http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:52:38 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Embroidery Horse Designs For You! http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2012/01/17/embroidery-horse-designs-for-you/ http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2012/01/17/embroidery-horse-designs-for-you/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:52:38 +0000 Shikha Deepak http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/?p=705 For all horse lovers, here is a beautiful resource on horse embroidery using cross stitch embroidery designs – Carousel Horses in Cross Stitch: Beautiful Projects for Every Month of the Year
. It features 12 carousel horses, one for each month of the year keeping you busy all around. A carousel is an amusement merry go round with multiple seats which rotate. True to its name, each of the projects are beautiful and unique varying from the style of embroidery, the theme and the final output and place where it would go. For example, the style ranged from florals to valentines to multi colored embroidery patterns. The very well thought out themes are Mothers day, weddings, circus setups, Christmas to name a few. Finally the place where each horse embroidery pattern would go varied from placeholders, frocks or baby dresses, bedsheets, wall hangings etc.

As can be seen, each carousel horse embroidery project is unique and keeps your mind creative and fresh to embroidery.

]]> http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2012/01/17/embroidery-horse-designs-for-you/feed/ 0 Enchanting Ukrainian Ethnic Embroidery! http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2012/01/06/enchanting-ukrainian-ethnic-embroidery/ http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2012/01/06/enchanting-ukrainian-ethnic-embroidery/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:26:02 +0000 Shikha Deepak http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/?p=697 If you have a flavour for ethnic embroidery, there is one historic set of patterns that you cannot overlook in your embroidery quest. Ukrainian embroidery dates back to 500 BC where excavated sites have revealed embroidered clothing. Until the 19th century, it was a common household craft and practised by one and all. The gallery of Ukrainian embroidery was remembered as a national pastime and part of Ukrainian cultural and national identity. Today it marks its distinct appearance in folk dresses and also plays an important role in weddings and other celebrations. Ukrainian embroidery is treated as a form of art and this expresses itself in the design and pattern of the motif. Apart from clothing, Ukrainian embroidery is also used for decoration of churches, towels and other ceremonic fabrics.

The shirt is denoted as vyshvyanka. This was decorated with embroidery on the sleeves, neck, bosom and cuffs. Other elements of clothing which the Ukrainian embroidery touched were scarves, skirts, aprons, men’s caps, sleeveless jackets, kozhukh (sheepskin coat), sashes, bed linens to name a few.

I noticed that red and black are common colors used in Ukrainian embroidery. Then depending on the region, the color range varies from pale blue, white, green and gray tones.

The ornamental needle-weaving stitch is called “nyzynka” and is executed predominantly on the reverse of the fabric which gives a sort of “tweed” effect.

I came across this book which enlists the various Ukrainian Embroidery Techniques. It looks good and comprehensive in case you are interested.

Hope you enjoyed reading this… All the best for your embroidering projects!

]]> http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2012/01/06/enchanting-ukrainian-ethnic-embroidery/feed/ 0 Free Embroidery Designs Resources for Kids! http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2011/12/14/free-embroidery-designs-resources-for-kids/ http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2011/12/14/free-embroidery-designs-resources-for-kids/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 07:58:13 +0000 Shikha Deepak http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/?p=683

Check out this cute resource for kids free embroidery designs… all free for you!    These are all machine embroidery patterns all specialised in .pcs format while you could translate these onto other formats.   The ducky that you see besides this post is one of the many examples of the fineness of the embroidery patterns.  This is sized at 82.8 mm by 102.8 mm with 12452 stitches.  What I liked  best of the freebies is that each one had a clear color sequence which made it easier for the embroiderer to complete his embroidery with finesse.

Enjoy your free embroideries!

]]> http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2011/12/14/free-embroidery-designs-resources-for-kids/feed/ 0 Embroidery Flowers Digitized For Sale! http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/11/01/embroidery-flowers-digitized-for-sale/ http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/11/01/embroidery-flowers-digitized-for-sale/#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:20:11 +0000 Shikha Deepak http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/?p=598

I am happy to announce that Embroidery Designs Guide will now be moving a step ahead in our lives!  With many requests coming from our various fans and embroiderers across the world, we thought it time to launch a few designs of our own. My close friend, art and embroidery expert Kopal persisted on me to expose some of her designs to the world.  Kopal is a post graduate in Fashion and Clothing Technology, Pune and has a flair for art. She had had immense experience in pattern making, draping, garment construction, fashion illustration, surface design techniques, embroidery graphics. Her designs are compelling to say the least and the flowers you see alongside the post is only a small token of her true abilities. 

