What could be more dearer to an embroiderer than his embroidery machine!   In the erstwhile days, an embroidery machine meant one which was driven by hand and stitches sewn together using pencil drawn lines.  Today with the advent of technology and the mergence of the computer into our everyday lives, the modern computerized embroidery machine is completely automatic and requires minimum human intervention!   Brother is a leading brand and this particular product is a win-win amongst most embroidery enthusiasts. Here is a review of Brother SE350 Computerized Embroidery and Sewing Machine.  Have a peek at some of its features and you will know why -
a) Sewing-and-embroidery machine with LCD touch screen for easy stitch selection and editing
b) 67 built-in stitches, 98 stitch functions, and 10 styles of 1-step automatic buttonholes
c) 70 built-in embroidery designs, 5 monogramming fonts, and 120 frame pattern combinations
d) Automatic needle threader; 15 needle positions; maximum embroidery field of 4 by 4 inches
e) Comes with a whopping 25-year limited warranty.

The SE350 computerized sewing and embroidery machine offers easy embellishment and sewing.  This is an easy to use machine with some amazingly simple convenient features.  There are a wide array of built-in stitches, as well as a large, backlit, LCD touch screen for easy stitch selection and editing, making it possible for both amateur embroiderers and professional designers to create fashionable projects tailored toward their unique preferences.  One can choose from 67 built-in stitches, 98 stitch functions, and 10 styles of one-step automatic buttonholes.  As an embroidery machine, the unit offers 70 built-in embroidery designs, five monogramming fonts, and 120 frame pattern combinations.  The SE350 has 5 bult in alphabet fonts as well. You can save up to 12 embroidery designs in the built in memory.  Other highlights include an automatic needle threader, an automatic push-button thread cutter, 15 needle positions, a maximum sewing speed of 710 stitches per minute, and a free arm, as well as a snap-on presser-foot attachment, a drop-feed function, auto presser-foot pressure, and a maximum embroidery field of 4 by 4 inches. The product also comes with a huge array of useful accessories like the seven feet (buttonhole, overcastting, monogramming, zipper, zigzag, blind hem, and button fitting), a seam ripper, four bobbins including clips, a needle set, a twin needle, a cleaning brush, an eyelet punch, a screwdriver, a touch pen, three spool caps, a spool pin, a spool net, and a foot controller, as well as scissors, a disc-shaped screwdriver, an embroidery hoop, an accessory case, a hard cover, and a user manual. The computerized sewing-and-embroidery machine measures approximately 18 by 8 by 12 inches and carries a 25-year limited warranty.  

The built in automatic push-button thread cutter makes garment sewing and embroidery fun and effortless. Brother’s Quick-Set bobbin makes changing bobbins easy as you simply drop-in a full bobbin, pull the thread through the slot and begin. The included instructional CD gives easy to follow instructions on the features of the SE350. The written instruction manual is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

But in the 21st century, this common term “avatar” is normally referred to describe an icon or virtual representation of a person within cyberspace.  Avatars crop up in forums, blogs, and other shared communities (e.g. MySpace) on the internet.

So an avatar is a small 64 by 64 pixel image you choose to represent yourself in online environments; this helps to define your identity inside an online community. The most common use is on forums.  This distinguishes members from one and other, creates an identity and in some way stimulates the creative senses to be what he or she visualises an alternative self.

Your avatar will appear next to your message in forums.  Avatars are also used for other things (e.g. During a chat over AOL Instant Messenger, in some chat rooms, or even on a web site updates page.)

The popular resources to create your own avatar are  DoppleMe,  Your Own Avatar.    Once you have created one, you could get it embroidered for free at Pixel Hobby.    This is a free embroidery software where you could upload the image and almost immediately the software develops the embroidery design along with the colour details. You could then click on the print option which gives the details of the color codes, base plates and pixels. Finally you have an option for ordering the necessary base plates and threads required for stitching the particular design.

Check out Avatar 1 boy embroidered using Pixel hobby with 37 colors and 2000 pixels sized at 4 by 5 inches.   The second one below is the avatar girl with 41 colors sized at 4 by 5 inches.

