After what feels like a long winter and a spring that never really quite sprung, the team at Inspirations HQ is eagerly awaiting the arrival of summer. Whilst we find ourselves enjoying a warm, sunny day every now and then, they often seem sandwiched in between days that feel anything but like summer is on its way!

As we contemplated dreamy locations and even dreamier stitching, we rediscovered an article from the July-August issue of Needlepoint Now magazine - ‘Hit the Road this Summer… Travelling with your Needlepoint’ - that was the perfect guide to journeying with our stitching. So, whether you’re in the Southern Hemisphere contemplating warm days with needle and thread by the pool, or perhaps thinking about snuggling up by the fire as you travel to snow fields in the Northern Hemisphere, the ideas Needlepoint Now gathered from KC Needlepoint might be just what you’re looking for.

Firstly, they suggested grabbing a thread cutter pendant and needle threader, proposing they both be placed on a lanyard for ease of finding and use. Next, they recommended pre-cutting strands of thread, which can be especially helpful if you have full skeins, as they’ll take up less room in your luggage and will also allow you to grab a single strand as required without any bird’s nests forming in the process!

The article then went on to recommend that travelling projects should always be packed in clear vinyl project bags as, not only will they keep everything needed in one place, they will ensure our stitching is protected from spills, rain and any wear or tear that may occur as they’re carried around.

Then there was a timely reminder about not travelling with a favourite pair of scissors, especially when flying, as there’s nothing more heartbreaking than to have them confiscated by a Travel Security Officer when they don’t meet local regulations!

KC Needlepoint also suggested travelling with a commercially kitted project as you know you’ll have everything you need to complete it whilst away from your stash. They also reminded us that as we may not be able to control the light where we stitch, particularly detailed projects may be better left at home.

Their final sentiment though, we are absolutely taking to heart, ‘wherever your travels take you this summer, never leave home without your needlepoint’.

So, with that said, we’re off to pack everything we need to complete our next project with needle and thread, everything apart from our favourite pair of scissors of course!

Projects can be finished in a multitude of ways and sometimes, how we get those final stitches laid can differ from stitcher to stitcher. Over the past few weeks, we have received some wonderful emails about unique tips and tricks to get some of those harder to complete UFOs finished. We also received some other must share emails, that we’ve added at the end of this week’s Have Your Say. Shall we start with a few responses we received to issue #403?!

Firstly, Vikki spoke about a good friend once telling her to ‘not rush through a project, just enjoy the process.’ Vikki used to work at a yarn shop where once a month, for a week, everyone would spend time completing a UFO. They would help each other and found that the only thing people hadn’t completed were things they didn’t like to do, but there was always someone in the shop who didn’t mind doing it and all the projects would get completed!

Then Michelle said the opening article in issue #403 about quitting a needlework project really hit home. Michelle and a wonderful stitching friend of hers exchanged unfinished projects. ‘She completed a needlepoint project I had but didn’t want to finish and I finished a linen piece she had. We gave ourselves a year and were happy to swap when they were completed! I always think of her when I see that piece.’

We received a new motto that Pat will be using from now on. ‘Over the many years I have been stitching, there have been so many times I would self-criticise every skipped stitch, using the wrong colour green, or comparing my work to the designer's. It got to be a little frustrating. I came to a point where I just started to let all the mistakes live where they were and used them as a learning experience. I believe there is no such thing as perfection, just practise.’

Finally, from issue #403, in response to the mention of Debbie Preissinger’s article about packing away joyless projects for another day, Sylvia emailed to tell us that if a book she has started isn’t pleasing her she will put it away for later finding something else to read that sparks happiness within.

We were intrigued by an email from Jane that had a link she wanted to share to an article called Cheat sheet for 2,000 years of traditional embroidery. She explains that the article is about chasu, the Korean word for embroidery, which is a method of cultivating beauty in every corner of daily life. She thought it might inspire some of the Inspirations community.

‘Our two children are adopted from Korea, and I like to honour their Korean cultural background by giving them small gifts made in Korea that reflect these traditions. I’m thinking of how I could translate some of these designs into Christmas ornaments for my grandsons!’

Now, in the spirit of Christmas, Jeanne would like to pass along a hint for using DMC’s Diamant threads. She is using them to create Christmas ornaments and she has noticed the thread likes to ravel as you use it. A ‘stitching sister’ gave her a very helpful hint to use Elmer’s Washable School Glue Stick on the ends of the thread letting it dry before using. She says it works like a charm!

Finally, we have a recipe offering from Jane. This time her helpful recipe is for using up small amounts of leftover wool thread.

