News
JC Embroidery adds digital product
Digital downloads of JC Embroidery project booklets are now available! Beat the exorbitant and ever escalating shipping costs and download you desired projects. As simple as 1,2,3 1 - Make your choice from the many projects available. Mmmm, choosing may not so simple - so many to choose from. Oh well, add another one they are cheaper than the print version 2 - Select the Digital Download and Add to Cart 3 - After payment your download links will automatically be sent to your email within a few minutes - no waiting days, weeks, or sometimes months for international shipping. You...
Compact Travel Needlecase with Scissors
The latest product release from JC Embroidery is this delightful little Compact Needlecase, with haltered scissors and perfect for taking travelling. "What travelling?" you say. Well, the plans for this little gem were well afoot prior to the unfortunate lockdowns and border closures of Covid-19; But we can see hope of getting travel again one day soon. This needlecase kit comes with all items required to make it: fabrics and threads (including tacking threads), needle, pins, scissors, magnetic catch and comprehensive instructions and photographs. And at 6 x 7.5cm, with two flannel pages to hold your pins and needles is perfect for sliding into...
Italian Embroidery - Cutwork techniques Part II
Following on from last week's post, two further Italian cutwork techniques... First up this week is a technique called Deruta Sfilato originating in Tuscany. The design area outline is secured and then alternating groups of fabric threads are cut and withdrawn to make a frame of loose mesh. The design is then woven back onto this frame using Pearl threads. The lustre of the Pearl threads is a beautiful contrast to the matt linen texture.As it is very hard (read - next to impossible) to get the appropriate Deruta linen (a fine, low-count fabric - 8/cm, 20/inch) in New Zealand, I elected...
Italian Embroidery - Cutwork techniques
The Italians have such an extensive 'back catalogue' of embroidery techniques that is just asking to be explored in more detail. This dovetails nicely with my love of counted thread techniques and making lace from linen with cutwork styles. When I have had the opportunity over the past year I have been playing with designs and working on the samples for my latest release of project booklets. I say work, but it is not really work, love more like it! And, of course, more recently time has been available to get many projects completed. Amongst the new projects there...
New Release - Pattern Darning Kits
Making the most of opportunities I have been using the recent downtime to get sorted on a number of projects. Unfortunately these two projects were casualties of the current lockdown cancelling planned classes, so they have now become available for general release. The Card Purse is a simple yet elegant design featuring pattern darning and a kiss-lock frame. The gusseted inner purse has two card pockets, suitable for identification, credit or business cards, and a cash pocket for notes and coins. Small enough to fit in most pockets, but big enough with all those immediate needs. A great project for a...