As the last All Stitched Up! for 2021 was titled ‘Finish Line’, it seemed a fitting way to launch our newsletters for the New Year would be at the ‘Start Line’!

And indeed, here we are, at the starting line of another new year.

In the past we’ve often unpacked ideas about choosing words and setting goals at the outset of each year and we don’t know about you, but the start of 2022 feels a little different to us.

Whilst many of us had hoped the hustle and bustle of COVID would be well behind us by now, it would seem we’re not quite there yet.

You may have heard us say at the beginning of previous new years that we relish the idea of a blank page, fresh start and all the possibilities the year ahead affords. Whilst this remains true, if we’re honest, the last couple of years have made us a little weary of setting ‘lofty’ goals that circumstances around us may make it all but impossible to achieve.

So, this year we’ve found ourselves taking stock of what has gone before us prior to looking to the year ahead a little more than usual. And do you know what we discovered? We noticed that, perhaps more than ever before, we’ve found ways, no matter how small they may have seemed at the time, that centered us amidst the hustle and bustle that’s surrounded us and we now stand stronger, more adaptable and more patient than perhaps we ever thought possible.

The words of Alan Cohen reminded us that we shouldn’t ‘wait until the conditions are perfect to begin’ and that we didn’t necessarily need a new word, goal or grand ambition to carry us through the year before us; we simply needed to begin building upon what we’d fostered over the last year.

What about you, are you approaching this New Year a little differently to years past? We’d love you to email news@inspirationsstudios.com and let us know how you’re planning to make the most of 2022 as it begins to unfold before you.

Oh, and as we welcome each one of you back as we walk through 2022 together, we happen to know that the release of this week’s newsletter coincides with Tricia celebrating her birthday in Hagersville Canada, so we just wanted to take a moment to wish her an exceedingly Happy Birthday!

And now back to our regularly scheduled program . . .

We received a query from a reader asking how best to work through the process of converting threads from one brand to another. This particular enquiry related to what threads one should use if the brand or specific type listed in the project requirements weren’t available in a particular place, or if they were no longer manufactured.

This question comes up quite frequently and while there are conversion charts readily available for the major brands, they don’t cover off every situation and even so, it can still be tricky to get your substitutions right.

To start with, a lot of projects are worked using 6-stranded embroidery thread. DMC threads are ubiquitous in most places and many patterns and projects are stitched using DMC colours. However, not only is it uneconomical to go and buy new threads for every single project, especially when many of us already have a huge stash, but there are times when the colours don’t suit, dye-lots have changed, the threads are not immediately available or you simply want to use up what you have on hand.

Conversion Charts

The first thing to try is a thread conversion chart. A search in Google for ‘DMC to Anchor’ or ‘DMC to Semco’ or any other combination of stranded cotton brands will bring up a host of conversion tables. It is worth keeping these to hand, especially if you have a lot of different brands of threads in your collection. Print them off and keep them in a folder or save them to your computer so you know you’ll always have them.

It is important to note that these conversions are not exact. So, the Anchor number offered as the DMC conversion will not be precisely the same colour. They are a nearest match, which is why, occasionally, different conversion charts for the same brands will offer different numbers. As such, your conversion chart should be a first port of call, but not the only one.

Once you’ve looked up a conversion, or, if you have threads from more obscure brands or which you don’t even know the manufacturer, take a look at them in relation to the other threads you’re going to use. Put all of your threads together and lay them out on the backing fabric.

Usually, if a particular colour is jarring to the eye during this process, you know it is probably going to be a wrong choice.

Comparison by Eye

Most projects will offer a colour photograph of the finished piece, so you may be able to see the colour or colours you are trying to convert. Compare the thread you have carefully with the image. Is it similar enough? Is it too dark or light?

Bear in mind though that photographs, particularly on a screen, may not give an exact colour. The picture may have faded, your screen may be adjusted differently or it may be difficult to really see the colour you’re trying to convert. This is where going back to studying a bundle of colours may help.

Nearest Number

There are resources online to allow you to discover the nearest colour to a DMC colour from within the DMC range. Thread Bare offer one tool, but this is where a colour card can come in handy.

Colour cards for the major brands are available online, or if you are lucky enough to get hold of a printed or actual thread one, the colours will be even more accurate. These cards tend to group colours in shades so that you can find the nearest to the thread you want to convert.

Other Considerations

It perhaps doesn’t need saying but if you are going to do a replacement with threads from your stash, it is really important to ensure those threads are colour-fast and of good quality.

If you are going to put the effort into stitching a project, the last thing you want is for the replacement thread to stand out because it lacks the sheen of the surrounding threads, or it has gone fluffy, or worse, the colour has run everywhere!

