What Are You Stitching?

Blankets come in all styles. Although we are particularly fond of embroidered blankets, quilting is incredibly popular as is the combination of embroidery and quilting. 

Blankets can also be crocheted and knitted, something many of our readers enjoy doing as well. Today, for your viewing pleasure, we bring you a showcase of blankets made using a range of different techniques.

‘Several weeks ago I noticed the digital pattern Roses and Daisies appear in All Stitched Up! issue #266 and purchased a copy. I still had some wool that I had bought 14 years ago to make a blanket for my first grandchild. When I saw this beautiful design, I knew it was meant for my leftover fabric. I love the way it came out.’

You have finished this project in record fast time, Elizabeth! You were absolutely correct; your leftover wool was perfect – such a delightful blanket you have created, well done.

‘When I am at home, I usually work on my Chinese embroidery. However, when we go away, I like to take something that takes up less space. On holiday trips I embroidered the nine quilt blocks from Jenny McWhinney’s ‘The Redwork Circus’. I love Jenny’s work and enjoyed doing the clowns. It is a fun project and Jenny’s instructions made it much easier.’

This is such a fun project, Miriam and you have done an excellent job re-creating it. We can only imagine how fabulous it looks on a bed or hanging on the back of a sofa.

‘Up until about two years ago, I used to do a large amount of very fine crocheting. I would make tablecloths, table scarves, dress collars, doilies, etc. Here is a picture of one of my finished pieces.’

‘May this year turn out better than last and thank you for showing us the beautiful work of all of those wonderful needle artists from around the world.’

Thank you for sharing your beautiful work, Velia. And like you, we hope that 2021 turns out better for everyone.

‘My husband worked for an oil company so we used to move all over the world. I stitched everywhere, drawing inspiration from the various cultures where we lived. In Malabo, we lived in a small compound with nowhere to go and not much to do. So, I started creating dimensional, fabric women using local fabrics and copying their clothing styles from those I saw around me.’

‘We were gone from Canada for 18 years so I accumulated a lot of pieces over the years, none of them framed as they were easier to store.

When we finally returned, we moved to a small community, accessible only by ferry. There were no needlework shops but there were two quilting shops and a very active quilt guild so I joined up and learned to quilt. One day, as I was going through my needlework tote, inspiration struck. A good friend helped with the background fabric and layout and I incorporated some pieces from fabrics depicting African scenes.

What a magnificent piece and a wonderful way to remember your travels, Ada. Bringing them all together into a quilted piece seems perfect, we love it!

Do you love embroidering blankets? Or do you prefer quilting? Are you handy with a hook or a pair of knitting needles, producing blankets that way? Or perhaps blankets aren’t your thing at all?

Whatever your preference, whether project style, technique or designer, we’d like to see it. Send us a picture of your work with a bit of information about the project itself and your stitching journey, to news@inspirationsstudios.com