Description:

​This group is for those interested in getting together once a month and working on an unfinished project.

I will not be teaching a specific project in this class, but will be available to provide assistance with design or technique.  Join us if:

• You have a project that you have started and want to finish, but just don’t get around to working on it at home,

• Have been to any of my classes and need assistance getting the project started again,

• Want to design your own project, but not sure where to start, 

• You just want the opportunity to stitch and be inspired by the work of others.​

Description:

Make the panels for a simple jacket or vest with boro or kantha style running stitch. A simple jacket pattern will be provided but class participants are welcome to use their own. The panels will be laid out separately in the first class and then most of the hand - stitching will be completed at home. There is an opportunity to attend a ‘finishing’ class later in the year (or even the following year!) for help with the final construction of the jacket. It is also possible to make a wallhanging, cushion or bag in this class if you don’t have time to complete the stitching on a whole jacket.

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Beginners to intermediate. Clothing construction experience would help but is not essential.

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Jacket pattern

• A simple ‘Haori’ style pattern is provided sizes 10-16 (approximately).

What to bring:

• You are welcome to bring your own pattern for a jacket or vest/waistcoat (preferably one you have tried before).

• 2.5  metres pre washed flanelette or an old flannel sheet (this acts as the batting and stabilises your pieces for stitching.)

• Fabric: Equivalent of at least 2 metres of fabric pieces for jacket top layer (your choice of colours)

• Sashiko Thread (If you intend to do as much stitching as the class sample you will need approximately 200metres of sashiko thread or pearl cotton in chosen colour. Most quilt shops sell sashiko thread).

• Paper scissors

• Sewing machine, extension cord (sewing around your pieces by machine speeds up the tacking process)

• Walking foot for your machine if you have one

• Sashiko needles or chenille 22.

• Fabric Scissors, Pins, unpicker, spare machine needles etc.

• Machine thread to match your fabric

• Chalk pencils or other fabric marker.

• 2 metres of cheap thin interfacing or 2 metres of newsprint paper (for tracing the pattern)

Alternative:

• No sewing machine option

• A pre made jacket which is bigger than you would normally wear and which you can stitch through. Example – a light weight denim  or linen jacket

• Sashiko thread, needles, scissors etc.

Description:

​For those that have always wanted to have a go at long and short but thought it was too hard. Learn to do long and short stitch, keep your stitch direction and create tonal change.​

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What to bring:

• Embroidery hoop - 8” is fine

• Washed calico

• Background fabric, silk or cotton, not too textured, pale colours are easier to work on.

• Stranded cottons - 3 or 4 shades of flower colour and 3 shades of green

• Size 10 crewel needles

• Pencil and notebook

• Normal sewing kit

Description:

Canvas work is often used to create beautiful geometric designs, but those same stitches can be used to celebrate a favourite view.

Using both crewel wool and stranded cotton to create texture. Learn how to choose stitches to best represent parts of your landscape and help give the image perspective.

The finished landscape will fit within a 5”square.

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What to bring:

• Image of a favourite view, printed off or on your phone

• 10 inch embroidery hoop

• Stranded cottons and crewel wool to match the colours on your image.

• Size 22 Tapestry needles

• Normal sewing kit

• Book of canvas stitches if you have one

• Notebook and pencil

Description:

I love the vibrant colours of the embroideries of Kutch in the Gujarat region of Northwestern India. In this workshop I am offering the student a choice of one of three projects.  All the projects offer the students the opportunity to learn some of the techniques found in the embroidery this region. In particular, Kutch work and shisha mirror application as well as some of the other stitches commonly used in this style of embroidery.

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You will need to select from one of the following designs:

1. Lotus Flower Bowl - $50.00

2. Elegant Elephant – $50.00

3. Preening Peacock - $50.00

This class is not suitable for beginning embroiderers.

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What to bring:

• Once the student has selected the project they would like to complete, a needs list specific to the project will be supplied.

Description:

Fold and Form: an introduction to folding and expanding the possibilities of folded forms

​Tutor will provide pre-cut papers and a few other specifics for a variety of small class projects.  A $15 materials fee per person will cover this. 

What to bring:

• sharp craft knife 

• cutting board (A3 size or larger) 

• sharp pencil

• ballpoint pen

• 45 cm ruler or longer (metal works best)

• bone folder (a wooden spoon is also good)

• awl

• a couple of sheets of favourite decorative papers.

