White Threads

White Threads FlossTube #15 – The BEST way to finish an eyelet

In this episode of White Threads FlossTube, Yvette demonstrates how to work an eyelet with a large hole, and the BEST way to finish an eyelet. She shows you the embroidered item she’s wearing for the day.

For further reference, there are written step-by-step instructions for counted thread eyelets in Yvette’s book “Early-Style Hardanger” and for surface embroidery (non-counted thread) eyelets in her book “Portuguese Whitework”.

If you’re reading this in an email, the video can be found at https://youtu.be/qCnVSNtqMDc

Episode notes:
Early-Style Hardanger
Portuguese Whitework
Pendant tray kits

White Threads FlossTube #14 – Reinterpreting Hardanger in colour

For this episode’s piece of embroidered clothing, Yvette is wearing her shirt from “Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway” which has pattern darning on the collar. She shows how a whitework Hardanger design can be re-interpreted in colour, and makes mention of the book she’s working on at the moment.

If you’re reading this in an email, you can find the video at https://youtu.be/VdkdWQaBbMQ

Episode notes:
Shirt project – Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway
Anniken Hardanger runner

White Threads FlossTube #13 – Sardinian knotted embroidery

This is the episode many of you have been waiting for, where I talk about Sardinian knotted embroidery! I show the embroidery that I designed for the cover of my book “Sardinian Knotted Embroidery”, and also a little ribbon embroidery brooch that I made for my great aunt, when I was probably a teenager or a little younger.

For those of you reading this in an email, you can find the video here: https://youtu.be/ggyc9Qwd4nY

Episode notes:
Sardegna Turismo
Sardinian Knotted Embroidery by Yvette Stanton
Sardinian embroidery supplies

White Threads FlossTube #12 – Jardin de Fleurs

There has been great interest round here recently in Yvette’s “Jardin de Fleurs” sampler cushions, so in this episode she tells you the story behind them. She also shows the embroidered item she’s wearing, another embroidered pendant.

If you’re reading this in an email, you can view the video at https://youtu.be/UwRdhtI1S7Q

Episode notes:
Hvitsøm pendant kit
The Crewel Gobelin
The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion
The Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion
Fine French Linen Australia

Thank you for the encouragement

Since I started doing my White Threads FlossTube videos a few weeks ago, I’ve had a lot of lovely encouragement from people letting me know how much they’re enjoying them and learning from them. It is so good to hear this, so thank you to all who have encouraged me in this way.

When you do something like this (which takes a lot of time and thought – I’m constantly planning what’s going to be my next video topic, and how I’ll do it!) you cannot know whether people will find it interesting, engaging or helpful. I could be doing all of this for an audience of one – ME! So it is great to know that it does have a much wider audience than that!

Keep in mind that I’m working on my next book and trying to get it done too! I have lots of competing demands, and the videos are just one of them. People are again asking me to do online classes. Oh sigh. Why is there only one of me? Oh, that’s right, there isn’t. I do have an identical twin sister. Strangely though, she has her own life and chooses not to do my bidding! 🙂

Because some people have had a lot more time on their hands, past students have started sending me photos of completed class projects. When I teach a class, I always encourage my students to send me a photo of their completed work. I love to see them done (how many end up in a drawer, never finished?!) and it means they get the chance to celebrate their success with someone.

This last week, I have had two students from my Jardin de Fleurs class send photos of their finished work. Jardin de Fleurs was a class I taught twice last year for The Crewel Gobelin, and was a sampler class with a difference. The difference is that it doesn’t look like a traditional sampler at all! However, there is a sampling of over 30 stitches in the design. It was a very demanding class, with a lot to get through. I shared the photos on my Facebook page. You can see Susan’s, in the blue colourway, here, and I have permission to share Rhonda W’s, in the neutral colourway, here.
Jardin de Fleurs

Jardin de Fleurs

Julie at The Crewel Gobelin and I have done these as kits previously, and are working to get a new batch of kits together. If you are interested in purchasing one, please contact The Crewel Gobelin to be put on the list of those who are interested. That will help Julie to gauge interest and us to prepare a suitable quantity of kits! You might just need to be a little patient while we put them together.

