Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Embroidery Guild of America, Huck Embroidery Towel
Huck Embroidery towels seemed the easiest to travel with and I would have gotten both done except for our last night’s baseball game not being shown on a “normal” channel. We had to go to the hotel sports bar to watch it and the light wasn’t conducive for stitching. Last night, I finished it during the rain delay and before it was postponed. The patterns had to fit within the band, be pretty, and not too difficult.
I counted the width and figured out how to get 5 full motifs centered. These patterns are called Crest and Meadow. Both use DMC Pearl #5 in greens: 3345, 3347, and 3348. Meadow added DMC Pearl #5 variegated 4215. Of course, I cut the variegated thread so the 4 strands would match and would place the light purple portion in the center.
I entered three pieces into the 2026 EGA exhibit: A Spring Sampler, Flowers Along a Rhode, and Shelly the Turtle. And, Flowers Along a Rhode got a Third Place Ribbon. I’ve blogged about these previously:
- A Spring Sampler in original purple
- A Spring Sampler in fall colors
- Flowers Along a Rhode
- Shelly the Turtle
There were some incredible pieces on display including one from a member of my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter, Heather G. She won the Bobbie Pilling Memorial Award for a mixed media 9 part accordion piece depicting a favorite childhood poem. Really amazing! She began her project in a Laura Smith class.
There was a few pop-up shops open all week. I forgot to go there Monday but stopped in the other days. Again, 3D printed items caught my eye. So, I got 3 heart 18 count ornaments although the holes are much smaller than they would be on monocanvas.
Filed under: Embroidery Guild of America, Going Places: Hands-On Design and Color Class with Laura Smith, Seminar 2026-Orlando
Today I did add the chimney, stitched some pieces in place, and painted cheesecloth for clouds which I unconventionally placed under the light weight Lutradur because it just looks messy on top (not how Laura would do it but she said she understands my issue – very kind woman).
My big leaves for in front of the house will come from the top painted (by Laura and in her Class Chest) but not heated piece of Tyvek. That’s why the yellow building is incomplete. The bottom painted Lutradur is a contribution from my classmate and may be used too (although Laura thinks it’s too dark).
I also played with Tyvek and an embossing mini heat gun. I could have tried 100 more times and never gotten the little heart (which could be cut out, painted, and used on something). Can you find it?
This is certainly a challenging process. Laura is a very good teacher and encouraging. Learning and using about Lutradur and fluid medium were the top take aways for me.
No more classes for awhile because I’ve got enough to work on for a long time!
Filed under: Embroidery Guild of America, Going Places: Hands-On Design and Color Class with Laura Smith, Seminar 2026-Orlando
From my starting point in the morning using paper to preview, I decided the arch was too wide and my vase/urn was too small. But, I decided on the background fabric to go underneath the painted Lutradur. Which would you choose?
I went with pink. And, I narrowed the arch and enlarged the urn. Laura had raffia that might work for the trees except I want a brown. That’s a tree on the right using window screen in green on top of a brown that would then get stitched.
So, I got this far with yesterday’s design in the morning. Before proceeding, I feel the need to work out the size and shape.
I regrouped at lunch knowing I still had 1 and 1/2 days of class. So, I pulled up another image, Flower Garden and Bungalow in Bermuda by Winslow Homer, a wedding gift from Ann D.
Back to painting Lutradur and then pulling fabric got me here by the end of the day. There is a lovely print under the painted green area adding subtle coloration. I utilized the fluid medium to prevent fraying of the fabric used for the white roof and yellow building. But, I see now my roof isn’t long enough.
Only the roof needed to be recut because the building will be covered by foliage. I kept extra and redid it before the closing banquet (held the night before the last day).
I keep reminding myself that mixed media is not my normal area and it’s not likely to be fantastic. But, I look at my classmates progress and honestly feel like I’m not getting it! Bill is very encouraging and I doubt that I can find a counted canvas class willing to adopt me for a day!
Filed under: Embroidery Guild of America, Going Places: Hands-On Design and Color Class with Laura Smith, Seminar 2026-Orlando
It’s been a couple of years since I attended an EGA Seminar. But, the 3-day class with Laura Smith Going Places: Hands-On Design and Color was something I didn’t want to miss.
Here’s our kit with lots of unusual items including Lutradur. We also have access to Laura’s Class Treasure Chest.
We’re getting a lot on design principles and hands on painting today.
I took this photo during the Anheiser-Busch tour in St. Louis. Thanks to Laura and my classmates, I discovered the flower is a bromeliad plant. This is what I will attempt to recreate!
Here’s my practice painting to get used to the 2 weights of Lutradur. We got white, yellow, red, and blue which enables us to mix any color we want. The paints are Jacquard Dye-na-Flow, that despite the name, is an acrylic paint not a dye. My key takeaway was the Lutradur sucks up the paint. You’ve got to mix up enough to start with because you probably won’t get the same color blend.
