Book Review – Hand Embroidered Haven

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I received a copy of The Hand Embroidered Haven by Megan Frock to review, and I fell in love. One of the first things I look at in any craft book is the tutorial section. I want to see how they've illustrated how to do stitches or any other special skills necessary. To me, this is one of the most important parts of a craft book, great patterns and designs mean nothing if you can't teach the reader how to do them. Megan Frock's basic stitches and techniques section is spot on, it is illustrated really well and is very clear and concise. The book covers hand ... Read More

Felt Valentine Necklace

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One of my 2014 goals was to try new crafts. Needle felting was high on that list of ones to try. I got a needle felting kit for Christmas two years ago and I was just so nervous to try it out. I am not the most graceful person and I get hurt a lot. I've been to the ER because of an Xacto knife before, so the idea of me stabbing things with needles seemed like a bad idea. I finally got over my fear and gave it a whirl this past weekend and I loved it, it's so amazing to me to take some wool roving and a needle and end up with a solid object. I needle felted the ... Read More

Vintage Quilt

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My mom brought me three boxes of partially finished quilts from my great grandma. They've been in a closet for years, and with my recent hexagon obsession, my mom figured it was the right time to dig them out. I was really hoping to be able to use the hexagons that she had cut out and use them in the quilt I'm making but sadly, they are too small. She wasn't paper piecing them, instead they are being sewn together so they are cut to size. There are 13 completed hexagon flowers that I definitely want to do something with! There is an entire box of these ... Read More

Quilty Stitches Sampler Along

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I joined in on Little Miss Shabby's stitch along. I've always thought that quilt squares would make great cross stitches, and she did a fantastic job making the patterns! I am using the color palette from Satsuma Street's Pretty Little City pattern. I bought the pattern months ago and haven't started it, but I love the colors! This stitch along is actually the first time I've ever done a cross stitch using someone else's pattern, which is kind of crazy! I've been cross stitching for 5+ years and this is my first time! I've never done half stitches before and I ... Read More

Hoop-La Magazine – Out Now!

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If you follow Hugs are Fun on Facebook (and why wouldn't you?) then you might have seen the news that I have a project in a magazine! Today Hoop-La is available for sale in the UK. Hopefully you'll be eventually able to find it in stores in the US, but until then you could always get a digital copy. Check out a preview of the magazine, or better yet, go buy a copy and support this amazing new publication for embroiderers! ... Read More

Free Pattern Friday – A Modern Valentine Heart!

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I wanted to make a Valentine's Day pattern, but I wanted it to be modern and nontraditional. I worked on black Aida, but the pattern is for the version on white. I used DMC thread colors - 603, 208, and 333, but feel free to customize this any way you like. I think it would look great in any color scheme! The gradient of color around the edge is inspired by the E for Eclipse cross stitch, the both have the same way the colors dissolve on the edge. The heart is about 5 inches on 14ct. I made it intending on putting it in a 6 inch hoop. It fits but I think ... Read More

Handmade Christmas – Pixel Grandkids

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It's very likely you've seen these pixel portrait cross stitches around. I think they first showed up in a tutorial from Martha Stewart, but plenty if cross stitchers have taken the idea and ran with it. Wee Little Stitches has created a whole series of different pop culture icons in this pixel style. Teresa from Daisies for Violet made a cross stitch for her mom of all the grandkids and I thought it was a great idea. I did my three nephews and then Evie and Mira. I added the year in case I decide to do more. I'm really happy with how I turned out, but I really ... Read More

Sashiko Embroidery

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When I got the Doodle Stitching: Embroidery & Beyond: Crewel, Cross Stitch, Sashiko & More book for my birthday, I was really drawn to the sashiko embroidery. I loved the patterns and wanted to try it out, but I had no interest in transferring the pattern. I really enjoy embroidery but I really hate the prep work that comes with it, transferring patterns is my least favorite part. My mother-in-law took a trip to New York City and stopped by Purl Soho, so I asked her to pick up a sashiko kit for me. I wanted one to try out but she showed up with four and let me ... Read More