This will be a blog to share my textile art. I tried using instagram but it was a bit overwhelming so I’m hoping that tumblr won’t be as intimidating!
I’m Elizabeth! I’m 25 and I’ve been sewing knitting, embroidering, etc for like 10 years I think. I’m a grad student getting my MLIS and work part time at a local museum.
Textile art has always been a fun creative outlet for me. So, I’m super excited to share my creations here! There will be a variety of things on this blog bc I collect crafts like my life depends on it.
I’m a huge fan of antique and vintage designs with a bit of a modern flare like a lot of textile artists, but I have found it difficult to find patterns that match exactly what I want. So I either make my own or edit patterns to my taste. I figure there’s got to be other folks who want similar patterns— hence my decision to sell them. :)
I first started designing patterns by hand on grid paper, but now I use stitchfiddle, which is a lot of fun and would recommend to anyone looking to experiment with making their own patterns!!
If you would like to check out my patterns I have a few available to purchase on my ko-fi! I'll be adding more as I complete them. :)
I've opened a shop. Come take a look!
If you're looking to learn how to cross stitch or want a refresher I've used my MLIS skills to put together a Cross Stitch Reading Guide available on my ko-fi for free. :)
Below is a sampling of my work for your perusal. :)))
This cross stitch pattern I originally made to be a patch to go on my tarot card bag, but i think it would look cool framed too! I’m working on converting it to a digital pattern. The patch was made to match my cards which were designed by Orla Bird.
This colorwork chart is based off a mitten pattern by Ricaco Yahata on ravelry. I liked it but I wished the dragon was more snake like so I changed it!
This is my first sampler! I’m making it using supplies I had purchased to make a gift for my ex partner. I decided to reuse them and make something that had a bunch of cool things I liked and i’m about 30% done stitching it rn. (This will not be available to buy bc I ripped a lot of the designs from other pattern makers from pinterest.) This was proof of concept that I could make a large scale pattern.
This is a current pattern WIP that will be available for sale once it’s completed! It’s a Twin Peaks inspired sampler. I’m also planning on making the Laura’s Angel pattern available as a stand alone. Hopefully that’s of interest to folks. :)
These were some of my first colorwork knitting projects and my first sweater and mittens! The sweater is the Pippi sweater by Kisskissrhinestones on instagram, and the mittens are west of the moon in Fairytale mittens by Nina Granlund Sæther. These were both so fun to make!!
This quilt topper is an antique my mom found unfinished and I’ve been slowly hand quilting it. It’s so special to breathe life into someone else’s wip even if I didn’t know them. :)
This little salamander bag was a gift for my college roommate who now lives in Japan! I drafted the pattern myself and even added little eyes and feet. :)
Sheet1
DMC color based on RGB of Flag using https://threadcolors.com/ converter on Jul. 21, 2019.,Flag color based on Wikipedia entry as of
found this google doc that has the dmc embroidery floss color codes for various lgbtq pride flags, thought i'd share in case others find it useful too 👍
I've spun the same fiber, and did a tiny bit of sampling when it came to plying (sadly I used the samples before taking pictures). Personally, I thought plying it with itself was too busy. I settled on plying it with a white wool in the same thickness, which gave a lovely result.
However, I do think it could also indeed look very cool with a thicker white single, that is not something I tried back when I spun this fiber.
My singles and the first skein, before wet finishing. My white wool is Corriedale, and based on the feel I suspect that the tweed blend also contains quite some Corriedale, it had that nice bounce that I like. I twacked the yarn and it bloomed into a lovely bouncy sport weight (of which I apparently didn't take pictures before sending the yarn to my friend. I am very much trying to get better at taking pictures of stuff).
An Incomplete List of Fonts I Would Like to Digitize Someday
All from the Antique Pattern Library
This twisty one
This pleasantly-flourished simple one. it's quirky.
I have no clue how one would include backstitching in a font, but it would look so good
This Art Deco set, from a pamphlet where it shares space with both the most stunning animal illustrations you've ever seen and also the world's most baffling, hideous borders
This one has a lowercase set, too. In a modern context this reads more as a retro game font than a cross-stitch one.
these would look INSANE stitched. more of a monogram font than one for sentences, but who cares. I could figure out some lowercases and this would absolutely COOK
Love the weight of this one. Gothic, fun, but not large enough to be unwieldy.
The first twisty font is better, I think. but if I had infinite time I'd do this one too
A very respectable twist on a classic sampler font. could get a lot of mileage out of this one
hot take but I think with a good lowercase set this one would also be good for a lot of things-- party in the capitals, but keep the lowercase legible.
a very respectable font. you could file your taxes with this one.
their bulbous forms entrance me. I REALLY like that 'H'
Another set that really should only be for monograms... but some part of me wants to believe I could make a proper font around these
LOVE the 'A', like the others. really dig that the original artist included a lowercase set, too
Bonus Monograms I like:
Blue Floral | Thick Line
Red Floral | Right Angles
backstory: bought supplies to make a gift for my ex and then that week they broke up with me. so i scrapped their project and dedicated all the supplies to a sampler of cool things i like!!
it’s so exciting and special to see my design come to life.🥹 I can’t wait to do more!! (see full design below)
btw I've found these stretches from the WAK blog very helpful when knitting a lot:
Plus make sure to take breaks regularly - and stop if anything starts to hurt!
especially with gift knitting I know it can be tempting to push through it for a deadline, but it's really not worth causing long term injury. (And anyone knit-worthy should be understanding of that, imho.) Stay well :)
I’ve recently been researching Anishinaabe bandolier bags for work and I’ve fallen in love with their beadwork. I’m obsessed…
There are so many stunning floral and geometric patterns that are both loom woven or beaded by hand. See the Milwaukee Public Museum bandolier bag collection for examples!!
My favorite motif is otter tracks because it looks like the little step step slide otters do in the snow. I didn’t even know otters do this!! (I’m from the south) From what I’ve seen on bandolier bags it’s typically used as a border around more elaborate loom woven beading.
Naturally, I’ve also been looking at contemporary beadwork artists and ohmygod they’re all so cool!!!!! Anishinaabe beadwork artists have gotten a new stan out of me. 🫡
Anyway I just wanted to rave about beading for sec. carry on.