I’m very happy to continue to receive photos of finished works of my designs, whether you’ve been in a class with me or not. It is great to be able to celebrate successes! And I find it so encouraging to know that you’ve completed one of my projects, and you must be proud of it if you send a photo to me.

Keep stitching, and stay well and safe.

White Threads FlossTube #11 – Whitework sampler cube

Yvette’s whitework sampler cube is the latest project she showcases in this episode of White Threads FlossTube. She also explains how to find the things mentioned in her videos on the Vetty Creations website, and shows you her promised coronavirus jumper replete with embroidery.

If you are reading this in an email, you can view the video at https://youtu.be/vvN19_ABHO8

Episode notes:
There aren’t any for this episode. However, if I did need to send you to a particular product on my website, I would do it here. http://vettycreations.com.au/ Also, if I had mentioned someone else in the video and wanted you to visit their page, I would also do that here.

Is it time to fail?

This morning I read an article on trying new things during these crazy times. I encourage you to read it here.

Maybe you’ve been watching my videos, seeing the different types of embroidery I have done, and thinking, “maybe I should give that a go?” I encourage you to do just that! With this worldwide pause that some of us have been given (I acknowledge some are just as busy as ever, maybe just in different ways) it is the perfect time to try something new.

The other night, I was finishing the jumper I’ve been knitting. (Coming to a White Threads FlossTube near you, very soon!) I needed to do Kitchener stitch, which I’d never done before. Kitchener stitch is hand sewing that is used to graft two live ends of knitting together so that the join is completely invisible. It mimics the look of the knitting, but with hand sewn stitches.

I read through some instructions, watched a video, tried to follow the video and made a complete mess of it. With a little more persistence, and an understanding of how it was *meant* to work and of the mechanics of stockinette stitch, I ignored video and figured it out myself. Yeah, I failed the first time. And the second time. And then eventually I got it.

Failing’s ok. I learnt something by failing. I learnt that I need to have an understanding of the process. Following the video, I was blindly following the steps. I had no understanding of how those movements created the final result.

When I ignored the video, I instead used my understanding of how yarn interlocks in stockinette stitch, and tried to recreate that. I used my understanding of the process of knitting to make it work.

My revelation that I needed to understand the process helped me to understand why it is so important to me that I explain the “why” of my methods when I’m teaching. I aim to teach so that people will understand the process. I aim to teach so that people don’t just blindly follow my methods, but so that they will understand why I get them to do it a certain way. I have my reasons, and I want my students to understand those reasons. That’s really important to me. And because I failed at Kitchener stitch, I now understand something more about myself.

So, give something new a go. You might fail. And you’ll probably learn something useful.

PS: until I read the article, I had no idea that cake was supposed to be Jacinda Ardern. Yeah, I think they failed.

White Threads FlossTube #10 – Will my design fit?

In this episode of White Threads FlossTube, Yvette explains how to work out if your design will fit on the fabric. Right at the end, she asks an important question that she’d really like your answer to – so please watch to the end! And, as she hasn’t quite yet run out of embroidered items to wear, she shows this episode’s item to you.

If you’re reading this in an email, the video can be found at https://youtu.be/qvGzCyMPwYs

Episode notes – products mentioned in this episode:
Counted thread embroidery pendant kits

White Thread FlossTube #9 – Vaupel and Heilenbeck linen banding

In this episode of White Threads FlossTube, Yvette Stanton introduces you to a range Vaupel and Heilenbeck linen banding, both wide and narrow. The wide bandings can be used for samplers and runners, and the narrow ones can be used for bookmarks, candle wraps, vase wraps etc.

The embroidery Yvette is wearing is a shirt with embroidery at the neckline.

If you’re reading this in an email, the video can be found at https://youtu.be/dp6bAU2E3-4

Episode notes – products mentioned in the video:
Coton a broder thread
Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway
Sardinian Knotted Embroidery: Whitework from Teulada
Vaupel and Heilenbeck linen banding

White Threads FlossTube #8 – Merezhka Poltavska

In this episode of White Threads FlossTube, Yvette discusses Merezhka Poltavska, detours a little into a discussion of linen, and shows the Hardanger shirt she’s wearing. (We have a new iron!)

If you’re reading this in an email, the video can be found at https://youtu.be/JtwV7FdIe1g