Annie’s of Annies Crazy World has taken this idea and really run with it. She has been documenting bits of her life on her sampler.

I have always been interested in autobiographical statements in fiber. Often the way women tell their stories is via the medium of textiles and I have rabbited on about this before. I am also interested in the idea of a slow cloth and this band sampler I am making, is definitely my slow cloth.

I plan to add more text to my ongoing sampler. Some will be quotes, some will be to mark special occasions and other odd statements will be autobiographical. So I was delighted to find this tool that allows me to type in some text and it is graphed just like that!

Stitch point was found with thanks via Meggiecat

 

Free Needlework books online

Recently I have been digging out a list of Needlework books online for the stitch along that is being worked by members of the Hand Embroidery group in the Stitchin Fingers Textile Community. It will be starting next week! Yikes that sounds close to me … I am really looking forward to this. In case you missed it you can see what I will be stitching on here.

Anyway here is the list I thought many readers would find useful weather they are involved in the stitch along or not as they are all very useful books

Encyclopedia of Needlework by Thérèse de Dillmont is online as part of Project Gutenburg. You can download the whole book from the site for free it is an excellent resource

Handbook of Embroidery by L. Higgin contains standard stitches but also information on goldwork and quite a good section on couching and diaper patterns.

Embroidery and Tapestry Weaving by Grace Christie covers all key areas of Embroidery. It is a classic but also one of the most clearest illustrated stitch books of its time. Don’t miss this one as it is very useful.

Art in Needlework by Lewis F Day and Mary Buckle is a 326 page book published in 1907. This book is free to download from the Internet Archive site. You can download it in PDF format

A Book of Fancy Designs for Ornamenting Oriental Work. (PDF file) by Mary Haehnlen is a small book that should not be missed by crazy quilters as it contains diagrams of 65 crazy quilting stitches. This free ebook comes the Antique pattern Library.

The Cult of the Needle by Flora Klickmann is a hidden gem I discovered at the Internet archive. It is a 134 pages of styles and types of embroidery including drawn work, hardanger, Berlin work, and Huck darning

Ladies’ Guide in Needlework published by W. A. Leary & Co. in 1850. The 193 pages of this book have been divided into 3 PDF files which can be downloaded from the On-Line Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving and Related Topics (the download is found half way down this page)

Beeton’s Book of Needlework is also on the Project Gutenburg site and can be downloaded free. There is a section on embroidery and a section on “Berlin” work which covers many canvas work stitches

The Lady’s Manual of Fancy-Work by Matilda Pullan published in 1859 is also available at the On-Line Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving and Related Topics. It contains a mix of needlework arts including beading, Berlin work (canvas stitches)

Many of these free resources are presented as PDF files which means you need Acrobat Reader to open these files. You can download a free reader on the Acrobat site.

 

Around the blogs

Ruby-crowned Kinglette of A Collaboration has posted directions on how to add extra fabric to edge of small pieces of linen so you can use it on an embroidery hoop. This is exactly what I did for the stitch along foundation fabric for my next band sampler.   I have been doing this for years and it was quite by chance I spotted these directions. Judging by the comments not many people have thought of doing it! The blog documents a 12 month long process of interpreting a work embroidery on 4-inch linen squares. Hence the need to edge the linen. It’s also an interesting project so check it out.

Every year Crazy quilt International has an annual contest to make a purse. Entrants have 3 months to make a work. The results for 2008 have been published on the blog. Go and check it out for crazy quilting eye candy.

Over on Katherine Tyrrell’s blog Making a Mark she has written an article on the qualtity of art books that are written for the recreational market. I can only whole heartedly agree with  her and much of what she says applies to the quality of craft books too. As I was reading I was nodding vigorously and wanting to point out that much dumbing down has happened in the recreational textiles field too. Sometimes I think if author/publishers think that we lose IQ points the longer we have a needle in our hand. So pop over and read it over coffee it got me going!

Victoria Adams Brown of RibbonSmyth now has launched a blog which so far contains some useful articles. Many crazy quilters will already be aware that Victoria is the founder and designer for The Way to Women’s Wellness Art Bra Calendars which have raised quite a bit for breast cancer research.

