The Days Gone By

[opens book in which characters are engaged in killing people and fleeing from their enemies]

doing some illustration experiments after rereading the thief!! hopefully more to come soon

attolis eugenides + trickster archetype

“If I had a gold coin for every time I heard you say that you could do anything you wanted, I’d be rich.  As rich as–”

someone on my tlist told me this looks like a poster for a romcom

“Is it a middle grade adventure series?” Yes.

“Oh, but I thought it was advanced political intrigue.” Well, it’s that too…

“I thought it was, like, a study of the gods interacting with humans and whether things are predestination”

“I thought it was a story about trickery and manipulation and scheming”

“I really just thought it was a bad romance”

And it’s like…

All of them

Writer: Air shot between the toes, it’ll look like a heart attack.

Serial killer: anywhere from 2 to 30 minutes

Some tutorials, tips, and pointers I’ve put together this year.

My Parking Method - Keeping multiple threads ‘in play’ as you stitch.  Useful for large patterns with a lot of confetti.

Recording Your Embroidery - Keep that camera steady so your viewer can follow what you’re doing.

Sewing the Edges on Hand-Made Patches - Works best with simple shapes, but can be adapted with practise.

Various Embroidery Mounts - Differences between hoops, scroll frames, Q-snaps, and stretcher bars, with pros and cons for each.

Using Variegated Floss - Different ways to use variegated or overdyed floss, and what each method looks like on the fabric.

Creating Your Own Photo Pattern - Tutorial uses PCStitch, but any software or web app works with this method.

Adding New Floss Colours to PCStitch - New DMC colours will be coming out next month.  Here’s how to add them to your colour library!

Framing Your Embroidery in a Hoop - No glue or tape needed.  Keeps your embroidery nice and tight in the hoop for as long as it lives there.

Marble Dye Method - Hand died fabric made ultra-simple. Just need a bowl and a microwave.  And your dye, of course.

Gridding Fabric with Pens and Floss/Filament - Two methods for gridding your fabric, with pros and cons for each.

Using Stretcher Bars with your Embroidery - Stretcher bars are weird and scary.  Learn how to use them without hurting your embroidery.

Loop Start Method - Who says you can only do a loop start with two strands?  Learn how to do it with three.

Tent Stitch - Learn what it is, and when you want to use it.

Railroading and Laying Tools - Keep your stitches looking nice and even, no matter how many strands you’re using.

Creating Alphabet Charts - Use any font on the internet to create an easily stitchable alphabet chart, in any size you need.

Repairing Torn Fabric - If you tear your fabric while you’re frogging a section, don’t start over.  Fix it.

Photographing Glow in the Dark Floss - This one gives a lot of people trouble.  Learn how to cheat your way through with black lights.

1 over 1 vs 1 over 2 - What’s the difference and when to use each.

Different Fabric Types - Differences between Aida, Evenweave, and Hardanger.