Leftover Wool Threads Recipe

‘Sometimes I find I can never match the dye lots of leftover thread to new threads for completing a new project but can’t think of a project that could incorporate them. This Needlepoint Sampler can solve that problem. I didn’t purchase any new thread, I just designed around the colours I had tucked away over the years.’

Materials

- Books, magazines, and patterns with small motifs
- Leftover wool thread
- Fabric (with outside perimeter marked)

Method

1. Search print material for small motifs in the colours of your leftover wool. (‘The robin is taken from Sweete Bag by Victoria Laine published in Inspirations issue #99.’)

2. Sort your wool into colour families and then into groups of small and large amounts of threads. The group of small amounts of matching dye lot threads will be used to stitch motifs and the group of large amounts of thread will be used for filling stitches.

3. Stitch a motif.

4. Outline a block around the motif and choose a stitch to fill the block. Stitch a border around each block. Continue this process until you have as many blocks as needed to reach the marked perimeter.

5. When your blocks are completed stitch an outside border around the entire piece.

‘I hope this project will inspire you to look at leftover threads in a new way and encourage you to design an exciting and fun project.’

Another wonderful recipe, Jane! We’re off to organise some stitching sessions with friends to see if they’re up to finishing off some of our projects… in the meantime if you’d like to add to any of our conversations we’d love you to email us HERE!

Every now and then you have the privilege to work on a project that has been such a long time in the making, there is a great sense of responsibility and stewardship to get it right.

This is most definitely the case with the latest book our team has been working on. It has involved years of planning from one of the world’s most accomplished designers and years of discussion with the Inspirations team to ensure we get it just right.

And now… it’s nearly ready. Ready to blow your socks off.

It’s so epic, we had to make it in two parts.

You’ll hear all about it in due course, but for now we just wanted to let you know Volume 1 is coming and due for release in February.

Pre-order your copy today to get a jump on the hype.

There is nothing quite like receiving a personalised card that has been handwritten. Some might say handwriting is a dying art, but those same people tried telling us the same thing about needlework!

In fact, based on the correspondence we receive here at the Inspirations office, we can assure you that handwriting is very much alive and well.

Perfect for Christmas cards, to keep handy for the ad-hoc ‘thank you’ or ‘thinking of you’ note, there are three sets to choose from based on different Jo Butcher projects. Each box contains eight mini gift cards with two each of four designs.

There’s no better way to brighten someone’s day than with a lovely handwritten note inside one of Jo Butcher’s enchanting designs. Click below to purchase today.

We’re all too familiar with the frequent dilemma of putting down your project only to come back and discover your needle has grown legs and walked off while you were away.

Designed for ease of use, the magnetic clasp also preserves the integrity of your fabric, as your needles won’t need to be pinned through the edges.

With three timeless designs each with a resin finish, these are a great addition to your needlework toolbox, or a wonderful small gift for a friend.

As the end of the year speeds toward us, we’ve spent some time looking back over all the books, magazines and kits we’ve released in 2023, and what a big year we’ve had!

This week we’re taking a quick trip down memory lane to see which of the projects from our 2023 publications ended up on everyone’s To Stitch lists…

Inspirations Magazine

2023 kicked off with issue #117 titled Full Bloom and fittingly featured a stunning, three-dimensional daisy on the cover created by Ana Mallah. As it turned out both the daisy and her superb pink rose would become everyone’s firm favourites from this issue.

While issue #118 titled Flights of Fancy celebrated the natural world, it was a collection of European withdrawn and pull thread techniques that Christine P. Bishop used in her elegant table mat Grand Tour that proved the most enticing.

Stitching Stories was the perfect name for issue #119 as each project had so much to say, perhaps none more so than The Blue Bead by Ukrainian designer Tatiana Popova (another cover project) that clearly struck a chord with everyone based on its popularity.

It’s always exciting to celebrate a milestone like turning 30, and issue #120 did us proud with an outstanding line up of amazing projects, and it was only fitting that Susan O’Connor’s Busy Bees would become the talk of the needlework town.

Handpicked Projects

With a new Handpicked project released alongside each issue of Inspirations magazine, this range of fabulous standalone designs is continuing to grow in number and popularity.

With a superstar line up of designers contributing to our Handpicked collection this year, we were spoiled for choice. In the end, the sparkle of shimmering beads that Margaret Lee used to create her card wallet Treasure, captured the most attention.

Books

Here’s a quick rundown of books we released in 2023:

Flowers for Elizabeth by Susan O’Connor

From our very own Susan O’Connor, Flowers for Elizabeth has etched itself firmly as one of the all-time most popular needlework designs and this new, updated release featured Elizabethan-inspired botanical designs that you use to create either Susan’s iconic blanket, or a trio of accessories based on your favourite motifs.

