One of the many tasks on our Inspirations Studios ‘To Do List’ is to decide how many of our Ready-to-Stitch Kits to commission for each of the projects published in both our magazines and books.

For many of you who share our passion for all things needle and thread, this may sound particularly alluring, but just to let you in on a little secret… there are times we find it a little challenging!

We often find ourselves ‘measuring twice and cutting once’ before settling on the final quantities for each project.

You see, there are a number of elements we take into consideration. Everything from the charm of the subject, popularity of the designer, difficulty of the technique, the number of components required to complete the project right through to the availability of the supplies the world over.

Sure, there are times we get the numbers exactly right, sometimes we make too many kits – which isn’t always a bad thing as it means we get to stitch them ourselves! However, often we underestimate the popularity of a particular project, only to find ourselves creating more kits from scratch.

Balthazar anyone?!

As we contemplated our last round of Ready-to-Stitch Kits, we found ourselves wondering how you decide what to put your needle and thread to. Do you decide by subject, designer, technique, difficulty, finish, requirements or size? Perhaps there’s simply an X-Factor you can’t put your finger on.

Whatever it is that informs your decision-making process when it comes to all things needle and thread, we’d love to hear it, and you never know, it might just help us get our numbers right more often!

As we waited patiently for spring to arrive at Inspirations HQ, All Stitched Up! issue #352 saw us doing a little spring cleaning as we dusted off some of the emails we had on file. The good news is that since penning those words, not only has spring finally sprung, but the Inspirations Community joined in on the conversations we shared in spades! So, this week we’re continuing to share the thoughts, ideas and insights they took the time to share with us.

After completing a substantial 9” x 40” (23cm x 102cm) cross stitch wall hanging, Clare wasn’t able to source a suitable hanger and was hoping someone from the Inspirations Community might be able to point her in the right direction. It turns out several ‘someones’ were able to do just that!

Penelope suggested brass bellpull hangers that she has used herself with much success.

Both Cristina and Diana suggested commissioning a local framer to create a customised frame in either metal or wood. While Marnie referenced magnetic poster frames that come with two pairs of magnetic wooden bars. The finished piece simply sits between the bars and hangs by an upper cord.

Marnie has also used brass curtain rods and clips to display particularly wide pieces. For both methods, Marnie recommends lacing the finished piece to stiff backing such as quilter’s template plastic to ensure a long-lasting, wrinkle-free look.

Moving onto the next topic now, and Doreen wanted to know if anyone in the Inspirations Community had used a Brother ScanNCut machine for printing onto fabric as she was hoping the process for transferring designs was as easy as she’d heard.

Doreen, it turns out you’re not the only one interested in the answer to this question, the conversation you started piqued the interest of both Carole and Susan as well. Susan, in particular, is eagerly awaiting the responses as she received a ScanNCut as a gift with purchase some eight years ago that is yet to be used!

The good news, Doreen, Carole and Susan, is that we heard from Joylene and Mendie who both sang the praises of the Brother ScanNCut.

Mendie uses her machine all the time to print designs onto fabric and finds it particularly useful when transferring patterns for teaching.

With a little help from Google, Mendie even found a way to use Frixion pens with the machine. As she noted, providing the initial drawing has clear lines, the ScanNCut will print beautifully clear lines.

Like Mendie, Joylene has also discovered the benefits of transferring multiple copies with the ScanNCut for teaching, finding it far quicker and more accurate than other methods of transfer. Joylene emphasised that the recommended mats should always be used with the machine and that ‘central printing’ gives a better result than ‘outline’, which prints a double line.

After reading those glowing recommendations, it sounds like we might just need to add a Brother ScanNCut to our Christmas Wish Lists!

Anne responded to our mention of Carrick Hill by sharing her connection with their collection of all things needle and thread.

‘I first saw these beautiful pieces on a tour with Michele Hill in 2018. The following year I visited William Morris’ Museum as well as his original printing press in Hammersmith, London.’

Anne shared some of the photos she’d taken at the Hammersmith Museum, which had been one of Morris’s homes where he made carpets, printed and conducted meetings of the Socialist League.

‘Thank you for prompting my memories of William Morris. Kind regards, Anne’

We closed issue #352’s Have Your Say with the inspiring story of Nina Burnsides who fought her way through unimaginable adversity with the healing power of needle and thread. Her story is an absolute inspiration, and, Nina, we hope you’ll be encouraged by the responses we received from the Inspirations Community:

‘Ever since I read Nina’s story, I can't stop thinking about what a strong and resilient woman she is. She is an inspiration to us all and makes our little niggles pale into insignificance. Her work is amazing and to be able to produce a beautiful piece whilst trying to get the use of her fingers back is incredible.’

