Another month and still so many of us are isolating. The news that some of our members may be under more restrictive lockdown is not good news but I hope this month’s blog (unusual to write one for August but these are unusual times) will help to keep us connected in some way and showcase some of the lovely work members have been doing.
Firstly Zena and Carolynne have finished their boxes from the Box Making day school with Marguerita Mcbride.
Firstly Zena and Carolynne have finished their boxes from the Box Making day school with Marguerita Mcbride.
Zena said, “The flower on the top I designed myself with my computer program, then converted the design into a stitch file to embroider it out on my sewing machine. I used 2 pieces of organza in my hoop and this was stiffened with spray starch instead of using water-soluble sheets. The leaf was from a free standing lace pattern.”
Carolynne made hers using a hinge when it opened and a tab at the front.
Zena said, “The flower on the top I designed myself with my computer program, then converted the design into a stitch file to embroider it out on my sewing machine. I used 2 pieces of organza in my hoop and this was stiffened with spray starch instead of using water-soluble sheets. The leaf was from a free standing lace pattern.”
Carolynne made hers using a hinge when it opened and a tab at the front.
Edwina is working on a book cover. The base 'fabric' is made from wet wipes used at a Linda Monks workshop at Waddow Hall. They were originally used to clean up. She used bonda web to attach them to white cotton fabric and then added layers which she is stitching into.
Edwina added, “It is work in progress. The book will be used for recording the books I read.”
Amazing what can be made from things that could so easily end up in the rubbish bin!
Not all of us have been furloughed, isolating or retired. Some like Carolynne have been working throughout this time. She has written a piece about her experience during lockdown. I am sure many of us will have empathy with her experience.
Here is what she said:
During lockdown I have been working extremely long hours but during week-ends I have thankfully been able to take to the solace of my sewing room and de-stress.
I wanted to share something with you all that I have found very productive. Every year I clear out my drawers and cupboards in my sewing room, but never quite achieve a really tidy space. Early on in lockdown, the isolation made me feel quite alone, and I had no inclination whatsoever to sew.
One weekend, I decided to face my sewing room head on. I meticulously went through every drawer, cupboard, boxes and spaces under things, to have a complete clear out of any clutter. I looked at things that I had owned for years and never used, and made the decision they would go.
All of a sudden after just two days of hard work, my room was like a brand new work space. I felt invigorated and couldn’t wait to start sewing. I made a list of all the things I had started and not yet completed, and made a start on them, so that I could get them all out of the way. As I completed something it was ticked off the list, until eventually I could get to the point of making new things and had spaces left where the incomplete things had resided. I again felt excited to sew and haven’t stopped since.
Edwina added, “It is work in progress. The book will be used for recording the books I read.”
Amazing what can be made from things that could so easily end up in the rubbish bin!
Not all of us have been furloughed, isolating or retired. Some like Carolynne have been working throughout this time. She has written a piece about her experience during lockdown. I am sure many of us will have empathy with her experience.
Here is what she said:
During lockdown I have been working extremely long hours but during week-ends I have thankfully been able to take to the solace of my sewing room and de-stress.
I wanted to share something with you all that I have found very productive. Every year I clear out my drawers and cupboards in my sewing room, but never quite achieve a really tidy space. Early on in lockdown, the isolation made me feel quite alone, and I had no inclination whatsoever to sew.
One weekend, I decided to face my sewing room head on. I meticulously went through every drawer, cupboard, boxes and spaces under things, to have a complete clear out of any clutter. I looked at things that I had owned for years and never used, and made the decision they would go.
All of a sudden after just two days of hard work, my room was like a brand new work space. I felt invigorated and couldn’t wait to start sewing. I made a list of all the things I had started and not yet completed, and made a start on them, so that I could get them all out of the way. As I completed something it was ticked off the list, until eventually I could get to the point of making new things and had spaces left where the incomplete things had resided. I again felt excited to sew and haven’t stopped since.
Early on I made 3 shopping bags for myself and my 2 daughter-in-laws from scrap fabric, and inserted our names on the bottom right of each bag. A great way to use up those scrap pieces of fabric you have left over.
