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Learn the beautiful reverse magic of Assisi embroidery! This free rose pattern is perfect for beginners. Get our step-by-step guide and stitch it today.
Continue reading "Free Assisi Rose Pattern: A Beginner's Embroidery Tutorial"
Feeling overwhelmed by all the stitches for leaves? This friendly guide helps you choose the right one for a beautiful, neat result without the frustration.
Continue reading "How to Embroider a Leaf: A Beginner's Guide to 6 Easy Stitches"
Struggling with herringbone stitch? This guide shows you the secret to neat, even stitches, helping you avoid frustration and tangled threads for good
Continue reading "How to Do Herringbone Stitch (The Easy, Fun & Frustration-Free Way!)"
Tired of messy, wobbly Cretan stitch? Learn my simple secret in this step-by-step tutorial. I even show you my own mistakes to help you succeed!
Continue reading "My Secret to Perfect Cretan Stitch | Step-by-Step Tutorial"
Master the blanket stitch with our easy-to-follow guide. Perfect for beginners and experts alike. Learn to create neat edges and decorative embroidery today
Continue reading "Discover the Blanket Stitch: Detailed Instructions and Tips"
Our guide on how to turn a corner with blanket stitch gives you the confidence to create polished, professional-looking edges you’ll be proud of every time.
Continue reading "How to Turn a Corner with Blanket Stitch: A Step-by-Step Guide"
Learn how to embroider with split stitch! This step-by-step guide shows you how to create smooth outlines and filled shapes for your embroidery projects
Continue reading "A Beginner's Guide to Split Stitch for Lines and Fillings"
Learn how to embroider the coral knot stitch with this easy, step-by-step guide. Perfect for beginners who want to add beautiful, bumpy texture to their work!
Continue reading "A Beginner’s Guide to the Coral Knot Stitch for Textured Embroidery"
Turn from frustrated beginner to confident embroiderer with deliberate practice. Learn the step-by-step technique that creates perfect French knots every time
Continue reading "Stitch a French knot the easy way with this step by step tutorial"
Transformative small sewing room ideas for a functional, beautiful and inspiring workspace - it's all about making the most of what you have.
Continue reading "Small Sewing Room Ideas: Maximize Space and Creativity"
Explore blackwork flower patterns designed for beauty and clarity. From simple outlines to softly shaded blooms—download charts and start stitching today.
Continue reading "Blackwork Flower Patterns – Download Designs with Personal Stories"
Learn a new needlework technique with these blackwork kits for beginners. Choose from a cute blackwork owl, a rocking horse or a rabbit
Continue reading "X-Calibre Blackwork kits for beginners by Carol Leather"
Blackwork for Beginners - learn this fascinating needlework technique with Carol Leather's book
Looking for sewing jobs you can do from home? Discover real ways to earn money through repairs, handmade goods, embroidery, or teaching, no shopfront required
Continue reading "Sewing Jobs from Home: How to Turn Your Skills into Steady Income"
Learn hand embroidery with this beginner’s guide! Discover essential supplies, fabric choices, and simple design transfer methods to start stitching today.
Continue reading "Hand embroidery for beginners - Supplies, Fabric and Design Transfer"
Learn how to do tent stitch in three variations: half cross, continental, and basketweave. Step-by-step guide with images to perfect your needlepoint technique.
Continue reading "Tent Stitch Tutorial: How to Do Half Cross, Continental & Basketweave"
Colourful, quick, and calming—these blackwork embroidery kits are perfect for a weekend project. Instant downloads, clear charts, beginner-friendly.
Continue reading "Colourful Blackwork Kits for Quick Weekend Projects"
Stitch up something special this season with these small blackwork designs. Perfect for Christmas cards, ornaments, coasters, and gifts.
Continue reading "Blackwork Christmas Designs for Cards, Coasters and Gifts"
Start your Hardanger needlework course today. Free patterns and detailed instructions in this beginner-friendly lesson. Part 1 of a series of 6 lessons.
Continue reading "Learn Hardanger Needlework | Step-by-Step Beginner Lesson 1"
Learn how and where to use fractional stitches in your cross stitch. Half cross stitch, 3/4 and 1/4 stitches can help add detail to a design
Continue reading "How to Work Fractional Stitches in Cross Stitch (With Diagrams & Tips)"
Discover the secrets of the double running stitch for perfect blackwork embroidery. Learn step-by-step techniques for reversible designs with expert guidance
Continue reading "Double Running Stitch Tutorial: Easy Guide for Beginners"
Blackwork isn't just for pictures to hang on the wall, blackwork samplers can be made into gorgeous cushions/pillows as these designs show
Continue reading "Blackwork Samplers - Downloadable charts by Carol Leather"
Learn how to work the Scotch Stitch with our step-by-step needlepoint tutorial, including variations like Alternating and Chequer Stitch
Continue reading "Scotch Stitch Needlepoint Guide: Step-by-Step Tutorial"
Struggling to choose the right needlepoint stitch? Get expert tips on selecting stitches for texture, direction, and style. Learn effortlessly
Continue reading "Needlepoint Stitches: Choose the Right One for Stunning Designs"
How to learn hand embroidery for beginners: Discover essential stitches, helpful tips, and easy techniques to start your embroidery journey today
Continue reading "How to Learn Hand Embroidery – Beginner’s Guide and Tips"
Struggling with tangled thread, puckered fabric, or messy stitches? These beginner-friendly embroidery tips will help you fix mistakes & stitch with confidence!
