Another month has passed us by and as we all get ready for those long awaited hair appointments the chance of meeting up as a group is still on hold. Some of our members have been busy with national and individual projects, trying out innovative ideas. Several of our members have been busy with on-line courses and they have written reports for our blog explaining the experiences and techniques they have used. Something very different for many of us perhaps. So read on to find out more.
On-Line Virtual Courses
Kay has been on Zoom following a course. Here is her report:
After reading through the flyer sent to our members telling us about the course ‘Embroidered Design’ run by Zara Day, I was hooked by the information and decided to have a go.
What an exciting six weeks that was, I was not alone in being taken completely out of my comfort zone, and having my imagination stretched to its limits. Zara discussed design, colours, textures, and in the first week encouraged us to produce a mood board to refer to during the six weeks. Zara provided us with a template, which she was working from that we could follow if we wanted, following parts of it or doing something quite different. We all followed the template and the results were great and very varied.
On-Line Virtual Courses
Kay has been on Zoom following a course. Here is her report:
After reading through the flyer sent to our members telling us about the course ‘Embroidered Design’ run by Zara Day, I was hooked by the information and decided to have a go.
What an exciting six weeks that was, I was not alone in being taken completely out of my comfort zone, and having my imagination stretched to its limits. Zara discussed design, colours, textures, and in the first week encouraged us to produce a mood board to refer to during the six weeks. Zara provided us with a template, which she was working from that we could follow if we wanted, following parts of it or doing something quite different. We all followed the template and the results were great and very varied.
During the six weeks we covered so many things: couching, raised satin stitch, woven picot, casaquidi stitch and different forms of beading. We combined these with the application of different fabrics to create varied textures. Each week we looked at each other’s work and we had an extra 7th week where we looked at our completed work and Zara chatted about Course 2, ‘Embellished Textiles’ - which I started on Monday.
This was a fabulous course.
You can find out more about Rosemaryrose bespoke embroidery business on Instagram @zara_day_rosemaryrose and work linked to the courses @zara_day_embroidery.
K.L
Liz has also been on Zoom:
'These are my attempts done from a 'Zoom' hand stitching course that I did through ‘Ribble Creative Stitches’. Although the course material was basic I really enjoyed doing it and 'Zoom’ worked really well. You got a bird’s eye view (does not matter how many are on the course ) it was very easy to ask questions and you got through far more in the time, as the tutor only had to do things once for everybody to see clearly'.
L.H
This was a fabulous course.
You can find out more about Rosemaryrose bespoke embroidery business on Instagram @zara_day_rosemaryrose and work linked to the courses @zara_day_embroidery.
K.L
Liz has also been on Zoom:
'These are my attempts done from a 'Zoom' hand stitching course that I did through ‘Ribble Creative Stitches’. Although the course material was basic I really enjoyed doing it and 'Zoom’ worked really well. You got a bird’s eye view (does not matter how many are on the course ) it was very easy to ask questions and you got through far more in the time, as the tutor only had to do things once for everybody to see clearly'.
L.H
As we entered Lockdown Linda Robinson, who owns the wonderful shop Creative Threads in Garstang, asked if anyone would be interested in a stitch-a-long. After several people responded with a loud ‘YES PLEASE!’ she designed an embroidered wreath pattern and set up a Facebook group for us to show our progress and chat-a-long at the same time. We paid our joining fee and ordered supplies from her if we needed them and made a start. I’m relatively new to, and not very skilled at, embroidery, so I was a little apprehensive if I could manage it or whether it would become yet another UFO (unfinished object!). I also invited my sister to join in - she lives in Nottingham, so it was really good to be able to participate in something with her at a distance. She’s a complete beginner, as were some other ladies, although others were more experienced stitchers.
Week by week Linda filmed and released videos and the wreaths slowly appeared. It was amazing to see how different colour choices gave very different results, from pastels to dark “sludgy” colours to rainbow brights. My embroidery landed on ‘The Naughty Step’ the week we learnt Pistil Stitch (mine resembled the Coronavirus itself - I think I subconsciously stitched it!). After unpicking, my second attempt did vaguely resemble the flower it was supposed to.
We all really enjoyed the course and stitching and I understand Linda is offering this wreath course again and is planning more “distance learning” courses. They are, of course, not the same as gathering around a table and learning together with laughter and cake in plentiful supply. However for these difficult times I think they’re a perfect alternative. I now have a lovely finished embroidered wreath to remind me that out of Lockdown I produced something beautiful.
Here is the link if anyone would like to join in next time :
https://creativethreadworkshops.co.uk/workshops-listing/
Below is a selection of our work. With permission and thanks to Linda Robinson, April Haxby, Averil McClelland, Lesley Ingram, Gail Cahill, Kay Lance and Ann Ormerod.