A Fine Tradition 2 by Margaret Light

Inspired by art, architecture and needlework from around the world, Margaret Light took us all on another adventure with a superb collection of 12 new designs.

The Design Collective | Christmas

Our most recent release, the second volume of The Design Collective series, came just in time for the holiday season. Fittingly themed Christmas, this festive publication includes 12 brand new, stunning Christmas projects.

We look forward to bringing you even more of the world’s most beautiful needlework publications in 2024!

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

Originally, embroidery samplers were used as a ‘specimen of achievement’, demonstrating stitching skills. They were most often created by young girls or women while learning different needlework skills.

Samplers were known to be used in Europe as far back as the 16th century. Printed patterns were not around yet, and stitched samplers were often used for guidance or as models to be copied.

Traditional samplers usually included the letters of the alphabet, religious references or family history of the stitcher, as well as a range of stitches and techniques mastered by the embroiderer.

Betsy Morgan’s brand-new project, Favourite Things from Inspirations #120, showcases a variety of her favourite stitch techniques – hence the name!

Betsy’s counted thread embroidery projects are timeless favourites here at Inspirations, as can be attested to by the popularity of her books. Famous for her etuis and other three-dimensional projects, Betsy is changing pace with this sampler, allowing stitchers to create something beautiful and intricate, yet simple and achievable.

‘I have many, many favourite things - animals, flowers, the beach, the mountains, family, friends and on and on.

At the top of that list are counted thread embroidery and stumpwork, with Elizabethan Era band samplers being my absolute favourite!’

Betsy’s design started with counted thread motifs, stitches and techniques as well as some of her favourite colours. Celtic chains, acorns, berries, flowers, Bargello, whitework, double running, spiral trellis and Assisi work were all on the ‘must include’ list as well as her often used ‘woven ribbons’ motif.

The Assisi rabbit was originally designed by Betsy for an introduction to an Assisi class she was teaching for a guild in Virginia. The Bargello pattern is traditional and the vine and detached blanket stitch flowers were the result of playing around with a slightly different motif to fill that area.

The idea of combining several motifs in one band came from the 1687 Dorothy Ward sampler, which is included in the second Feller Needlework Collection book.

The sampler is stitched using muted shades of Au Ver à Soie, Soie d’ Alger stranded silk thread on antique white linen, lending this modern interpretation of traditional embroidery a vintage look and feel.

This is the perfect project for those who want to try their hand at new stitches in an achievable way or those who want to create a vintage-looking item while still using contemporary materials and techniques. It really is an all-round winner and future Favourite Thing for us all.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Favourite Things by Betsy Morgan is a counted thread sampler featuring favourite stitches, motifs and colours.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Favourite Things includes everything* you need to re-create this enchanting sampler: Fabrics (unprinted), interfacing, wires, embroidery threads and needles.

Busy Fingers by Christine P. Bishop from Inspirations issue #50 is an intricate counted thread sampler.

Between the Lines by Deborah Love from Inspirations issue #117 is a pretty sampler sachet utilising a selection of withdrawn thread techniques.

Reticella Sampler by Christine P. Bishop from the book A Passion for Needlework 2 | Factoria VII is a sampler showcasing Italian cutwork needlelace designs from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Sometimes the projects we stitch are inspired by photos or memories of times past. The stitchers in today’s What Are You Stitching? have used their talents to capture important memories with needle and thread.

Indeed, this is a fabulous composition, Bonnie and you have re-created it in stitch beautifully. All your perseverance and time working on elements like the gravel has really paid off, so well done for sticking with it! It is such a thoughtful gift and a wonderful keepsake for them – they are very fortunate to have you as their aunt.

Well, Anne, we can see why you like stitching leaves… you’re a natural at it! You have chosen two visually striking landscapes and brought them to life with stitch. We also love all the little details you have added, like the sheep faces. Well done!

‘The bungalow has recently fallen into a poor state, so the last time I visited I decided I would restore it to its former glory in stitch. The RSN Certificate module gave me the both the perfect opportunity and motivation to do just that!’

Wow, Elizabeth, your canvas piece is remarkable. Your bungalow looks absolutely idyllic with flourishing garden beds of flowers and wonderful large windows with sheer curtains waiting to be gently swayed by a sea breeze. Beautiful work!

Have the architectural features of a building influenced your stitching? Or design elements from history? Or perhaps monuments visited on travels have inspired your work?

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!

A selection of pre-printed fabrics from a few of our most popular projects are now available to purchase individually.

Echinacea by Jo Butcher features vibrant coneflowers in surface and stumpwork embroidery against a watercolour background.

Pat’s Bonbon by Hazel Blomkamp is a bonbon to use every year, adorned with sparkling poinsettias, flowers and leaves in three-dimensional beading.

~ Robert Orben ~

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