We can’t thank you all enough for not only starting, but also continuing the conversation with us. All Stitched Up! is far richer when we’re able to dialogue with you around our shared passion for all things needle and thread.

Recently we added Whiteley handcrafted carbon steel scissors to our line-up of wares. Handmade in Sheffield, England and famous for being the oldest scissorsmith in the western world, these are not your run of the mill, cut ok some of the time, tools.

These are the tools that, when you use them, feel like you’re creating the world’s most beautiful needlework. Which, just to reminder you, is exactly what you’re doing.

Most of us have a pair of epaulette and stork scissors in our needlework kit, that pretty much goes without saying. And for many of us, we use them without thinking much about it. They cut ok, kinda feel ok and it’s all just a bit well… average. Why settle for average when you deserve fabulous?

Whiteley’s Epaulette and Stork scissors are just that – fabulous versions of your everyday embroidery scissors thanks to the quality of craftsmanship and premium materials used to forge each pair. These scissors are individually handmade using the skills and techniques handed down over the centuries.

Both models have a beautiful quality about them and feature the sharpest of blades and finest of points, perfect for detailed work.

What will it be then… average or fabulous? All those voting fabulous, click below!

Fabrics are an interesting species in our world of stitching. They burst onto the scene in a flurry of new prints and colours, we fall in love with them, buy a few feet or metres, then return to the store to buy some more when we run out, only to find… none left!

It's such a seasonal business with new fabric styles being introduced all the time that if you find something you like, you have to buy up big as, just like a spring flower, its day in the sun is fleeting!

We must forewarn you however, we only have a few of these left, never to been seen again, so today is the day to take action.

At the time of writing, we still have a few pink carry cases and embroidery rolls available (blue has sold out) so get in quick before they are all gone.

The moral of the story? When you find a fabric print you like, don’t let it get away!

You know how when you watch a TV series and they give you a re-cap to refresh your memory as to what’s happened to-date and get you ready for the next episode?

We probably don’t need to do that here, because it was only just last week that we announced the release of each project from Inspirations magazine issue #48 as a digital pattern, and this week we’ll be bringing you Part 2…

(Wait, wasn’t that just a re-cap anyway!? Oh well, you get the gist…)

So on with this week’s episode then! Here is the next instalment of digital patterns from issue #48:

Helen M. Stevens delights with one of her superb, trademark silk botanical studies set against a striking black ground fabric with Sweet Nigella.

Jenny Crowe and Rae Wilson team up to design an enchanting fairy on a velour blanket called Fairy Dust.

Les Boutis is a set of baby bootees and a bib worked in traditional boutis by Marie Yolande. What is boutis? It’s a fascinating technique used to raise the surface of the fabric, the history of which and a lesson as to the technique are all included with this project.

All three projects are now available, exactly as they appear in the magazine, to purchase and download as individual Digital Patterns. The PDF file you purchase will have all the instructions, requirement lists, stitch diagrams and include full size pattern sheet(s) of the design and construction information when applicable.

Need help printing the design from your digital pattern to the correct size using your home printer? Step-by-step instructions are available on our FAQ page HERE.

Needlework has played a significant role in almost every facet of history since time began. Be it for ceremonial purposes, industry, necessity, education, cultural significance, mental health or pure enjoyment, the story of needle and thread is embedded into our story as a human race.

During times of conflict, needlework has also played its role. From helping to rehabilitate soldiers, providing embellishment for uniforms to turning feed sacks into clothing when supplies were scarce.

It is fitting, therefore, that today when the members of the Commonwealth take a moment to pause and reflect for Remembrance Day, we can still turn to needle and thread to help us process past and present conflicts of war.

In Flanders Fields by Jo Butcher is a beautifully embroidered panel featuring bright splashes of red poppies. The name of the project comes from Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae’s moving poem, penned during World War I, which has gone on to immortalise the red poppy as the iconic symbol of remembrance.

You can read more about this project including Jo Butcher’s own personal back story to this piece HERE.

Another poignant project for today is Remember by Philippa Todd, a striking, elegant, three-dimensional poppy that can be worn as a brooch.

To discover the backstory to this piece and more of the history as to why the poppy is associated with commemorating the world wars, click HERE.

May we forever be grateful for the men and women who died in battle fighting for our freedoms.

Lest we forget.

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

One of the challenges we give ourselves here at Inspirations Studios is, when producing each issue of the world’s most beautiful needlework magazine, we try to include an offering of projects diverse enough so that there is a little something for everyone.

While re-creating needlework to this standard may mean there are times when it is recommended you have prior embroidery experience when stitching some of the projects we publish, we also include designs that are entirely suitable for stitchers who are new to the art of needlework.

