Two-By-Two

It's The First Of August - and today marks the start of the fourth collaborative stitching project between Kirsten and me. I am so excited about this one! We started out with the Postcard Project, stitching on linen

And then we did the Cross Country Collaboration, working on evenweave Aida, doing cross stitch

And latterly, the CoverStory, adding patches each month to a foundation sheet, to make bookcovers.

In all that time we have learned about new embroidery stitches, Swedish weaving, Spanish work, Sashiko, Dorset Buttons, different types of thread, couching and more. We have also learned the wisdom of having A Good Plan before we begin a project, even if we tweak it along the way. 

CoverStory happened because we wanted to create useful pieces of stitching. And the book covers are great. So let's do a couple more covers, we said. But this time, slightly differently. Postal charges have gone up significantly since we began in 2022. And I have discovered that doing a practice piece each month has resulted in much better work.

This time, we are using the EPP [English Paper Piecing] technique, where each patch is stitched round a paper shape, then they are joined together at the end. But we will each do two very similar squares - and post one, and keep one. We will do 15 [x2] in total, to make a piece just big enough for an A5 book cover. I have already used my diecut machine to produce a lot of paper squares [quick, efficient, uniformly sized] plus a 'frame' so that we can choose where to cut out the fabric patch. 

Here's the frame on my bedroom quilt showing how you can line up the designs to get the best patterns. Below is a practice patch, to give you an idea of how it will work. So every month there will be two patches prepared by us both. That's Two-By-Two. Off we go!

It's A Stitch Up!

Three years ago, I reviewed this book - and the following week, I actually began the first collaboration with Kirsten on "The Postcard Project". So yes, I did end up buying it [secondhand of course] and it has been a useful resource as we have been stitching together. Now we are working on the final stages of CoverStory, and I have been looking for interesting stitches to embellish the seams.

The names are fascinating

According to the book, the one on the left is "feathered chain" stitch and the one on the right is "chained feather" stitch. And what about "square boss" stitch [I think I worked for him back in the 80s]

I am intrigued by the loopy "forbidden stitch" [also known as Pekinese stitch or Chinese stitch - maybe it comes from the Forbidden City in Beijing]
Many stitches have place names - Paris stitch, Cretan Stitch, Madeira work - and my favourite Norwich stitch.

Kirsten and I have agreed that having done all the edges, we will stitch our info panels - then one final swap. We will each end up with the panel with our name on it. At that point these will be turned into our notebook covers. And then we will scratch our heads and plan for our fourth collaborations.

Any ideas about what we will do next?

Edging Towards the Finishing Line

So all the patches are stitched on the CoverStory Panels [apart from the 'info panels' which will be completed shortly] This past month we have been embellishing the vertical seams, and now we have swapped pieces, and will work on the horizontal ones.

My panel with its seams stitched - I used stem stitch, feather stitch, couched running stitch and couched chain stitch.

And here is Kirsten's piece

We both used cotton perlé thread which works really well for this

She was much more adventurous than I was- using coral stitch, blanket stitch, french knots, and zigzag stitching. I found it quite hard to maintain a straight line as the area around the seams is quite thick, with three or four layers of fabric.

My parcel arrived on Thursday just before my SIL and BIL joined us for lunch. Denise said how much better it was to see and touch the stitching - so much more vivid than on the blog photographs. 

She is right, you cannot fully appreciate the colours and textures in a photograph.
I got the previous two pieces out of the drawer [Postcard Project and Cross Country Collaboration] to show her - and now I am thinking I must make an effort to get them into frames and displayed somewhere in the house. We are quite limited for wall space though...

At least the CoverStory pieces will be going onto notebooks and actually get "used"

K has already decided on her lining fabric. She is ahead of me there!

Texture, Textile, Text

I love the fact that the word text has the same root as textile and texture - they all come from the Latin textus, 'to weave' . So books about fabric must be text-text

Last month I acquired three such books. One was passed on by a friend, one was 50p in a NT bookshop, and one was £6 from Greener books.

