If you’re like me, you’ll enjoy reading Mary Corbet’s blog Needle N Thread.
One of Mary’s current projects is a whitework sampler. She plans to use many different types of whitework embroidery on it, including Merezhka Poltavska (she’s using one of the learning samplers from my book Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery), Mountmellick (again she has a copy of our book Mountmellick Embroidery: Inspired by Nature though I have no idea if she plans to use a design from it) and even blackwork in white thread.
Mary posted a progress picture and report of her sampler the other day.
I love the top section with the eyelets. Its very eyecatching.
Eyelets are always interesting. I often find that people don’t open their eyelets enough (in my opinion). When doing Hardanger embroidery, some people work their eyelets so that there is only the smallest hole in the middle. Because I like the historical aspect of Hardanger, I’ve looked at photos of historical pieces and on them I find that their eyelets are very open.
If you think about it, it makes sense. Hardanger was probably originally an attempt to create a stitched version of the laces that were so popular in Europe in the 1600s. For something to be lacy, it needs to have lots of holes. Eyelets therefore were very open to make the holes.
Tomorrow I’ll give you some tips for creating very open eyelets.
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
I love the look of eyeltes in other peoples work but I personally have never used them. I think this is something I need to work into some future work 🙂
Hi – I thought you might like to see your Hardanger Christmas ornament from the December 2007 Gift of Stitchin. My blog is http://istitchaholic.blogspot.com
Thank you for such a lovely design.
Hi Diane,
I think you should definitely give eyelets a go! They can be used on counted work and surface embroidery, where holes are needed. They can be big or small, and can add such lovely texture and pattern.
I’ll be cheering you on!
Hi Carol,
Thank you SO MUCH for letting me see a picture of your Hardanger ornament. You’ve done a really gorgeous job of it. Well done, and thanks so much for sharing it with me!