In last week’s All Stitched Up! we unpacked the idea of building a village that supports our journey with needle and thread and walked through Hannah Brencher’s approach to creating one.

Over time, Hannah realised that if she let others see her ‘real’ self, worked on building relationships rather than just making acquaintances, made herself available to others by meeting a need as well as accepting the help offered to her, and ensured she was consistent in showing up, a village would indeed be built around her.

After hearing about a similar approach to village building that a local Church in Adelaide has implemented, we realised there is indeed genius in the order. Their approach has been distilled down to three simple words.

These words encourage everyone to gather together at Church, as well as in small groups at each other’s homes, one-on-one, or via technology if they’re not able to meet in person. This enables them to grow as individuals as they walk through shared resources and dialogue with each other throughout.

They then go by serving within their congregation as well as finding a way to meet the need of someone in their community, in turn inviting them to become a part of the process. A ‘Gather, Grow, Go Circle’ is created, affirming Hannah’s approach that small, intentional steps when set on repeat create a beautiful cycle that allow our relationships to blossom from acquaintance to tribe.

Do you have a similar cycle in your journey with needle and thread?

We’d love to hear how you gather with your needlework tribe, whether it’s in groups large or small, one-on-one, or virtually. The ways in which you grow, be it by learning specific techniques together, working on a common project or simply dialoguing your progress and working together to solve the challenges your individual projects create. Then how you go by offering your skills and talents to those within your village and taking your craft to those yet to become part of your tribe.

Not only does this circular approach allow us to build a village that supports our time with needle and thread, it means the art of needlework is preserved as we pass it on to those yet to experience the gentle push and pull of needle and thread through fabric.

We’ve covered so many topics in All Stitched Up! over the past few weeks, it is not surprising that we’ve received a delightfully mixed bag of responses from our community. We love how different articles will inspire different people and, sorry to be repetitive but we have to say it again, we never get tired of hearing from you!

The article about stitch-alongs in All Stitched Up! issue #270 is still garnering responses, and as we believe you can never discover too many stitch-alongs or online stitching communities, please keep them coming!

This week, we heard from Shalaya who brought our attention to the SAL from A Steady Thread. It is a floral blackwork SAL which, Shalaya reports, offers so many creative opportunities for colour variations and different sizes.

Victoria Wakefield sent us a fantastic story about her own SAL experience. She had never heard of SALs until she discovered a Facebook page called ‘Embroidery Motifs from Old Dutch Samplers’. They were just about to start a SAL, designed by Robyne Melia that was called ‘Song of Solomon Ship Sampler’. Most of the motifs came from the book that gave the Facebook page its name, but the designer selected a range of historical patterns, themes and ideas to create a stunning project.

Participants were encouraged to use linen and threads from their stash to complete the piece, so Victoria stitched on a piece of linen shoe lining fabric she had purchased years before and used DMC threads from her own collection.

The aspect of the project she enjoyed most of all, however, was being able to speak with stitchers from all over the world and to share progress.

But it is clear from the pictures, Victoria gained so much out of the experience. If you want to try this stunning design, Robyne Melia has it available for purchase on Etsy.

We are still hearing from readers telling us about their favourite stitching spots, including an email we received from Lesley Church. Lesley told us that her favourite place to stitch is the Botanical Gardens in Sydney, Australia. She loves it because she meets so many people there who are curious about what she is doing. She was even approached by a photographer who wanted to take her picture! She loves the fact that she can always find a quiet spot in the rotunda. She says:

In All Stitched Up issue #275, a reader mentioned the subscription service called CraftPod, and Anne Johnson wrote in to tell us about her experience with it. Anne lives in rural Washington in the USA, so she doesn’t have a lot of craft stores nearby. She subscribed to CraftPod and has been so impressed by the materials and projects.

In fact, she so enjoyed receiving a parcel from overseas regularly that she also signed up to another service, Cotton and Twine. Both of these subscriptions mean that Anne enjoys plenty of new projects, beautifully packaged and delivered to her door; designs that she would struggle to source the materials for on her own.

Firstly, Noela has observed that the tension achieved when needleweaving in Hardanger is much more even, when using a hoop. She doesn’t normally use one but wondered what the experiences of others had been when working this technique. Hoop or no hoop? Do any of our Hardanger lovers have a preference?

And finally, Lyn van Dyk shared with us a story about a sampler that her aunt found rolled up in a drawer. The sampler was dated 1838 and was stitched by Mary Ann Edwards. Although Lyn now has it framed on her wall, neither she nor anyone in her family knows where it came from.

Through research, she discovered that Mary Ann was born in 1828 in Ipswich, Queensland. She married Robert Bamford and moved to NSW in 1854. Then, nothing is known of her until she died in 1904 in Stuart Mill, Victoria.

Lyn wanted to ask if anyone knew anything more of Mary Ann Edwards. In the meantime, she wanted to share the fine, delicate stitching that characterises this gorgeous, historic sampler.

As always, your emails and messages make our collective day. We love to hear from you, whether you want to ask a question, respond to one of our previous articles, or just say hello. We couldn’t do all of this without you.

