Chain stitch with Kate 15th July 2023

 at the end of the day

one finished piece

one free stitch abstract

some plants emerging

 

finished at home

some birds coming along

a planned abstract in the making

and exotic raised chain stitch!

Special request to everyone coming on Saturday 15th July

I’m after any pink/mauve fabric scraps if they can be spared. I’m planning on making a notebook cover for an aunty but it’s not a colour I like so I don’t have any myself. Any help appreciated, thank you!

Kathy Paton

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.

Silver and beaded bracelets with Jill, Saturday 17th June 2023

At our June meeting, we are going to make silver and bead wrapped bracelets. I have all the requirements to make them, including the .925 silver jump rings and one bracelet is covered in our club costs.  Should you wish to make more, then others can be made for an extra £3. I have some lovely beads, often acquired on my travels, which are all available for you to use. You can bring your own selection of beads if you want to incorporate them, although they should not be large. The key thing to know is the size of the wrist that you wish to make the bracelet for. These vary greatly and although there is some leeway, you do need to have a good idea. This may well not take experienced crafters the whole time unless you want to make many (they do make great presents!) so other ‘own projects’ might be advised. Looking forward to seeing you, Jill

Please let Kate know if you plan to come along (or not), so we can arrange which room to use.

Braiding Stitch Club

 I believe a good day was had by all, going by the number of braids that were produced!  It was amazing how different they all looked, depending on the combination of colours and the thickness of materials used.

Narrow ribbon, wool, gold fingering, threads, novelty yarns all gave different effects in the finished braid.

The lengths were kept short on purpose, so everyone could have a go at multiple types of braids and keep them as samples going forward.

We tried round briads, a Laramie braid and a flat braid.  Further instructions were issued for another flat braid and a square braid.

Julie inspired her rope loving husband into creating a dog lead