August 2021- Month 17- Hopefully the last month of lockdown!

As it is August we didn’t hold a zoom meeting but asked the members who were taking part in the Monthly Challenge to send in their work. This month we were asked to try a new technique. There was a wide variety of work and here are the pieces.

I have always wanted to try Shadow work a technique used on translucent fabric and has a delicate, airy effect. The main stitch is a close herringbone.  I designed a cable pattern and found the outer edges had to have slightly longer stitches to the inner edges to keep the ‘shadow effect’ even. I then decorated each cable with some surface stitches. Ann R.
The July piece is made from fabric left over from making "My Scotland", a large piece I stitched when I had a week off work. I have not really done much patchwork, so that is why I decided to do it and I embellished it with metal thistles" Sandie.

This month the new technique I have tried is Blackwork worked in pink. Mel.
 I have stitched my granddaughter's hand print in gold work.  I haven't done much in gold work before (I am learning as I go), so this is a new technique for me. Barbara S.

My July piece is based around when children break from school and families like to holiday, so I have used this theme for this month’s work. Margaret G.
My new technique was to use various garden related stamps on linen. July 2021 had lots of blue sky and I frequently move plants and then I have to water them. I call it ‘Musical Plants’. It has nothing to do with music but is a bit like pass the parcel. – The plant is dug up, walked around the garden and then planted in a new spot.
Edwina

I have made a small sampler of stitches on ticking. I have never stitched a sampler before. Kath. R
Here are my July pages. One side is gold work and beads, the other is machine embroidery and appliqué. Irene

The August challenge is to use dyes, tea or tie dyeing, paints or printing in your piece.
We certainly all look forward to seeing all the pieces in the ‘flesh’, so to speak, at our next live meeting hopefully in September.
​Other work sent in this month includes:

​I have finished my seahorse from the Nikki Parmenter workshop. The hare has been done in the same way. I have also made Frank a cue bag with his initials on the flap. Kath H.

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This is my fish from the Nikki Parmenter workshop. I have used Suffolk Puffs to create coral and covered pieces of packing foam with sari ribbon for sea urchins. The seaweed is made from yarns and chiffon stitched with cake wires. Ann R

​I have made a bag from fleece with a linen lining. The fish are made with Crewel wool and appliquéd on.   Irene

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This is my cup of mushrooms. I have used lots of different stitches at the base of the mushrooms. Kath R.
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We are hoping to be able to meet once again in September for a ‘Stitch and Chat’ session. The committee will be making sure members feel safe with a full risk assessment of the facilities.

If anyone would like to join us who hasn’t been to our group before please contact us via the website using the ‘Contact Us’ tab and our Chair Kath will be in touch with you.

Fingers crossed everyone. Keep safe and keep stitching.
Ann R.

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