Tacketing is a type of stitching that was used on the covers of medieval ledgers and books. It was a decorative way of securing the spine during the bookbinding process. It can be done with bookbinders thread or leather strips. In the latter case it resembles lacing. Blog reader Beth Morton told us how she was introduced to craft of tacketing by demonstrator Chela Metzger, at the The Austin Book Arts February Meetup.

Beth told us: “This type of stitching is often referred to as a lost art and some scholars are attempting to recreate the stitching patterns”. Beth has sent us a picture taken at the meeting (shown above-right), a larger version, plus more pictures, can be seen at the Austin Book Arts website…

Three garden gnome patterns and three fairy patterns have been added to the Stitching Cards collection.

There is a gnome fishing, a gnome sleeping and a gnome with wheelbarrow. These make amusing cards for garden enthusiasts and would be suitable for birthdays, retirements and other messages.

A fairy standing, a fairy kneeling and a fairy leaping are combined with Art Nouveau inspired roses. They make beautiful cards for many occasions, especially for young girls…

A curve stitching calendar project suitable for 7 to 10 year olds has been added to the Tutorials section of the Stitching Cards website. The project was created by my daughter Sonya, who is a primary school teacher, as part of a practical day held at the end of school term prior to Christmas.

This is probably the wrong time of year to make a calendar but is something to keep in mind for later in the year. It makes a wonderful gift for children to give to their parents.

The design is based on the pattern illustrated in the “From string art to stitching cards: a brief history” article, also in the Techniques section. The simple pattern is marked up with a pencil and ruler so will help children practice measuring skills and demonstrate how a curve can be created by a number of straight lines.

An attractive curve stitching design that creates a heart within a circle has been added to the free pattern section of the Pinbroidery website. The illustration shows the design stitched in confetti pink thread. The pattern size is 120 mm x 120 mm (4¾ x 4¾ inches).

The design is a scaled down version of a mathematical pattern that I created for my String Art Fun website. If you are interested in creating pictures with nails and string then you can download the free string art heart circle pattern there.

Please let me have your thoughts on this geometric design. Is this the kind of design you are interested in? Would you like to see more? Let us know in a comment to this blog.

Just in time for your Valentine’s Day cards, the Form-A-Lines Heart Set has been added to the Classic patterns collection. This beautiful set has three patterns: Flower hearts, Heart and roses, Heart lock with key. These heart patterns also make gorgeous cards for anniversaries and other special occasions. The patterns are also available individually.

This Classics store specialises in out of print patterns from the Form-A-Lines stitching card range. Patterns are supplied as PDF files. Download them to your computer on completion of purchase.

Two new pattern sets have been added to the Form-A-Lines printed booklet range. They are a flower set featuring three flower border patterns. The subjects are Congratulations, New Home and With Sympathy, plus alternative greetings Happy Birthday and Best Wishes.

Also a holiday set featuring beach huts, VW camper van and a VW Beetle with surf boards. They are available as part of a kit or as separate booklets.

When the pattern booklet is purchased as part of a kit you also get blank cards and envelopes, thread, beads, a pricking pin and sewing needle.

Alternatively you can purchase just the pattern booklet with its step-by-step instructions and pricking patterns.

The pattern booklets are available by mail order in the UK as part of a kit from the Card Inspirations UK shop.

The pattern booklets are also available on their own for world wide delivery (including the UK) from the Card Inspirations International shop.

The remaining initials have been added to the Pinbroidery pattern collection. They are available individually and also in three sets: A to G, H to N and O to Z.

These Pinbroidery initial patterns make beautiful personalised cards for birthdays and other special occasions.

The patterns are supplied in two sizes; 144 x 144 mm (5.65 x 5.65 inches) and 120 x 120 mm (4.75 x 4.75 inches). This gives you the flexibility to choose the size that suits your style of card making and to comply with any postal regulations on large sizes of cards.

Seven card designs featuring the initials A through to G have been added to the pattern collection at the Pinbroidery web site. More initials will be added in due course.

These Pinbroidery initial patterns make beautiful personalised cards for birthdays and other special occasions…

Following customer feedback a set of six mini Christmas prick and stitch patterns have been released at the Pinbroidery web site. The size of these patterns is 88 mm x 114 mm (3.5 x 4.5 inches). These mini patterns use sections of the larger Value Pack 3 Christmas patterns also available at Pinbroidery. They feature bells, candles, Happy Christmas, a fur tree, a poinsettia and a sleigh. These patterns make beautiful cards for the Christmas season.

If you want to try this size of pattern before you buy there are two free mini stitching patterns in the free section of the Pinbroidery web site. These are a reworking of the free flower corners and star border patterns…

Following customer feedback a set of six mini flower prick and stitch patterns have been released at the Pinbroidery web site. The size of these patterns is 88 mm x 114 mm (3.5 x 4.5 inches). These mini patterns use sections of the larger square William Morris inspired patterns also available at Pinbroidery. They make beautiful cards for birthdays, congratulations and other special occasions.

If you want to try this size of pattern before you buy there are two free mini stitching patterns in the free section of the Pinbroidery web site. These are a reworking of the free flower corners and star border patterns…