Preston Embroiderers' Guild
  • Who we are
  • Notices
  • Blog
  • Forthcoming Events
  • Gallery
  • Other News
  • Links
  • Location
  • Contact Us
  • Join Us

October 2020 - Still hanging in there and sewing - Month 7

8/10/2020

0 Comments

 

A Trip Down Memory Lane with Margaret K and Beryl C

Picture
Preston Branch has been in existence for some 65 years now.  This month I contacted Margaret K to ask if she could write a little about times gone by and to see if Beryl C could add some memories too. 

As a relatively new member within the last decade, if I were to draw on something that meant a lot to me.  It would be in 2015, when our branch members were involved in making postcards (one for each year since 1955).  These postcards can be seen on our 'Gallery' page, and it was such a memorable time as a group, everyone making postcards using different techniques.  I wondered what would be remembered over the years, as a wonderful time of togetherness as a group, from a couple of our long standing members of Preston Branch and here is what they had to say:

Beryl C

Beryl remembers that the first Embroiderers’ Guild meetings she attended were held at a ‘Friends Meeting House’ which was ‘small and rather dark’. She had attended the EG exhibition held in the Harris Museum and been overwhelmed by the embroideries on display. As she had just retired she felt able to go along to meetings and join the Guild. The only needlework she had done was in her teacher training course at College. Dressmaking and tailoring soon gave way to new techniques in embroidery, as she did a City and Guilds course.

She became Secretary when Mary H took on the Chair and then became Chair herself.

Beryl is so pleased when she goes to the meetings and sees that so many new, younger members have joined.
​
She wants to make it clear that she never remembers the time that members went to meetings wearing hats!

Margaret K

Like Beryl, my first connection with Embroiderers’ Guild was at the exhibition at the Harris Museum in 1982/3??? I was overwhelmed by the wonderful work that I saw there and dared to dream that at some time in the future I might be able to produce something approaching that standard. It wasn’t to be until another twenty years had gone by, and I retired from teaching, that I was able to join.

I have always been most proud of the work that we, as a Branch, did as a ‘joint effort’. It started with a photograph that Jackie C brought into the branch. The picture of fruits and flowers had been cut up into 24 x 4inch squares. We were each given a square and told to use our favourite technique to ‘embroider’ (See photo above).

Having enjoyed this (I’m not sure Jackie enjoyed stitching it together, as the ‘4 inch’ square ‘wasn’t always 4"’ when returned).  We decided to have another go and make a similar piece for Vine House, the cancer charity in Preston. Their newsletter was called ‘The Grapevine’ and we found a photograph of exactly that and took up our scissors, needles and thread once again. Again the finished pieces were of many varied and individual techniques. The ‘Grapevine’ now hangs in the sitting room in Vine House and provides a focus for people with cancer. (See Below).
Picture
​I had been singing ‘Bridge over troubled water’ with my ‘Magic Voices’ choir and realised that this was the perfect song for the work I was doing with Samaritans. Finding the perfect photograph for this project wasn’t as easy. The bridge had to be sturdy, but not too sturdy and the ‘troubled water’ had to be just the right kind of ‘troubled’. Once again, the 24 pieces were dished out, stitched, collected and handed over to be hung in the Samaritans branch in Preston. I can assure you that it is seen and remarked on often, as something to remind us that we provide support for those in despair and distress.
Picture
Like Margaret I think anything that inspires people to sew is a wonderful thing, and even more special when it becomes a group effort, that in turn helps others.

With this in mind, I spoke to Joan B this week, who wanted to share with the group, what she has been doing during the last  7 months.  This is what she had to say:

Quite early on in lockdown, Joan read an article in a magazine called 'Yours.'  In the article, there was an elderly lady who had passed away and as her family were emptying her house, they came across some knitted teddy bears and had no idea who or what they were for.  A family member who was a policewoman, mentioned that if no-one wanted them she would make use of them.  She gave some to her local cancer unit and the rest went to the police station to help traumatised children.  The police had found that small children would clam up when traumatised and within a short time of holding a knitted teddy bear, they begin to feel relaxed and would open up to them.  The Inspector at the station was so impressed and he got in touch with The WI to ask if they could make more of these knitted teddy bears, and after reading the article Joan applied for the pattern and has been knitting teddy bears for them.  Here is photo of one, kindly sent in by her daughter.
Picture
At 95, I think Joan is doing well, keeping herself busy during these strange times we live at the moment.  Joan went on to say she has also been knitting dog shaped cushions for her family.
Our Chair, Kath H says of the last month:
​
I've not done a lot of sewing this month but a friend and neighbour of ours who retired from the army a few years ago asked me if I could make a pouch for his medals as they were just in the original plastic bag - it also has a pocket for the miniatures.
​
Not embroidery but an honour to do it and he was very pleased with it.


Picture

Zena C has this to tell us:
​
I had a visit from one of my favourite relatives, he had bought two pairs of curtains in the sale, because he liked them, some time ago, and at that time didn't have a window where they would fit.  He moved house a couple of years ago and now decorating the spare bedroom, found a window where one pair of curtains would go. The second pair is where I came in, can I make 2 cushions, a bed runner and a tissue box cover.

He turned up with the pair of curtains, and 2 cushion inserts, and said “ I could only get 60 cm can you reduce them to 50 cm “ - yes of course.  Little did I know at the time they were feather inserts. 

Consequently as I unpicked,  the feathers decided to fly, even being careful trying to get them gently into a bin liner I still looked like the abominable snowman and as for my sewing room - imagine.

