Still think needlepoint should only be allowed in homes of the elderly? Think again. Granny's favorite pastime has received a modern makeover, and even the youngest members of your family will approve. We probably have Jonathan Adler to thank for the resurgence of needlepoint's hip factor, but he's not the only one who's making cross stitch and embroidery seem completely contemporary. Keep clicking for six cool, crafty finds both you and your kids will love!
As Maker Faire enthusiasts, we love any display of technology-laden craft products. This Lite-Brite DIY by Haley of The Zen of Making has us dreaming of warm Summer nights watching fireflies — with a digital twist, of course. Take one LED light embroidery kit, add Haley's own free firefly embroidery pattern (complete with a mason jar to catch them), and include some finger magic for a wall hanging that'll make both your grandmother and cool computer professor proud.
Head over to The Zen of Making for the pattern!
Maryam of My Marrakesh recently shared images from a trip to Kashmir where craftsmen were embroidering with wool. There's a specific name for this sort of embroidery that uses a thin, loosely twisted, worsted yarn. And while the decorative technique has been around for centuries, it's recently been experiencing a renaissance with more modern patterns and fresher hues. Can you name this type of embroidery?
Crewelwork is a decorative form of surface embroidery that uses wool and a variety of different embroidery stitches, and dates back at least 1,000 years. The technique was trendy in the '90s (think granny tapestry) but it's been "out" for at least 10 years now. Back then, fabrics with crewelwork also tended to have a common style of pattern — see this bench — which now just looks stale. Crewelwork is back now and better than ever with fresh patterns, colors, and motifs that jive with both traditional and modern homes. From animal print rugs to peace sign tapestries to abstract botanical-inspired pillows, it's a crewel, crewel world these days. To see a range of updated crewelwork finds, read more
Thanks to Subversive Cross Stitch, the once grandmotherly art of cross-stitch has been given new street cred. Do you have any cross-stitch patterns (subversive or otherwise) hanging at your home?
Source: Flickr User weeta
I am beginning to feel pretty pathetic and predictable about my love for all things Moroccan. Yesterday, I was flipping through a friend's cookbook, The Food of Morocco, and was literally salivating more and more with every turn of the page. She turned to me and said, "Why don't you move there already?" That's not going to happen any time soon. Until it does, I wouldn't mind soothing my yearning for the North African country with this Moroccan Square Ottoman ($1,195). Made of natural linen with meticulous black embroidery, it's a sight for wanderlust-filled eyes. I'm especially swooning over the black tassels with wooden beads in each of its four corners.
My mom recently gave me these embroidered pillowcases. I have a special place in my heart for embroidered pillowcases, since my mother and aunties are great embroiderers. Do you have embroidered pillowcases in your home?
It's no secret that the nation has caught the crafting bug, and the art of embroidery, once consigned to the spinsters and elderly of yesteryear, has been taken up by the hipsters and the cool kids. Check out this slideshow to see what kinds of shirt designs, tea cozies, and MP3 player pouches these embroiderers gone wild have come up with.