K.S
Week by week Linda filmed and released videos and the wreaths slowly appeared. It was amazing to see how different colour choices gave very different results, from pastels to dark “sludgy” colours to rainbow brights. My embroidery landed on ‘The Naughty Step’ the week we learnt Pistil Stitch (mine resembled the Coronavirus itself - I think I subconsciously stitched it!). After unpicking, my second attempt did vaguely resemble the flower it was supposed to.
We all really enjoyed the course and stitching and I understand Linda is offering this wreath course again and is planning more “distance learning” courses. They are, of course, not the same as gathering around a table and learning together with laughter and cake in plentiful supply. However for these difficult times I think they’re a perfect alternative. I now have a lovely finished embroidered wreath to remind me that out of Lockdown I produced something beautiful.
Here is the link if anyone would like to join in next time :
https://creativethreadworkshops.co.uk/workshops-listing/
Below is a selection of our work. With permission and thanks to Linda Robinson, April Haxby, Averil McClelland, Lesley Ingram, Gail Cahill, Kay Lance and Ann Ormerod.
K.S
Reasons to be Thankful’ – A Thank You to the NHS.
An Embroiderers’ Guild National Project
The invitation came from Anthea Godfrey (Artistic Director of the Embroiderers’ Guild) calling all EG members to contribute to a series of wall hangings to be offered to hospitals throughout the 10 regions of the Guild. Members were asked to create a 4” (10cm) finished square of fabric that conveys a message of thanks.
Ann. R decided to participate and stitched her 4 inch square based on her observations from the television at the start of the pandemic. Here are her thoughts behind her design:
It shows the Covid 19 virus, a fascinating structure but so deadly amongst a background of seeding stitches, passing from the darkness to the light, to represent the thousands of people infected by the disease and those who have lost their lives. In full PPE the NHS person is clapping, as we all did every Thursday evening. The Florence Nightingale
lamp (fanoos) denotes the dedication and professional care 24 hours a day by all the NHS staff. Thank you.
An Embroiderers’ Guild National Project
The invitation came from Anthea Godfrey (Artistic Director of the Embroiderers’ Guild) calling all EG members to contribute to a series of wall hangings to be offered to hospitals throughout the 10 regions of the Guild. Members were asked to create a 4” (10cm) finished square of fabric that conveys a message of thanks.
Ann. R decided to participate and stitched her 4 inch square based on her observations from the television at the start of the pandemic. Here are her thoughts behind her design:
It shows the Covid 19 virus, a fascinating structure but so deadly amongst a background of seeding stitches, passing from the darkness to the light, to represent the thousands of people infected by the disease and those who have lost their lives. In full PPE the NHS person is clapping, as we all did every Thursday evening. The Florence Nightingale
lamp (fanoos) denotes the dedication and professional care 24 hours a day by all the NHS staff. Thank you.
National Celebration of Stitch
Unfortunately all the plans to join together with Jennifer (the librarian), the children and adults at Savick Library were put on hold this year, so the National Celebration of Stitch took place alone in individual homes. The theme from HO this year was ‘Birds’ and Irene had planned kits for stitching a felt owl from the book called ‘Folk Embroidered Felt Birds’ by Corinne La Pierre. I am sure they will be able to be used at a further date but thanks to Irene for all her hard work in getting the packs ready.
Here are Kath. R and Ann R stitching on the day itself.
Unfortunately all the plans to join together with Jennifer (the librarian), the children and adults at Savick Library were put on hold this year, so the National Celebration of Stitch took place alone in individual homes. The theme from HO this year was ‘Birds’ and Irene had planned kits for stitching a felt owl from the book called ‘Folk Embroidered Felt Birds’ by Corinne La Pierre. I am sure they will be able to be used at a further date but thanks to Irene for all her hard work in getting the packs ready.
Here are Kath. R and Ann R stitching on the day itself.
Here are some of the birds Irene has been making. She stitched the owl on Saturday the 20th of June, National Celebration of Stitch Day.
Kath R. finished stitching her bird by Nicola Jarvis, which she bought at our Christmas meal in 2018.
Kath R. finished stitching her bird by Nicola Jarvis, which she bought at our Christmas meal in 2018.
Ann. R stitched a 3D bird which she took from an article ‘A little bird told me’ in ‘Stitch’ magazine Issue 94 April/May p34-37 designed by Janet Humphrey. She changed the design to a goldfinch.
“As I have had to spend so much time in the garden I have watched the birds that visit the feeders. I am amazed at the colours on the Goldfinches. I’m sure I never saw these birds when I was a girl but they are a delight to watch and they are very greedy emptying a feeder in a couple of days”.
