Category Archives: News from stitching sites

Form-A-Lines Nautical and Oriental Flowers patterns reviewed

Form-A-Lines Oriental Flowers patternsTwo new pattern booklets have been added to the Form-A-Lines stitching cards range. They are: Oriental flowers featuring birds on a vine, a flowering vine and a bird in a thorn bush; Nautical featuring a lighthouse, a porthole and a captain’s hat above a wheel… Continue reading

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Tiger, tiger, burning bright – words to stitch by

When I was designing my Stitching Cards Tiger pattern the words “Tiger, tiger, burning bright, in the forests of the night” kept going through my mind. They were from a poem half remembered from childhood, so I decided to look it up. The poem is The Tiger by William Blake. This is how it goes:

TigerTiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?… Continue reading

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The unicorn in myth and legend

unicornWhilst I was doing research for my Stitching Cards unicorn design I came across some interesting information about the way it has evolved over the centuries.

The unicorn is a mythical beast whose origins can be traced back to early pagan times. Drawings of the unicorn appear on many coats of arms created in Medieval Europe and it also appears in early religious tapestries… Continue reading

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Animal lovers Stitching Cards patterns reviewed

Animal lovers patternsSix new Animal lovers’ patterns have been added to the pattern collection on the Stitching Cards web site.

They feature the following cute birds and animals: lovebirds, dolphins, flamingos, hares, hedgehogs and turtles… Continue reading

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Where to buy blank cards for embroidery

card blankFollowing on from my Where to buy beads post I thought it would be useful to do the same thing for card blanks suitable for prick and stitch card making. In order to display the stitching at its best the card material used should not be too flimsy; it should be strong without being excessively thick… Continue reading

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The Form-A-Lines classic stitching card patterns have moved

Form-A-Lines catsWhen the Form-A-Lines prick and stitch patterns become out of print they are made available as downloads in PDF format. The classic patterns used to be available from the Stitching Cards web site but they have now moved to a new home in the Form-A-Lines online storeContinue reading

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Happy New Year stitching pattern reviewed

Happy New YearThere is still time to make a card to celebrate the New Year. This would be particularly useful if you receive an unexpected Christmas card at the last minute. The Happy New Year pattern is available for purchase from the Stitching Cards web siteContinue reading

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Where to buy beads for card embroidery

beadsA couple of readers have left messages on my “Beading needles” post asking where they can purchase the beads needed for the beautiful beaded embroidery cards. Not all bead shops sell the tiny seed beads suitable for card embroidery. It is a case of seeking out the stores that do… Continue reading

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String art candle pattern reviewed

candleString art picture making has much in common with prick and stitch card making. It uses nails hammered into a backing board and coloured wool or string to create the design. If you would like to try your hand at string art there is a free candle pattern available from the String Art Is My Craft web siteContinue reading

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My top 10 social bookmarking websites for crafts and card making reviewed

bookmark logosA new social bookmarking website seems to appear every month. How do you choose the best one for you? I have been researching social bookmarking websites and here is my top ten. I have ranked the sites on how easy it is to find links to craft and card making web sites… Continue reading

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