The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines hope as ‘to cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true’. A recent email we received from Thankyou (an Australian social enterprise) unpacked the idea that they don’t consider hope a ‘soft’ word, but rather something they hold onto like their life depends on it.

Thankyou was established with an end in mind. They believed they could help end global poverty by giving 100% of the profits from their range of products to life-changing projects that would help people in need. To date, Thankyou has raised more than $17 million that has gone towards serving the world’s poor.

Not willing to rest on their laurels, however, Thankyou launched an audacious idea they titled ‘No Small Plan’ as they sought to increase their impact. The plan was to invite some of the world’s biggest companies to flip ‘business as usual’ and create a partnership with Thankyou that would ‘play to both organisations’ strengths, result in positive commercial outcomes for both parties and ultimately help (them) reach (their) mission quicker.’

Enter the global effects of COVID.

Not only did their mission of helping to end extreme poverty go from bad to worse as the hardships of those in need increased exponentially, but their No Small Plan took more twists and turns than they’d ever thought possible. Their recent email set out to not only provide an update on their progress but also to encourage each reader in their own life’s pursuits.

In a world where our sense of uncertainty has been prolonged far beyond what we’d ever imagined and our progress may not be as linear as it once was, hope is what will keep us solid in our direction, even if, like Thankyou, we have to learn to relax our timelines along the way!

Thankyou’s email arrived around the time many will be celebrating the spiritual significance of Easter – the death and resurrection of Christ. Easter weekend is a constant reminder for Christians the world over that there is meaning to life and as a result we can look ahead with certain hope.

Whether you’re celebrating Easter from a spiritual or cultural perspective, our desire is that your hope for the goals and dreams set before you are renewed and that no matter the twists and turns along the way, you’ll hold tight to that which you want to see come to pass.

In All Stitched Up! issue #324, we wrote a short introduction to the fine art of bobbin lace. Bobbin lace is usually what people think of when you mention handmade lace, but as we alluded to in that article, the term ‘lace’ covers several techniques. Needlelace is another technique we discussed, but it doesn’t end there.

Tatting is actually a form of knotwork predominantly worked using a shuttle. However, tatting can also be done with a needle or even a small crochet hook.

Tatting has been practiced for hundreds of years. It is likely that it originated from sailors who would work different knots to create their nets, however the actual genesis is unknown. There is not much evidence of tatting, as we know it today, existing before 1800 however the line between knotting and tatting is not always clear.

Shuttle tatting is the earliest method of creating this form of lace. The shuttle is a small, leaf-shaped tool that holds the length of thread and is then guided through loops of thread to form the requisite knots. Shuttles were originally made of metal or even ivory, with historic shuttles now sought after as collectors’ items.

Successful shuttle tatting requires the correct hand position, tension and the perfect flick of the wrist to form the knot. It can take a bit of practise, but if you ever get the pleasure of watching an experienced tatter at work, it is magnificent to see.

Tatting can also be done using a needle. This form of tatting probably originated in the early 20th century. It requires a long needle that doesn’t change thickness from tip to eye. A doll needle would work, but there are also specialist tatting needles available. Although the actual movement is slightly different to the shuttle, the resulting lace is virtually the same.

Tatting, like other forms of handmade lace, enjoyed popularity right up until manufactured lace became the norm in the 1950s. Since then, practitioners of the art have remained passionate about tatting, but it has slowly fallen out of common practice. However, like so many other handmade techniques, there are still plenty of people who tat for pleasure, enjoying the meditative repetition and the beautiful results that arise from this form of lace making.

This finally brings us to crochet. Although nowadays the word crochet conjures up images of blankets made of granny squares or cute amigurumi animals and characters, it is another legitimate way of making lace. Irish crochet lace is one of the finest techniques, although there are others. A collar or shawl made of Irish crochet can be just as lacy and beautiful as its bobbin-made or needle-made cousins.

As the name suggests, Irish crochet lace originated in Ireland, with centres devoted to the art emerging in many parts of the country from the 18th century onwards. It was often taught to girls to allow them to earn money for their families, with the practice seeing a huge increase during the Great Famine in the mid-1840s.

The position and selection of motifs is determined by the artist, which makes this technique quite unique in its form. During the height of production, there was a division in the labour required to produce items. The most skilled crocheters would produce the fine motifs, and children or the less experienced workers would crochet the stems and leaves. The motifs were usually then taken to a lace-making centre, where they would be arranged and crocheted together to form everything from collars and cuffs to full garments.

Nowadays, Irish crochet lace, like other forms of lace, has shifted from an income source to a pleasurable hobby. Patterns are available for complete garments or shawls, so the practitioner makes the entire piece rather than just elements of it. However, once you gain experience, you too can start to work freeform, crocheting your favourite motifs and putting them together in your own unique way.

Lace is an exquisite fabric. Whether it is formed using bobbins, a needle, a tatting shuttle or a crochet hook, the stunning results that arise from this art are wonderful to see and even more fantastic to create.

We hope we’ve inspired some of you to try making your own lace using one or even all of these techniques. In a world dominated by manufactured goods and factory-made textiles, handmade lace, however it is created, stands out above all.

