I ran across this term and I confess it had me stumped. A Google search later I discovered that stumpwork is a form of two-dimensional embroidery which became popular in the nineteenth century.
With patience and the right equipment, any one moderately skilled in hand embroidery can learn to do stumpwork. Check out this darling Bunny in a basket pattern. Wouldn’t this little critter be a perfect Spring accent?
We are all being teased by Mother Nature this year. One day it is sunny and warm and the next day, depending on where you live, we are bundled up and shoveling snow again or drowning in downpours. But we all know that those warm and sunny days are just ahead of us and we will be wanting to introduce bright colors and refreshing fabrics into our home decor. Here are some of my favorite spring and summer fabrics that can be used for window coverings, new bedding, accent pillows or that reupholstering job you are ready to tackle.
This Bugs n Blooms fabric by Robert Allen is so fun with it's little creatures running all around. And what says spring and summer more than bugs?!
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Whimsical fabrics that feature all the living creatures we associate with spring and summer are always a fun way to invite the season into your home. Birds, bugs, sea life, bunnies and squirrels will add some fun and color to your accent pillows or chair seat cushions.
Embroidered fabrics are so soft and pretty and provide a hand crafted look to your drapery panels or upholstered pieces.
This Beacon Hill embroidered fabric is exquisite (Bellezza in Porcelain)
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Linen is always a summertime favorite. The relaxed style and subtle texture are cool and refreshing and linen is available in just about every color imaginable. Use it to slipcover an ottoman or side chair or add flowy drapery panels to your windows.
The thought of sheer drapery panels billowing in the wind just makes me want to sit down with a glass of sweet tea and a good magazine and enjoy all the sensations of summer. It is easy to switch out your existing draperies for a pair of sheer panels. These fabrics are available in solid colors like white and ivory for the ultimate in coolness or often have subtle patterns and colors woven into them.
Do you have a favorite summertime fabric you like to use?
Practical Find—Cutwork Accessory
For machine embroidery fans, here is a find that is practical and fun. Love the look of cutwork, but hate the time it takes? Bernina’s CutWork Accessory makes sharp accurate cuts through several layers. Combined with Bernina’s CutWork software this nifty accessory for Bernina embroidery machines allows you to quickly cut and finish any pattern you would like.
This device sounds intriguing. I have never done any cutwork, but I love the look, especially for blouses. Cutwork takes time and patience to learn to do by hand. For those of us who don’t have the time to learn how to do cutwork by hand, Bernina’s accessory seems ideal.
Huck and waffle toweling are inexpensive. Both fabrics can be put to a variety of commercial cleaning uses, such as drying drinking glasses, but it also makes a great craft media. Huck and waffle toweling are great to make towels and tablecloths. Huck toweling is a smooth base for embroidery.
Embroidering on waffle toweling can be a bit tricky. Mary Corbet of Needle n’ Thread gives great tips on how to do it.
You may have been hearing a lot about Suzani fabric lately but what, exactly, is Suzani? Suzanis are textiles that come from far off places like Uzbekistan and central Asia. They are these country’s version of our handmade quilts and feature hand embroidered patterns that have been passed down from generation to generation. While relatively new to the design world they have been hidden behind the iron curtain for decades. Once the curtain was lifted hundreds of these beautiful pieces came on the market and have, very quickly, become a popular item for interior designers and folk art lovers.
Original Suzanis usually feature a neutral background of white or off white. Similar to historic quilt patterns like log cabin and wedding ring, common motifs found in suzanis are the tulip, teardrop (paisley) and sunburst. Colors are usually vibrant and include red, black, gold and blue which come from natural dyes. Man made suzanis are created on a colored background to make the colors pop, the embroidery is done by machine and the dyes used are synthetic. While beautiful they do not have the same interesting history attached to them.
Suzanis can be found in many different sizes from full size blankets to small pillows. To add this colorful and interesting textile to your home you may want to consider:
These items are sure to become a treasured part of your home decor that you will want to pass down to younger generations in your family.
There are times when you just want to enjoy a little bit of luxury. That may mean drinking an expensive wine, eating imported chocolates, or using a luxurious fabric in your home. There are several types of fabrics that fall into the luxury category.
Cashmere
Cashmere comes from the wool of Kashmir goats found in the mountains of Tibet and Mongolia. The soft touch makes it a popular choice for sweaters and scarves but can also be used to make throws and blankets or to upholster furniture. It is not particularly durable so should be used in areas that are not subjected to a lot of use; but nothing says luxury like cuddling under a cashmere blanket on a cold evening.
Velvet
Velvet has long been considered one of the most luxurious fabrics available. It can be made from cotton or silk thread, which gives it a slight sheen. Velvet provides a soft and thick look and feel to draperies, upholstery and accent pillows. Velour and velveteen give a similar look and feel for less money but are not as thick and rich in appearance as the real thing.
Silk
Contrary to popular belief, the silk used in textiles does not come from the silk worm, it comes from moth caterpillars. The production process is what makes silk so expensive. Silk draperies add a look of luxury to your windows, as do silk throw pillows or an occasional chair with a silk cushion.
Hand crafted
Hand embroidered, crewel work or painted fabrics all fall under the luxury fabric category due to the handcrafting necessary to produce these exquisite textiles. Beautiful window coverings, accent pillows, quilts and light upholstery can all be created from these handcrafted works of art.
Using one of these fabrics to decorate your home will make you feel special and, after all, we all deserve a little bit of luxury in our lives.