When was the last time you picked up needle and thread? Was it only recently or perhaps it’s been longer than you’d hoped?

As with most things, our stitching goes through seasons. There are times we pick up needle and thread almost daily, whilst at other times they seemingly never see the light of day as ‘real’ life gets in the way.

A recent email from Kelly Fletcher not only had us counting the days since we last felt needle and thread in hand, but also got us thinking about what draws us to the pursuit.

Kelly opened her email with the realisation that she hadn’t gotten around to picking up needle and thread much of late, and it turns out she was missing it! Her longing found her contemplating why she was missing embroidery and what it is that draws her to it.

For Kelly, some of the allure needle and thread holds is in the sensory joy the sound of thread being pulled through fabric affords. It’s also in the challenge of getting her ‘stitches to look just so’. She loves the texture of completed stitches, the joy she feels when everything goes according to plan, and the meditative effect ‘the act of focusing on one stitch and then the next’ provides.

What about you? What is it that draws you to pick up needle and thread? We’d love to hear your thoughts on what it is about stitching that captivates your attention.

Also, when was the last time you felt a needle in your hand? Was it earlier today or perhaps it was more days than you’re able to count on a single hand?

Whatever the time span, we hope Kelly’s musings on all things needle and thread reminds you of the allure it holds for you and encourages you to find that ‘just right’ length in between each of your days spent stitching.

This week we’re sharing a little R & R through Have Your Say, and not just through the rest and recreation we hope it brings, but with a little recipe and a resolution!

Once again, Jane has opened the pages of her stitching ‘cookbook’ to share another recipe. This time her needle and thread are the ingredients for a Sashiko inspired ‘dish’.

If you have a pattern you would like to stitch with Sashiko but don’t have a stencil to use the prick and pounce transfer method, or have a stencil but find your chalk design disappears before your sewing is complete, Jane’s transfer method might just be the solution you’re looking for!

A Recipe to Transfer any Picture or Pattern for Sashiko

Materials

- Sheer Weight Iron-on Interfacing
- Pen
- Iron
- A Quilting Stencil or Photocopied Pattern (sized for your fabric)
- Sashiko Thread

Method

1. Transfer your pattern to the side of the interfacing without the glue. If using a quilt stencil, trace it on the interfacing with your pen. If using a photocopy, use a light box or tape your photocopy to a window, secure the interfacing over the image and trace it onto the interfacing.

2. Iron the interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric. I find that aside from this being a foolproof method of transfer, the interfacing makes the fabric much easier to stitch on. You will now stitch the design on the interfacing on the back of the fabric. I do, however, often flip the fabric over to check how the front looks!

3. The Sashiko piece can now become a pillow, quilt, tote, or anything you choose, and all without you having felt repeatedly frustrated trying to retrace the disappearing pattern before you were able to complete the entire design!

Jane, it would seem there’s no end to your recipe repertoire! As always, we appreciate you taking the time to share this recipe with us.

In All Stitched Up! issue #365 we shared some thoughts about New Year’s Resolutions, why they often fail and how considering our ‘why’ might just help keep us on track.

In response, Lalah wrote in with a resolution we might all just be able to keep.

‘Ah yes, good old New Year's resolutions! I faithfully made them from childhood until I hit seventy, but that year I realised I kept making them, but never managed to keep them.

Lalah, we can hear the relief in your words, and suspect that the pressure you’ve taken off yourself to keep resolutions each year might just mean you’ve achieved more over the last 18 years than you ever thought possible!

One of our most popular kits from Inspirations issue #116 was Ana Mallah’s Little Birds. Selling out not long after the magazine was published, we’re thrilled to announce that these exquisite hanging ornaments in the red colourway are now back in stock.

While often our projects are best suited to those who have previous embroidery experience, this design is perfect for those new to the world of stitching.

Colourful flowers, berries and hearts embroidered on white felt and embellished with metallic thread feature on these adorable, feathered friends.

If you missed out last time, now’s your chance to get a kit, including everything* you need to stitch your very own Little Birds.

Every week we receive emails from all over the world from fellow stitchers lamenting the difficulty we all experience from time to time sourcing needlework supplies.

Sometimes it’s rare and hard to find materials such as a specific linen spun from a one-off loom and hand-dyed in Italy, other times it’s as simple as tracking down quality hoops.