However job is now done, sewing room vacuumed more than once and there are still feathers!  My relative is delighted and sending photos Via WhatsApp - fame at last.
Picture


​I am finally able to show my completed Calico Garden.  We are getting our hall and landing re-decorated before Christmas, and I hope to hang it in pride of place there.

This was such a lovely work shop to do and who would have thought you could make round pebbles out of 'toy stuffing and ladies tights!'
​
​Carolynne P

Ann R has put together all the embroidered cubes that branch members have made for our Regional Chairs Challenge. They can be viewed under the 'Other news' tab. Just click the tab above called 'Other News'.

They look great and it just shows what we can still put together as a group.

The bunting pieces for Savick library have now been completed and this is the next task Ann has set herself - to get it sewn together for the next blog.

CP
0 Comments

September 2020 - ‘Embroiderers’ still stitch on!’- Month 6

7/9/2020

0 Comments

 
​It has been a very quiet month and perhaps everyone is getting a little weary of the situation with local rules and guidelines. Still several members continue to keep us informed of their achievements which is brilliant and I for one find some inspiration from what they have made and stitched. It will continue to be a few difficult months ahead not knowing when meetings will commence and things can get back to the ‘new’ normal. Some members will be reflecting on a decision about membership of the guild and what that will mean for our branch.
In the meantime on a positive note let’s take a look at what members have been up to:
Picture
​

​Edwina has been busy pushing the boundaries of her creativity and has made a driftwood hanging from pieces of driftwood she found on Longton Marsh.
She added, “I collected it in March after the high Spring tide when the sea comes right up the embankment around Longton.  It was during the strict lockdown and 30 minutes was long enough for me to cycle to The Dolphin (a local pub) and back.”

Picture
​Kath R has been trying out printmaking:-

​
She said, “I drew the designs then carved some out of lino and some by wood engraving. Then I printed them with oil based relief ink onto card and fabric using my new printing press. I am hoping to make a hanging with the fabric and I will call it my coronavirus piece for 2020. The prints on card will be used for greeting cards.”


Kath H received the third ‘Luna Lapin’ book from her granddaughter for her birthday.
 “It actually came with 'strings' attached as my granddaughter wanted this one making. There are a few embroidery stitches and wool felting for the spots as well. I could have made two dresses in the time it took. Ha ha.”



Picture
 Carolynne has been busy once again and has shared her cushion project with us.
When Issue 96 of Stitch magazine came out in Aug/Sept 2015, I bought some linen fabric, lace trim and threads at the festival of Quilts as I really wanted to make 2 cushions for our caravan. The original design was in Blue and Green, but I needed Yellow and Green. I bought the recommended Aurifil Linen, Lace and cotton threads that the project required.  After clearing away all of my half finished projects during lockdown, I decided in August I would get started on these, as I couldn’t believe I bought the fabric so long ago.
  1. First of all I used a water soluble marker to mark the pattern out and started to fill all the circles with detached chain stitch, followed by couching the stems of the flowers.  Each time you used 2 different colours of floss to create the graduated shading as you look along the row.
  2. Linen, cotton and wool Aurifil threads where used of different colours, for seed stitching in between the flowers.
  3. I then added the lace trim with a short running stitch.
  4. Then onto the various rows of stitches down the sides, and across the top and bottom.
  5. I added some piping to my cushion which was not in the original instruction and a zip with a flap on the back. 
Here are some photographs of the completed cushion (approximately 32cm x 46cm) and I really enjoyed making it and now can’t wait to start the second one.
Picture
The pattern makes use of the following stitches:
Detached Chain, Seed Stitch, Running Stitch, French Knots, Detached Chain and Running Stitch together, Lace Running Stitch and Chain Stitch and Couching for the stems.  It has been a joy to get back to doing some hand stitching.

I have been busy collecting together the cubes for the North West Regional Chair’s Challenge on ‘Positivity’, yes we are on the final leg and I know seven of the eight cubes have now been completed. I have also been collecting all the pieces for the Savick Library bunting.
To date six pieces of the bunting are still with members but I am sure they will be in the post very soon. Savick Library remains closed at the moment but I have been in touch with Jennifer (the librarian) and discussed how she would like the finished bunting to be presented, so we are going for two ‘strings’ of bunting.

I have also been stitching pieces for the upcoming exhibition at Barton Grange in February 2021. Hopefully it will be going ahead and preparation is essential for this.
I have been trying out new techniques for my pieces, ‘Inspired by…….’  Not to give my ideas away I have used canvas to make strips linked to a place and crewel work as a basis for pieces inspired by an artist. I am on my second piece of crewel work with two more planned before completing the set. Then I hope to work on a piece linked to my Lockdown Journey. We (my husband and I) have walked over 700miles from our house since the beginning of the lockdown and have admired the seasons really close up. This piece is still in the planning stage, not on paper but in my brain!!
Finally, I have been making face coverings for family and friends following ‘the Big Community Sew’ patterns.

Well that is all the news. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this months blog. I hope you feel a little more inspired and not so alone. Yes I miss the natter and laughter too. Keep safe, keep well, keep calm and keep sewing.
A.R.

0 Comments

August 2020 - ‘Embroiderers’ Do it in Isolation and Once Again On-line’ - Month 5

3/8/2020

0 Comments

 
 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.
Picture
​
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
.
Picture
 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.

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!


Picture
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.   



Picture
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.


​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.
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.”

Picture
​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.

Picture

​

Picture
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.
​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.
Picture
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.
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    Posts prior to Feb 2013

    For posts prior to February 2013 please click here.

    Categories

    All
    Local News
    Workshops

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.