Achievements

In September, I set the Haworth Stitch Group a challenge to make a scarf using fine cotton cheesecloth and appliqued shapes.  This group of talented and creative ladies have surpassed my expectations to produce the most wonderful work.  Here is Liz's scarf.  She used a series of interconnecting circles to create a pattern and then stitched over them with split stitch and chain stitch.  The effect is stunning!

Collections

A lovely workshop with Textilia 3 group and led by guest tutor Hannah Lamb, brought a sense of order to my Auntie Jean's sewing box.  Disparate objects found at the bottom of the box have been attached to dark linen with various decorative stitches. 

Sleepy Reindeer

The latest addition to this year's Christmas decorations:  a sleepy reindeer embellished with folk art stitches.  My new go-to stitch is whipped chain.  You can see it here looking like a green and white candy cane.  Lay the chain stitch down in green and then whip each stitch with white.  Simple!

Angel face

Working up some new ideas for forthcoming workshops.  Here is a little angel decoration, a cross between Folk Art and Opus Anglicanum (a bit of a strange mix).  The face is stitched with fine split stitch to create a raised and contoured surface.

Peace and piece

Patching and Place workshop with Hannah Lamb at Salts Mill

Prepared for another busy weekend, I suddenly found myself with a free morning!  All chores done I skipped off to Salts Mill to spend a wonderful, peaceful hour in the company of Hannah Lamb and fellow stitchers.  Hannah worked in conjunction with the Campaign for Wool to celebrate the manufacture of merino wool cloth in Yorkshire.  Using off-cuts of suiting we made a patchwork using the English paper piecing method.  Hannah was keen to show the beautiful woven selvedges and the paper pieces, which goes someway to explain my unconventional assembly.

Stolen Sunshine

Making the most of the last few days of October sunshine, sitting on my back steps with a mug of tea and a handful of threads, sampling for some new workshops.

King Harold's Dog

Bayeux stitch - The Battle of Stamford Bridge Project

Somewhere in the East Riding of Yorkshire you will find a dedicated group of stitchers who are creating their own prequel to the Bayeux Tapestry.  The good citizens of Stamford Bridge want the world to know that it was the battle fought in their little village that was the turning point for English history, not the later Battle of Hastings.  You can read all about it on their website The Tapestry Project.  

I picked up one of their little kits in order to learn more about Bayeux stitch.  It was great fun but I'm not sure I'll pass their rigorous standards.  Here is King Harold's Dog.