This week we thought we’d share with you some of the essentials that we keep in stock that we’ve found to be some of the best quality available:

HOOPS

Nurge hoops are manufactured to the highest standards using laminated beech timber with brass clasps featuring slotted and hexagonal tightening heads to enable maximum tension.

When it comes to needles, two of our favourite brands are Bohin from France and Tulip from Japan. Bohin are the solid work horse members of the needle fraternity with Tulip providing a more bespoke offering.

Whether it’s a mellor, koma, stiletto, thimble or a precision pair of tweezers, we’ve assembled a collection of essential tools to ensure you have all the basics covered.

Are there any needlework supplies you are having a hard time locating? Email us at news@inspirationsstudios.com and let us know what you’re looking for… you never know what our sourcing team might find during their scouring!

Continuing our mission to catalogue all the projects from Inspirations magazine and release them as digital patterns, next up is issue #86.

This issue, in particular, featured a number of projects focused on lace, or techniques that utilise lace, in a multitude of ways. With this in mind, we have no doubt you’ll find the first three digital pattern instalments delicate and irresistible!

Paola Matteucci’s Flowers of Panicale is a gorgeous evening bag featuring the traditional Italian embroidery technique Ars Panicalensis. The intricate designs are created by weaving threads through the fabric itself. Stitched in vibrant colours, this showstopping project is the perfect accessory for any night out.

Little Gem by Catherine Barley is a wonderful strawberry fob, featuring needlelace embroidery. Embellished with layers of pea stitch, corded Brussels stitch and intricate gold beads, this is a fabulously fun project.

Elena Dickson’s Turkish Delight is a beautiful muslin scarf heavily inspired by the eastern Mediterranean. With needlelace flowers adorning the fabric, and featuring Bibilla knotted lace florals, this delicately embroidered piece is the perfect summer project.

Join us next week for more digital patterns from Inspirations issue #86.

One of the all-time most popular needlework artisans we’ve had the privilege of publishing is USA designer Betsy Morgan.

With projects appearing in 17 issues of Inspirations magazine and counting, an anthology of some of her life’s work has also been captured in her two stunning books Willing Hands and Willing Hands 2.

From the intriguing back story for each piece, the delightful and imaginative motifs Betsy creates, the pleasure of working in counted thread techniques and the mesmerising construction used to complete each project, there is seemingly no end to Betsy’s charm and talent.

Whether you are new to Betsy Morgan or already have some of her projects on your ‘To Stitch List’ now is a great time to explore her range of projects with some kits now back in stock.

You may have heard the exciting news that registration for the World Needlework Convention in October 2023 is now open.

With two fabulous packages available and a line-up of tutors, projects and destinations that are nothing short of outstanding, we’re spreading the news far and wide to invite as many people to join us for this truly memorable event as possible.

Where is the event being held? Hilton London or Luton Hoo?

It’s actually being held at both! The first two-day class will be at the Hilton London before the convention moves to Luton Hoo where the next 2 x two-day classes are taking place.

How many days of stitching will there be?

Across the 11 day event, classes will be running for 6 days. Days 1 through 4 are based in London and include a day trip to the Knitting & Stitching Show. Days 5 through 10 take place in Luton, an hour out of London, and include a day trip and exclusive tour of Parham House. Plus, an array of other amazing activities throughout the convention are taking place including evening events.

What is the difference between Event Only & Event All Inclusive?

Event All Inclusive is just that – a luxurious package where we take care of you from beginning to end including all meals, accommodation, events, transfers and tuition fees.

The Event Only package is a great option for anyone who would prefer to arrange your own accommodation or for those who live locally. Price still includes daily luxuries like lunch, morning and afternoon tea, day tours and tuition fees.

Got more questions? Click HERE to email the team at Needlework Tours who will be happy to point you in the right direction.

For a full list of inclusions for both packages, pricing and to register, click HERE.

Luzine Happel knows a thing or two about Schwalm embroidery. As a teenager she trained to become a needlework teacher and proceeded to dedicate her entire career to specialising in Schwalm whitework.

Her accomplishments from decades of both designing and teaching are numerous including a self-published series of books released in several languages, the curation and exhibition of vintage and contemporary whitework pieces, and she coordinated a remarkable project during COVID called the Global Schwalm Sampler which we wrote about HERE.

And then there is the fact Luzine lives just 90 minutes away from the region of Schwalm in Germany where the technique originated.