All the best creating your own avatar embroidered pattern!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

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.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

The history of motifs traces way back to the ninth century when such a colorful fashion was in vogue in various parts of Europe.  This evinced interest and the art spread across in various forms across the world.   Since this is an embroidery art, the essence of each region was visible in the patterns and one could distinguish the culture or the state only by seeing the embroidery motif.

I came across an interesting book – Palestinian Embroidery Motifs: A Treasury of Stitches 1850 – 1950.   This is a vast embroidery treasure trove and recommended reading for every hand embroidery enthusiast!   Margarita Skinner focuses on the motifs used in embroidery which include the Tall Palm motif (also known as Ears of Wheat) of the Ramallah area, Scissors and Roses from Gaza, the Key of the Heart from Bethlehem and the Cypress Tree motifs found all over Palestine.   She says : “The embroidered dresses of the Palestinian women are very much like Persian carpets. They are not only unusually beautiful. They also tell stories.” In the Negev, unmarried Bedouin girls and widows wear dresses with blue embroidery. Once a widow remarries, red or pink embroidery is added.  The book documents more than 250 motifs, giving their names in English and Arabic and identifying the areas of Palestine from which they come.   Falak Shawwa‘s stunning photographs capture the artistry and vibrant colours of the motifs, and the splendour of festive dresses.   Each area of Palestine had characteristic embroidery.  Ramallah, together with Bethlehem and Beit Dajan, was well known for its lavish embroidery.  The embroidery on a festive dress could have 200,000 cross-stitches.  Bethlehem‘s skill in the art of couching made it the “Paris of Palestinian village fashion”.

If you try to trace back to the Palestinian history, it may not be exactly known when women in Palestine started to put thousands of stitches on dresses, coats, jackets, veils and cushions. Research on Palestine embroidery has found no examples earlier than the 19th century.   In Palestinian villages, the tending of chickens and selling of eggs was the domain of women, who used this source of income to buy thread and fabric. Girls in Palestine grew up watching their mothers embroidering, and learnt the skill from the age of about ten.  The primary stitches used in Palestinian embroidery are cross-stitch and couching. In couching a thick thread is positioned on top of the fabric, and a thinner thread is stitched over it to keep it in place. This gives a curving design, of which there are many examples in Palestinian Embroidery Motifs.

Wish you an enriched learning on our ancient arts!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

So, when did paper embroidery begin in the world?  Let us trace the evolution and history of this unique and amazing art.

Pin Pricking
The history of embroidery on paper can be traced back to the late 1700’s when pin pricking was used to adorn paper cards and enhance painted pictures. The pricking was done from either side which gave a different texture. Different size needles and tools were used to create various size holes. It is recorded that in the early 1800’s, Marie Antoinette used pin pricking on stationery she sent while imprisoned. Pin pricking surely had some influence on the Victorian fancy-work designs that used a pre-punched paper. This can certainly be considered embroidery on paper because the ladies stitched the pre-printed designs using the holes in the paper. Many of these designs were used as Christmas ornaments or wall hangings. The larger designs were of the mottos of the day, often spiritual in nature. As with many needlework techniques, this one began to die out in the early 1900’s.

String Art
String art was invented by Pierre Bezier in the late 1700’s. This refers to an arrangement of string that forms abstract geometric patterns or patterns that resemble an object.

Spirograph
Another contributing factor was the invention of the Spirograph by British engineer Denys Fisher. This new toy debuted at the 1965 International Toy Fair.  The Spirograph produces mathematical curves using disks made of plastic with holes strategically placed in the plastic circle.

And finally…Paper Embroidery

With an evolution of art springing from the above forms, in the 1980’s people started creating scrapbook pages and handmade cards. Creativity flourished and soon embroidery on paper began appearing. Dutch designer Erica Fortgens began writing books with patterns and instructions and officially the terminology – paper embroidery came into being.

Check out the sample of paper embroidery alongside this post.  As you can notice, the holes are prepunched by the embroiderer and the needle then passes through the holes along with the thread. This process is critical else the paper would get damaged.  A paper embroiderer needs to master this art of prepunching first before moving to the next step.