Who loves trying out new threads? If you’re anything like us, every time you see different types of threads in new colours, you get that little burst of excitement as you consider all of the possibilities they offer. So that you can share the excitement with us, we’ve got some new sample packs available to get those creative juices flowing.

Pipers Silks are super fine floss silks in a huge array of shimmering colours. They are ideal for silk shading embroidery but are so gorgeous to stitch with that you can use them in whatever technique you wish.

We have a sample pack available with 16 stunning skeins of Pipers Silks threads. Each skein contains 80 metres of fine silk with the colours ranging from snow white through to deep purple.

We also have a generous sized sample pack available from Gumnut Yarns. Gumnut Yarns are an Australian thread maker who specialise in hand-dyed silks and super-fine wools in exquisite, shaded colours.

Included in the pack are the following:

> 1 x skein of Gumnut Buds in navy blue. Gumnut Buds are hand-dyed perlé silk threads.

> 3 x skeins of Gumnut Stars in pink, burgundy and blue. Gumnut Stars are fine stranded silks.

> 6 x skeins of Gumnut Poppies in navy blue and a range of greens. Gumnut Poppies are a luxuriously fine silk/wool blend.

> 14 x skeins of Gumnut Daisies in various greens, blues, greys and pinks. Gumnut Daisies are super fine wool threads.

You’ll be spoilt for choice with these two fantastic sample packs. We’ve said it before, but you can never have too many threads, so why not add Pipers Silks and Gumnut Yarns threads to your collection and just see what you can create.

While we’re talking about threads, we wanted to remind you that we still have Appletons thread packs available for your stash.

Appletons wools are the go-to wool for all types of crewel embroidery. This sample pack offers you seven gorgeous rainbow colours of pure British crewel wool. This delicious range of sherbet tones allows you to add a bright, modern twist to your next project.

Push your crewel embroidery to the next level with this fabulous range of Appletons wools.

Inspirations issue #61 has been out of print for a while now, and with many of the projects from that issue already available in digital format, today we are releasing the final two. For your stitching pleasure, we present:

Lullaby by Jacquie Harvey is an exquisite, heirloom crib quilt. Using timeless hand quilting techniques, this project is truly extraordinary and would make an extra special gift for a precious new arrival.

Sheer Delight by Maree Moscato is a potpourri cushion adorned with an unusual flower design stitched using fine silk organza and real flower petals. Highlighted with sequins and beads, this beautiful project is quick to stitch and wonderfully unique.

These and all of the other fantastic projects from Inspirations issue #61 are now available as digital patterns for you to purchase and download at any time.

That time has come around again! All of the gorgeous new Ready-To-Stitch kits for the upcoming Inspirations issue #114 are soon to be released. That means any remaining kits from Inspirations issue #113 are looking for a new home and what better place to move them than to your sewing rooms?

This is the last call for Ready-To-Stitch kits for issue #113. With kits still available for most of the projects from that issue, if you have been admiring them for a while, or have added any of the projects to your ‘must stitch’ list, then now is the time to order your kits before they sell out.

Don’t risk disappointment. Go to the website now to take a look at the kits we still have in stock and get your orders in today.

Say ‘Easter’ and almost everyone will think of chicks, eggs, chocolate and, of course, bunnies! For children, the Easter Bunny is the bringer of eggs and, more commonly nowadays, plenty of chocolate. But why is it that we associate rabbits with Easter?

The real origin of the furry messenger is somewhat mysterious, however, it is believed that he originated in Germany in the 17th century. His role was very much like Santa Claus; he carried a list and knew which children had been good or bad, and he dispensed eggs and candy to those who had made the right list.

Rabbits have also been a symbol of fertility for many centuries and, along with eggs, have represented new life and new growth. In the Northern Hemisphere, Easter falls around the same time as the start of Spring, with all of the new life it brings.

It seems like the perfect way to mark the season. Luckily, there are hundreds of rabbit patterns available, so we encourage you to choose one of them and really get into the Easter spirit.

If you’re looking for inspiration, we have featured plenty of rabbit projects in Inspirations magazine over the years. We’ve listed a few for you, but there are more to choose from. You’re sure to discover the perfect Easter bunny to stitch for this wonderful time of year.

Take a look at:

The White Rabbit by Elina Akselrod from Inspirations issue #10

Bunny Love by Jenny McWhinney from Inspirations issue #23

Enchanted Forest by Zinaida Kazban from Inspirations issue #95

Gillian by Maria del Valle Olivera from Inspirations issue #97

These are just a few of the bunnies we have available for you to stitch this Easter season. If you do decide to stitch an Easter rabbit, we’d love to see your work. In the meantime, it is one time of the year when the chocolate calories just don’t matter, so let us wish you all a happy and delicious Easter!

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

When you first see one of Jo Butcher’s designs, the eye naturally takes in the whole picture, marvelling at how realistic it seems and delighting at the depth and perspective that has been achieved in such a small space.

