Free and hacked embriodery patterns
Through Sublime Stitching, Jenny Hart has resurrected the art of embroidery. Her hip and funky patterns (which include the much-loved artist series) have provided aspiring stitchers like myself with plenty of inspiring designs. But I’m also glad to see that other artists are joining the stitching game and creating their own not-your-grandma’s-embroidery-style offerings. One such artist is Andrea Zuill, who is generous enough to post a free pattern every month on her Badbird’s blog. Embroidery enthusiasts have embraced her designs; my favorites include the Love Bear (pictured left, as stitched by Project 365), Jacob the Octopus, the Speckled Bird, and the Gnome (pictured right, as stitched by Zen Ren).
Yet, some of the best embroidery designs are still homegrown. Check out Craftster user Sewphie’s embroidery of a sassy 1920s sailor girl, inspired by a button she found in a tattoo artist’s online shop. Blogger Lulu Bliss also transformed a found image (or, more specifically, a photo) into an embroidery pattern (watch her video to find out how). Whether you use an existing pattern or create your own, it’s easy to keep yourself in stitches.
