'Inspired'

A talk by Sue Rangeley

Friday  5th September  2014

At Preston Embroiderers' Guild

St Andrew’s Church, 240 Tulketh Road, off Blackpool Road, Preston, PR2 1ES
at 7.30pm

'Inspired' explores Sue’s recent embroidered creations, giving a unique insight into the world of a textile artist.

Follow her artistic journey, through sketches, designs and embroidered samples - unique 'stitch stories' revealed in inspiring images.

 

Powerpoint presentation, with examples of original work and designs.

Tickets £5 –Sandie – 01254 830328





Follow the Thread

an exhibition of Embroidered Textile Art

by the PRESTON branch of the EMBROIDERERS' GUILD

Tuesday 16th to Monday 22nd September 2014

In the morning Sandie Introduced Marie Lewis.

Marie was a teacher of French, which lead to her interest in Boutis.  For several years Marie gave talks on Boutis to the Amish people, which became very popular.  Although she had no intention of teaching Boutis one thing
led to another and before she knew it, her courses quickly became oversubscribed. Marie now takes no more than three courses a year, making us very fortunate to have been able to attend this course today.

Boutis is a French type of sewing, whereby you put together two pieces of fabric known as Batiste, and then
hand sew tiny stiches in double rows, creating tubes which are then stuffed with lengths of cotton twist arran.  This
creates a raised motif, giving a padded look to a cushion, or a table mat, with wonderful results.

We were given packs with patterns, needles and an instruction booklet to take away with us.  Marie had also
painstakingly prepared batiste fabric with two patterns drawn out, each with a few lines of stitches already done, to get us started.

Marie came around to show each of us a couple of finished items so that we could see what our patterns will look
like when completed.

We were then shown how to start sewing, leaving a knot between the two layers, and how to finish a thread, with
a further knot between two layers.  In this way, the front looks exactly the same as the back.

The first pattern we attempted had a heart shape in the middle, with square lines surrounding the heart.  Marie
demonstrated how to sew around the heart, and then stuff it so it was nice and plump, which we went away to
attempt ourselves.

It was at this point, that Marie mentioned that she had two prizes to give out, she asked a few questions and
someone received a book on the Art of Boutis by Kumiko Makayam-Geraets (which is in English - as most are
written only in French).  Another prize being a pair of snippers.

After this, we continued to sew tiny stitches along all the squares drawn on the fabric. 

In the side room, many members were busy sewing on various projects.  Members who do not wish to partake in the workshop, usually bring something along to work on whilst having a chat and catch up with one another.

When we had completed stitching our square lines.  We stopped for lunch and chatted about the new technique we were learning..

We then had a demonstration on how to stuff the lines and shapes with cotton twist arran.  After each length of arran had been pulled through a 'channel,' we would cut it and 'stuff' the loose ends back into the hole in the batiste, using a tooth pick.

Once this was done, the batiste closed up, as though there had never been a hole in the first place.  We
continued in this way until we had 'stuffed' the alternate channels to create a raised motif in our fabric. 

As the original pattern had been drawn in a pen that disappears when it comes into contact with heat,
when washed, the lines will disappear, and we will be left with a pure white fabric, which can be closed
around the edges with a buttonhole stitch, or pinched every so often to create a picot edge.  (Another
method would be to applique the motif onto a larger project).

Marie had also brought a quilt that she had made for a relative, where she had used the 'boutis' technique in the centre of each square. It took many months of sewing, and is a much treasured item.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable workshop and we soon realised, as it involved hand sewing,  that this
was something that we could all enjoy doing whilst sitting of an evening, watching television, or out
in the garden, at any time.

The meeting closed and we had a new technique to take away with us, so thank you very much Marie.
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Notices:

Strawberry Tea

Just a reminder, if you haven't yet purchased your ticket for the Strawberry Tea in July, they are available
at £2.50 each, to be held on 5th July 2014.

Chairmans Challenge

Our Chairmans' challenge this year, is to make a corsage for the exhibition at Barton Grange in September.
Stewards will wear their corsage when they steward. 

PLEASE NOTE:  the prize for the best Corsage will be a framed piece of Wessex Stitch, made by Kath Morton,
kindly donated by her family.  To be held by the winner for 12 months.

Barton Grange

Anyone displaying a piece of work in September, can you please contact Margaret Kay to
let her have your completed form, as soon as possible.