Melissa Galbraith

May Workshops⁠ Want to celebrate #MeMadeMay but don’t know where to start? Join me for a hands on indigo dyeing or embroidery class. I’ll show you how to get started and advance your skills to have you stitching and dyeing up a storm in no time.⁠ ⁠ May 2: Intro to Indigo dye at Kent library @kingcountylibrary ⁠ May 9: Stumpwork strawberries in-depth stitching at @maydelcraft ⁠ May 16: Artist talk with PNNAG⁠ May 16: 3D stumpwork strawberries at @northbendartandindustry ⁠ May 17: Woven mending at @alittleknitty ⁠ May 20: Stitching succulents at Covington Library⁠ May 23: Ginkgo earrings at @themakeapothecary ⁠ May 24: Vegetable tote bag embroidery at Woodmont Library⁠ ⁠ I can’t wait to see you for a workshop! #3Dembroidery #trysomethingnew #springcrafts #modernmaker

The happiest trio! It’s so exciting to see all three of my hand embroidery books together. I love that they cover such a spectrum of embroidery themes and techniques as well too.⁠ ⁠ My first book, How to Embroider Texture and Pattern, covers landscape embroidery, layering stitches creating texture, and using pattern fabric.⁠ ⁠ My second book, DIY Embroidered Shoes, takes embroidery out of the hoop and makes it wearable. This book covers a broader variety of nature inspired patterns, and incorporates a bit of beading and stumpwork.⁠ ⁠ My third book, 3D Botanical Embroidery & Stumpwork, is a true explorations of stumpwork, combining stitches, and wearable embroidery. ⁠ ⁠ No matter which book you pick up, you’ll find detailed sections that get you started with materials, transfer methods, knots, a giant stitch glossary full of photos, and step-by-step photos for each project along the way. ⁠ ⁠ Have you stitched a project from one of my books? #handembroidery #craftbook #stitching #mcreativej #authorsofinstagram #booklover #embroideryinstaguild #borado #broiderie #stumpwork #needlework

Have you tried any variations on the back stitch? The pekinese, the whipped back stitch, or the split back stitch? Each of these stitches are similar to the back stitch but add their own unique texture and flair to any embroidery project.⁠ ⁠ Give them a try on the MCreativeJ embroidery blog. You can find stitch videos and step-by-step tutorials for these stitches and more!⁠ ⁠ #backstitch #handembroidery #diyblog #stitching #embroideryvideo

3 months and 200+ hours of stitching later I can finally reveal the blanket I designed and stitched for the @climatepledgearena that was their artist gift to @florenceandthemachine for their performance on May 12th.⁠ ⁠ This 50x70 inch blanket is the biggest embroidery project I have ever worked on! Figuring out how to scale a design to this size, stitch it, incorporate beading, and finish the back were all new parts of the process I learned while creating this piece. ⁠ ⁠ If you want to know more about this project, you can read the details on my blog! #embroidery #florenceandthemachine #bandmerch #bigreveal #mcreativej

Let’s embroider at the library!⁠ This month you can join me for two embroidery workshops hosted by @kingcountylibrary ⁠ ⁠ Stitch Succulents on May 20 at Covington Library⁠ In this class I’ll show you how to get started with embroidery. We’ll cover prepping fabric in the hoop, splitting thread, knotting it, and threading the needle. After you choose your threads for stitching, we’ll go over basic embroidery stitches like the satin stitch, split back stitch, and reverse chain stitch. ⁠ ⁠ Embroider Vegetable Tote Bags on May 24 at Woodmont Library⁠ Learn how to hand embroider a tote bag with vegetable designs perfect for summer farmers market trips and grocery store runs. This 2-hour hands on embroidery workshop will help you get started with hand embroidery. We’ll cover an easy design transfer method, how to use an embroidery hoop, split thread, make knots, and beginner-friendly embroidery stitches such as the satin stitch, reverse chain stitch, stem stitch, and French knot. You’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of thread colors and vegetable patterns to design your tote bag.⁠ ⁠ All materials are provided for each class. Be sure to register on the @kingcountylibrary website to save your spot.⁠ ⁠ #howtoembroider #beginnerembroidery #learntostitch #craftclasses #seattleevents

I’ve been trying out a bunch of new-to-me types of embroidery lately. One of them is Assisi embroidery. This is counted thread work, similar to cross stitch. It has been a real brain teaser for me to think in boxes and lines instead of filling in spaces with color and texture like I normally do. And while these designs look cute, there was a lot of swearing behind the scenes from me taking out SO MANY STITCHES. I can’t tell you how many times I read my own chart wrong or didn’t count correctly... #crossstitchaddict #assisiembroidery #wipartwork #needlework #countedthreadembroidery

Want to learn how to patch your knitwear or denim? ⁠ Join me for a visible workshop at @alittleknitty on May 17. You’ll learn two types of woven mends: darning with a speed weave and honeycomb filling to patch a hole. During class, you’ll learn how to get started with visible mending, different threads and materials to use, and how to mend specific garments. Mending is a great way to add new life into clothing. Plus, you can have your mend stand out as decorative motif or match it to your garment for an invisible repair. All materials are provided.⁠ ⁠ You are welcome to bring garments that you have questions about repairing and work on in class, however, practice fabric will be provided for the workshop.⁠ ⁠ #darning #visiblemending #memademay #wearandrepair #diyworkshop

Another close up on the Fabric of America kit I designed for the Henry Ford Museum Fabric of America exhibit. ⁠ ⁠ For this kit, I pulled inspiration from some of the exhibit pieces, which included many crazy quilts. The quilts used a wide variety of colors and had fabrics in all sorts of shapes and angles. ⁠ ⁠ Read more about how this embroidery kit came to be on my blog. #embroiderykit #singersewingmachine #craftkit #embroidery #quilting

Let’s color with thread!⁠ ⁠ Join me for Botanical Thread Painted Earrings at @themakeapothecary on May 23.⁠ ⁠ In this class you’ll learn the basics of thread painting, stitching on tulle fabric, and stumpwork embroidery to start creating a pair of botanical earrings. No matter if you’re an experienced embroiderer or newer to stitching, in this class we’ll practice stitches such as couching, buttonhole, and the long and short satin stitch, needed to thread paint and create 3D ginkgo earrings. By the end of class, you’ll feel confident to continue stitching and finish your earrings at home. All materials are included for class to create wearable 3D embroidery.⁠ ⁠ Ready to get stitching?⁠ ⁠ #stumpwork #threadpainting #embroideryworkshop #seattleevents #botanicalembroidery⁠

Last day of @hhamericas It’s been wonderful to connect with so many new and current shop owners. I love hearing how their customers respond to my work and what they’re excited about. My shoe book and stitched shoe samples have been a big hit! Plus, seeing all my fellow maker friends is just the best. Extra bonus, wearing my second pair of sashiko stitched pants and upcycled appplique sweater for the last day. #tradeshow #embroiderykits #sashiko #meetthemaker #craftstore

Did you know you can use the back stitch to add flair to your embroidery? Try these three variations: the split back stitch, whipped back stitch, and pekinese stitch. All of these stitches build off of the humble back stitch to create playful variations that add texture, depth, and dimension. ⁠ ⁠ Want to learn how to create create any of these stitches? You can find stitch videos and step-by-step tutorials on the MCreativeJ embroidery blog.⁠ #backstitch #embroideryblog #embroiderystitches #diycrafts #slowstitching

Hello from @hhamericas boots h 1531! I’ll be hanging out in Chicago sharing all about my hand embroidery kits, patterns, and books with retailers. #tradeshow #embroiderykits #modernmaker #getcrafty #hhamericas