Beginning Embroidery

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Swap Coordinator:	beckra (contact)
Swap categories:	Crafts Sewing Letters & Writing
Number of people in swap:	20
Location:	Other
Type:	None
Last day to signup/drop:	November 15, 2007
Date items must be sent by:	January 15, 2008
Number of swap partners:	1
Description:
There have been some really sweet embroidery swaps (like http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/6923, http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/7669, and http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/8410) in which people embroider on a small square of fabric and send it to their partner. I've looked at those swaps with envy, but I haven't joined because I haven't embroidered since I was quite young. Now I want to re-learn! Maybe you'd like to join me? Let's give ourselves the gift of learning (or re-learning) embroidery over the holiday season. I want to make this a low-stress swap, so you have two options. Option 1: Learn to embroider over the next few months and by mid-January send your partner a letter describing your experience and a square of fabric with something embroidered by you on it. It could be a flower, a bird, a heart, a nice collection of decorative stitches--whatever you'd like. The total length and width of the square should be about 5 inches by 5 inches (small enough to allow it to be mailed in a regular card-sized envelope), so the part that you embroider needn't be that large at all. Though size doesn't matter, try to make it something that would bring a smile to your face if you received it. Option 2: Try to learn to embroider over the next few months, but don't get anxious if you end up not having the time, if you're not pleased with the results, or if it otherwise doesn't work out. In this case, send your partner a letter describing your attempts or what got in the way and something small that is somehow related to embroidery. For example, it could be a transfer design or two, some pretty thread, or a little piece of fresh fabric to embroider on. When it comes rating time, remember that either of these options is fine. As long as your partner sends on-time and includes a letter about their embroidering experiences plus something else (either an embroidered square or something embroidery-related), it should count as a 5. More experienced embroiderers are welcome, but please remember that a number of us may be beginners! Other details: 1) No newbies for this one (sorry), but there's still some time to get ratings before the sign-ups close. 2) Swappers with a rating below 4.8 will be dropped before partners are assigned. 3) Since needlework knows no boundaries and mailing costs should be minimal, this is an international swap! If anyone finds good embroidery tutorial links, feel free to add them to the comments below.

Discussion

tamipal6 10/26/2007 #

What a great idea for a swap! I'm so excited! I've recently bought embroidery magazines and new floss and have been really wanting to get back into it but just haven't taken the plunge! This is just the nudge that I need to get me going. Like you, I haven't embroidered in quite a while and doing it over Christmas break is the perfect time! Thanks for hosting this swap!

MusingsofaSouthernGirl 10/26/2007 #

Crafty Daisies had a series of online embroidery lessons that can be found at http://craftydaisies.com/category/embroidery/ scroll to the bottom and then work your way back to the top for the lessons to be in order. They also have free downloads for some cute practice patterns.

Also, Primrose Design has s stitch school with tons of how-tos on various stitches, her blog is http://primrosedesign.blogspot.com/ look on the sidebar for Stitch School Posts.

alicepalace 10/26/2007 #

This is a really good idea. :) I don't really have time, but I'm gonna join anyway, there's a long time till send day. It's always good to have something new & crafty to learn, to do when I'm unable to take in any more information while studying!

beckra 10/26/2007 #

tamipal6--I think you & I are on the same wavelength! I've bought myself some new embroidery stuff recently, too, but then I realized that I probably need some structure (like a low-stress swap) to give me an incentive to actually do it. And I thought it might be a nice way to make some quiet time for myself over the holidays.... I'm glad you're "in."

MusingsofaSouthernGirl--thanks for the links!

and alicepalace: I hope it will be a good study-break for you!

enakitty 10/26/2007 #

yay! i love low stress swaps!

HappyCactus 10/26/2007 #

i'm in - i've been wanting to learn for forever - i just need that extra push (and a deadline). sublime stiching has little kits and awesome images

missbianca 10/26/2007 #

Can you use a transer pattern?

beckra 10/26/2007 #

Yes, feel absolutely free to use a transfer pattern--I probably will!

VonZoller 10/26/2007 #

Is this a hand embroidery or Machine?

MissPrincess 10/26/2007 #

I have the same question, can you use an embroidery machine or is it to be hand done? Also are you supposed to make something using the square of embroidery or just send the square?

beckra 10/26/2007 #

I'm going to try to do hand embroidery and I imagine many other people will, too, but I don't want to rule out an embroidery machine, either, if that's what some people prefer to use. I think you should send the embroidered square as is, and your partner can make it into something or incorporate it into something if they wish.

VonZoller 10/27/2007 #

ok i wanted to make sure i could hand embroider something before i signed up, as i done have a machine embroiderer

pahasiga 10/27/2007 #

VonZoller, this swap says that if you do not manage to hand embroider, you may send something else. ;)

threesweetpeas 10/29/2007 #

http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/8781

i am hosting another embroidery swap where newbies to embroidery are welcome:)

check it out!!

threesweetpeas 10/29/2007 #

http://www.flickr.com/groups/swap-botstitchnbitch/

and a nice group for all s-b stitchers to post their works:)

CrosonFarms 11/13/2007 #

An embroidery swap hosted by a fellow Arkie... how could I pass that up? Thanks for hosting! I can't wait to see what I get this time.

beckra 11/13/2007 #

Hello, CrosonFarms! Nice to see you in the swap!

Ystarr 11/13/2007 #

Dear Beckra -- I believe our swapbottering (verb?) paths cross again. As a fan of Julie Jackson's Subversive Cross-stitch designs, I use cross-stitching as a form of stress management. I look forward to participating in your swap! Best, Ystarr

beckra 11/13/2007 #

Hey there, Ystarr; glad you're "in"!

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