We were lucky enough to feature one of Luzine’s pieces titled ‘Sense of Place’ in Inspirations issue #69 back in 2011 and it is with great joy that we warmly welcome Luzine back to Inspirations with her latest design ‘From the Heart’.

Here are the headlines:

Publication: Inspirations magazine issue #117
Designer: Luzine Happel from Germany
Project Name: From the Heart
Project Type: Cushion
Technique: Schwalm Embroidery
Fabric: Linen
Design Transfer Required: Yes
Threads: Cotton
Dimensions: Finished cushion measures 40cm (16”) square

One of the aspects that makes Schwalm embroidery such an endearing technique is that the designs will typically feature simplified ‘folk’ versions of floral motifs that are often connected with decorative tendrils.

Another key feature of Schwalm embroidery is the filling stitches, which are traditionally, intricate counted thread patterns that create a lacy appearance.

To achieve this, each design element is outlined in chain and coral stitch, which serve to stabilise the fabric so that, within these motifs, the most amazing array of filling stitches can take place.

From the Heart is fabulously complex in its finish yet consists of only five filling patterns repeated throughout and five different cotton threads, each varying in weight to add dimension.

This is traditional Schwalm embroidery at its purest, a technique that is hundreds of years old, and yet isn’t it amazing how fresh and modern a piece like this can still look, even today?

Just another reason why the beauty of needlework has, and will continue to, live forever.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

From the Heart by Luzine Happel is a large cushion showcasing beautiful Schwalm whitework on natural linen.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for From the Heart includes everything* you need to re-create this beautiful cushion: Fabric (unprinted), sewing thread, jute string, embroidery threads and needles.

Perfect Match by Fumie Suzuki from A Passion for Needlework 4 | The Whitehouse Daylesford features a beautiful combination of Schwalm and Reticella embroidery.

Field of Flowers by Deborah Love from Inspirations issue #106 is a whitework mat with flowers worked using a compelling variety of traditional Schwalm fillings.

Hidden Delights by Deborah Love from Inspirations #93 is an enchanting Schwalm embroidery featuring a songbird framed by a heart.

Noël by Barbara Kershaw from Inspirations issue #96 is a superb whitework Christmas stocking with Schwalm embroidery.

In our Welcome this week we asked the question, ‘when did you last hold a needle and thread in your hand?’ Within the Inspirations community we celebrate many different stitching styles and approaches, but whether you’re an ‘everyday stitcher’, or an ‘I’ll get to it one day’ stitcher, Inspirations is so grateful to be on the journey with you.

This week’s What Are You Stitching? features a few stories that showcase just how varied our paths can be…

‘Thanks for the lovely community I now feel a part of across the miles.’

What an amazing achievement Kate, and well deserving of 1st prize! All your projects are lovely and have been stitched beautifully. We love the button trees, what a great way to reduce, reuse and recycle. Thank you for your kind words, we are touched to hear how much Inspirations means to you.

‘The maple leaf is a design by Tanja Berlin and is worked mostly using DMC cotton thread, one strand. Although I did forget to put in the veins and I’m sure I will hear from Tanja about this! The maple leaf is an iconic symbol in Canada, it’s on our flag and pretty much everywhere here.’

What a striking finish, Sharon, even without the veins (we won’t tell Tanja if you don’t!). You’ve captured the intricacies of the maple leaf with needle and thread beautifully.

‘I feel proud and happy about my achievement and it's not complete without sharing it with you guys.’

You should be very proud, Mrunalini. The white frame and mount you’ve chosen does a superb job of drawing your attention directly into the eye of the ‘Spectra Blast’ and creates a lovely harmonious balance. We have no doubt that wherever you chose to display this vivacious project in your home, it will become a talking point for all who visit.

Do you have easy projects to interchange with harder projects? Have you entered your pieces into any competitions? Or have you recently framed and mounted a finished piece?

Whatever you are stitching, we’d love to see it! Email photos of what you’ve created with needle and thread 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!

Inspired by her love of Scandinavian folk designs, Corinne Lapierre’s gorgeous Birdhouse mini felt kits are available for purchase.

Here are a few products we’re about to run out of, so check out these links before they sell out!

Rare Bloom by Hazel Blomkamp is a spectacular flower, filled with an array of stitches and techniques.

~ Unknown ~

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