Back in All Stitched Up! issue #257 we introduced to you some stunning silk thread packs we received from Pipers Silks. You may remember that not only do their gorgeous threads come in a range of amazing colours, they are also the silk threads of choice by star designer, Helen M. Stevens, who appears regularly in Inspirations magazine.

Based on the popularity of the silk packs we originally featured, this week we’re pleased to announce the addition of some new colour ranges so you can build your collection.

‘Summer Blues’ includes 10 gorgeous shades from the palest blue to the darkest navy. This complements our existing packs ‘Summer Fruits’ and ‘Misty’ that feature an array of pinks and greens.

We also have two multicoloured packs: ‘Brights’ that includes yellows, oranges and greens and the most delicious turquoise we’ve ever seen; and ‘Enchanted’ that offers black, grey and deep, Imperial purple alongside a range of reds and golds.

Stitching with silk is like nothing else you’ve stitched with before. Once you start, you’ll want to have the entire colour range at your fingertips, so start or add to your collection today.

Have you heard about the latest textile art craze? It seems punch needle embroidery is everywhere at the moment. For anyone interested in trying something new, different and a lot of fun, we still have a couple of books on our shelves about punch needle embroidery we wanted to remind you about.

If you’re brand new to the technique, then Lucy Davidson’s ‘Punch Needle Embroidery for Beginners’ is the book for you. If you’ve done a bit before, then you might enjoy the range of projects in ‘The Art of Punch Needle Embroidery’ by Marie Suarez. Both books are packed with ideas, instructions and inspiration so you can master this fabulously quick technique in even quicker time.

The four seasons of our climate are forever cycling through. As one part of the world moves towards the warmth of spring and summer, the other moves away from it. Whichever direction you are headed, as stitchers we’re fortunate that we are able to capture the floral beauty of the seasons with our needle and thread, regardless of what’s happening outside.

Gary Clarke’s Leucadendron originally featured in Inspirations issue #105. This project stood out from the crowd as it was worked on fine organza, giving it an ethereal air and a stunning finish. The Leucadendron is a South African native from the Proteaceae family, that is enormously popular as a cut flower due to its longevity and beauty.

Gary’s three-dimensional project is worked using silk threads, with the central cone and two bracts worked separately over printed paper. The result is a delicate finish that is made even more otherworldly by the ceramic tile that sits behind the embroidered flower.

Leucadendron is a unique project that perfectly encapsulates the beauty of nature, whether you are watching it wax or wane outside of your windows as you stitch.

Textile art is growing rapidly, and every time we look on social media, we discover more great artists. Here are our recommendations for April:

@dorsetbuttons: Who would have thought that the humble Dorset button could be the basis for such gorgeous art?

@_dc.design_: Prepare to be floored by the striking work of Delaney Conner, a textile artist from New York

@alisonlholt: See if you can tell the difference between the photographs and the textile works of the incredible Alison Holt.

@ianberry.art: Ian Berry uses denim jeans for his art – nothing more. It almost defies belief what he has created from a humble item of clothing.

Don’t forget you can also enjoy our daily social media posts showcasing needlework designs, embroidery artists and other fabulous stitching centric musings. Follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram today.

Many of our readers will be familiar with the exquisite work produced by Margaret Lee. Margaret is not only an expert in Chinese embroidery, having written two books on the subject and produced countless designs. She is also fully qualified in Japanese embroidery, which she teaches, designs and writes about.

We have featured many of Margaret’s designs over the years, including some of her magnificent Japanese beaded pieces, and today we are really excited to share with you not only a brand-new piece, but also introduce a rather unique and special technique.

Yuki from Inspirations issue #110, is a project which introduces the technique of Japanese goldwork. The subtle, delicate design is worked using traditional techniques to produce a project like no other. The combination of lines and shapes, all worked in delicate golds and silver introduces our readers to a range of new embroidery skills, new ideas and a wonderful new way of stitching that we are sure will be popular.

Margaret tells us that:

This particular design, Yuki, represents snow, an important symbol in Japanese culture. Heavy snowfall would usually indicate that the following spring would bring abundance due to the melt water. This meant a good rice harvest would follow, and therefore snow was a reason for celebration. This project is based on the popular Yukiwa, or snow circle pattern. The pattern represented snowflakes before their true images were discovered and emerged during the Muromachi period (1392-1568).

Margaret has depicted this historic pattern, that was often included on textiles worn in summer to introduce a sense of coolness, in an uncluttered yet beautiful form. Much of the design is worked using the various couching techniques that are so often employed in Japanese embroidery.

Full instructions for single thread couching, and couching pairs are included, as well as guidance on turning corners, sinking tails and managing threads with a koma.

Although the myriad new techniques in this project may seem daunting at first, Margaret’s instructions are always clear and exceptionally detailed. The most important thing to remember is that there is no rush! Success will only come from patience, care and concentration as you learn to manipulate the threads and place the stitches.

Yuki is the perfect project to start learning the techniques of Japanese goldwork, as the motifs are simple and clear, with each one asking you to master a slightly different method so that your skills will progressively grow.