Reviews in reverse order

Having loved the Haberdashery shop Bob discovered for me in Paris, I was intrigued to find The Mason Sajou book in our library. [the Sajou shop is based in Versailles ]And I loved it so much, that I felt I would like my own copy. There is a lovely review here so I will not repeat what is said there - check out Kim's words and illustrations. It has 20 lovely projects, with excellent instructions for different techniques, and creative ways to use stitching. My first purchase from Greener Books, a company committed to recycling books. This was the cheapest 2nd hand online copy I could find, and I was pleased with the prompt delivery and excellent quality. Watch this space, as I plan to make up at least one of these ideas soon..*****

28 fresh designs influenced by ceramics, fabrics, and folk embroidery. Helen Turvey recreates designs of English ceramicist William DeMorgan,  French Toiles de Jouy textiles, and Scandinavian and Northern European folk art . Designs for decorative and useful items for the home, of for gifts.. Great instructions and charts – cleverly using different shades of red thread. It is a step further on than the Mueller samplers  that I used to inspire a section of last year's collaboration with Kirsten. But If I can find appropriate Toile, I may use it in this year's CoverStory. Another *****

Finally this one. Kirsten included it as a flat gift with the last parcel. Which was interesting as I had seen it mentioned online She and I have since discussed it, and found ourselves broadly in agreement. The principle is a good one - if you are dress making, be as efficient as you can when cutting the fabric, so avoid senseless waste. In practice, this is not so easy to implement. Advice like "avoid stripes, directional patterns, velvets" and "boiled wool is about the best" is somewhat limiting if you want a pretty summer dress, or a special evening gown.  Cutting 6 identical 'kangaroo' pockets which can be tessellate dinto one strip with no waste at all is fine - if you want 6 identical garments in the same size and fabric. But unless you are manufacturing for a shop or dressing the women from the workhouse, this is not helpful.Sadly although the book has lots of hand-drawn diagrams, there are no clear photographs or pictures of any finished garments on the wearers.

For proper patterns and projects you have to buy Liz's other book - but looking at the projects in that, I do not know I would want to wear many of them, however Z-W, earth friendly they were [I have a Moebius scarf] That book is £28. 

Having said all that - "A Year of ZWSewing" comprises 12 sections - each one with a concept [fastenings, gussets, historical clothes etc] a guest piece from another ZW designer [across the globe - Australia to USA, via Sweden, France, NZ etc] and an "Ask Lizzy" spot. I did like the little anecdotes - eg Did you know George Lucas specified that none of the Star Wars costumes should have zips or buttons ? Apparently they do not exist in his galaxy far, far away! 

For all my negative comments, I must say this book was the most challenging, and very thought provoking. Liz is not keen on people using the odd leftover bits for embellishing garments [thus ensuring nothing is wasted] - my approach would be I cannot avoid having this piece left if I cut a circular neckline - so in what other project can it be used? I am giving this ***. It might have had 4* but for one thing which Kirsten commented on and I completely agree - it has a really weird cover surface.Sort of ... waxy. We both found it genuinely unpleasant to hold! I could not read it in bed for that reason! If it is to stay, I shall have to make a cover for it!!

I have borrowed many sewing books from the library in the past week or so. When asked at church if Bob is resting properly, I said that he is spending most afternoons sitting in the lounge reading - and I keep him company, also reading [or sewing] "How good of you to give up your time to do that!" was the response. I had to explain it was not a chore. I love being together, and furthermore, will grab any excuse to avoid housework to stitch or to read!!

Rev Almond, In The Garden, With A Kebab Skewer

Saturday was wet, SO wet. Every garment I was wearing was wet. I was glad I'd got a set of dry clothes to wear on Sunday, or I'd have had to go to church in my pj's. It was lovely to meet up with old friends. We got home around 5, and shortly afterwards Julian arrived to stay for a few days.

Monday we went out to the coast - meandering round Wells [where I bought fishing line for mouse whiskers] then onto Hunstanton for a fish'n'chip lunch. Bob spotted a large sheet of Sundeala Board in a skip, worth about £70. Exactly what the Men's Shed needs to refurbish the Parish Church Noticeboards. I went inside the shop and asked the owner if we could have it.  "Take it - take it all if you like" he said cheerfully. I thanked him, and we loaded the Sundeala and a few other bits into the car.

Julian was greatly amused as I squeezed into the back seat. In the evening he helped me thread whiskers onto the mice, then the three of us played Cluedo.* I'd quite forgotten how much fun it is. On Tuesday Bob and Julian went to the Tank Museum and in the evening Adrian and Marion came for a BBQ. We sat in the garden as Bob cooked some delicious kebabs.. Later on, I was showing Marion my finished cross stitch when I suddenly spotted a mistake. I had stitched 3 Ls in collaboration. 