After the afternoon break, I painted my background on the heavy weight Lutradur. Most of this will get covered. Apparently, it’s easy to stitch through. I painted an 8.5 x 11 piece but am not likely to use it all. My issue came from stitching two colors to close together. They bleed on this material. Had I let one area dry before painting next to it, it may have been less evident. But, Laura helped me blot it from spreading too much. And, stitching will cover it. I have more Lutradur and could try again. Or, maybe painting over some of this. I’ll consult with Laura tomorrow.
I was able to check-in for EGA Seminar today and got lovely Welcome Favors in a project bag (love the handle and 2 pockets), Zweigart Linen (36 count 19″x27″), DMC skein, scissors (from Needle Orts in Altamonte Springs, FL), and such a cute needle minder. Very nice.
The storm in the Gulf of Mexico has been and will be potentially impacting us up until my 3-day class begins on Monday but it’s sunny, hot, and humid today. So, we’re going wandering.
The EGA folks digitalised the brochure. So, I can read it on my phone taking a break in the shade while Bill wanders in Old Town stores. I’m in and out! Fun day.
Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Embroidery Guild of America, Huck Embroidery Towel, Newsletter Articles
I have been stitching ROY G BIV by Kathy Rees since my finger has (mostly) recovered although I still have an indent. Maybe it’s been there & I never noticed it!?! But, I can’t post ROY G BIV yet because I ran out of threads for my second piece. Linda’s Boutique has two of them and I’ll get them and the third one I need at Fireside Stitchery at our Monday meeting. Linda M comes through again! So, I moved onto Heart of the Matter by Wendy Moore but that will take some more work before I can post.
So, when an email came from EGA regarding Huck Embroidery, I decided to share that resource which was already included in my article on Huck Embroidery that I contributed to my EGA Brandywine chapter newsletter a few months ago. I put some effort into the articles and why not post them here too. They focus on a particular topic and I find online resources about that topic. I love researching about as much as stitching. Since beginning back in July of 2019, I’ve written 40 articles for our newsletter.
First, EGA Embroiderers Guild of America) has an ongoing series devoted to Embroidery Techniques from Around the World | Embroiderers’ Guild of America. It has included some of the topics I have addressed in my articles including Huck Embroidery. The great thing about EGA and ANG is that they both offer some free information on their websites for non-members as a way to entice you to join. I find both guilds different and interesting.
Huck Embroidery is also called Swedish Weaving. Since the thread weaves through the fabric, you will need fabrics that have a layer of warp or weft threads that “float”, allowing you to stitch under only those threads so that the embroidery is on the surface and never passes onto the back.
Huck fabric has only vertical floats for sliding your needle through. Aida fabric works as well. A blunt needle tapestry or Huck Embroidery needle with an angled end helps scoop under the threads.
The loop stitch can be open where the thread never crosses over itself. Or it can be closed, where the thread does cross back through a float you have stitched either in a single loop or figure eight or twisted loop.
Whenever possible, I turn to Mary Corbett at NeedlenThread.com to find out all about any needlework technique. She’s amazing.
- Huck Embroidery Kits – NeedlenThread.com (July 2009)
- Huck or Swedish Weaving & a Towel from Julie – NeedlenThread.com (April 2019); pattern used in Julie’s towel was obtained through a link from Julie’s blog to the Wayback Machine. The Wayback Machine is an initiative of the Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form.
Other projects include Open Library & archive-it.org. - Swedish Weaving Pattern Directory – Review – NeedlenThread.com
- Huck Toweling for Swedish Weaving – Some Finds – NeedlenThread.com (Sept 2024)
Other Resources:
- Embroidery Techniques from Around the World – Embroiderers’ Guild of America
- How Do You Embroider A Huck? A Complete Guide for Beginners – Wayne Arthur Gallery
- Huck (Swedish Weaving) – needlery!
- Huck Weaving Stitches
- https://youtu.be/BE5pwS6e5dw?si=0J5LjoIhPV5m1D5x (demos loop stitch)
- Retail Store – Nancy Zieman (Huck Fabric)
- SwedishWeaveDesigns – Etsy
- Learn The Art Of Huck Weaving – Swedish Weaving Patterns — Spruce & Fjell (includes 2 free patterns and a template for you to design your own)
Huck Weave Template
Enjoy your exploration of Huck Embroidery.
Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Embroidery Guild of America, Huck Embroidery Towel
I stitched too much getting caught up with Razzle Dazzle and Chicken Scratch. The repetitive manner of pushing the needle up from below the canvas with my middle finger on my right hand caused a dimple. I should have used a thimble or a finger pad to protect the area. But, I didn’t and my finger needed a rest!
