Stitch February/March 2022

Quality Time Ever had a golden period when everything goes swimmingly well, and you feel on top of your game? For Kate Pankhurst, 2021 was her year. Following a successful career as a graphic designer in magazine publishing, she wanted to pursue an art form with integrity and creativity. Hand embroidery delivered on that desire. Last summer, she graduated with distinction as an accredited Royal School of Needlework Tutor. The final hurrah of three years non-stop stitching is the signature piece. While Kate loves tradition, she also likes to innovate and surprise. With Lockdown O’Clock, she opted to re-tell a familiar story… Lockdown shifted perceptions. On the one hand time flew. Yet it was marked by the analogue slow phases of the moon and the growth of plants. It offered…

Project Flower Power Brighten your day with lush, modern crewelwork! Six different flowers strewn across grass-green linen with their rich textures and vibrant colours bursting from the hoop. BY JO AVERY It’s easy to get inspiration on country walks in the summer. The hedgerows and fields are overflowing with a profusion of wildflowers in different shapes, sizes, and colours. I’ve attempted to evoke this natural abundance. The orange and purple palette reminds me of the late 1960’s, hence the project name! YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS • Tracing paper: A4 sheet • Fabric, Cashel 3281 28ct linen by Zweigart in shade 6130 Grass Green: 35 x 35cm • Aurifil 12wt wool (lana), one 50m spool of each: - Peach 8212 - Cerise 8530 - Lemon 8120 - Egg yolk 8135 -…

Project Love in Bloom For an eloquent and enduring way to express passion, pour your heart into embroidering the perfect single, red rose. BY LOËTITIA GIBIER I have a few subjects I go back to over and over; tattoos are one of them. The traditional style with the strong black outline is one of my obsessions. Here, heavy padding and the changes in thread to catch the light and give extra texture reinforce the graphic look I wanted. YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS • Fabric: - White silk dupion: 25 x 25cm - Calico: 25 x 25cm - Green organza: 15 x 15cm, x2 - Acrylic felt, red: A4 • Threads: - Madeira Silk, 0210 Red: 5m pack, x2 - Madeira Decora, 1439 Deep red: 5m pack, x1 - Madeira Glamour…

Feature Threads Through Time As the Royal School of Needlework celebrates its 150th anniversary, we take a reflective look at the enduring role the charity and its collection play in keeping the art of hand embroidery alive. It’s well-known that the Royal School of Needlework has a global reputation in training excellence in hand embroidery. Their degree course is the only one of its kind in the world. From the outset, Chief Executive, Dr Susan Kay-Williams is keen to dispel a myth: the RSN is not for the elite; rather, it trains and produces the elite. It’s a clear statement of intent that goes right to the heart of their operation. The Founding Principles Established in 1872, the charity’s two founding principles are still pertinent today. The first centred on…

Project Regency Style You shall go to the ball! Intertwine timeless motifs and traditional techniques with a contemporary take to adorn a stunning minaudière clutch bag. BY HATTIE McGILL Behind the extravagant embroidery on the finished costumes for the next series of Bridgerton are many manic months of hard work, littered with COVID setbacks and crazy weekend working! My design takes inspiration from the modern twist this wonderfully addictive show gives the Regency period. YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS • Fabric: - Background: 9oz organic half panama from Merchant & Mills - Lining: printed cotton • Gold pearl purl I used fine pearl purl from Golden Hinde. • Bright check in gold & bronze I used size 6 bright check, also from Golden Hinde. • Gütermann machine thread: - To match…

Project Flourish Watch this beautiful bunch of pansies spring into life! Simple use of a variety of techniques will boost confidence when working with colour and texture. BY JILL KIPNIS OF INSPIRATIONAL EMBROIDERY YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS • Plain white or off-white fabric, washed: - An old sheet is ideal, 30 x 40cm - A scrap piece for testing the inks • Cotton wadding: 30 x 40cm I used Bosal Katahdin 100% cotton wadding from Empress Mills. • Watercolour paper: at least 35 x 45cm • Dr Ph Martin’s permanent inks: - Lemon yellow - Juniper green - Violet - Black - Scarlet • Wool tops - Two shades of purple - Blue - Green - Yellow • Scrap of silk velvet or good quality felt: yellow • Organza: -…