There’s a new challah cover pattern in the shop: “Almond Blossoms.” Almond trees are the first trees of the year to blossom in Israel. They produce flowers even before the leaves appear. In late winter, as the days grow longer, the almond trees come into bloom, a welcome sign of renewal and a promise of … Continue reading
Here’s a quick way to make a whole field of embroidered flowers: the lazy daisy stitch. It’s another variation on that versatile chain stitch. Instead of the loops forming a line, they radiate out in a circle from a center point like flower petals. Five or six loops make a full flower, depending on how … Continue reading
To embroider curved lines, the stem stitch makes a fabulous choice. It turns along curved lines beautifully, and you can vary the thickness of your embroidered line by varying the angle of the needle as you make the stitch. These stitch diagrams illustrate the how-to, and I’ve posted a little hamsa for you to practice … Continue reading
For tips on how to begin and end your stitching and other embroidery basics take a look at Hand Embroidery Basics. The backstitch is a simple stitch for embroidering lines, and with just a little practice you’ll master a stitch that will take you far. Overall, we move along the line from right to left. … Continue reading
You’ve probably heard of Grandma Moses, the American artist who started painting at the age of 78. But did you know that painting wasn’t Grandma Moses’ first creative vocation? Years before she took up painting she captured the landscapes and rural life around her through embroidery. Grandma Moses became famous for her folk art paintings … Continue reading
Here’s a great way to add a Jewish touch to your decor, a quilt, or other sewing project: an embroidered Hebrew monogram letter. And here’s a great project for a relaxing summer day: a Hebrew monogram letter embroidery kit. I’m excited to announce that I’m releasing a new line of Hebrew letter free-form embroidery kits, … Continue reading
Mazel tov to Sara Rivka, the creative Jewish mom behind the Creative Jewish Mom blog, on her son’s bar mitzvah last week! This week she took a tiny break from her busy creative pace while I provided a guest post: an embroidered hoopla based on children’s art. That’s my daughter’s drawing on the hoopla, along … Continue reading
Happy hooplas! Lately, when I haven’t been focused on Jewish holidays I’ve been preoccupied with hooplas, or hoop art: fabric art made and framed with embroidery hoops. I love that the embroidery hoop that you work on becomes the frame for your work. It’s charming and sweet and an easy way to display your needlework. … Continue reading
Embroiderers through the centuries have turned to the chain stitch, especially folk artists. The stitch was a popular choice among Jewish mothers who embroidered Torah scroll binders to commemorate the births of their sons in 17th-19th century Eastern Europe. The embroidered chuppah scene above, created with chain stitches, is typical of scenes found on the … Continue reading
Where are you headed this summer? Bring a sketch book. It’s the best way to capture sewing ideas that inspire you. A postcard captures an image, but sketching allows you to capture details, which is especially helpful if what inspires you are textiles and needlework. I made the sketch above on a trip to The … Continue reading
Here is Adin Steinsaltz, perhaps the pre-eminent Talmud scholar of our times, speaking about the many different paths to Jewish practice: “We believe that the Law has at least 600,000 different paths within it for individuals to enter. There is what is called ‘the private gate’ for each of us. And we each have to … Continue reading
Sew Jewish 