All of the techniques used in Little Birds are foundational stitches, so there is nothing scary or too complex involved in the needlework.

The motifs themselves are about 5cm (2”) in diameter making them small enough to tackle easily but large enough so as not to be too intricate.

All the materials used are very familiar and a breeze to work with including DMC stranded cottons, wool felt and a few nice embellishment goodies in the mix. Think a touch of metallic thread and gold braid for the highlights and glass seed beads for the hanging loop.

Put it all together and finish it off with a little construction and fibre-fill stuffing, add in the cutest beak and love heart tail and you’ve created yourself some of the most adorable hanging ornaments around!

Pink or Red? Flower, Berries or Heart?

This means you can choose to make just one bird or a pair, a set of three, a set of six or switch it up and stitch different motifs on each side. Then there is the option to invent your own colourways and experiment with a range of felt colours – the combinations are endless.

We even received a phone call recently from an excited reader who had just opened her copy of Inspirations issue #116 and was delighted to see Little Birds.

She went on to order four Ready-to-Stitch kits as she thought they were perfect for her and her friends in a retirement village who haven’t stitched in years due to health issues. Little Birds was just what they needed to get back on the tools thanks to their small size, their straightforward design, ability to be finished quickly… and they will look great decorating their village.

We certainly agree with that endorsement and are looking forward to seeing flocks of these Little Birds popping up here, there and everywhere over the coming months.

Special shout out to Ana Mallah who really is establishing herself as the Queen of Cute designs. When you look through Ana’s growing body of work, her projects are some of the most endearing and popular we have featured.

New to needlework? Looking for a gift to stitch? Christmas tree in need of up-styling? Little Birds is the little project with big appeal for everyone.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Little Birds by Ana Mallah is an enchanting set of three hanging ornaments in a pink or red colourway.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kits for Little Birds include everything* you need to re-create these sweet birds: Wool felts, fabric stabiliser, fibre-fill, embroidery threads, beads and needles.

Daisies & Forget-me-nots by Ana Mallah from the book The Design Collective | Pincushions is two enchanting pincushions, each surrounded by pretty stumpwork flowers.

Mushroom Magic by Ana Mallah from the Handpicked Range is a delightful mushroom pot with a handy pincushion top.

Season's Greetings by Ana Mallah from Inspirations issue #96 is four enchanting Christmas decorations.

Summer Blooms by Ana Mallah from Inspirations issue #110 is three charming needlework accessories featuring pretty garden flowers.

After writing this week’s Featured Project, ‘Little Birds’, it turns out little birds were on our minds and we couldn’t help but notice them as we compiled the projects for What Are You Stitching? this week! Enjoy the birds we found whether they be little or not so little as the case may be…

‘The body seemed to come together quite quickly but then I spent several weeks pondering how to do the wings, finding all sorts of excuses not to get on with them. As with most things, it was fear of the unknown that was the block and finally I just had to try. The piece now sits on the wall in my daughter’s new home.’

Margaret, it turns out your immediate thought of hummingbird was indeed the perfect way to use the beads and sequins! The colours and shimmer are a faultless imitation of Mother Nature and the way in which she clothes the tiniest of birds.

Pat, your Celtic Wood Duck is every bit as handsome as his real life equivalent and is instantly recognisable. We hope you find a way to keep your creative door open despite life returning to ‘normal’ post COVID.

Sandra, you have absolutely captured the spirit of the sulphur-crested cockatoos! They look every bit as if they’ll alight from the branch and join their flock. In fact, we think we can hear their loud, raucous screeching from here…

Sheila, we love the twinkle in your hummingbird’s eye! There’s both an elegance and whimsy to what you’ve created with needle and thread.

Do you have an avian affinity? If so, do you love to fashion them with needle and thread? Whatever the species or size of bird you’ve stitched, we’d love to see it.

Email photos of your feathered friends along with a few details about your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com

Become part of the Inspirations family by subscribing to the magazine... we'd love to have you join us!

Stylish pewter seam ripper, as robust and sharp as it is elegant.

Red Treasure Box by Di Kirchner is a beautiful, counted thread etui containing several needlework accessories.

Norwegian Lace by Di Kirchner from the book The Design Collective | Pincushions is a delicate and lace-like square of Hardanger atop a linen base, finished with a wrapped bead.

Interlude by Di Kirchner from Inspirations issue #111 is a stunning crewel cushion featuring vibrant fruits and acorns.

Seeing Red by Di Kirchner from Inspirations issue #112 is a redwork sweetbag with Elizabethan motifs and lustrous cords and tassels stitched with silk.

Buon Natale by Di Kirchner from Inspirations issue #112 is a beautiful reticella tree ornament worked in white and silver with a cord loop and beaded tassel.

~ Phil McGraw ~

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