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Traditional Hand Embroidery
traditional hand embroidery: click on thumbnail to see larger version of image I enjoy hand stitching, whether that be traditional designs, with precise stitching, patterns and styles or using traditional stitches with a relaxed contemporary twist. The images above provide a selection of my work, more of my work can be seen on my traditional embroidery gallery page. Recent projects include - The 64 Circles contemporary hand stitching on fet, Inspired by patterns and motifs from Ushaw Historic House, in Durham. Six Garden Birds (based on Chloe Redfern's patterns) for exhibition, A 100 day project of Blackwork in colour. Comprising 100 circles each with a different pattern, designed by Clare Ardali of Peppermint Purple. One circle was supposed to be stitched each day. I didn't manage one per day! I ended up having concentrated work sessions every few weeks to keep on top of the project. However, I did manage to finish within the 100 days, although the bolder was added later ready for display at exhibition. A longer project was Roger the Rhino, from the Crewel Creatures book by Hazel Blomkamp. This came as a full kit, with all materials and design supplied by Hazel Blomkamp. The project involved many different elements, including bead work flowers (horrible nasty fiddly little blighters to make), silk shading, free style surface embroidery, and Jacobean trellis work. Over 12 months I clocked up 200 hours. Below is a short slide show with some close up details of different sections from these projects. 
Stitching from a young age: I became interested in hand embroidery aged 11 inspired by needlework classes at school. I had a very traditional teacher who was tough but fair, requiring a very high standard of work. Mrs Hyde provided a thorough grounding in all manner of techniques in dressmaking as well as decorative embroidered items. Sadly I changed school at aged 13 where needlework was not on the curriculum, so stitching fell by the wayside for a while. During the 1970s, following major surgery I needed a recuperative occupation so I stitched at home, using prepared designs found in my three favourite books. I liked the first two books very much because most of the designs were modern and used interesting fabrics and threads. Then following marriage and my first own home (in rural Aberdeenshire) I needed a few practical items to brighten up the kitchen... I still have the cushions from the front cover of book number three, and some of the stitched panels are stored away, but most of the embroidered panels were given as presents to family members.
I can't bear to throw books away so I still have these and other similar booklets from the period. Unfortunately, they do not credit the designers of each piece of work. It would be lovely to know who they were. Marriage, child rearing and a very busy career made serious stitching difficult for the next 30+ years...Picking up the needle in ernest: On retirement from the day job I decided to take up the needle again. This time I wanted to design and stitch my own work. However, I made a mistake by jumping in with the RSN traditional hand embroidery course at the studio of Tracy A Franklin in Durham (http://www.tracyafranklin.com/) and City & Guilds courses by StitchBusiness. The next few years were a very steep learning curve! I don't have an arty background, so was naive about all the elements that go to make up a good design. Quality of stitch was fine, but composition definitely had room for improvement. Follow this link for a gallery page with close up details of my four pieces for the RSN Certificate work. Since completing the RSN certificate I have mostly been developing my contemporary textiles portfolio, but do enjoy having a piece of traditional work on the go as well. Some notable pieces are 'Autumn Leaves', designed and stitched by me in the company of Tracy at her studio in Durham and working from a North East Region Embroiderers' Guild course tutored by Jenny Adin-Christie, where I started her stumpwork kit, The Owl and the Pussycat. I occasionally participate in community projects as a volunteer stitcher. In 2019, using canvas work techniques on a church kneeler for St Michael's Church. Howick, Northumberland. In 2021, I started stitching two specially designed panels for the Weardale Methodist Tapestry project. Follow me on Instagram:  |
