In All Stitched Up! issue #291 we unpacked the idea that progress is often made when we put small things on repeat. If we’re able to break larger tasks down into smaller increments and tackle them repeatedly, even if it’s just for 15 minutes at a time, we will eventually achieve what we set out to accomplish. Even those things we once thought impossible.

Since penning those words, achieving the impossible must have been front of mind as we noticed the theme emerge in a couple of surprising places.

Whilst referring to a difficult situation a character from a ‘slice of life’ TV series, which in part is set in the 1960’s, took inspiration from man’s first walk on the moon as he reminded his brother that as they spoke there was actually someone walking on the moon and that which seemed impossible just yesterday was now in fact possible.

‘Start Your Impossible’ is an advertising campaign from Toyota. Their current iteration follows the journeys of several athletes and what they’ve overcome to find themselves ready to compete in the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The common lessons learnt throughout each of the athletes’ journeys are that if you’re able to imagine just how far you can go and are willing to take the first step required and then take another (and another and . . . ), before you know it, you’ll find yourself where you once only imagined. The campaign closed with a simple, but powerful truth:

What is your ‘impossible’ with needle and thread?

You may not feel qualified to begin or have a continuous length of time to devote to it, but if you’re brave enough to take the first step and tackle the subsequent steps in 15-minute increments, you might just find yourself on the way to achieving that which you never thought possible.

We’ve always been taught that practice makes perfect, but maybe practice simply makes possible.

Unless you’re a regular reader of Esquire magazine, you might not have heard the term ‘Sew Bros’. The moniker describes a small, niche group of men who have discovered the great pleasure that comes from sewing one’s own wardrobe. Hailing such famous men as George Clooney among their ranks, the Sew Bros are busily working at their sewing machines, quietly chipping away at social stereotypes in order to pursue something they don’t just believe in, but love doing.

Sewing, particularly sewing clothes, has always been a gendered pursuit where throughout history it was a task expected to be undertaken by women.

Sewing machines allowed for the development of factories, now colloquially known as ‘sweat shops’. In these factories, the mass-produced clothing was peopled almost entirely by women paid a pittance to work long, gruelling hours over a sewing machine.

Although in most Western countries, these kinds of factories no longer exist, most of us are conscious of the fact that doesn’t mean they’ve disappeared. In fact, they’ve just been moved to poorer countries where again, women tend to make up the majority of the poorly paid workforce.

Almost all of us have probably wondered how it is possible to create a dress that only costs $10 or a t-shirt for $2, but for anyone who has ever made their own clothes, this consideration really comes to the fore.

This is exactly what drove sewer Mehedi Sarri to start making his own garments.

Thabo Sabao, another man who has taken up the hobby, expresses the satisfaction and sense of achievement he feels from making and wearing his own clothing.

And Jonathan Simanjuntak became something of a Reddit sensation when, after several months of trial and error and a lot of YouTube tutorials, uploaded a picture of a jacket he’d made for himself from a blanket and some floral curtains.

The irony is, high quality bespoke tailors are almost always men and have been for centuries. Sadly, when tailoring was in its zenith in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, women were barred from joining the guilds and were therefore excluded from the profession.

Arguably, there is more equality today but there is still a cultural divide between sewing clothes and tailoring – a divide that remains resolutely gendered.

Although the Sew Bros are still a small group they have been slowly and steadily growing, particularly during the lockdowns of the past 18 months. More men are buying patterns for clothing, sales of sewing machines have been growing and men are becoming more confident in posting their creations on social media.

Like many things, all that is needed is a tipping point – a crucial moment when it no longer seems strange to see a man at a sewing machine or purchasing fabric.

These are traits that anyone can display, so it makes sense that sewing should become universal. Perhaps there might be a time when a $2 t-shirt that will be thrown away after three washes no longer seems desirable, and when the queue at the fabric shop is made up equally of men and women.

In the meantime, it’s refreshing to see movements like the Sew Bros gaining in popularity and helping to keep the skills of slow crafts relevant.

Not everyone is comfortable using a thimble. For some stitchers, they are an essential tool – one that has become so important it is almost impossible to stitch without it.

For others, it feels like a clumsy appendage that just gets in the way. However, the benefit of a thimble is that you can manipulate and push your needle with ease without it going into your finger, causing pain or slipping.

Made from soft silicone with a metal top, these thimbles sit easily on the finger, moulding to the shape, whilst still providing the strength to push through even the most belligerent of needles.

In three handy sizes: small; medium; and large, the Clover thimbles are ideal whether you are used to using a thimble or not. They are light and unobtrusive yet completely effective.

A combination of both the clever materials and the different range of sizes to choose from, ensure that it won’t slip off of your finger. Plus, the added bonus of the bright colours means you’ll always be able to spot your thimble in your sewing box or kit easily.

