Tips
Threads
1. Natural fibre threads often have a ‘right’ and a ‘wrong’ direction to them, if you run the thread through your fingers tips first one way and them the other, one direction will feel ‘rougher’ than the other.
Use the thread in a way that sends the thread through the fabric smoothly. You do not want to damage the thread by continuously sending it through the fabric the wrong way and damaging it. Besides by coarsening the thread you loose some of the sheen (shine) of the fibres.

2. A skein of embroidery thread often comes in multiple strands. Different techniques call for different number of strands to be used, for example a pattern in cross stitch may say use 2 strands of thread. To get the best sheen and finish to your work ,cut off the 2 strands from the skein of 6 threads, and pull them apart, then making sure they both go in the same direction lay them side by side together again. Thread them through the needle and stitch away. This means that they will lie flat on your fabric looking their best, any twists having been removed. This is good to do whatever type of stitchery you are doing.

3. Use shorter rather than longer lengths of thread, they are easier to control but also if you have a very long piece of thread that has to go in and out of the fabric multiple times it can get damaged and once again you loose sheen.

4. Some hand dyed threads, (and in the past even shades of factory produced threads) can bleed colour when washed. If you think you will need to wash your embroidery after its finished, you may be wise to wash small samples of the threads before you begin.

 Techniques
The first class of the year is a small pincushion worked in Blackwork embroidery. It is called a Biscornu pin cushion as when the top embroidered square is attached to the bottom square it is sewed in an off set manner resulting in an irregularly shaped pin cushion.

Blackwork has been worked since the time of Chaucer but became very fashionable in the English Elizabethan period. It was often stitched on clothing as when done in the traditional way the pattern was perfect on both sides so suitable for collars and cuffs.

It is worked in double running stitch (Holbein stitch) or backstitch, traditionally in black thread but any colour can be used.

If you want to learn more about this technique try looking at these sites:

http://www.blackworkarchives.com/index.html

http://crossstitch.about.com/od/blackwork/Free_Blackwork_Patterns.htm