When complete, the simple beauty of Yuki will belie the amount of care and effort that will have gone into it. But in many ways, that is the entire point. Often, the projects that impress the most are the ones that seem so simple and yet offer so many ways that one can challenge and improve oneself.

If there is any project which you should tackle this year to take your embroidery to new heights, it is this one - the marvellous, subtly beautiful Yuki.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Yuki by Margaret Lee is an elegant panel of traditional snow motifs in Japanese goldwork.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Yuki includes everything* you need to re-create this stunning panel: Fabrics (pre-printed), embroidery threads and needles.

*Please Note: To cater for flexibility of purchase, instructions are not included with our kits. For step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to the magazine/digital pattern.

A-Z of Goldwork with Silk Embroidery is full of practical expertise on how to create beautiful goldwork embroideries, enhanced with silk embroidery, while conveying the history and tradition of goldwork down the years.

Beetlemania by Jane Nicholas from Inspirations issue #88 is a stunning goldwork diving beetle.

Tree of Life by Alison Cole from Inspirations issue #105 is a superb goldwork embroidery showcasing a compelling variety of techniques and metal threads.

Strawberry Fields Forever by Kay Stanis from Inspirations issue #28 is a stunning design for a goldwork book cover or framed piece.

After writing about Margaret Lee’s project, Yuki, goldwork seemed like a perfect theme for this week’s What Are You Stitching?, and we have received quite a few projects from everyone to show you. What is interesting about them is how different they all are, despite them all sharing a common technique. We hope you’ll enjoy the stories around each of these pieces. Inspiration can come from everywhere!

We showcased some of Ana-Maria’s wonderful stitching only a couple of weeks ago when we featured Trish Burr’s O, Tannenbaum. When she wrote to us, she included several other projects, including multiple versions of Dasher by Karen Newbrook from Inspirations issue #108 that were stitched with her close stitching friends!

Ana-Maria and her friends Marsha and Bridget from the Canadian Embroiderers’ Guild, Guelph all got together in person and virtually to stitch these stunning goldwork projects. They’ve all done such a wonderful job. What a great way to remain motivated and to share the pleasure of stitching, no matter what the circumstances.

‘This is my sampler to document 2020 as my COVID-19 year. It started as Hands Across the Sea sampler entitled Mary Eliza McMillan 1869 - A Little Gem, but I kept changing everything to reflect the experiences I was encountering throughout the year including lost pedicures, my spring garden, coffee with friends on the deck, even Cynthia Jackson’s Boleyn Bloom that brought five of us together weekly on Zoom.’

What a wonderful way to document a tumultuous year, Darcy. The personalised sampler is fantastic and will become a family heirloom. The fact you completed that as well as Cynthia Jackson’s gorgeous design is very impressive!

‘My thread journey started with my Grandma and a primary school teacher, both of whom encouraged my interest. I used to stay at my Grandma’s for an occasional weekend and she soon realised that when I was sewing, I would actually sit quietly!’

‘I love trying new techniques, which is what has inspired me to try some of the designs from the magazine. I completed Simply Irresistible by Cynthia Jackson from Inspirations issue #105, as I liked the mix of embroidery and goldwork.’

‘My other favourite thing to do is what I call doodling. I just make a random pattern, choose a colour scheme and fill it in with whatever stitches I fancy which makes a break from following a pattern and ‘having to do’ what it says.’

Your doodling project is fascinating Helen, what a wonderfully liberating idea - and your needlework skills are amazing! We’ve only featured a couple of the projects Helen has sent in this week, so look out for more of her work in a future issue. You’re guaranteed to be impressed.

‘I recently finished Jenny Adin-Christie’s Blackwell Roundel from the book A Passion for Needlework 2 | Factoria VII. I bought the kit when I attended her workshop in Bath at the Bath Literary and Scientific Institute in 2019.’

‘Having time on my hands last year, I started it. It was an absolute joy to stitch. I purchased the box that Jenny had made by a craftsman in Cornwall to mount it. It is now in its forever home in my orangery where I do my stitching. It’s a thing that has brought me pleasure in the making and continues to do so every time I look at it.’

This is an exquisite project, Kelvin and you have re-created it beautifully. It is no wonder you get such pleasure out of looking at it.

Do you love goldwork, metal threads and anything sparkly? Or do you prefer your colours matte but still glorious? Do you mix techniques, move across techniques, or stick with a single technique? Or are you simply open to whatever takes your fancy?

Whatever you stitch, we’d like to see it. Send us a photo of your work and a bit of information about your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com

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Fireflower by Alison Cole is a stunning red-flowering gum with stumpwork leaves, blossoms and bee.

Golden Wattle by Julie Kniedl from Botanica is a graceful stem of wattle with fluffy yellow flowers, leaves and plump buds.

Flower Power by Judy Stephenson from Inspirations issue #58 is a lifelike study of a flowering gum.

Native Colour by Bev Stayner from Inspirations issue #73 captures the intense colour of Australian native flora in raised embroidery.

Old Friends by Jan Bergman from Inspirations issue #88 is a glorious dimensional basket of striking proteas and grevillea.

~ Helen Keller ~

Stay informed of upcoming needlework events taking place all around the world in our new What’s On page on the Inspirations Studios Website HERE.