Kathy Paton has been making beads with Tyvek paper

She wanted to share this with you, so that maybe you too would like to have a go at home.

First I painted an A4 sheet of Tyvek paper with liquid acrylics ( in my case, Magic Color). The gold is powder that is sprinkled on wet paint. Other paints would work, just might not be as deep in colour. 

When dry, I used scissors to cut the paper in long triangles as I wanted rounded beads. For tube like beads, cut in rectangles.

I wound the paper around a bamboo skewer (not metal as they conduct heat) towards the pointy end. Needs to be a round skewer, not flat. I pressed the skewer with the end piece facing the ground so it didn’t unravel. I did this outside so there was no problems with any fumes. I heated the paper with a crafting hot air gun, slowly turning the stick as the paper contracted.

Some others I made. 

I found using Tyvek paper was easier than Tyvek fabric. I bought mine from eBay: 

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401686924994? mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ZnLf0tp8RuW&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Ui oiWqN1SFq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Chain stitch with Monica and Kate, 15th July 2023

Please let Kate know whether you will be coming or not. 

Could you bring -

• ·        Two pieces of calico or felt (one for practise – size of stitch, colour coordination etc and one for your work)
• ·        stranded embroidery cotton in colours of your choice

• ·        crewel needle (easy to thread)

But Kate will be bringing all of these, so if you are lacking anything there will be no problem.

Monica and I can help you with basic chain stitch and I will try and help with any variety of chain stitch you happen to chose. Ann has provided information sheets of how to do alternative types of chain stitch.

Chain stitch is a lovely rhythmic hand stitch, very good for meditative stitching. Monica’s abstracts and trees are marvellous examples of the beauty that can be created with this stitch.

This stitch is used a lot in Indian embroidery to create densely covered cushion designs as well as designs on garments and other decorative textiles; here the use of chain stitch sewing machines has speeded up and regularised the process. Please bring along any examples you might have and we will have a little display on the day.

This stitch club can be used in various ways

• ·        you can explore the varieties of different types of chain stitch; my favourite is the detached chain stitch (daisy chain stitch).
• ·        Another approach is to bring a piece of calico with a design pencilled on, and outline it and fill it in with chain stitch.
• ·        Or, like Monica you can just bring a piece of calico (or felt – but remember this will stretch a bit) and just sew, following your inner being.

The subject for your piece can be abstract, trees or whatever you wish. Birds and animals work very well in chain stitch – both outline and infill.

Sadly Ann Roberts has been called away to a funeral and so we will learn about the lavender wand another year. Judith wanted to know this year and has learnt the details from Ann, so maybe ask her about it.

Here is some of Monica's work

Beaded bracelets with Jill Saturday 17th June 2023

Jill was well organised with wire, silver rings, cord, tools and pots of beads for us all to use as well as examples for us to see.

There was a wonderful sense of achievement and satisfaction as we all completed one bracelet each and many of us started others.