How had I not noticed that before? I've unpicked and restitched now. Julian went home yesterday, Bob had a good time at The Shed, and I did lots of gardening. Two of my tomato plants have plenty of fruit, the remaining twenty plants don't seem to have anything but leaves. My pair of strawberry plants had eight berries, but the two largest have mysteriously disappeared.[birds?] We ate the other six fruits before they were taken. I have 5 mini cucumbers on my Yard Sale plant. 

*Julian picked up a Cluedo set in a CS in Hunstanton and I said "We've got that at home" So we fetched it out after our evening meal. But all the score sheets were filled in [the set is about 50 years old, I got it as a teenager] However I was able to quickly print off some spare sheets from This site. We can go on playing. It is useful to be able to print off replacements - there are bits for Monopoly and other games. 

Do you ever play board games? Which do you  like best? the classics, or the newer ones? 

All Stitched Up!

 I have finally completed my half of the Cross Stitch Collaboration. The stitching was all done by Pentecost as we planned, but I had to complete the notebook with details, and scan the book to send a copy to Kirsten. Now it is all done. My final stitching was the border round the edge. names and dates top and bottom, and I chose verses from Psalm 4 for left and right. 

"You put gladness in my heart" 

    "In peace I will lie down and sleep"

You should be able to click on this for a better view, and for the individual months, click on the "cross country collaboration" label in the sidebar.

The whole piece measures 21" x 11" and is yet to be framed.

The side borders of  Kirsten's say 

"Dum Spiro Spero - while I breathe, I hope"

    Lo, I am with you always"
This has been a great follow up to our original Postcard Project. I can really recommend this collaborative stitching to build sewing skills and strong friendships.

Sew Peaceful

Yesterday was Dereham Day. The Town Museum were featuring John Craske, and his pictures of peace. They had invited people to produce a picture [6“x 8“] representing "the place where I feel at peace." I decided to do a piece of textile art representing my love of sewing. After all, Craske lived embroidery too. I'd handed in my entry at the end of March [they stressed it was a exhibition NOT a competition] I went along yesterday to view the "Picturing Peace" display. Katie, the guide, was really pleased someone had gone in specifically for it, and I said I'd submitted a picture. When I said my name, she beamed "Oh I'm so glad. Yours was the first entry and I love it" We went to the room full of pictures. "Tell me about it..." 

It was a piece of green felt on which I had stitched different aspects of my needlework. I showed her the button and tape measure [dressmaking] and the patchwork sample[quilting, recycling] , and the embroidered pink scrap [embroidery - especially my collaboration with Kirsten] threads and fastenings [repairing] needles and fancy gold braid [costumes, and memory bears] and cross stitch [pictures and greetings cards] and I pointed out the dove and Shalom, symbols of my Christian faith - which underpins my joy in creativity, especially in sewing for others [just realised the pun there, sorry] 

I hadn't realised I there was another woman behind us till she said “Oh that's lovely - there should be a card explaining all that " They had around 90 pieces, there wouldn't be room for everyone's story. 

But I was so glad to look at all the different pictures and see their cornfields,seascapes family scenes, pets, gardens and more - using all sorts of media - each representing a different, personal aspect of peace 

Where do you find moments of peace in the noisy, busy world? 

Suffering With Foot And Mouth

 

I'm falling to bits! After spending all that time and money on having the verruca on my heel dealt with, it has reappeared. And it hurts. I am not convinced it was completely removed last time. So this week I shall be visiting a different podiatrist. I had an appointment booked with the dental hygienist booked for May. The receptionist rang and said there was a cancellation, would I like Friday 26th April instead. It's a 50 mile round trip [look, this is Norfolk, I'm lucky to have a dentist at all] I somehow missed a turning, so had a slight detour, then got stuck for miles behind a very wide, slow agricultural vehicle, unable to overtake on narrow roads. I arrived 15 minutes late, and they said I was too late to be seen. "We can rebook for Monday and you won't lose your deposit"

Bob kindly drove me there - we left in good time, and arrived 40 minutes early for the 3.10pm appointment. The hygienist was running behind - I never got into the chair till 3.30pm! So I had been in the waiting room for a full hour. [Bob sat in the car listening to the radio and reading]

On Sunday evening, I did a lot of stitching on the project - I've completed the green edging - and I am now stitching the text in the border[names, dates, title etc] I drew everything out very neatly on graph paper - but I was too tired. I should have had the sense not to do any stitching after 9pm. As I finished the banner across the bottom, I realised I had counted wrongly - and everything was 2 squares out. I spent a lot of time Monday morning unpicking it all

My aim is to finish by May 19th [Pentecost] 

As well as the border text to stitch, there are lots of ends to tidy up on the back. Generally I'm feeling very upbeat about our collaborative project. 