• small selection of embroidery threads (your favourite colours that go with papers (see above)

• needles suitable for embroidery thread

• scissors (one for paper)  

Description:

In this class you will make a needle book (10cm x 10 cm) of wool blanketing that is decorated with velvet and stitch. Inside are four pages of flannel for your needles and a ribbon for a pair of embroidery scissors. Each needle book is individual as you choose your own colours of thread and own stitches to decorate it with. The class is a full day class and there will be a sewing machine provided to complete the construction. The construction is not complicated, and instructions will be provided if not completed in class.

The kit includes all the fabrics, the ribbon, and beads to make the needle book.  There will be several colourways offered in the kits.

What to bring:​

• you will need your usual stitching equipment:

• a variety of hand sewing needles,

• small sharp scissors,

• thimble if used and

• any small amounts of different types of threads you might like to use.

Description:

Kogin is a Japanese stitching technique.  

In this workshop, you will learn how to stitch kogin.  Once stitched, the design can be made up into a drawstring bag.

Kit contains: pattern, instructions and Kogin needle

What to bring:​

• Kogin fabric, or other 20 count linen fabric - 23cm x 50 cm   

• Kogin thread (three skeins) or equivalent e.g. Perlé 5 (one ball or
  two skeins).  The sample was stitched using Perlé 5.

• Lining fabric for the bag - 23cm x 56cm.  (This won’t be used
  during the workshop.)

• Cotton for marking the fabric, preferably in a colour that matches
  your thread

• Scissors

• Note taking materials
  
  Note that a hoop is not used when stitching Kogin.

Description:

In this beginner’s class based on a Mughal version of the great flood, you will learn a range of embroidery stitches.

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Worked in crewel embroidery, stitch an exotic boat, happy giraffes and a kindly Noah.

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In this class you will learn a number of crewel stitches with Strand yarn.

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The $30 design pack will include a printed linen/cotton panel of the design, a suggested stitch and colour layout and a stitch dictionary.

At the end of the class you will be given detailed stitching instruction

A Strand wool pack containing the colours used will be available in class. 

Description:

Needle Lace is lace worked with a needle, thread and a limited number of stitch variations.  Variations of needle lace are found all over Europe.  This project is based on the needle lace made in Kenmare, Ireland.

In this class you will:

• Learn how to set up a thread or wire cordonet

• Learn how to work a variety of needle lace stitches

• Work a small stitch sampler

• Work a kawakawa leaf

• How to finish the piece

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A kit will provided with all the materials required to complete the project.

What to bring:

• Embroidery scissors

• Hedebo stick or similar (knitting needles will work) to make the “holes”.

• Encyclopaedia of Needlework – Therese de Dillmont (TdD) if you have a copy. Full stitching instructions will be provided, but if you do have a copy of this book you may find it useful.

Description:

Learn how to do ‘One Stitch Sashiko’ and turn your stitching into  the top of a pincushion , a patch for jeans or a needle case.  Participants will learn how to mark up a grid and stitch a variety of different hitomizashi  patterns. 

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What to bring:

• 1 fat quarter of a plain loose weave fabric such as linen or homespun

• 1 skein of sashiko cotton

• A few skeins of embroidery thread

• Sashiko needle or chenille needle size 22.

• Fabric scissors

• Fabric marker suitable for your fabric

• Pencil and notepad

• Small amount of wool or polyester stuffing (enough to fill a coffee cup)

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NB. Small bowls are available for $15 but this is optional and you are welcome to bring your own. I suggest small op shop wooden or china bowls, egg cups, or wooden wine goblets.

Description:

Learn the basics of working with metal threads while you create this floral patch that could be stitched to a jacket, made into a brooch or added to a bag. The perfect, short workshop to dip your toe into the world of metal thread embroidery.

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What to bring:

• Small embroidery hoop

• Washed calico to fit hoop

• Plain fabric which will be your flower

• Size 10 embroidery needle

Description:

Chikankari is a whitework technique originating from the Lucknow region of India.  It is traditionally worked in white thread on white muslin, lawn or organza.  The transparency of the fabric means there is a shadow effect created by some of the stitches which adds to the design. The intricate designs that can be created with this technique are used to embellish both men’s and women’s clothing.