Edwina sent a photograph of a cross stitched bird on a card, which she had completed earlier but still nice to appreciate different styles.
“As I have had to spend so much time in the garden I have watched the birds that visit the feeders. I am amazed at the colours on the Goldfinches. I’m sure I never saw these birds when I was a girl but they are a delight to watch and they are very greedy emptying a feeder in a couple of days”.
Edwina sent a photograph of a cross stitched bird on a card, which she had completed earlier but still nice to appreciate different styles.
Other Projects:
Here are some of the other projects members have been working on, starting with Edwina’s report.
(See the slideshow for all the photographs).
This is some jewellery I made for my unisex sandals to make them a bit more attractive. The red ones do have a stitch in them. I have also finished a top. I have wanted to start dressmaking for a number of years but cannot get patterns to fit my body shape. I made most of my own clothes in my teens and twenties. This top was made from a combination of three different patterns and gave me the chance to practice bodice fitting. I did what is called a 'full bust adjustment (FBA)' and also a further adjustment for the neckline. The FBA was done on the paper pattern and the neckline adjustment on the calico toile. I also made the necklace and fashion accessory of the moment; a face mask.
E.W
Kath H. has been stitching cards
Yvonne told me she had been finishing off a church banner, sewing bunting for V.E. Day, making masks, sewing a pair of dungarees for herself as well as gardening.
Kath. R has been making rabbit bunting. She found a pattern for a little felt rabbit in a book, she made one and just kept making more. She then thought what can I do with all of these and somewhere she remembered an idea she had had of making them into a bunting.
Here are some of the other projects members have been working on, starting with Edwina’s report.
(See the slideshow for all the photographs).
This is some jewellery I made for my unisex sandals to make them a bit more attractive. The red ones do have a stitch in them. I have also finished a top. I have wanted to start dressmaking for a number of years but cannot get patterns to fit my body shape. I made most of my own clothes in my teens and twenties. This top was made from a combination of three different patterns and gave me the chance to practice bodice fitting. I did what is called a 'full bust adjustment (FBA)' and also a further adjustment for the neckline. The FBA was done on the paper pattern and the neckline adjustment on the calico toile. I also made the necklace and fashion accessory of the moment; a face mask.
E.W
Kath H. has been stitching cards
Yvonne told me she had been finishing off a church banner, sewing bunting for V.E. Day, making masks, sewing a pair of dungarees for herself as well as gardening.
Kath. R has been making rabbit bunting. She found a pattern for a little felt rabbit in a book, she made one and just kept making more. She then thought what can I do with all of these and somewhere she remembered an idea she had had of making them into a bunting.
Liz has also been very busy before and during lockdown knitting hearts for the hospital appeal as well as an attempt at knitting a hat and jumper for her great nephew.
Some of the hearts were knitted in Claret and Blue, Burnley's colours, but she also managed to do some in Blue & White (PNE – Preston North End) as well as red, pink, maroon, mustard, fluffy blue and teddy bear heads.
She has been working on two cross stitch pictures. The photos show the Aida marked with either water erasable or friction pens - which cuts down on the counting. So much easier and you can start anywhere and also know exactly how the finished item fits on your material.
She has nearly finished her 'Signpost' from the Angie Burt Dayschool in February 2020 and it has inspired her to have a go at a tree. The trunk is stitched in stem stitch and the leaves and flowers in 'Raised chain band'.
North West Chair’s challenge and the Savick Library bunting are still being worked on but are very nearly finished, so watch this space.
Thank you once again for all your contributions without you the blog would be meaningless so keep your photos and ideas coming in.
In the meantime keep safe, keep well, keep calm and keep stitching.
A.R
Some of the hearts were knitted in Claret and Blue, Burnley's colours, but she also managed to do some in Blue & White (PNE – Preston North End) as well as red, pink, maroon, mustard, fluffy blue and teddy bear heads.
She has been working on two cross stitch pictures. The photos show the Aida marked with either water erasable or friction pens - which cuts down on the counting. So much easier and you can start anywhere and also know exactly how the finished item fits on your material.
She has nearly finished her 'Signpost' from the Angie Burt Dayschool in February 2020 and it has inspired her to have a go at a tree. The trunk is stitched in stem stitch and the leaves and flowers in 'Raised chain band'.
North West Chair’s challenge and the Savick Library bunting are still being worked on but are very nearly finished, so watch this space.
Thank you once again for all your contributions without you the blog would be meaningless so keep your photos and ideas coming in.
In the meantime keep safe, keep well, keep calm and keep stitching.
A.R
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