Furthermore, as described by our friends over at Lord Libidan, it is worth stitching a colour swatch, especially if you’re having to find a replacement thread to match a thread you have already used as closely as possible. There can be vast colour variations not just in dye-lots, but in threads over time that may fade or that were a slightly different colour to start with.

Even with a good conversion chart, you won’t know how exact that conversion is unless you try stitching the two threads side by side. The difference may be subtle but it could end up being huge in the finished piece.

A Final Thought

Although trying to find replacement colours can seem stressful, throughout you just need to remember that the piece you are stitching is your own. There are no needlework police who are going to come knocking at your door to tell you that the blue of the sky is a slightly different shade from the original pattern!

Sometimes, near enough is good enough and you have to work with what you’ve got to hand and available.

Next week, we’ll talk about what to do when more obscure threads are unavailable or no longer manufactured, but in the meantime, if any of you have any thoughts, ideas or advice in relating to substituting threads, we’d love to hear them.

The wait is finally over! Jo Butcher’s new book is here, and it looks even more gorgeous than we thought possible.

As well as the projects, the book is filled with Jo’s wisdom and advice. If you’re familiar with Jo’s work, you’ll know that her pieces benefit from a fantastic watercolour background that adds depth and perspective.

For those interested in exploring the idea of painting your own background, inside the book you will find all the instructions needed to replicate Jo’s signature watercolour style, before stitching your own beautiful scenes.

As with all our books, a complete range of Ready-to-Stitch kits for every project featured is also available.

The extra special thing about these kits is that you will get two pieces of fabric: one plain to paint your own watercolour background and the other already printed with Jo’s original watercolour background so you can just prepare it for your hoop or frame and get stitching.

If you haven’t done so already, order your copy of Where Meadows & Gardens Grow today and venture where meadows and gardens grow as Jo reveals the magic of her picture-perfect stitching.

Whether you have picked out your favourite design or plan on creating your own collection of stitched masterpieces, don’t miss the opportunity to purchase Jo Butcher kits now, while the full range are in stock.

In continuation of our celebration of all things Jo Butcher, we also have sets of mini gift cards available featuring Jo’s lovely designs.

Each box contains 8 cards – 2 each of four different designs per box. These are the perfect size to pen a quick thank you or note to someone special just as they come to mind while you’re stitching your latest Jo Butcher project!

A new year and we’ve got new patterns for you from yet another long out of print issue of Inspirations magazine. We didn’t want you to start the year thinking you may have nothing to stitch!

This week we’re releasing the first three of seven fabulous patterns from Inspirations issue #45 that should hopefully keep you busy for a little while, with more to come soon…

If you’d like to try your hand at silk ribbon embroidery, Spring Basket by Helen Eriksson is an ornate portrait of a flower-filled basket employing a range of textures and colours to produce an incredibly life-like picture.

Rhapsody by Kris Richards is a stunning bag made of natural linen and featuring a beautiful design of bullion roses, fly stitch leaves and tiny blooms.

Delicate Shadows by Yvette Stanton is a crisp white table mat worked in a classic hardanger design. This is the perfect project if you’re starting out with the technique as it offers the basic stitches put together in a beautiful little project.

All of these projects plus our entire digital pattern range are available for purchase and download immediately. Whatever mood takes you; we have a project to suit waiting at the ready.

Considering it is a brand-new year, it does feel a bit odd to be doing a final call out. However, as there’s a new issue of Inspirations coming out just around the corner, if you are yet to get your hands on one of the kits from the current issue, #112, now is the time to do so.

Most of the fabulous projects featured in Inspirations issue #112 are still available as a Ready-to-Stitch kit, albeit in limited numbers, so we suggest checking our website to see which designs are still available and secure yourself a divine stitching experience!

All of us in the needlework community have a special power. We can transform a blank piece of fabric into an exceptional work of art, simply by using a needle and thread.

It’s important we don’t underestimate how awe inspiring that is to those from the outside looking in.

One of the most motivational segments in this newsletter is What Are You Stitching? where we have the privilege of showcasing all the stitched art our needlework community has been creating. And we need you to join in on the parade so your work can help inspire and motive others.

Many of us have been stitching up a storm over the Christmas/New Year period with new, or even some old projects, now ready to share.

We would love to see your work! This is not a time to be shy, we absolutely love seeing everything you do. Now is the time to get the cameras out and start snapping all your fantastic projects.

Please send in pictures of your work, large enough so that we can see all the exquisite details and give us a bit of a backstory about yourself, your stitching life and the projects you’re sharing.

We can’t wait to receive all your emails and you’ll be able to look forward to seeing your work featured in a future issue of All Stitched Up! Email us at news@inspirationsstudios.com

From wares to kits and all kinds of tricks, if it has recently come back in stock, you’ll discover it below.

The stunning picture-perfect embroidered landscapes of Jo Butcher have been a re-occurring favourite in Inspirations magazine for many years. Today as we celebrate the release of Jo’s very first book, we’re taking a closer look at her work and the artistic methods used by this wonderfully talented artist.