Or, I could work on something that uses a different motion. That brings me back to Huck Embroidery that my EGA Brandywine Chapter explored a few months ago. I had extra towels left after leading the program. So, I stitched/embroidered a couple more in different colors.
The top one was my first and I didn’t start high enough to fit the bottom band. I used Leah’s Overdyed Thread, a discontinued thread line. There is a wide variation from red to blue to blueish purple. I color matched the thread and started each row in the center working half to each side. Since the path changes, the colors did shift but it’s gradual.
I redid that pattern for the middle towel but started high enough to allow room for the solid colored bottom band as designed. The bottom two towels used an overdyed DMC Pearl #5 4030. This thread has very slight color changes from very light aquamarine to a light blue. For contrast, I went with DMC Pearl #5 793 Medium Cornflower Blue on the bottom band.
To offer some variety to members, I provided a second free pattern that I located on the internet. It’s the bottom towel. It just fit perfectly!
Those towels have been done but I forgot to post them. And, I still have more towels. So, I pulled one out. With Huck Embroidery, the needle remains on the surface and slides under vertical ground threads to create the pattern giving my finger some well deserved rest and recovery time!
This towel is using DMC Pearl #5 4215 with pink, blue, and light purple. I did not color match the thread. The general rule of thumb for a working thread length is to cut X times the length of the area being stitched according to the instuctions. Once you stitch the first row, you can shorten the length. Twice the length was plenty for this pattern (2.5 x recommended). Starting in the middle working half left and half to the right is also the norm with Huck Embroidery. As you can see, I started the pattern in a different location. Four full patterns versus three plus two halves on each end. Starting in the center guarantees a symmetrical pattern which I think you know I like and which is why I like color matching so much. But, it looks fine done randomly too especially with less variation in colors of the particular overdyed thread. It’ll be folded so it won’t matter but I like the three full pattern better than the four full pattern.
The second towel is Pendant, one of 50 patterns from the book, Swedish Weaving Pattern Directory by Katherine Kennedy. It says that pearl #5 can be used but stitches were looking too close. So, I switched to the thinner pearl #8, Finca 7656, a solid rust color. This pattern calls for 5 times the length. It incorporates the loop stitch. Believe it or not, it was a tricky pattern. I had several missteps but always got back on track. I should have started left by one and down by one to be better centered but once it is folded and hanging, it will look just fine.
There are 6 more towels to do and although I can still see a slight dimple on my finger, it’s not tender. So, back to needlepoint!
NOTE: Pendant gifted to Janet G (October 2026).
Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Chicken Scratch, Embroidery Guild of America
My EGA Brandywine Chapter explored Chicken Scratch at our last meeting in August.
Brenda C and Shirley H drove up from Delaware. Always nice to see them! I love Brenda’s. It’s a lovely lacy example of Chicken Scratch. Check out Brenda’s Needlepoint Studio: Chicken Scratch – 8/16/26 at https://share.google/iMeNh7lPemMpLi7mW
I made mine into a small sampler by trying a few different stitches Karen S and Kathy A provided. They brought swatches of fabric for us to select from and I knew this would be great for my bedroom tissue box.
The fabric was large enough to finish the back! I folded the fabric the same as how I wrap a package. I used the purple glue to hold it in place and then used invisible thread to sew it closed in case the glue loosens.
Then, four strips of Peel n Stick Fabric Fuse was applied to the back.
And, I placed it next to my other EGA Brandywine Chapter Casalguidi project on the tissue box. I love it!
Filed under: Branch Weaving, Brandywine Chapter, Embroidery Guild of America
Who knew branch weaving is a thing?!? I did not know about it until our EGA Brandywine Chapter meeting last month. Kathy A and Karen S are leading us through September.
An internet search reveals there are plenty of examples of branch weaving. Most don’t say what they do with the finished branches. One said hang it on your wall. Mine is not wall worthy! Some examples are quite complicated and pretty. As far as mine goes, I will stick it in the ground in the back yard.
Thanks to Patrick for gathering branches, we had plenty to choose from. Kathy and Karen supplied the yarn. I brought a couple of large eye needles.
Mine returned to this month’s meeting and I was the only one who brought their finished piece! The weaved area is about 5″ x 7″. It was also my Show & Tell for the Needlework and Fiber Guild of Media where it went over well.
I’ll need to sharpen the end (somehow) and stick it in the ground in the backyard. I guess I will do some whittling tomorrow!
This month, we were introduced to Chicken Scratch but more on that another time.
I wasn’t able to whittle the end (no proper tool in the house). So, we dug a little hole and filled it back in with the dirt. It joins our menagerie including a hummingbird and frog can be seen nearby. We’ve had a good rain and my garden sculpture of weaving survived.
