What Are You Stitching?

The diversity that exists within the stitching world is infinite – from technique, subject, materials and colour, the possibilities of what can be created with needle and thread are all but endless! In this week’s What Are You Stitching? we’re celebrating the diversity of Project Type – how a piece is constructed and/or its intended general use.

‘My friend was having a birthday and being an avid crafter herself, l chose the smocked bag pattern ‘Purple Passion’ from Australian Smocking & Embroidery Magazine issue #55. She was very surprised and loves her new bag! There are 544 glass amber beads in the panel, all worked with #8 DMC thread on Dupion Silk. Smocking is my love.’

Judith, what a fabulous gift! The time and talent you’ve poured into the bag is remarkable and it will be a lovely reminder of your friendship each time your friend uses it.

‘My Embroiderers’ Guild of America chapter, Nittany Valley in the Mid-Atlantic Region, is stitching Curious Needlebook designed by Heather Lynn Gitlin, a project featured in NeedleArts Magazine. Inspired by her design, I created a scissors fob using the same stitches in my own colorway. I’m very happy with how it turned out!’

Amy, we love that you were able to adapt Heather’s design into a colourway that was truly your own. Using your scissors will be all the more fabulous now that they’ll be so beautifully adorned!

‘This is my very first time doing Stumpwork and I made the flowers to decorate this tea cosy I knitted and felted.’

‘The original knitting was a sweater I made for my husband but unfortunately he passed away before I finished it. The cosy keeps my tea perfectly warm and I do think of him each time I use it. Your magazine is an ongoing inspiration for me, and I can’t thank you enough.’

Karen, your first attempt at Stumpwork is simply flawless and completes your tea cosy just beautifully! We’re sorry to hear your husband never got to wear the sweater, but love that you were able to repurpose it into something that reminds you of him each time you use it.

‘Our local quilt guild of approximately 200 members has a luncheon meeting in December and June and we are asked to bring our own plates and utensils. I thought it would be fun to make a pretty carrier, rather than relying on using an ugly plastic bag!’

‘One of my passions is crazy quilting and I have several round robin blocks lurking in my stash that had never been turned into anything, but one of them became the perfect cover for my carrier. Now I can take my place setting to the meetings in style!’

Mary Anne, what a unique and environmentally friendly way to travel in style! We love your ingenuity and attention to detail.

Whatever project type you’ve put your needles and threads to, we’d love to see it! Email photos of your work along with a few details about your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com