Table of contents for December 2024/January 2025 in Stitch

Hello, Stitch readers! It’s an absolute pleasure to introduce myself as the new editor of Stitch. As a longtime admirer and dedicated stitcher, I couldn’t be more excited to step into this role and join you in celebrating the beauty, creativity, and endless possibilities of embroidery. Embroidery is more than a craft; it’s a form of storytelling and self-expression. Every stitch tells a story, and with each needle and thread, we connect with artisans who came before us and those stitching beside us today. This magazine is a testament to that shared passion—a place where every project, technique, and inspiration serves as a reminder of the incredible community we’re all part of. I recently attended the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace, and it was an absolute joy to…

Do you find yourself saving embroidery thread scraps during your projects because the colours and textures are too lovely to discard? It can feel so wasteful to throw them away. This project puts those offcuts to good use, turning them into unique Christmas and thank you cards. It’s also a great way to experiment with stitching on paper. YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS • Thread off cuts in purple, yellow, green and red• Greeting card blanks, size 127mm x 178mm• Bondaweb• DMC jewel Effects E3852 (gold), E155 (purple), E703 (green) and stranded cotton 742 (yellow) EQUIPMENT • Equipment• Perforating tool – single point (Pergamano)• Paper scissors• Iron• Foam board• Pins• Tracing paper• Pencil• Double sided tape• Envelopes STITCHES & TECHNIQUES Straight stitch, French knot CHRISTMAS PRESENT 1 Sort your threads out…

This modern version of a Dorset button uses an enlarged plastic ring and DK wool, whereas the original Dorset buttons were crafted with a small sheep-horn ring and fine wool thread. For 300 years, it was a thriving cottage industry, primarily undertaken by women in Dorset, with buttons exported worldwide. Create this Christmas edition to pay homage to the history whilst making a lovely festive decoration. YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS • Bangle size ring (any ring will do)• DK wool (I have used sparkle)• Sequins of your choice• Beads of your choice• Nylon clear thread EQUIPMENT • Tapestry or wool needle• Beading needle• Scissors STITCHES & TECHNIQUES Blanket stitch, Basic weaving, Basic sewing (attaching of sequins & beads) START MAKING Blanket stitch 1 Cut 1 metre of the red wool…

Snowdrops have many meanings and symbols associated with them. Because it is the first flower to bloom when winter ends and spring begins, it symbolizes hope and renewal. When I was teaching as a young woman, a dear elderly neighbour would pick me a small posy of snowdrops, encircled with ivy leaves every year. I would take them to school and place them on my desk for all to admire, lift up their tiny petals and be amazed at their hidden beauty. This project reminds me of the kindness of my neighbour and the feeling of hope and new beginnings. YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS Fabric: - 8 inch square of power-woven silk dupion for the background - colour of your choice. (Golden Hinde)- Power-woven dupion does not have any slubs-…

Thank you for taking the time to speak with us, please let us know a little about your position at the Collection. As Curator, I curate displays of items from the collection, deliver study visits and talks, and work with our team of dedicated volunteers to catalogue, digitise, and care for the collection Can you tell us about the history and significance of the collection? The collection was founded by the Honourable Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth MBE (1886-1967), the last member of the Shuttleworth family to live at Gawthorpe Hall. From an early age, she had a keen interest in textiles and a passion for educating and inspiring people about design and craft. She began collecting textiles as visual aids for her lectures, which evolved into an educational resource that she displayed…

What initially drew you to the art of embroidery, and how did you begin your journey in this craft?. I started embroidering in school. My first works were cross stitch. I still love it and now combine cross stitching with crewel embroidery. At one point, my main focus was making teddy bears, often adding embroidery elements to them. In about 2018, I felt that creative itch. I wanted something new. One evening, about 3am, I got up and went to my craft room. I started embroidering my first work, a tiny hare. I remember the silence while I embroidered. And that sense of achievement when I finished. I named my temporalily closed Esty shop Hare In Hands after that inspirational evening (Don’t ask me why my Instagram handle is so…

Section after section, this project will introduce interesting threads and span a large number of stumpwork techniques. Observing the seasons and deciding on what was best to represent each section made this piece a joy to design! We are starting with winter: snowdrops and crocuses. YOU WILL NEED FOR THE FULL PROJECT MATERIALS Fabrics: - Calico – half a metre (50cm x 120 cm) – even if using the pre-printed background - White cotton- 2 pieces of 25 x 25cm Felt: - White – 1 piece of 10x9cm- Enchanted forest green – 1 piece of 6x6cm, 1 piece of 14x13cm- Gold – 1 piece of 7x6cm, 1 piece of 3x4cm- Camouflage green – 7x7cm- Sandstone – 1 piece of 11x4cm, 1 piece of 11x11cm- Mulled Cider – 1 piece of…

NORTH WEST SPIRELLA UNBOUND 28TH NOVEMBER 2024 – 21ST DECEMBER 2024 10:00 – 17:00. Free Admission Broadway gallery, Letchworth ‘An exhibition of textile art inspired by the rich history of the Spirella Company of Great Britain, founded in Letchworth Garden City in 1909. As a group of textile artists, the opportunity to explore and research a corset company has been fascinating as we dived into the archives to uncover the history behind Spirella. Corsets and Spirella are a running theme of our exhibition, but this is not an exhibition of corsets. Each artist has created their own, highly individual, piece. Some were inspired by the word Spirella or its changing font and design, others focused on corset design and structure, along with feminism and patriarchy; there is a nod to…

Introduction and background There has been a long-established stitching group in Harrogate. Initially as part of the Embroiders Guild, we then became the independent group, Harrogate Creative Stitchers, when the Guild were no longer able to support branches. After Covid, we searched for a new venue to hold our meetings as we felt we needed a room with more space and found the ideal place in the Friends Meeting House. This has enabled us to grow our membership which is now approximately 35-40 stitchers. We welcome everyone, from beginner to expert. We have an active profile on social media and a blog to promote the group to a wider audience. This fits with the groups ethos which is to promote and share and enjoy this rewarding art form. Crafts and…

Rags to riches Page 17 Scale: 100% Celtic Knot book cover Page 23 Scale: 80% Christmas cuff Page 41 Scale: 100% Christmas cuff Page 41 Scale: 100% Aurora Cottage Page 47 100% Phenology Wheel Page 7 Scale: 100% Crocus 1 Crocus 2 Crocus 3 Crocus 4 Crocus leaves Snow Snowdrop leaves Phenology Wheel Page 33 Scale: 100% Snow Snowdrop 1 Snowdrop 2 Snowdrop 3 Beaded Snowdrop Page 33 Scale: 100% A WORD ON COPYRIGHT Sharing may be encouraged in many aspects of life, but when it comes to original material, you have to be wary of copyright. By all means, copy the project or demonstration for your OWN PLEASURE, but no part of this magazine may be published, reproduced, copied, or stored in a retrieval system without the prior permission…