Needlework Nibbles

This is the 2023 Christmas Ornament kit in limited release.  75 kits are available for the project, including just the right amounts of the silks, spangles, beads and trim to work one ornament.  The instructions for the 4" diameter ornament with sampler stitches are available for free on the teaching site for download.  If you like buying ala carte, the spangles and trim are also currently available in the shop.  

The kit includes 40 ct Picadill White Linen, soie paris silks, five types of shaped spangles, beads, a needle and the gilt bullion/check cord or 9 OR gilt bullion/silver check No 6 needed for finishing.  Not included are fabric backing and card stock/felt for building the ornament.

NEW - a 4" die cut card stock/batting kit for finishing can be purchased (includes die cuts in matt board, poster board and three pieces of die cut batting) for easy and fast finishing.

This project was inspired by the pincushion in the Martha Edlin casket using a different pattern but a similar color scheme.  A small piece, 2" x 2.5", it is worked on 24-count Rain Barrel with Soie Paris threads.  A piece of wonderful real silk velvet is included for the backing.  A perfect quick project as it requires very little counting and is large scale!   

The instructions are free and available for download

At least a half dozen embroidered cabinets are known to have small posies inside built out of silk braids and wire. The lacet braids are whip-stitched together at their edges in patterns to make petals while wires are wrapped with silk floss to make stems that can be attached to the braid petals. My reproduction lacets are made just for this purpose and come in many colors. 

Try these instructions to make your own pansy to place in a drawer of your casket - or use the instruction to inspire you to make a whole bouquet of flowers to display in a small bud vase.

Something to keep the lacet braid from raveling is useful.  You can use fray check or Japanese rice glue.  You can buy a tube from the pull down menu.

Family register samplers became popular on the East Coast during the last part of the 18th century into the early 19th century.  Ittenerant painters traveled up and down the coast, drawing family trees for hire.  One artist had his paintings replicated in needlework by a unknown school in the Middlesex region of Massachusetts.  The majority of the known samplers of this style were made by girls from Lexington or Watertown.

This needlework nibble is in support of the new tree samplers acquired in 2014 by the Lexington Historical Society that are in need of conservation.  $5 of each kit sale will go to the conservation effort.

The kit contains the finishing materials including check silk, ultra suede, ribbons, and doctors cloth.  A limited number have the mother-of-pearl buttons or you can use your own.

The instructions for the sampler are not in the kit but are available online.