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What to bring:

• Embroidery Hoop – 8 inch diameter

• Chalk pencil with a fine tip – e.g. ‘Bohin’ propelling chalk pencil.  It needs to be something that will wash out or iron out.  Pencil will work, but it rubs off onto the thread as you work the piece and is hard to wash out.

• Needles – a range of sharps – you will be using between 1 – 3 strands of stranded cotton. 

• Embroidery scissors

• Piece of calico to practise the stitches.

• Small hoop for practise stitches.

Description:

Learn how to do ‘One Stitch Sashiko’ and turn your stitching into  a Komebukuro bag (rice bag). Participants will explore a range of different one stitch sashiko stitches in class then complete the panels at home. Instructions for completing the bag will be provided.

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What to bring:

Basic sewing supplies:

• fabric scissors, needles, pins.

• fabric pencil (for marking a grid on your fabric) white if marking on navy fabric.

• pencil sharpener

• ruler and cutting mat

• Sashiko needles (the shorter ones) or Chenille needles (chenille 22) that work with your chosen thread

• Sashiko thread or Perle cotton 5 in chosen colour, embroidery threads

• Your glasses if you need them

For the stitched panels:

• Half metre of chosen fabric such as a  plain medium weight linen,  Homespun or similar. (not too tight a weave).

• Half a metre of light weight fabric such as old sheeting/brushed cotton  or light fusible interfacing. This acts as a stabiliser for sewing.

For constructing the bag at home you will need:

 Half a metre of  patterned fabric for lining

• Half metre polyester felt or light batting,

• 2 metres Cord or tape for drawstrings

• Sewing machine

Description:

Create a three-dimensional Dahlia flower with buds and leaves using the addictive art of needle weaving.

Mary will bring along samples where she has used this technique in her “Ruins from the Wardrobe” series. In this series, she takes garments that have personal meaning but are no longer wearable and embellish with their stories. Vegetation takes over the garment in the same way a building ruin is invaded.

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The kit will include four flower shades of Strand yarn, green yarn and the background linen/cotton mix fabric. There will be a choice of both background  and flower colours.

Description:

This workshop is designed as a stress-free introduction to designing your own piece of surface embroidery.

The first part of the class will be spent drawing from various pieces of textiles and lace, looking at the tiny motifs that make up the designs as well as the negative spaces between the shapes. These shapes will then be combined to create an original design ready for stitching.

Bring threads and fabric you already have, the main focus of this class is the creating a design and working out how that could be stitched, you may not start a masterpiece during this class but you will learn the process of moving from design idea to stitched piece that can be transferred to any idea you have in the future.

This workshop is suitable for beginner stitchers and those ready to take the step into designing your own work.

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What to bring:

• Pencil and sheets of A4 paper

• Embroidery hoop

• Background fabric to fit hoop

• Washed calico - size to fit hoop

• Selection of threads, stranded cotton, wool or cotton perle.

• Mixed pack of embroidery needles

• Normal sewing kit.

Description:

Decorate a Christmas Tree with embroidery, beads and felt.

Using thread cones that are the byproduct of kit manufacturing as the base, these three-dimensional trees will be a treat to make.

A variety of stitches will be taught, and a number of alternate samples will give you inspiration.

A selection of threads, felt and beads will be available for you to choose your own colours.

Stitching guidelines will be printed on linen/ cotton fabric.

The kit cost of $30 includes printed linen, threads, beads, felt and instructions. 

Extra cones will be available if you want to make more at home.

Description:

Make a mouse ornament (or two) for the Christmas tree. These sweet little mice will look lovely hanging on your Christmas Tree.  Made out of commercial felt they are quick to make (this is not a needle felting class).  Make for yourself or give them away as Christmas gifts to be treasured by family and friends.

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What to bring:

• 1 sheet of mouse coloured felt (approx. 25cm square)

• small amount polyester batting

• 3 black seed beads

• Needle, thread to match felt

• Fabric Scissors

• Paper scissors

• Small amount of felt for jacket (Approx 12cm square.)

• 25cm of ribbon for skirt (5cm wide)

• 8cm of ribbon for waistband (about 0.5 cm wide)

• 10cm broderie anglais lace for blouse (or any other lace)

• leather strip for tail (to match felt for body)

NB I have some scraps of leather which may match your felt. I also have some seed beads so don’t buy them specially.