 

Look what I have done!

I am feeling very smug and happy grab a cuppa and let me tell you why …
I have just completed working my way through the last draft of the the Studio Journals: A Designer’s Workhorse course which is run out of Joggles. For those who are taking it buy some paper and ink as the 6 weeks runs to 200 pages or so! I do have some information on it here but that is not my news… I am simply telling you because while I write a course I can not fit much else in. When I finish there is much joy at being able to return to stitching!

Over on Stitchin Fingers in the Hand Embroidery group we are going to have a “Do it Your Way” stitch-a-long.

We have sorted out a a list of stitches which people are going to choose from. People can choose to work at what ever stitch they want, whenever they want, on what ever project they choose, at what ever pace they want! People don’t even have to complete the list of stitches! So we have called it a stitch-a-long rather than a challenge because the idea is to share via posting photos online what we learn along the way.

I have decided to add to the long band sampler I wrote about here and here. It is its 33 ft 2 inches or in metric that is 10.109 meters long.

There is a bit of a back story in this sampler and in the next section I do plan to add more text as I love the narrative possibilities of this format. I have often added bits of text and am interested in their autobiographical possibilities such as I suggested here. Since the start of the year Annie Whitsed has been stitching a sampler too, and I am enthusiastic about what she has done. So I have decided to add to this sampler as it already has such a history and in a way is my slow cloth.
I have been thinking about what fabric I should choose. When I looked at the list and saw a problem. Some stitches such as the pulled stitches need an even weave linen, others such as the crewel and surface embroidery stitches need a cloth with a firmer weave so a line of stitches can curve neatly. Some will do just fine on Aida but others will look better if they are worked on something not so grid like. You can see my problem one single type of fabric will not be suitable for all stitches. I wanted one cloth to do many jobs … then … I spotted my stash of a little bits of linen and evenweave fabric and I knew my problem was solved.

I plan to stitch on a coloured foundation fabric. Traditional stitching looks great on a coloured foundation and contemporary work can really sing. Since I will be mixing styles I wanted a bit of colour.

I hauled the dyes out and hand painted all my smaller pieces of linen, aida and hardanger fabric.

I then assembled all fabrics into an interesting patchwork strip of fabric that I can use as the foundation fabric for my band sampler. Actually, I got carried away a little with the dye pots and have enough fabric for a few strips like this…

The tacking stitches are to define the edge of the sampler while I stitch. They will be removed. The white strip of fabric is simply muslin sewn down the side so I can hoop the piece. Yes I am a hoop person. I swear by them.

So now I am ready and simply busting to start but have to wait until the 1st of July. So I guess it’s the admin like another about page to be written and I will set up a flickr group for the “Do it your way” …

But I am itching to start now … Maybe the border? … toddles off feeling happy at a problem solved … a little voice pipes up “well I think it is solved” … Yes it will work … Don’t you think?

Later: I have added an information page for the stitch along so that peopel can check out the guidelines and details

 

A few tutorials

I have a few tutorials and blogs to point to this morning. Its a bit of a mixed bag of googies but what is wrong with a mix?

Over on beading Daily Michelle Mach has listed a number of methods to make a beaded button

I know it is early in the year but Borduurblog has a free black work design of a Christmas decoration which if worked in an appropriate colour would make a great insert for a Christmas card.

Focus on Finishing is a blog written mainly for cross stitchers but it also provides good resource pages such as the huge list of links to tutorials

The Vespiary is a blog on book conservation and book binding. The author states that currently her work focuses on hand-bound books made from a variety of materials.

 

Gems to be found at Needlwork Tips and Techniques

An article on the history of crazy quilting lead me to be reminded of Carol Leather’s site Needlework tips and techniques. While there I was poking about and discovered that the ever tricky bullion stitch has been featured in a tutorial on Bullion Roses. Clear tips and advice on how to do this stitch is presented. I have directions on how to do this stitch here but I think this article clearly explains how the needle is angled if you do not use a hoop. Personally I always recommend a hoop but many people do not like them.