The designs come in 2 pairs each.  These are meant to move along on a single row to give a stunning complementary effect on your favourite frock or churidar. 

For example, the sunflower comes in two parts – the single and double. If you stitch it along together alternately along a single line, you would get a beautiful outline pattern for your dress.  Same is the case with the blue flower. 

Color charts are available for all 4 embroidery patterns. The single designs consists of 6000 stitches with a size of 2 by 4 inches while the double flower embroideries consists of 10000 stitches with a pattern size of 4 by 4 inches. All embroidery designs are done using machine embroidery and available in most embroidery formats. 

With this short introduction, I invite one and all to try out our introductory offer and sew these designs and give us a feedback on the final output.

Sunflower

Blue Flower

]]> http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/11/01/embroidery-flowers-digitized-for-sale/feed/ 0 Fantasy Embroidery Patterns! http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/10/26/fantasy-embroidery-patterns/ http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/10/26/fantasy-embroidery-patterns/#comments Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:33:42 +0000 Shikha Deepak http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/?p=581

Welcome to the world of fantasy… All of us love this world where we can express ourselves freely and creatively. Kids live in this world and so do adults! So what would be the works of fantasy which can be brought down to the art and design formats.

We have a range of resources catering to all kinds of tastes. Lets start with the fantasy fairies. Starting with the Unicorn, Pegasus and the Praying Fairie, this resource moves on to finer fantasy creatures like the Pixie Boy, Dove, Frog Prince to name a few. Most of these machine embroidered patterns are for the 4 inches by 4 inches hoop and they would make some cute designs for baby outfits. All designs are created using Janome colors and metallic thread is a must use to get the final perfect embroidery design output.

Closely linked to the fantasy fairies are the fantasy embroidered ladies. These come in larger hoops of 5 inches by 5 inches and available in all machine embroidery formats. The threads recommended here are sulky threads with med lightweight woven fabric or well stabilized knit as the base.

The castles and flying dragons are the fantasy of every small child and there are numerous movies to fuel his thought. The cloud castle, fire breathing dragon, green mystical serpent and the pocket tropper dragon are some of the embroidery appliques that are available and they can indeed be spaced out to form a cute set to fit your loved ones clothes.

The castles can take on a new turn and shape with various permutations available like the patch castle, starburst castle and dream castles and these are available in larger embroidery formats (72 inches by 92 inches) which would form the perfect pattern for your wall hanging at your living room. These patterns are made for twin quilts and each design is unique. For example, the patch castle embroidery pattern which you see alongside this post is constructed of 6 different pieced blocks and 4 different sash blocks, which are pieced into rows to form the castles. There are detailed cutting instructions and piecing instructions for both sizes.

So thats it from my side and I hope you enjoy your own personalised fantasy world… Dont forget to invite me in case you find something new there!

(Click to know more about machine embroidery.

Click to know more about machine embroidery formats.)

]]> http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/10/26/fantasy-embroidery-patterns/feed/ 1 The History of Gold Embroidery : Metal Thread Art Special! http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/10/19/the-history-of-gold-embroidery-metal-thread-art-special/ http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/10/19/the-history-of-gold-embroidery-metal-thread-art-special/#comments Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:46:51 +0000 Shikha Deepak http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/?p=575
What is Gold Embroidery? How did it come into existence? What is its significance?

To answer these questions, lets rewind back the time wheel to 2000 years ago – the era of Jesus Christ. Goldwork was originally developed in Asia in the 0th century and its use reached a remarkable level of skill in the Middle Ages, when a style called Opus Anglicanum was developed in England and used extensively in church vestments and hangings. After this period it was also used frequently in the clothing and furnishings of the royalty and nobility throughout Europe, and still later on military and other regalia.