Continue reading "Embroidery Tips for Beginners - Easy Fixes for Common Mistakes"
How do I safely launder red work embroidery? I do not know if the red embroidery, which is on white pillow shams, has ever been set. There are no stains
Learn how to safely wash, dry, and care for your cross-stitch projects. Step-by-step guide with expert tips to keep your embroidery looking fresh.
Continue reading "A Step-by-Step Guide to Washing Cross Stitch and Embroidery Pieces"
Illustrated step by step instructions for stretching and framing cross stitch and blackwork projects. Learn how to frame needlework the easy way.
Continue reading "Framing cross stitch projects at home - step by step guide"
Discover four sided stitch, commonly used in Hardanger, pulled thread work, and counted embroidery. Easy steps for stunning openwork effects.
Continue reading "Four-Sided Stitch Instructions for Horizontal and Vertical Stitching"
I've been stitching for 50+ years, so I have lots of the old charts that were drawn by hand. At the time, it was all we had and we didn't know any better.
Hi Carol, I have just discovered your website and find it very useful! Much easier to understand than kit instructions. Currently, I am stitching a stamped
A Guide to choosing fabric for counted thread embroidery. Including cross stitch fabric, evenweave fabrics and linen embroidery fabric
Continue reading "Choosing embroidery fabric for counted thread embroidery techniques"
Please help me as I am stuck. I took photos of the picture of the finished product, instructions and my project at this point. I am unsure as to where
Continue reading "Cutting and Wrapped Bars with Dove's Eyes"
Discover the beauty of blackwork embroidery! Learn its history, master essential stitches, and download free patterns to start today.
Continue reading "Blackwork Embroidery: History, Patterns & How to Get Started"
This ebook gives an insider guide to becoming a cross stitch designer and starting your own business
Free cross stitch patterns that are quick and easy. Learn how to cross stitch with these simple designs from Carol Leather
Continue reading "Free Cross Stitch Patterns to Make in Under an Hour"
A visitor to the site, Rachel, shares one of her cross stitch card making ideas
Time to try counted cross stitch on linen or evenweave fabrics? Learn about the advantages over Aida and how to determine the finished project size.
Continue reading "Counted Cross Stitch - using linen and evenweave fabrics"
Choose from cross stitch or embroidery - let your creativity shine through & create beautiful items to last a lifetime! No matter which you choose, have fun
Continue reading "Cross Stitch vs Embroidery: Choosing the Right Needlework Technique"
Take your needlework to the next level with waste canvas: Transform your clothes into one-of-a-kind statement pieces
Continue reading "Waste Canvas Wonders - Personalize Your Wardrobe with Stitching"
A super simple way of attaching beads to your cross stitch and blackwork, with step by step instructions
Continue reading "Attaching beads to cross stitch and blackwork projects"
Download this free blackwork embroidery pattern, perfect for beginners. Includes step-by-step instructions to create a beautiful Harvest Time coaster.
Continue reading "Enjoy this free blackwork pattern and learn double running stitch"
Choose from these baby cross stitch patterns to celebrate a new member of your family. Includes a sampler, that can be adapted to a card.
Continue reading "Baby cross stitch patterns from designer Carol Leather"
Carol Leather's hardanger patterns are beautifully crafted and a joy to stitch. Browse our collection and find the perfect project for you
Continue reading "Hardanger Patterns: Discover the Beauty of This Traditional Craft"
An overview of the history and techniques of redwork embroidery, including its origins, the Victorian era, and the modern-day relevance.
Continue reading "Redwork Embroidery - its history and techniques,"
Discover how an embroidery stitch sampler can help you practice stitches, experiment with techniques, and grow your confidence—no perfection required!
Continue reading "Embroidery Stitch Sampler: A Creative Way to Practice and Explore"
Create your own Bargello Christmas design with this free needlepoint pattern. Perfect for beginners, with step-by-step instructions and downloadable pattern.
Continue reading "Free Christmas Bargello Design: A Needlepoint Pattern for Beginners"
Carol gives her answer to the question: what is slow stitching and explains how you can get started and the benefits of doing so.
Continue reading "What is slow stitching? A personal response to the question"
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