Adding one of these Clover thimbles to your stitching kit may not seem essential, but the day will come when you’ll be grateful you have it. And who knows, you might discover just how useful they are and wonder how you ever stitched without it.

Over the past weeks our readers have swamped our inbox with ideas about what to do with orts and leftover threads, but what about leftover yarn?

Wait! We’ve got just the perfect title and there is already a copy on our shelves just waiting for you!

Birds, Butterflies & Little Beasts to Knit and Crochet by Lesley Stanfield is filled with patterns for adorable creatures that can all be made from your yarn stash.

You can choose one or two, or you can knit an entire outdoor scene in various colours. Order a copy today and do some serious stash busting in the cutest way imaginable.

It’s about this time of the year that we’ve all earned a bit of a mid-year break. We should all have the opportunity to spend a few hours or days (or perhaps weeks!) sitting comfortably on the sofa, with some cosy cushions, a pot of tea at hand and our stitching. Well, the August calendar project is one that speaks to that wish and gives us a perfect excuse.

In Good Time by Di Kirchner from Inspirations issue #78, is a stunning crewel cushion featuring bold colours and a wonderful range of stitches. The traditional floral design displays all that is good from the Jacobean style, but with a delightfully modern twist in the colour and layout.

So, we’re declaring August as the month we need to take a break. It is the height of summer in the north, and the depths of winter in the south, both ideal times to settle down on the sofa with a project like In Good Time to complete.

Once you’ve worked this beautiful design, the cushion will add to the comfort and decadence of your favourite stitching space. Then, when you return to the busy routine of real life, it will sit as a reminder of that time of relaxation that was so well deserved.

Sometimes, a delightfully inspirational way to pass the time is to scroll and admire all of the amazing textile artists who are posting their work on social media. To help you find the best of the best, here are some recommended artists to follow:

@tammykanat: Tammy Kanat is an Australian artist whose woven, tactile pieces are meditative and striking.

@mini.the.little.one: Aren’t these the most adorable dolls you’ve ever seen? As you scroll through the pictures of this talented doll maker, you’re guaranteed to fall in love.

@jollyzippers: The brilliantly coloured felt pictures created by this artist from Serbia are all completely unique.

@illicitesofwool: The embroidered portraits of Béatrice Beraud, many in monotones, are eerily atmospheric.

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 and you’ll never have to say that don’t have enough inspiration!

There are all kinds of subjects that we can embroider. Throughout history, embroidery artists have drawn from the natural world, rendering flora, fauna, vistas and landscapes in thread. They’ve also looked at humanity, be it human figures or human creations, and allowed their creativity to flow from there.

But food? Who was the first person who decided to use food as a subject? We tried to do a bit of research, but information concerning the history of embroidered food was scarce to say the least! Whilst the history of stitched food may yet to be documented, we’ve seen plenty of it on social media in recent years, so we’re hoping the same search in the future will produce a more favourable result.

Regardless, any object which carries some measure of inherent beauty is ripe to be utilised as a subject for needlework. And any gourmet will tell you that food doesn’t just tantalise the senses of taste and smell, but good food will be a feast for the eyes too.

They are often referred to as artists, so it makes perfect sense that the products of their art should be honoured by an alternative artform. The result is a wonderful explosion of embroidered food and this week our featured project celebrates the delicious treat, the macaron.

The macaron is now accepted as a sweet French delicacy, although some historians say that the original recipe was brought to France from Italy by Catherine de’ Medici. Apparently, they had been baked in Italy since the 8th Century, although there they had been humbly known as ‘priest’s bellybuttons’ due to their shape.

Whatever their origin, the macaron morphed over the centuries from a fairly simple confection, through to the sweet sandwich we know today, held together with butter cream and available in a dizzying array of colours and flavours.

Their perfect shape and fabulous colours make these sweets a perfect subject for needlework, which is exactly what Merrilyn Whittle has done in her latest creation, Macaron Magic from Inspirations magazine issue #111. However, Merrilyn hasn’t just created an exact replica of these luscious biscuits; she’s combined her skill at beading with the practicality of a cleverly constructed coin purse to create a unique project that is sure to delight everyone who sees it.

Although unlike a real macaron, each purse boasts an intricate flower design that makes them truly unique.

Using her trademark technique of working traditional Japanese-style bead embroidery on top of printed fabric, Merrilyn has sourced the perfect intricate floral print cotton also available in four different colour ways. Using this design as a base, you then work your stitches embellishing the existing pattern to create the beaded flowers and motifs.

Now the good news is the instructions for Macaron Magic will teach you the basics required to achieve a stunning beaded finish utilising the techniques and stitches traditionally used in Japanese-style bead embroidery, which you can then replicate on any printed fabric.