How does one do Goldwork? – Passing is the basic thread used in goldwork; it consists of a thin strip of metal wound around a core of cotton or silk. This is generally yellow for gold thread or in older examples orange; for silver, white or gray. This is always attached by couching, either one or two threads at a time, and pulled through to the back to secure it. When multiple threads must be laid next to each other, a technique called bricking is used: the position of the couching stitches is offset between rows, producing an appearance similar to a brick wall. This same type of thread is used in making cloth of gold. Japan thread, sometimes called jap, is a cheaper replacement for passing, and is far more commonly used in modern goldwork. It appears nearly identical, but rather than a strip of metal, a strip of foil paper is wrapped around the core.

Gold Art embroidery Development over the ages :
15th century : A new technique known as Or Nué came into production in Europe. Strands of gold thread were couched down in pairs in coloured silks and were shaded by the closeness of the stitches. After the Opus Anglicanum period, metal thread embroidery was used exclusively to decorate clothing and furnishing for the nobility and the church. Portraits from the Period of Queen Elizabeth 1 rein, illustrate how lavishly metal thread was used to decorate clothing. Even Blackwork embroidery portrayed in the paintings of the 16th century, was mixed with metal threads and spangles.

18th Century : Gold and metal threads were used extensively and produced flamboyant garments worn in the English and continental courts. Later metal threads garnished military dress uniforms and civic regalia and still do today.

20th Century : Goldwork techniques were carried on through the teaching and commission of the Royal School of Needlework and the works of embroiderers such as Beryl Dean and Jane Lemon who use metal threads in an imaginative and exciting way, on vestments and alter frontals for the church.

]]> http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/10/19/the-history-of-gold-embroidery-metal-thread-art-special/feed/ 1 Your Loved One’s Photo to a Cross Stitch Pattern! http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/09/11/your-loved-ones-photo-to-a-cross-stitch-pattern/ http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/09/11/your-loved-ones-photo-to-a-cross-stitch-pattern/#comments Sat, 11 Sep 2010 10:58:50 +0000 Shikha Deepak http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2009/11/15/your-loved-ones-photo-to-a-cross-stitch-pattern/ cross-stitch-sample-building.png

Check out this cool resource to convert your loved photo to a cross stitch pattern!   Its so simple even a kid could do it easily.  There are a few sample patterns that you could download for free.   You could also upload your own photo and convert it to a cross stitch pattern (free for patterns less than 1000 stitches).

The building cross stitch pattern on top is 300 stitches width by 200 stitches height.   What is really intriguing is the fineness of the design with specific details illustrated clearly.

The family cross stitch pattern I did below was by uploading an image (jpeg) onto the software at Picture Craftwork.   The image should be less than 2 MB.  You could then choose the floss and the density of the stitch after which you can preview to see the final product.   “Generate Chart” allows you a download of the stitch chart for your reference.

cross-stitch-family.png

]]> http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/09/11/your-loved-ones-photo-to-a-cross-stitch-pattern/feed/ 6 Stitch Everything You Can – Including Cup Cakes! http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/08/05/stitch-everything-you-can-including-cup-cakes/ http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/08/05/stitch-everything-you-can-including-cup-cakes/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:19:43 +0000 Shikha Deepak http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/?p=558

What are passionate people made of? ……

What does Sachin Tendulkar love to do and what does he do most of the time? What does Bill Gates do most of his time! I was reading this book “Outliers” by Malcom Gladwell, where he mentioned that successful people spent 10000 hours working on their passion before they hit the news.

So coming back to : What are passionate people made of? …… They are made of their passion!

This series of articles is dedicated to embroiderers who do what they love the most – stitch, stitch and stitch. The moment they see something they like, they stitch it. If they are happy, they stitch, if they are depressed, they stitch. Embroidery, needlework and stitching could as well be their middle name.

Check out Feeling Stitchy and you will know what I mean.

The cup cake embroidery is the first I have ever seen (and I doubt if I may see it again).

How does one embroidery a cup cake?
a) Trace around the template using your wash out or fade out marker.
b) Draw your design onto the fabric. Scribble the logo and then go over a few times with the needle to fatten it up. The best lining to use is plastic backed curtain lining, albeit one could work with regular cotton or linen & then fix a couple of layers together before you do your blanket stitching.
c) Stitch your design.
d) Cut around the template shape.
e) Blanket stitch around the edge.
f) You just need to stitch a little hook & eye onto either side of the join once you’re done with the stitching.