It is only after one has appreciated the whole that you start to look at the tiny details that make up the project. It is then that you appreciate not just the stitches, but the fibres that Jo has chosen to give the effect.

Initially, it may seem as if each picture is stitched with stranded cotton, however it soon becomes clear that included in many of the frames are stranded cottons, perlé cottons and various widths of silk ribbon.

It is the silk ribbon that really produces the effect in several of the projects.

Topiary in the Border is a great example of this. This design combines a plethora of French knots and straight stitches worked in stranded cotton with the irises in the foreground all standing proud worked in gloriously shaded silk ribbon.

The petals of the irises are smooth and plump, contrasting beautifully with the sinuous grasses that grow amongst them. Jo has also used silk ribbon for the iris leaves, which really set them apart from the rest of the flowers. The result is a fecund meadow scene just bursting with growth.

The use of silk ribbon to represent irises is carried further into the project entitled Irises. Here, Jo has isolated that one flower, stitching a scene full of blooms in glorious shades of purple and lilac. Once again, she has made use of the width of the ribbon to create the iris leaves. They contrast exquisitely with the narrow grasses growing behind them.

This entire project uses just three different stitches. It is incredible to see what detail and complexity can be achieved with careful selection of just a few stitches and different types and colours of fibres.

Finally, Foxgloves also makes liberal use of silk ribbon in a range of widths. However, in this project, the ribbon is stitched in different ways to produce several very different kinds of flowers.

The titular foxgloves are formed by varying the size of the ribbon loop for each bloom. This allows for the formation of the mature blooms at the base of the flower and the new buds closer to the top.

A small clump of roses appears in the centre of the frame. These flowers are stitched using a spider web stitch in ribbon, creating a perfect open bloom. The rose buds are then created using the same ribbon and French knots.

It is easy to fall into the trap of believing that the more complicated a design, the more stitches and threads you use, the more effective it is going to turn out.

Jo Butcher’s designs all turn that belief on its head. They demonstrate beautifully that less is often more, and the simplest ways to do things can frequently be the most beautiful. Each of these projects is testament to that.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Topiary in the Border by Jo Butcher depicts perfect topiary spheres rising above a colourful sea of iris, geum, verbena and echinacea flowers.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Topiary in the Border includes everything* you need to re-create this vibrant scene: Fabric panels (including pre-printed panel), fabric stabiliser, embroidery threads, ribbons and needles.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Irises by Jo Butcher features rich, velvety petals of the purple iris above a sea of sword-like leaves.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

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

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Foxgloves by Jo Butcher depicts proud foxgloves in every shade of pink, standing over their garden companions.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

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

Golden Grace by Tracy A. Franklin from Inspirations issue #49 is an exquisite goldwork iris embroidered on gold silk.

Wild Iris by Margaret Lee from The Art of Chinese Embroidery 2 | Intermediate Level is a stunning flower in the style of Chinese brush painting, stitched using the technique Random Stitch Embroidery.

Still Water by Madeleine Ferland from Inspirations issue #49 is a charming picture combining stumpwork and surface embroidery.

Kakisubata by Margaret Lee from Inspirations issue #74 is an elegant and refined Japanese Embroidery study worked in lustrous silk.

Crazy patchwork is a technique that allows the stitcher almost complete freedom. You can use whatever fabrics you have to hand, in any shape and then you have the joy of embellishing it with the threads you love in whatever stitches you like. It’s a technique that isn’t just liberating and creative but a whole lot of fun too. Here are a few readers who have created crazy patchwork projects that are great examples of how glorious this technique can be.

They’re all so colourful and creative, Anita. Thank you so much for sharing them with us – they’re just lovely to look at.

‘The second I have entitled ‘Time is Running Out’. The third quilt is called ‘Care’.’

You really took our breath away with these fantastic quilts, Jane. They have been beautifully thought out and even more beautifully put together. You should be incredibly proud of the work you’ve put in and the important message you’ve conveyed.

These little hearts are wonderful, Lucy! What a great use of leftover materials.

Do you love the creative freedom of crazy patchwork? Or is there another technique that gives you the same kind of creative pleasure? Do you love being able to pick and choose your materials and colours? Or do you prefer to follow a pattern, knowing that the result you end up with will be perfect?

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

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Sweet Treats by Betsy Morgan from Inspirations #92 is five cute little pincushions showcasing a variety of counted thread designs.

April Flowers by Di van Niekerk is a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers worked over a printed background using hand-painted silk ribbons.

Still Life with Flowers by Helen Eriksson from Inspirations issue #89 is a sumptuous bowl of flowers worked with silk ribbon.

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

Bee Contained Etui by Betsy Morgan is a hexagon box etui celebrating bees with motifs and form.

Gathering for Winter Etui by Betsy Morgan is a cylinder box etui showcasing a busy squirrel’s acorn collection.

Hidden Secrets by Angelique Benseghir-Vergnault from Inspirations issue #61 is a stylish embroidered etui that allows you to treat your precious needlework tools with loving care.

Tiny Treasures by Betsy Morgan from Inspirations issue #65 is an exquisite cross stitch etui with sewing accessories.

~ Desmond Tutu ~

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