I have had a pattern for a prairie charm pin cushion for two years, when I bought some Lynette Anderson fabric at the August NEC Festival of Quilts (a distant memory for this year). During the lockdown, I managed to get to it and as you can see, I made hexagons by paper piecing and then hand stitching together before quilting on the machine. It has a circumference of six inches and I have found that the different hexagons have enabled me to put the quilting pins together in one hexagon, and the glass head pins in another, to keep them altogether.
I have had a pattern for a prairie charm pin cushion for two years, when I bought some Lynette Anderson fabric at the August NEC Festival of Quilts (a distant memory for this year). During the lockdown, I managed to get to it and as you can see, I made hexagons by paper piecing and then hand stitching together before quilting on the machine. It has a circumference of six inches and I have found that the different hexagons have enabled me to put the quilting pins together in one hexagon, and the glass head pins in another, to keep them altogether.
My daughter in law wanted a quilt for her birthday in July, and as there was some of the backing fabric left, I made a matching cushion for her. This is a photograph of the back of the cushion, where I had created a strip of bunting in my embroidery software and added enough triangles for her name ‘Virginija’, which I then embroidered directly onto the fabric. I also utilised a stitch that creates a fringe circle at each end. I then hand stitched a chain stitch in a bronze metallic thread along the edge of the flap which covers the zip, and machine stitched a pattern along the top of the flap.
Finally, I was given some fabric, I have to be honest, I didn’t really like (a black and red floral pattern) and some very thin cream calico. Instead of discarding it, I had a ‘drunken path’ template set and a foot for sewing curved pieces on my machine. So I decided to have a go at joining the concave and convex curves together using this ‘sample’ fabric. Although the squares ended up being a little smaller than I had anticipated. I squared them all off to the same size and lay them in a pattern that looks a little like a ‘snake’ design, and to be honest I feel I achieved a modern look for what I thought was an old-fashioned print. As a lap quilt I was quite pleased with this happy accident.
C.P.
Liz has been on – line once again. How brilliant is that!
I don't know if anybody else has been doing the 'zoom' course through Huddersfield University sponsored by the Embroiderers’ Guild. The course was from 10 to 12 Monday to Friday and was an ‘All beginner’ level course. I am hoping to pass on the skills to my nieces!
C.P.
Liz has been on – line once again. How brilliant is that!
I don't know if anybody else has been doing the 'zoom' course through Huddersfield University sponsored by the Embroiderers’ Guild. The course was from 10 to 12 Monday to Friday and was an ‘All beginner’ level course. I am hoping to pass on the skills to my nieces!
Monday's course was hand embroidery just using basic stitches, running stitch (and threaded), back stitch (and threaded) satin stitch, chain stitch, blanket stitch and woven spiders web (seed stitch and feather stitch where also covered but I haven't got around to doing those yet!)
On Tuesday I experienced a whole session on experimental beading: this included using seed beads individually and couched in 'strings' and then bugle beads, sequins individually and in rows before mixing up each type of bead. We then went on to couching paper clips, cord split rings, ’Loom’ bands and paper straws using herringbone stitch.
On Tuesday I experienced a whole session on experimental beading: this included using seed beads individually and couched in 'strings' and then bugle beads, sequins individually and in rows before mixing up each type of bead. We then went on to couching paper clips, cord split rings, ’Loom’ bands and paper straws using herringbone stitch.
Wednesday was a morning of talks given by two students/Graduates, six textile artists, Andrea Godfrey the Artistic Director for the Embroiderers’ Guild and a Tutor from Huddersfield University and on Thursday we experimented with Appliqué and Reverse appliqué.
Using dark green felt I started with raw edge appliqué using running stitch then backstitch. The next one was straight stitch done at right angles to the edge and the third was with running stitch across the patch and then off the edge.
Using dark green felt I started with raw edge appliqué using running stitch then backstitch. The next one was straight stitch done at right angles to the edge and the third was with running stitch across the patch and then off the edge.
On the light green felt I started with seed stitch and then French knots and finished with satin stitch over the raw edge. For the second piece we used a cord. I used double knitting wool which I chain stitched to cover the raw edge which I couched down.
