Spring Embroidery News

I’ve been spending so much of my time on hand sewing recently including some new embroidery projects so I thought we could catch up here with an embroidery post.

I even have a new pattern in a magazine, something I don’t do so much these days. But I really like the embroidery magazine Stitch and about once a year I like to design something for them.

This latest project is Barge Art Blooms. It’s inspired by the traditional folk art found on canal boats.

I have always loved this style of decorative art, sometimes called ‘Castles and Roses’ and I really enjoyed both designing and stitching this one. I used Aurifil 12wt wool (this pretty much goes without saying as I only really embroider with this now!) stitched on Essex Linen Yarn Dyed. This pillow is back with me now and a keeper for sure!

I’m producing a kit for the pillow which includes all the thread and fabric (including pillow backing).

At the moment it is still on pre-order as I am waiting for the fabric to arrive, but I hope to have orders dispatched within the next two weeks. View the product on my website here.

The kit doesn’t include the pattern which is only available in the magazine. This can be purchased as both paper copy or digital. Head to Stitch Magazine website here.

C & T Publishing (who have published both my books) are hosting a one day online event next month. The Embroidery Extravaganza takes place on May 11th at 9 am Pacific Time (5pm BST).

Join 11 expert embroidery instructors (including me!) for a vibrant multi-class event on stitches, motifs, methods, and more skill-building and imaginative lessons to take your embroidery to the next level!

This is what I will be teaching. I’m calling this pattern Interlocking Squircles and it’s designed to be an easy access sampler for learning basic crewel stitches.

We’ll be stitching on felt, which is super forgiving for beginners, and learning how to use chain, satin and seed stitch, colonial knots and laid work to fill these squishy overlapping shapes.

The design is a mix of two of my favourite projects from my Modern Crewel Embroidery book so it may seem a bit familiar to regular readers.

At the end of the pre-recorded part of the class I will demonstrate how to turn your sample into a cute needle book. Then there is a live Q & A session which will be such fun!

I’ve been playing around with the design to make another project – yes it’s a pouch! This time the embroidery is on a dark background and I added some pretty fabric strips.

The event starts off with a key note speech by embroidery legend Christen Brown and then you will gain access to ten 40-minute workshops to learn about crewel and free-form embroidery, basic embroidery stitches and techniques, adding silk ribbon to projects, getting started with the art of modoko (kogin motifs), machine embroidery hacks for success, finding your personal style, and so much more! It’s great value for only $49.99 (approx £40).

Find out more and book your place by clicking on this direct customised link. A recording of the whole event will be available on May 14th (with no expiration!).

Some of you may remember the Making Zen online event I was part of last May. Well it’s happening again this year and I am teaching a brand new class!

Introducing Shisha Samosas! These are cute triangular felt pincushions which enable me to teach the mysteries of shisha mirror work along with some extra embroidery embellishments.

I have been making some this week and they are so fun to stitch! They are quite addictive actually.

I’ve even been experimenting with other items for the shisha stitching including a button and coin. I love the idea of using found objects as an alternative to the Indian mirrors. If you guys have any more bright ideas for items I could use for this then please share them in the comments!

The Making Zen online retreat is happening 15th to 19th May and is a free event, but booking (and even promo) hasn’t started yet. Keep an eye out on my social media and especially sign up to my newsletter to hear more and /or head to Zen Stitching’s website here.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this embroidery round-up and are inspired to get stitching!