If you’re new to blackwork embroidery and looking for a fun and easy project to get started - this post is for you!
This ugly jumper design makes such cute ornaments and is the perfect way to get comfortable with the technique
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My partner, Sam, got me into playing them last year and I’ve really enjoyed trying out lots of different systems and campaigns.
If you’ve ever even slightly dabbled in RPG’s then you’ll know the importance of a good dice bag! So when my brother asked for a dice set for his birthday and it arrived without a bag, I knew what I had to do and headed to my yarn stash
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Whenever you’re starting a new hobby, it can be hard to know where to look for all those helpful bit of wisdom that just make it… click!
Recently I asked my Purple Rose Stitchers:
What embroidery advice do you wish you’d known sooner?
There were some fantastic responses, and so many tips I wouldn’t have thought of!
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Spring may be right around the corner but there’s definitely still time for a fun new hat project first!
I've been really enjoying woven stitches and cables recently and I just couldn’t resist writing this pattern.
You know when there’s an idea in your head that you can’t stop thinking about so in the end you just indulge your creativity and run with it, even if there’s other things much higher up the to-do list. Well this project was one of those projects for me and I had so much fun with it!
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You voted for it so here it is! the Sunset Orca has been brought back from the halls of retired to designs to take up permanent residence as a free pattern right here
Thank you to all of my lovely Purple Rose Stitchers who cast their votes on which design to bring back via my newsletter last week, I couldn’t have decided without you!
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We all love a nice relaxing Christmas project to get us through the long dark evenings at this time of year right? Well I know I do at least!
This Cross Stitch and Blackwork Christmas tree design is the perfect project to keep by the sofa and pick up whenever you’re feeling crafty
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It’s October so at least one pumpkin related design is obligatory right?
Well this year its a cosy Pumpkin Pillow! Someone told me this design looked like a graphic from a NES and I quite like that comparison
There’s quite a lot of colour changes in this one so its great for those confident with corner to corner crochet, or those who have a little experience and love a challenge!
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I love learning new crafts, especially fibre crafts! I’ve never really got on with painting or anything involving glue… its just a bit too messy and sticky for me, my sensory issues can’t stand it but put yarn, thread, beads etc in front of my and I’m happy for hours
Recently I’ve been really enjoying C2C crochet, I mean, who knew it was so simple?!
Since I released my first ever C2C Snowflake Blanket design this month I shout it would be a great opportinity to share a blog post tutorial with you. I’ll take you through both increase and decrease rows, all you need to get started with C2C crochet
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When you’re thinking of taking up a new hobby it can be really daunting to try and work out what tools and supplies you might need! This blog post will take you through the basics of what you need for embroidery, and to be completely honest with you, I very rarely use anything that isn’t on this list even as a professional stitcher
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Ok, first lets digest the title of this blog post and get things straight! I’ve been using social media as an advertising tool for Purple Rose Embroidery for the last 4 years. Over that time I’ve perfected my methods of how to get the best photos I can in the easiest way possible. After all the best way to treat social media is little and often so it has to be quick and easy!
Do I know as much as a trained photographer? No. However I can offer many years of experience and a foolproof method that only requires your phone!
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When deciding to set up a small business working out where to sell your products online can be really daunting!
Many people will tell you what you should or shouldn’t do without having any experience themselves. Others will delight in recounting their horror stories with one platform or another. It can all be very overwhelming and difficult to know where to start!
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I want to start this post by saying that you absolutely do not have to keep the back of your embroideries neat if you don’t want to!
In fact I very rarely take the time to keep the back of my stitching neat
However this was highly requested and on those occasions when I do like to keep my work tidy, this is how I do it!
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One of the new things I’ve decided to do in 2022 is share some my designs as free blog posts! I hope that this will not only act as a great resource for those wanting to learn embroidery but also will show you just what you’ll be getting if you decide to purchase one of my patterns or kits
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We all know the struggle of having to type in WiFi network names and passwords correctly, it can be such a faff! Well here’s a nice stitchy solution: QR codes
They can be scanned using most phones inbuilt cameras (or by using an app) and can provide a shortcut to automatically connect to a WiFi network! Turns out they’re super easy to turn into a cross stitch too…
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I love to display my finished embroideries in the hoop! It makes them really easy to hang on a wall and really shows that they are handmade
If you’re looking for a more professional looking to finish your stitching in a hoop then maybe this framing method is just for you!
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We all love to handmake Christmas items, I know I do!
So I thought to celebrate my Birthday today I would spread the love a bit and release these tiny Blackwork Christmas designs along with instructions on how to make them into your very own Christmas baubles!
I think we can all agree, we love the look of metallic threads but hate stitching with them!
Somehow they always manage to split, fray, stretch, come unravelled or break entirely
Not an easy thing to have to work with!
While there is no way to completely solve these problems, there are a few things to be done that help to prevent them
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I threw up a poll on my instragram stories recently with some ideas for new blog posts and got people to vote on what they most wanted to see… by far and away the most popular choice was this one!
My stitching routine
Once I sat down to write this post I realised that in many ways, I don’t really have one! As with anything, of course, there are certain patterns to the way I work but I’m not actually sure if ‘routine’ best describes my habits
Ah well! I will do my best to enlighten you on a few things related to when/where and also how I stitch on a regular basis
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This is the story of how my little business was born!
I’m in no way a business expert but I hope it’s helpful to see how things came about for me and my haphazard little biz
Its hard not to be affected by the current global pandemic. For many of us it has impacted all aspects of our lives and how we are able to live. So given that, it’s impossible for our creative outlets not to be changed. Over the last few weeks I have seen some remarkable things happen despite of the situation we have found ourselves in. For many of us though, being remarkable, or even normal, is hard at the moment. I hope that by talking about my situation in this post that it may lend some comfort or reassurance to others
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