And finally on Friday the theme was fabric manipulation. The first part of the session was adding fabric to the surface. We cut out 2" Blue circles, folded them into quarters and threaded them together to look like a caterpillar/flower lei before couching down onto the fabric. Secondly we used 1" blue circles folded into quarters and stitched them individually to fabric in circles. Thirdly using pink fabric cut into squares, we folded a third over and stitched it down, overlapping each square to cover the previous squares stitches.
And finally on Friday the theme was fabric manipulation. The first part of the session was adding fabric to the surface. We cut out 2" Blue circles, folded them into quarters and threaded them together to look like a caterpillar/flower lei before couching down onto the fabric. Secondly we used 1" blue circles folded into quarters and stitched them individually to fabric in circles. Thirdly using pink fabric cut into squares, we folded a third over and stitched it down, overlapping each square to cover the previous squares stitches.
Lastly we did some smocking. Using A3 size materials. I used some fabric which I had tried to colour not realising it was polyester cotton not cotton. We made grids of dots 3cms apart in one direction and the width of your ruler the other way. Then we smocked in a linear pattern producing a basket weave and floral effect.
Irene has been busy as usual and has finished her embroidery of her rabbits. She embroidered most of her rabbits and their dates but left out Baby's 5 other brothers and sisters because they all died quickly after their birth sadly.
She added, “I am pleased that it will be a reminder of all the happy years I spent with my rabbits. The work will serve as an 'era' example for next year's exhibition.”
Irene has been busy as usual and has finished her embroidery of her rabbits. She embroidered most of her rabbits and their dates but left out Baby's 5 other brothers and sisters because they all died quickly after their birth sadly.
She added, “I am pleased that it will be a reminder of all the happy years I spent with my rabbits. The work will serve as an 'era' example for next year's exhibition.”
Tracey has been working on her full moons project and a 3-D piece as well as having done a lot of painting, some reupholstery and making a Land Girl doll.
Here is what she said:
“The footstool is something my Dad made for me many years ago when I moved into my first flat. It‘s been re-covered professionally once, but this time I thought I’d have a go. I’m pleased with my pattern matching and like to think Sewing-Bee Patrick would be thrilled by it.
Here is what she said:
“The footstool is something my Dad made for me many years ago when I moved into my first flat. It‘s been re-covered professionally once, but this time I thought I’d have a go. I’m pleased with my pattern matching and like to think Sewing-Bee Patrick would be thrilled by it.
 |  |
Mavis (The land girl Doll) is somewhat over made up, but I think perhaps she’s rather what was once called “a fast girl” and maybe has her eyes on some hapless soldier to be her beau. As one of my friends rather indelicately put it: “I bet she’s flattened some grass!” Poor Mavis to be so defamed, when the truth is I mistakenly drew her eyelashes in green, but in going over them again in black I inadvertently made her into a cross between the Bake-o-lite girl from Wallace and Gromit and a drag queen. Today the slogan on the back of her top would probably be a tattoo.”😂
T.G.
T.G.
And finally, as promised last month we have nearly finished the North West Chair’s Challenge, so to tantalise you here is a photo of what we hope it will look like.
To date we have 5 of the 8 cubes completed (only 4 in the photograph) show casing the many strands that being a member of our guild offers everyone. This is how we hope they will look when all of them are finished. It is going to be a mobile, which can be set up and stored very easily and will be on show at our meetings, exhibitions, open days and group get togethers. Thanks to all the members who have taken on the challenge and completed a side of one of the cubes. When it is all complete each side will be displayed on a slide show.
The committee’s next challenge is to complete the Savick Library Bunting. Pieces are coming in thick and fast and again this should be completed very soon.
Thanks to everyone who has sent in articles and photographs for our blog page. It really helps everyone to feel less alone I am sure and awaiting the time we can meet up once again.
Keep safe, keep well, keep calm and keep stitching.
A.R.
The committee’s next challenge is to complete the Savick Library Bunting. Pieces are coming in thick and fast and again this should be completed very soon.
Thanks to everyone who has sent in articles and photographs for our blog page. It really helps everyone to feel less alone I am sure and awaiting the time we can meet up once again.
Keep safe, keep well, keep calm and keep stitching.
A.R.
RSS Feed