And there you are ready to go with cup cake embroidery – what is now missing is only the CAKE!

]]> http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/08/05/stitch-everything-you-can-including-cup-cakes/feed/ 1 Baby Gods Embroidery http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/06/08/baby-gods-embroidery/ http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/06/08/baby-gods-embroidery/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:20:39 +0000 Shikha Deepak http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/?p=539 Gods are the Almighty,  and their true teachings are based on pure Love.   This attracts most humans towards baby and infant Gods in all religions since children are the manifestations of love.    We found a couple of resources dedicated towards religious idol embroidery and thought of putting in a post on the same.

Baby Infant Jesus – very famous and you find this embroidery next to this post.  This is machine embroidery available in ART, DST, EXP, HUS, JEF, KSM, PES, SEW, VIP formats for ready download.  It consists of 13530 stitches, 10 colors and sized at 2.82 inches by 3.59 inches.

Baby Krishna – Indian God well known for his naughty nature and pranks.   This is again machine embroidery available in most formats and can be downloaded.

Baby Angel – A beautific child angel holding a bird is a symbol of peace.

]]> http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/06/08/baby-gods-embroidery/feed/ 0 Giant Hand Embroidery – Gift to Hanoi! http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/05/06/giant-hand-embroidery-gift-to-hanoi/ http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/05/06/giant-hand-embroidery-gift-to-hanoi/#comments Thu, 06 May 2010 11:56:25 +0000 Shikha Deepak http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/?p=530 9 artisans – 4 years hard work.   All done with the motive of giving a fitting tribute to Hanoi on the occasion of its millenial anniversary.   The gift is in the form of a giant hand embroidered artistic piece titled : “Aspiration of 1000 year Thang Long”.

Background of  Thang Long

The central old citadel of Hanoi was the earlier home of Vietnamese monarchs dating back when the city was known as Thang Long.   The citadel was constructed by the Ly dynasty in 1010 and remained the seat of the Vietnamese court until 1810, when Hu became the capital city. The royal palaces and other various structures were largely destroyed by the colonial French in the late 19th century. Some structures remain such as Doan Mon gate and the Flag Tower of Hanoi, as well as the steps of Kinh Thiên Palace and the Hu Lâu (Princess’ Palace).   The Vietnamese military command under General Giap, who was the hero in the wars against the colonial French and the Americans, had its headquarters in the citadel in the building known as D67. An underground tunnel enabled the military to flee to other parts in case of a raid.   Construction work for the National Assembly building in 2003 uncovered large remains of the citadel dating back to Thang Long. Some of the remains are now exhibited in the Vietnamese History Museum. Where the planned new National Assembly building should not be located is still open.   Starting in 2000, some of the old French barracks and buildings have been destroyed to make place for a new museum within the citadel.   The citadel is shortlisted to be included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006 as “The Cultural Heritage Complex of Thang Long – Hanoi”

Giant Embroidery

This 4m long by 3m wide embroidery entitled, “Aspiration of 1000-year-old Thang Long”, was made by nine artisans and took over four years to complete.   This piece will be displayed at the “Artistic atmosphere of the ancient citadel” festival in the Thang Long Royal Citadel.    Hanoi authorities have approved the 20 billion dong “Artistic atmosphere of the ancient citadel” project, which will be held from April 1 to October 30 2010.   This festival will comprise a flower festival and an embroidery exhibition in the Thang Long royal citadel.
Vo Van Quan, the founder of XQ Vietnam Embroidery Company, said on April 28 that the Co Loa-Hanoi Ancient Citadel Preservation Centre handed over 10,000sq.m in the Thang Long Royal Citadel to the “Artistic atmosphere of the ancient citadel” project.    Aside form the above-mentioned embroidery, 12 new and unique embroideries will be exhibited at the festival, surrounded by all special flower species. A small stage will be built for artists to play traditional musical instruments.    This event, according to organizers, will be a festival of flowers, music, embroidery and tea so it will be very romantic. The festival will be open for free.

]]> http://www.embroidery-designs-guide.com/2010/05/06/giant-hand-embroidery-gift-to-hanoi/feed/ 0