This lead me to poke about a bit and I discovered these detached chain stitch strawberries that I think crazy quilters will love. Do pay a visit to Needlework tips and techniques and Carols blog I think you will enjoy them both.

 

My new community site for textile folks

Waving to everyone in very excited manner this morning! For l those with very sharp eyes. Last night a little bit of text appeared in my side bar which reads “Visit stitchin fingers a new community site for stitchers.” Well for anyone who noticed great work!

I have finally got around to doing something I have meant to do for ages and that is create a stitchin/textile community site over on Ning.

For a long time I felt that the community needs a hub that can act a depot to spread news of events etc. Ning is a social software site that helps people build communities. I think may provide the service the textile folks need. Ning looks to be good place to make announcements, share news and photos hang out online etc.

I have called the network Stitchin Fingers So far I have put a forum on there, and since Ning has an RSS feed so you can subscribe and new activity will appear in your reader. It is an ideal place to act as a hub for all sorts of news and activities that the whole community can make use of. So all are welcome to use it and be as active as you choose on the site.

It is free and looks like members can have up to 100 photos. Members can load their own photos, create albums, share them etc. This feature alone would have made it ideal for any of the challenges I have run. It means people who don’t have to have a blog can join in on activities and for those that do have blogs they tell us about them there! But its more than simply that. As I say its a community site - or I see it as that and I will keeping pure self promotion at bay . People can use it to spread the word about textile related events but I don’t see it as an avenue for business to peddle their wares.

Last night I spent far too long trying to decide on a theme and I will organise some sort of image in the banner. I don’t want to spend an age designing something only to find not one is interested. Basically I will polish it the more people join and use it.

Since its free you have nothing to lose head over to Stitchin Fingers, sign up, join and leave a hello message and we can see what develops from there. Bloggers and those on lists please help spread the word because it will not work if people don’t know about it. This is a community site so lets hope it builds!

I have described it as “The group is open to all who are interested in textiles both contemporary and historical. Since many textile practices cross or inform each other all areas are welcome “
Actually I will reshape the description when figure out how to describe the group as I am sure it will shape itself!

If you are not sure what a Ning site is take a look at the fiberarts mixed media group as you can see it is for anyone who is interested in contemporary fiber arts and its a good example of what a group site can look like

This is what prompted me to finally get this network site going as Tricia of Lets Create contacted me as she is establishing a group for people who are interested in challenges. Go and check out her blog here This is the sort of news that is ideal to spread on the Stitchin Fingers site.

On another note I thought I would bring this link to Designer Bookbinders to the top as kimsarahtillyer left a comment point me to it. Designer Bookbinders was founded over fifty years ago and is a society devoted to the craft of fine bookbinding. There is some delicious eye candy in their gallery so do go and gobble some up (after you have checked out Stitchin Fingers that is)

 

A tale of two samplers

This is the start of what may become the tale of two samplers and is actually a continuation of yesterdays post but for all those who swing by for links rather than chatter Susie Monday has a very good article about getting yourself going. 10 Ways to Unstick when You’re Stuck points you to ways that mean you can do something creative with your time rather than staying in a rut. So if you need to be energised try some of these tricks.

Yesterday my sampler had a visitor! Annie of Annies Crazy World came visiting and with her came her sampler. So we decided to photograph them as they talk to each other. Annie’s work is the thin sampler on the left .

Later addition: Annie has blogged her response too! - do check it out

As I said yesterday for years I have made samplers as a way of storing references to stitches. Of course they also act as teaching aids. I also always make them 15 cm (6 inches) wide. There uniformity has a sort of appeal. Anyway I stitched them all together and the sampler currently measures 33 ft 2 inches or 10.109 meters. I have a new section ready to be stitched on and I just lay it down next to the sampler.

Yesterday I said how appealing Annie’s format of being half the width is. I think you can see it here what I mean.

Annie became interested in how long various areas of stitches were (and I think she will say about that) But it quite spooky as for instance the area of herringbone on both samplers ended up being the same length.

This was a total accident and I stitch my herringbone sampler a good couple of years ago.

As I was comparing the sections of buttonhole on both samplers I saw that I had noted in 2005 the race riots in Sydney and Annie stitching this year noted Sorry day. It fascinates me how by chance both artifacts can become part of a larger story.

