Canvas Stitches on Linen Madness

On the last Saturday in August I attended a Guild Certificate Workshop on Canvas Stitches on Linen taken by Margaret Adams. I worked on some 22 count Permin, rather looser weave than the samples most worked on. I felt a bit regretful when I saw the quite delicate pincushion results of others. I had also picked dramatic rather than gentle colours.

Margaret provided heaps of information and samples. Her design left plenty of room for improvising and personalising.

I was having a fine time playing with the stitches and kept going when I got home. I found it hard to put it down.

It brought back to mind my High School Maths end of year activity - what our teacher called 'mathematical sewing'. We drew geometric shapes on card, marked the outlines in pinpricks every 1/8", then used a needle and thread to stitch from one hole to another - straight lines creating curves. This is essentially what we were doing here on linen. 

This is roughly according to Margaret's sample.

I checked out books I have on Bargello, canvas work and tapestry to fill in around the sample stitches.

I didn't need a pincushion, and this was getting too big and too textured. Obviously it needed to become a bag.

I added another border to make it easier to back. At the same time I hunted through my stash for lining and backing fabric, coming up with a shiny synthetic and a little bit of red velvet.

I couldn't decide between them, so took them along to the Junior Embroiderer' Group on Saturday and asked their opinion. They were really helpful - and quite clear. The velvet should be used for the back and it should be lined in shiny pink.

It took me a couple of hours of ironing, measuring and testing to get this done, but I got there. I had originally intended to close it with a zip, but changed my mind and designed a flap and looped fastener - using a good luck charm given to me by the monk Jim used to meet with to practice English and learn Buddhism.   

The pouch is for two of my red necklaces.

It's not perfect - but it's finished, I've learnt a lot, it uses thread, fabric and decorations with memories, I like it a lot and it has a use. My kind of result.

Thanks Margaret and JEMS.

Birthday Crafts

My birthday - an auspicious one - was last week and I celebrated with lunch with friends and dinner the next day with family. I had many messages and phone calls. It was very gratifying - and I plan to make this celebration last all year. 

The gifts I received were so creative, crafty and satisfying that I wanted to record and share them. It is also appropriate for what happens to be my 400th blog post!

My grand-daughter Niamh, still on a mission to save my sofa (and those who sit on it) from pins, made me a fat pincushion using chain stitch, stem stitch, buttonhole stitch and top-stitch - all learned at the Junior Embroiderers' Group of the Embroiderers' Guild. It is wonderfully soft and tactile.

Her brother, with a little recipe help from his father, made me a jar of Fionella - a chocolate and hazelnut spread in the style of Nutella. It is delicious and very nutty.

Brigid crafted, 'fired' and strung me a pendant reminiscent of the waves she spends time riding as part of her Surf Club patrol duty. I looks as if it were made for the top I was wearing!

Veronica created Bubbles to keep me company while I stitch. Bubbles has a rainbow tail and comes with her own handbag containing a coin - her bus fare in case she gets lost.

Their mother, my elder daughter, gave me six months of StitchyBox threads - I wonder where these will take me in 2017?



My younger daughter, whose wonderful knitting has been interrupted for several years by arthritis, has picked up her needles again to make me a necklace, which comes on a gold chain, but can be threaded on to a range of necklaces.

A friend also gave me a bundle of Madiera threads - among my favourites. A couple of books from my brother and a beautiful, bright green handbag from friends completed the gifts showered on me on the day. I feel very blessed - and secure in the knowledge that the skills and joy I learned from my grandmother and mother will go on giving joy beyond my lifespan.