Wish you all the luck in all your projects!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

The kids alpha machine embroidery is useful for all kidswear.   I did a small test on my website initials and it looked perfect.  Splendid combination of colours and designs.   The “What a Hoot” is another unique collection of lovely owl applique designs in all forms, shapes and expressions.  Check out the sleepy variety along with this post.  You can notice the particulars of the patterns inside the eye.  The efforts and detailing gone into each design is worth a mention.   The pink and blue color combination are a treat for every kid who would love to wear any dress with such a pattern!

All the designs are machine embroidery and are available in PES, ART, DST, JEF, VIP, EXP, SEW, PCS, SHV, HUS, XXX digitized embroidery formats.  You could buy them in bulk or individual.  Monkeying Around is also worth a peek.  Lots of Dots is so simple yet catches the eye.

All the best for all your embroidery projects!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

The sports racing car and the jumping bear are really cute and unique.   These design patterns are readily available for download for the following embroidery machines – tajima, brother, babylock, viking,  janome, kenmore, poem, singer, husqvarna, huskygram, bernina and toyota.   These designs are also compatible with any machine that uses exp, dst, pes, pcs, hus, sew, csd, jef and xxx formats.   Quite an open source!

Check out some important information on machine embroidery formats to get you on your way.

These designs would find useful applications in kidswear, tablecloths and any other party wear items for boys and girls.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

It has enjoyed high reputation as “a treasure of Sichuan” ever since the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD).  The craft of Shu embroidery reached its peak during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and this resulted in flourishing of embroidery workshops in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

What is the speciality of Shu embroidery?  These patterns are renowned for its superb workmanship, smooth and bright in quality. It has strong expression and artistic effect. The features of it are said as “fine and smooth needlework, simple and elegant colors, graceful and easy lines and the traditional Chinese paintings’ style “. Its needling characteristics lie in “the even stitches, bright threads, closeness and softness in texture, and both centrifugal and centripetal needling”. The embroidery takes locally-produced colorful satin and threads as its materials.   Just take a look at one of the typical patterns along with post and you would see the above characteristics fall in place..

The unique designs on Shu embroidery include flowers, birds, landscapes, fish, worms and human figures. Its products include pillowcases, embroidered slippers, mirror curtain, lace, wedding dress, scroll, hats and shoes, skirts, quilt facing, etc.

What does Shu denote?   There is an underlying theme that runs in this style – auspicious happiness – and you would notice that this would be seen in all of its embroideries!

How does one practise Shu? – Shu embroidery is done on the soft satin fabric from Sichuan province. It engages brightly colored threads, evenly stitched to produce a delicate picture or pattern.  Shu embroidery is particularly characterized by the closeness of its stitching, which allows Shu embroiderers to highlight miniscule details in the subjects they produce.  A Shu embroidered piece may include hundreds of thousands of stitches in a single figure or animal, and may take many days or even weeks to complete.  One of the most popular subjects for Shu embroiderers is the panda bear, but scenes of nature of any kind are common.

Recently an intangible cultural heritage expo has opened in Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan province. Exhibits from around the country are being shown at the expo, which has grown considerably in scale and offers more interactive activities and on-the-spot demonstrations.   The displays prompt many to capture the scene with their cameras. The distinctly regional features being displayed set each of provincial booths apart. On the spot demonstrations are available, such as engraving a pair of scissors, to show the complicated craftsmanship involved.

Chen Xiaoya, artist, said, “The Shu Embroidery employs over a hundred ways of stitching, thirty of which are in regular use. Young people, who are often restless, are reluctant to take on the craft.”

So all my Chinese and Eastern lovers – all the best while you practise this ancient art of embroidery!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

You are welcome to visit the Embroidery Forum.   This has recently been launched…  Feel free to post in your articles in relevant categories and use it as your area to unwind.

There are various broad areas of interest like embroidery digitizing, business, technical  which are further subdivided into more specific topics.

Join the embroidery community and stay linked in.

Warm Regards

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Rabbit and mouse are two of the zodiac signs of the Chinese calender.

 Chinese words are also symbols of various aspects of life – for example we have the below symbol which signifies blessness.  It is often used as decoration for important holiday such as Spring Festival.   People hope it will bring a lot of blessness to their homes.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites