What Are You Stitching?

‘I am 73 years old and my paternal grandmother did embroidery with cotton thread. While I used to watch her, she never really taught me. I used to embroider items on kids clothes a long time ago when my kids were small, I just taught myself.’

‘Now, I embroider hankies for bridal parties. I can honestly say that I cannot remember how I got started. I know I bought a book about silk ribbon and just practised. I have been using silk ribbon for about 20 years. My sister makes the linen hankies for me and attaches the lace. I just see a picture of their bouquet and the wedding colours then I try to find flowers that match.’

‘I like to do tiny things; I draw the bouquet on the linen hankie and then I try to think of a unique way to include the bride and groom’s names and date and any theme on the other corner. These were for a Christmas wedding.’ 

What a great idea, Vicki! We’re sure the bridal parties that receive these magnificent hankies will treasure their everlasting bouquets and appreciate having them as a keepsake from their special day. 

‘I have just finished Susan Porter’s Full Bloom from Inspirations magazine issue #85. I made a round box for it.’

‘I wish now that I had made the rose a bit larger or the box a bit smaller. There’s a proportion problem to me, but I see it as a learning curve for next time. Overall though I am happy with my blossom!’

You have recreated Full Bloom splendidly, Pat. We love the colour of your box, what a clever idea! We’re sure you’ll find some treasures to store in it and don’t be too hard on yourself about the proportions, having the negative space around your rose actually helps to hero your embroidery, so you’ve done well.

‘I thought I would share one of my makes. A little spot from the meadow next to my house. While I was creating this my youngest grandson brought a stick to me and told me I needed something for the butterfly to rest on. I cut the stick down to roughly the size that would fit, wrapped and glued felt around it, with enough felt at the bottom of the stick so I could attach it to the fabric, then began to add French knots. Lots and lots of French knots.’

‘Then a small piece of felt was added inside so I could add more French knots. The rocks are padded felt, the ‘sticks’ are floss wrapped wire. 

Turkey work, wired slip butterfly, stumpwork flowers, leaves, a tiny ladybug, a bee, there’s even a little spiderweb if you look real close. A bit of dye lace for the fungi you find on stumps.’

‘I had to drill a small hole into the bottom of the stick and place a small screw in it because it was too heavy to stand on its own. 

The ‘stick’ is not quite to scale with the rest, but it made him happy and that is all that matters. I hope you enjoy a little glimpse into the meadow.’

Nina, your story reminds us that sometimes we need others to push us to challenge ourselves! It sounds like we might have to give some of the thanks to your grandson for this wonderful piece. We are in awe of the level of detail you have executed and the texture you’ve created with different stitches. Well done!

Do you stitch on hankies? Have you constructed a box to hold your treasures? Are you set challenges by your family?!

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