It was a really fun afternoon photographing them, looking and comparing and seeing how each of us had done things in a similar but highly individual manner.

On the left is the next section to be added to my sampler. As you can see I have introduced a border!

These samplers are very addictive. I think many people get put off samplers in school and think they are formulated practice pieces that just become too boring for words. If that happens you are listening too much to others or stitching to a preconcieved notion of what a sampler is, as they really are place simply to stitch, explore and doodle with thread!

mmmmm she thinks to her self as she toddles off to the work room … perhaps I should start a series of close ups … once a week or so … a detail … run a series … what contemporary samplers can be …

 

Work in Progress crazy quilting, samplers and chatter!

Hi all grab a cuppa, as you can see I have done a little more crazy quilting work. Not much stitching because work is busy and frankly from now until the end of the year it just gets busier. I am also polishing my latest online workshop that is on offer at Joggles so for the moment stitching time is limited

The other week I lay out a few of these completed blocks to see how they would sit together and this is what they looked like. Progressing and they look better once they sit together. As usual if you click on the photo it takes you to a larger version.

As I said above I have been polishing my latest class Studio Journals: A Designer’s Workhorse . Since this is a new course I will be tinkering with it until it starts! If you are interested follow the link to find out more about it. The other course that is available is the Encrusted Crazy Quilting which teaches people crazy quilting. It has been very popular and there has been lots of new hands to crazy quilting find their way to me. Once again follow that link if you are interested.

On another note who has been following the progress of Annie’s sampler over on Annies Crazy World. She was inspired to start it after I pieced mine together. Just to remind you what it looked like - here is the image again.

For years I have made and kept samplers as a personal reference and teaching aid. I just love them. I always make them 15 cm (6 inches) wide and long like a band sampler.

Pieces are worked on a number of different fabrics. Linen, aida and cotton are all represented on a number of different counts from 25 count linen to 38 count. I plan to just keep adding to the roll so this sampler will be forever a work in progress. Currently the sampler measures the sampler 33 ft 2 inches or 11.05 yards in metric that is 1010.92 centimeters or 10.109 meters but I have two more sections to add that I have worked since the start of the year.

The reasons for stitching these samplers together in one long roll is that it is easier to travel with them like this. A pile of teaching samples stored like this are lighter and more compact - think about how heavy they would be if this amount of teaching samples were housed in plastic slip files in folders. The main reason I did it however is that I like to hand out samples to students in workshops and lectures so that they can see and feel what a stitch is like. People learn by touching, but unfortunately in the past a couple of samplers were handed out but never came back. I figure if they are all stitched together no one can stuff it in their hand bag. So it is a security measure! It also means odd samples can not get lost.

Often along the way I have added a little bit of text stating the date or what has been happening. Like this

Now Annie’s of Annies Crazy World has taken this idea and really run with it. She has been documenting bits of her life on her sampler. The other thing I really like is that Annie’s sampler is 4 inches wide. It is just so appealing when you have it in your hand! Annie and I get together every week to stitch and I can’t stress how delightful her sampler is. I have fallen in love with the width. So much so I thought to start to another thinner sampler but decided against it because I felt that part of the appeal for me is that my sampler consistently tells the history of my stitching so I am still working on a a 6 inch width but attracted to the format that Annie is using.

Anyway thats a very round about way of saying a sampler (and the crochet rug I spoke about last week) are the other things I am working on.

On another note: Do check out the comments on yesterdays post as many new bloggers are leaving their details and its a great way to find new faces. Swing over, check them out, leave a comment and welcome them to the online community of fiber blogs. It is great to have the opportunity to share what we do but becomes very empty feeling if no one comments. So as I say check them out and let them know you have dropped by.

 

Two resource links

Over on Mindtracks this morning I have a review Photoshop Express a new free web based image manipulation tool. Many readers here will find it useful as I have full screenshots of what you can do in Photoshop Express.

On another note I discovered this list of 26 Free Tutorials For Needle Books & Cases which is a list of free patterns and tutorials for sewing needle books and needle cases. Found with thanks via Whip Up