White Threads

Should I use a hoop for Hardanger?

Following my recent video on embroidery hoops, Jenn asked me some questions:

“Should I use a hoop for hardanger? I do use one with larger satin stitch motifs but tend to do the rest in hand. I am wondering if I should be using the hoop when I do the needleweaving?”

These are great questions! My infuriating answer to that is: it depends. Most Hardanger, I do in hand. It enables me to get into a rhythm that I wouldn’t be able to get into, if I was working in a hoop.

For filling stitches, sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. If you get better results using a hoop, use a hoop. If you get better results without a hoop, don’t use a hoop. Generally, for all simple needleweaving, I don’t. But for fancy filling stitches, I often do, particularly if there are diagonal stitches across open space. Working these types of stitches in a hoop helps me to maintain good tension.

Jenn then replied to say: “That helps very much! I do like stitching in hand for the most part but I have seen so many people using hoops in videos online I thought I might be doing something wrong, lol. Thank you for your reply.”

Such an interesting comment! A lot of people do use hoops in videos, including me, and I wouldn’t always off camera. So why is that? I use hoops in my videos because it’s easier for a viewer to see what is happening. Holding it in hand means your hand can wave all over the place, including out of the camera’s view. Having it in a fixed hoop on a stand means it stays within camera view much more easily!

84000 books!

Yesterday I updated my print runs spreadsheet to account for the book delivery I received from the printer last month. I was surprised to find that 84000 copies of my books (across eleven titles) have been printed.

I’m quite shocked by this. Not bad for an accidental career, if I do say so myself!

Thank you to all of you who have supported my work in purchasing my books. I am incredibly grateful. Which ones do you own? (Full list below.)

Elegant Hardanger Embroidery
Mountmellick Embroidery: Inspired by Nature (with Prue Scott)
Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery
Portuguese Whitework
The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion
The Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion
Sardinian Knotted Embroidery
Early-Style Hardanger
Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway
Frisian Whitework
Hardanger Filling Stitches

If there are any of these that you’re missing, you can order the ones that are currently in print through my website or your favourite needlework store.

Tutorial: Mounting embroidery in a hoop

Today I have a tutorial showing how to mount your fabric in an embroidery hoop. I talk about binding the hoop and why you would do it, what to bind it with, and what parts to bind. I explain how to straighten and tighten the fabric in the hoop. I show what not to do, and why it’s a bad idea to do those things.

If you haven’t ever used a hoop, we sell a range of hoops on the Vetty Creations website. They can be really helpful for very precise stitching, of both counted and non-counted embroidery. https://www.vettycreations.com.au/catalogue-needles.html#hoops

Birthday long weekend

A little bit of visual inspiration for the end of the week: the sampler from Hardanger Filling Stitches.

I’ve noticed recently that many orders come in over the weekend. It seems you all have the chance to sit down and do a bit of dreaming about what you’re going to make or work on next. I’m all for that! 🙂

We have a long weekend here, with Monday a public holiday. It’s supposed to be for celebrating the King’s birthday, but you probably didn’t realise this, it’s actually for celebrating my birthday, which is this weekend. It’s a special number birthday for me, so those of you who get the public holiday on Monday (a very small percentage of my followers, I think!) enjoy celebrating my birthday!

I won’t be shipping on Monday, due to the public holiday, and depending on how much this weekend takes it out of me, it may not be Tuesday either!

Whether you have a long weekend or not, enjoy your weekend! I hope you get some relaxation time, and some time to stitch.

2024 ANZEG conference

student embroidering
There’s a question that many Kiwis, particularly the ones who are booked into my classes at the upcoming ANZEG conference, have probably been wondering.

“Will Yvette be teaching at the ANZEG conference this year?” (I have two classes scheduled, booked in before I got sick.)

Here’s my answer. It is my intention to be there. I’m probably not well enough. I’m scared about it. On a good day I can appear to be absolutely fine, and no one can tell by my appearance that I am not.

On a bad day (and I don’t know when I’m going to have bad days) I’m exhausted, wracked with pain, extremely sensitive to noise, and struggle to put sentences together, amongst other things. Teaching on a bad day would be very difficult. Even holding a conversation on a bad day is hard.

