Looks like I’m getting into embroidery

I don't want to post photos of my practice embroidery yet, but since I had to post a photo, I thought I'd at least take one of my old hoop.

I know I mentioned in my last entry that I didn’t plan on doing any embroidery for a long time, but it looks like I have no choice in the matter.  I’m already getting hooked.

I ordered the hoop boning for my pocket hoops (see bottom image), which should be here mid-week hopefully, but I realized I really don’t want to put things in the pocket hoops.  The thought of items rattling around in the pocket hoops would drive me crazy, so I decided to go ahead and make some hanging pockets (see 2nd image).  I’d had an embroidery design in mind for my first hanging pockets — not necessarily 18th century accurate, but no one else will see them, so I don’t mind.  I’ve been looking at the embroidery book, as well as spending a lot of time at an excellent website for embroidery to learn the basics.

I’ve been practicing here and there, trying to figure out the stitches I want to use and learn them as best I can.  I have embroidery floss and hoops that are possibly as old as I am.  Not only are the hoops too small for what I need, but the bigger one is a little rusty (they’re metal) and slips a little.  I knew that I would have to buy some more hoops if I wanted to proceed, so I went to the Joann Fabrics website.  I didn’t realize they had a sale going on for that very department, and I came across this lap frame.  I loved the look of it, and the price was right (I even had a 10% off coupon for online purchases — I have only ordered online one other time).  I just couldn’t pass it up!  So now, I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of my frame.  I can’t wait!

It’s just so amusing that I had no intention to get into this at the moment since I’m so far behind on my sewing schedule for various reasons.  I’m having so much fun with it.  Although I don’t see myself doing all types of embroidery, I can definitely see how this hobby will fit into my life and be an enjoyable way to pass time if I need a project to keep me busy here and there.  The cutest part (and I hope he doesn’t mind my mentioning it here), my husband Christopher saw me looking at the embroidery website and he checked it out.  A few nights later, he asked me if he could borrow a small hoop and a bit of fabric and give a stitch a try.  Heheh!  He won’t be taking up embroidery (he’s too busy for that), but he just wanted to see what it was like and if he could do it.

I have the pattern for the hanging pockets ready to go, but I still need to finalize the embroidery design for transfer.  I worked out a few details last night for the pocket hoops, and will hopefully be working on the pattern today.  Maybe even cutting out the fabric if I have enough time.  I have to wait for the hoop boning to come in, as well as make a trip to the store for some more supplies for both sewing and embroidery.

I also wanted to apologize for being behind on some emails.  This past weekend, my husband’s computer freaked out and he spent the whole weekend trying to fix it.  It should be working now, although it’s been taking some time getting things back the way they were.  His podcast is running late, but he uses his computer for work so that was the biggest worry.

I’ll try to get caught up with replies when my nerves fully settle down, and once I get caught up on my sewing goals for today or tomorrow.

Sorry I didn’t post a better photo — I didn’t want to leave this entry plain, and I didn’t find anything else to use.  I don’t want to share any of the practice scraps yet.  I’ll post photos here and there when I start embroidering the pockets, and any other project I work on down the line.