CasaSugar

Name This Embroidery Style

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:00:00 -0700

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?

Trend Alert: Updated Crewelwork

CasaSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:00:50 -0700

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.

Do You Have Any Cross-Stitching at Your Home?

CasaSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 06:15:22 -0700

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

Name This Pattern

CasaSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 14:00:00 -0700

I spotted this embroidered pattern on a duvet cover at The Inn at the Round Barn. Do you remember what this pattern is called?

Crave Worthy: Moroccan Square Ottoman

CasaSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:30:52 -0700

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.

Do You Have Embroidered Pillowcases?

CasaSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:00:53 -0700

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?

Ask Casa: Find These Kill Bill Pillows?

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:00:10 -0700

Hi Casa,
I've looked everywhere online for embroidered pillows like these from Kill Bill Vol. 2. Any ideas other than a Spring break trip to Mexico?

Thanks!
Oliveye

To see my suggestions, read more.

Hi Oliveye,

Those pillows look like crewel pillows. Crewel is a type of free embroidery that uses thick thread, usually wool, to embroider imagery on a fabric surface. Crewel work began in England, and spread to Kashmir and India shortly thereafter. The pillows from Kill Bill Vol. 2 look like they're embroidered pillowcases, and I had virtually no luck finding any pillowcases as gorgeous as those pictured. So, I thought I'd show you the next best alternative: throw pillows that can be used on your bed, alongside more traditional pillows.

The Mantadia Pillow ($128) has similar colors and florals as your pillows, but includes some avian life as well. It's a bit expensive, but definitely lovely.

A more economical alternative is the Crate and Barrel Natasha Pillow ($36.95). It uses rayon thread instead of wool, and is embroidered on a sturdy cotton pillow.

Another alternative is to try your hand at embroidering something similar. You can use embroidery markers and thread to trace a similar design, and then get to work re-creating the design to your specifications. Or, you could try an embroidery kit, such as Sublime Stitching Flower Power Kit.

I also rounded up some other embroidered pillows, to see if any struck your fancy. Good luck in your search!

Cheers,
Casa

Crave Worthy: Klein Reid Flora & Fauna Pillows

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:30:07 -0800

TheKlein Reid Flora & Fauna Pillows ($120-125) are certainly not your grandmother's embroidery. These hand-creweled linen pillows feature quirky flowers and animals in bold colors, giving the folksy art a swig of hip flair. I've seen a wealth of crafty homemade interior accessories over the past few years, but nothing so fun and chic. As you might have guessed, the embroidered owl is my fave, he's got so much personality. But I adore all of these beauties, and they look fantastic sitting together! Each palette is fresh and well-chosen, and graceful curves give each design character. What do you think?

Cool Idea: Frank Lloyd Wright in Thread

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:30:37 -0800

Craftster member PencilNeck's embroidery creativity has bowled me over. She made this embroidery of a Frank Lloyd Wright blueprint as a Christmas gift for a family member who works with architectural design. She embroidered almost exclusively with backstitching for the project, and found blue floss to match the blueprint color.

For more images of this project, including her cool Frank Lloyd Wright signature, read more.

PencilNeck writes, "My biggest headache was struggling with fabric tension and possibly the weave of the fabric causing my lines to look not so straight despite my following the printed lines exactly . . . It helped that my husband kept reminding me that this is an embroidered interpretation of a blueprint and will not look the same as a pen drawing. The obsessive-compulsive side of me took over and turned this into a monster of a project, but I finally stepped back, looked at it from a distance, and pronounced it acceptable."

I'd say! This looks more than acceptable to my eyes. It's such a unique idea, and her execution is impressive. I don't doubt that the family member who's lucky enough to receive this gift will declare it his or her favorite of the season.

View 4 Photos ›

Source

Cool Idea: Embroidered Metal Lampshades

CasaSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:00:11 -0800

When I was swinging through the San Francisco Anthropologie store recently, I was stopped in my tracks by these metal pendant lamps.
We all know that objects make a bigger impression when they're arranged in multiples (and three is really a magic number when it comes to arranging), but the multiple lamps weren't what wowed me. It's the impressive embroidery on the metal shades! I'm not sure how they punctured the holes into these - perhaps with a tiny drill bit - but the overall effect is stunning and unexpected.

To get a closer look at this embroidery, read more.

I love the way the light shines through the holes in the lamp. Are you a fan?