I’m going to be resting as much as possible in the lead up to NZ. I’m intending to teach sitting down, with students coming to me (normally I’m up and around the classroom, helping students in their seats). I will not be attending anything other than my classes. And hopefully I’ll be able to make it through, providing great value and learning to my students.

I respectfully request that if you’re sick (cold, flu, covid etc) you do not attend my classes. With my immune system the way it is, I cannot afford to get sick. My illness has already dragged on for more than six months.

Please be understanding of me and my limitations. Just because I’m intending to be there does not mean I’m fine. However, I want to be there. I’m doing the best I can.

Profile in Stitch magazine

Stitch Magazine

If you’re in the UK, there’s a profile of me in the latest edition of Stitch magazine. And there’s an extract of the sampler from Hardanger Filling Stitches. I hope you enjoy it!

Portuguese Whitework back in stock

Portuguese Whitework by whitework expert, Yvette Stanton, is back in stock!

Discover this beautiful form of embroidery from the historic town of Guimarães in Portugal. With its drawn thread work, eyelets and a profusion of bullion stitches, it has sumptuous texture and pattern.

If you’re scared of bullion stitches, this is the way to overcome that fear: by doing lots of them! With step-by-step instructions, you’ll be taken through the stitches and techniques of bordado de Guimarães (Guimarães embroidery). There are 10 projects, ranging from small to large, on which to use you to use your new-found skills.

As well as the book, we stock a full range of supplies for this style of embroidery, including thread, linen fabric, needles and hoops.

Order your copy today, and try something new!

https://www.vettycreations.com.au/portuguese-book.html

clear stitch diagrams

Yesterday I received an email from Janette.

Congratulations on the new book! It’s marvellous, and I can attest that there are quite a few of us here who purchased copies as soon as it was published 🙂 Something to be justifiably proud of, together with your other publications; a wonderful contribution to the continuation of these beautiful traditions. No-one produces stitch diagrams as clear and easy to follow as yours!

Thanks Janette!

I work hard on my stitch instructions, to make my diagrams clear and understandable. Coupled with my written instructions, I endeavour to make the steps as easy as possible to understand, follow and successfully create because of!

If you haven’t yet purchased your copy of Hardanger Filling Stitches and seen what all the fuss is about, you ask for your copy at your favourite needlework shop or bookshop, or order from me at Vetty Creations.

Six months of Hardanger

Hardanger by Elena K

The other day I received a lovely email from Elena K in Finland.

Six months ago I didn’t know about the existence of hardanger, but now it’s my favorite hobby. These are my works. I have been studying from your book for six months. Thank you!

Wow, Elena! Your work is beautiful! I never would have guessed that you were new to Hardanger!

The book that Elena has been teaching herself from is Early-Style Hardanger. I know of others who have almost exclusively taught themselves Hardanger from that book also. It absolutely thrills me to think that my books can make such a difference in people’s lives!

Thank you, Elena, for sharing your success with me, and for giving me permission to celebrate your success with others. Keep going – you’re doing wonderfully well!

If you’d like to learn Hardanger too, my book, Early-Style Hardanger is available all over the world, and also from me at Vetty Creations.

Premax Ringlock scissors back in stock

This week, after an exceptionally LOONNNGGGG wait, I have finally received new stock of the Premax ringlock scissors which are my choice of scissors now that we can no longer get Dovo Hardanger scissors.

I find cutting with these scissors like cutting butter. They feel LOVELY in hand. I used these scissors while working on the sampler for “Hardanger Filling Stitches” which is shown in the background of the photo.

They are smooth to use, have sharp blades and fine points. The tip is very fine for poking between fabric threads, and the narrowness of the blades means you can comfortably get in between threads and cut a few at a time. At 3 3/4 inches / 9.5cm they’re not too big, and they’re not too small. Being Premax, they’re high quality Italian scissors.

I have a LOT of stock, because supply has been so long in coming that I wanted to avoid that problem in the future. All preorders have been or will be filled as soon as delivery addresses have been confirmed (yes, I’ve been waiting that long that I want to confirm delivery addresses in case someone has moved!)

Orders can be placed through my website. https://www.vettycreations.com.au/catalogue-needles.html or link in bio.