If, however, you had your heart set on re-creating these magic purses exactly as they appear in the magazine, you’ll need to source the exact fabric Merrilyn has used, which we can tell you from experience is not easy! Thankfully, we have sourced a limited supply of each of the 4 different colourways which are included in our Ready-to-Stitch kits for this project.

When creating your beaded purse, it is best if the project is worked in a hoop that is secured in such a way that you have both hands free to do the beading. Embracing the Japanese style of working with two needles will make the project even easier to achieve.

We instantly fell in love with Macaron Magic when we first saw it, and that wasn’t just because we’re fond of macarons with our coffee as a special afternoon treat! Rather, it was because we couldn’t wait to hear what people would say every time we took one of these little purses out of our handbag, or laid it down on the table.

As cute and unique projects go, this one is definitely up there with the best of them and making all four colourways is a must. Our suggestion? Once you’ve completed this project, book yourself a special afternoon tea at a French patisserie and wait for the smiles of pleasure you’ll see when you take out your purse to pay. Food is a perfect subject for needlework after all.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Macaron Magic by Merrilyn Whittle showcases Japanese-style bead embroidery with these cute macaron purses in four colourways.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kits for Macaron Magic include everything* you need to re-create these delightful purses: Fabrics (including with pre-printed design), purse shell set, fusible wadding, interfacing, zip, sewing threads, beads and needles.

Due to their popularity, some Macaron Magic kits are currently available on backorder. The good news is that more stock is on its way, and due to sourcing lead times and current delivery delays there is an expected wait of 2-3 weeks. We appreciate your patience.

*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.

The Frog Prince by Victoria Laine from Inspirations issue #98 is two fun, frog purses created with embellished needlelace, inspired by historical designs.

Small Change by Hazel Blomkamp from Inspirations issue #90 is a charming coin purse with a vibrant Jacobean design.

Sakura by Margaret Lee from Inspirations issue #105 is a delightful, beaded purse featuring a cherry blossom.

Who doesn’t love beads? We’re like magpies, drawn to shiny, sparkly things and beads are some of the shiniest, sparkliest things of all. Beadwork is intricate and sometimes challenging, but the results of it are just gorgeous. Here are some stunning beaded projects from our readers for you to enjoy, and perhaps they might even encourage you to give this wonderful technique a try.

‘I love Inspirations magazine and look forward to it arriving in the post here in the UK, especially during lockdown. However, I have only had my stash to hand so adapted the pattern for Sakura by Margaret Lee from issue #105 to suit. I loved doing the beading on this project.’

What a gorgeous variation on a very popular project, Daphne. Your colour choice is magnificent. Isn’t it amazing what you can achieve when you’ve only got your stash to hand?

‘When COVID-19 came along and lockdowns followed I turned to beading to lose myself in a peaceful silence. Margaret Lee’s Sakura purse caught my eye, so I started on my first beading adventure. It was an adventure I thoroughly enjoyed. I am now almost finished with the second purse and have a line-up of sisters and daughters who would like to have one as well.’

It sounds like you’ve got something of a production line going, Margaret! It’s no wonder – you’ve done such a good job on this first purse, we’re not at all surprised that everyone who has seen it wants one of their own.

‘Here are photographs of my latest bead embroideries that I have designed from photographs.’

Marie, who is from France, sent us a stunning array of photos of her beautiful and innovative bead embroidery. These works are so creative, Marie, and your colour schemes and bead choices are exceptional. Thank you so much for sharing them with us.

Do you enjoy stitching with beads? Are you partial to a bit of bling, finding yourself unable to view a project as ‘finished’ until you’ve added a few beads here and there? Or do you shy away from beads, frustrated with how they seem to fly out of the packet and all over the floor without you even going near them!

Whether you love bead embroidery or not, we’d love to see your work. Send us some pictures of your embroidery with a bit of information about the project and your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com

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Redwork Pincushion & Chatelaine by Margaret Light from the book A Fine Tradition is a barrel pincushion and chatelaine comprising scissor sheath and fob, thimble pod and strawberry emery.

Redwork Sachet by Margaret Light from the book A Fine Tradition is a stylish sachet with symmetrical design showcasing an elegant use of simple stitches influenced by early blackwork.

The Early Bird by Jenny McWhinney from Inspirations issue #75 is a practical peg bag, adorned with friendly redwork birds.

Garnet by Anna Scott from Inspirations issue #71 is an elegant bag adorned with striking dark red flowers and leaves.

Waratah by Jennifer Kennedy from Inspirations issue #80 is a charming redwork pinwheel or ornament worked in easy stitches.

Rouge Bouquet by Margaret Light from Inspirations issue #66 is a striking redwork pillow.

~ Frances of Assisi ~

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.