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Embroidery

18th c. Embroidered Waistcoats

Without question, what most people ask me for are 18th c. embroidered waistcoats. It makes sense, since that was the first truly ambitious embroidery project I tackled, and to this day, it’s still my favorite. Last year I made a second version of the same waistcoat, this time in much more muted grey tones on white linen, to match
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June 1826 Muslin Pattern

Here’s a sneak peak at an embroidery design that is almost ready to be released. It’s a c. 1826 muslin pattern from the June edition of Ackermann’s Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions and Politics. The original 1826 muslin pattern included one corner and a partial border. The edge is comprised of delicate scallops and
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18th century embroidered pocket, and more

A year ago, I was thinking about how I wanted to launch my range of embroidery designs. I wanted to create designs for an embroidered pocket or fichu. However, I felt it wasn’t enough just to create a period design and put it out on the internet. I also wanted to create beautiful samples that would get
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Cutwork borders – a tutorial and a freebie!

One of the features in my first few designs is the option to make cutwork borders as part of the embroidery process, creating a neatly finished edge like you find in hand sewn and manufactured goods. Since this may not be familiar to many of you, I wanted to post a quick tutorial as well as a freebie
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Overview of Machine Embroidery Stabilizers

One of the topics that confused me most when I started machine embroidery was what stabilizer to use and when. There are so many machine embroidery stabilizers to pick from, and many can be downright expensive. The sewing machine shops were quick to recommend cut away and tear away stabilizers for almost everything. They are generally only thinking
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Historical Machine Embroidery: why I started an embroidery collection

Creating historical machine embroidery designs is dear to my heart, so I wanted to share a little about what started me down this path. The Idea: I first saw an embroidery machine and went “oooh!! I want that!!” about 15 years ago.  It seemed like the perfect way to add some detail to the historical costumes
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Swimming in Swatches

No matter the type of handiwork, I’ve always hated making swatches. I do them because I know how valuable they are, but it’s still my least favorite part of a project. So of course, I decided to launch an idea that would require me to swatch things over and over and over again until they’re
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It’s about the journey, right?

It’s about the journey, right?

A lot has happened this year to make me take stock of where I’m at and what I really want to be doing.  I originally started Romantic Recollections with the vision of a small business I could work from home while I raised children and did some homesteading on our 5 acre property.  It was
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The calm before the storm

  I took some time last week for a thorough spring cleaning of the studio. It’s amazing what odds and ends linger in strange places long after a project has ended, and it felt good to get everything back into it’s proper place and all the surfaces cleared off. We also moved in a new
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Old-Time Embroidery

Old-Time Embroidery

I’ve been on a bit of an embroidery kick lately, and along the way I’ve been dipping into my stash of old magazines for inspiration. I was intrigued by one of the articles in the August 1902 edition of The Modern Priscilla, about “Old-Time Embroidery.” It was accompanied by photographs of some pieces that seemed historically
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