Where Meadows & Gardens Grow is a gorgeous book dedicated to a huge range of Jo’s designs, each of which will teach you a different technique or skill.

One of the first things that makes Jo’s work so unique is the fact that her designs are stitched on a painted background. In compiling a complete book devoted entirely to her work, it meant that Jo had full scope to explain exactly how to do this for your own pieces.

This is really important as the painted element in her projects is often one that embroiderers are frightened to try. We might be needle artists, but that doesn’t mean we can paint, right? We’re sure that many of you will share the same memories as we do of art class back in school. In your mind you can see a perfect painted picture, but as soon as the brush hits the paper… well, disaster!

However, when you put yourselves into Jo’s expert hands, she guides you through this process, doing what she can to remove the fear. Most importantly, she says that there really are no hard and fast rules.

Jo’s advice is to simply play with the paints, experiment, get to know your colours and above all, have fun with it.

Don’t be hard on yourself and don’t feel that you need to match the exact colours, shaded areas or colour balance as Jo has. We spend our lives adhering to rules; finally, you are given complete licence to artistically play without any rules at all!

If you look at the cover project Bluebells Under the Birches shown above, the background is a soft blue for the sky, with a solid green patch to give depth to the grass and mottled green to enhance the stitched birch leaves.

When you turn to the project pages, you’ll see that Jo provides a clear photograph of the background for you to use as a guide for your own painting. This is so you know what elements might be needed for the best effect.

The same goes for Amongst the Daisies shown below, which has a similar background minus the green across the top.

Because the foreground will be heavily stitched, all that is required in the painting is a base so that there is no raw fabric showing between the stitches upon completion.

The good news is you can relax – the painting isn’t the primary focus of the project; your stitching is. The painting is merely there to support the embroidery, so perfection is not required.

Finally, Silver Birches has a similar painted background to the cover project. Again, inside the book you are shown a photograph of the background before any stitches have been placed upon it so you can have a go at creating your own.

Once you’ve created your own unique backing fabric, you can then use a template to place where the birch trees will appear and get stitching.

However, every kit also has a piece of blank fabric included as well as Jo wanted everyone to have the opportunity to give the painting a try.

Even if it is a disaster, or it doesn’t work, you’ve got your printed fabric so you can still stitch Jo’s design. But you just never know. What if you take a second look at your painting and realise you’ve actually created something beautiful and completely unique to you?

Sometimes you need to shut your eyes and take the plunge to discover talents and skills you never knew you had. This applies as much to stitching as it does to painting, cooking, gardening etc. Life is an adventure and Jo Butcher’s book is the perfect companion to help lead the way.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Bluebells Under the Birches by Jo Butcher is a stunning carpet of pure, blue flowers spread beneath a canopy of birch leaves.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Bluebells Under the Birches includes everything* you need to re-create this stunning scene: Fabric panels (including pre-printed panel), embroidery threads, ribbons and needles.

Amongst the Daisies

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Amongst the Daisies by Jo Butcher is a beautiful field of fresh, white daisies, some crowned with a golden eye, spread beneath the sun.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Amongst the Daisies includes everything* you need to re-create this beautiful scene: Fabric panels (including pre-printed panel), embroidery threads and needles.

Silver Birches

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Silver Birches by Jo Butcher features graceful trunks of ghostly white rising through a woodland garden of ferns and cow parsley.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Silver Birches includes everything* you need to re-create this stunning scene: Fabric panels (including pre-printed panel), fabric stabiliser, embroidery threads and needles.

Two Hearts by Jo Butcher from Inspirations issue #85 is two dainty heart designs for you to stitch with ease.

Summer Days by Jo Butcher from Inspirations issue #101 is a delightful garden in full bloom with busy bees flying to and from their wooden hive.

Woodland by Jo Butcher from the book A Passion for Needlework is a charming scene of foxgloves amongst birch trees.

It seems that right now, everyone is stitching cushions! Turning your finished embroidery into a cushion is a great way to display it, especially when you find yourself running out of wall space. Take a look at the huge variety of different styles of cushions our readers have been keeping themselves busy with!

These are both lovely cushions, Norah and they fit so beautifully with the surrounding décor! We can see why you enjoyed stitching them.

These are fantastic cushions, Rosalind! They must have taken you hours of work, but what a result. They definitely earnt their first prize.

Although nobody likes lockdowns, it is good to see you were so productive, Kate. You should be very proud of your finishes.

Do you like stitching cushions? Do you prefer to display your finished work on sofas or beds rather than on the walls? Or are there other ways you prefer to mount or complete your finished embroidery? However you like to display it, we’d like to see it. Send us a picture of your work along with a bit of information about yourself, your project and your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com

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~ Alan Cohen ~

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