[I have had fun with this blue plaque generator!]

My Creative, Crafty County

I managed to get to this event on Friday - and ran out of time to see everything. Then I needed to go into Norwich on Saturday, so made a second visit. There was just SO much to see and do this year. I didn't take as many photos as I intended because I was caught up in chats with other crafters, and sometimes the crowds of people milling around made pictures difficult.

It is nearly eight years since I exhibited at the C&TA event at the Cathedral, and decided I would join the association when we retired. I have finally signed up! 

But I do think the logo looks like "Costa" don't you?

Upstairs there were lots of have-a-go stands. Do some stitching, ragrugging, painting, crochet...knit a few rows for the Giraffe-Scarf etc. Next years GoGo Trail will have five different animals from the Savannah. I knitted a couple of rows at the scarf table! 

Two years ago they were working on a woolly mammoth

When not Cross Stitching, Kirsten is exploring ZeroWaste clothing, and bog coats. So I just had to sent her pictures of Cat, who makes ZW jackets from old embroidered tablecloths. A very friendly woman.

I think I might wear one of these as a summer cover up over a strappy evening frock, or for a wedding outfit.

Also on the ground floor, in the side gallery, were lots of C&TA exhibits, recent, and going back a few years [the show never happened during covid, but people did even more stitching then]

Fab Tudor project - Queen Bess has hair made from unravelled copper scouring pads! And there is a new tapestry under construction for the Castle- 

these are some of the items which will also be on show there.
The Spinners, Weavers and Dyers have made a regal banner too.

At first I was confused by the title 

Charles III R 2023 - A King for all Seasons.
Elizabeth died in 2022, didn't she? Then I realised, they had to wait twelve months until he had been on the throne for all four seasons!

In the basement part of the Forum, there was a display of all Margaret Seaman's knitted treasures. She is 92 now and says this is the final time she will come and exhibit. She has raised thousands of pounds for charity over the years. 

There was such a lot to look at, lots of inspiration - and I did enjoy myself. The C&TA stand had some of their literature on display, including the programme from the Norwich Shawl exhibition in 2016. I turned the pages over, so it was open at the one showing the picture of my three tea cosies!

I've paid my membership fee now - so I think I can display a bit of my handwork!

This event is well worth attending - it is free - and you get to meet some very talented people, and have the opportunity to explore new crafting skills.
If I keep practising with my new machine, I might have something for next year.

One final poster by the exit door was very touching. Loose Ends is a global charity which aims to ease grief, create community and inspire generosity by mixing volunteer 'handwork finishers' with projects people have left unfinished due to death or disability. What a lovely idea!

We Are Both On Edge

Or to be more precise, both doing the edging on our cross stitch pieces. I have borrowed Kirsten's photos because they have come out so much better than mine.

Each section will be edged in back stitch, using two strands of dark green thread. Then we will work out the border pattern. 

[If you want to find out the details of the 24 individual sections, click in the "cross stitch collaboration" in the labels list on the right] 

I'm trying not to be "on edge" this morning - we both have very early dental appointments.  But Roshan my dentist is definitely the best I've ever had - he is so reassuring, and puts me at my ease as soon as I sit down. [by the way, the phrase "set one's teeth on edge" comes from the Bible, Jeremiah ch 31]

Easter Exchange

We were both a little late posting our cross stitch parcels - K's parcel arrived on Thursday morning, and I immediately WhatsApped Kirsten to say I'd got it safely. Hers arrived an hour or so later. These were the last sections of ur Aida rectangle to be stitched, and discussions are ongoing about Finishing Off. I as thrilled with the little Easter Garden K had produced - using Star Eyelet stitch in various sizes, and Sarah Homfray variegated threads. Lots of flowers and surrounded by green grass. One part of the variegated green was very pale, so K cut that out, and used it to edge the section neatly. You don't notice it immediately, but it gives a beautiful definition to the shape.

My 'flat gifts' from Kirsten were two packets of seeds. A herb [hyssop - much mentioned in the Bible] and a flower [antirrhinums aka snapdragons] Also included were three skeins of thread for stitching our borders.

My Easter Piece was also an attempt to cover the fabric with stitches. I love playing Scrabble, and doing crosswords so I decided to make up a word grid using as many Easter words as I could to fill the section.

I began by planning a grid with pencil and paper. I made a word list. I started with Hallelujah, then tried to put Jesus down from the J, but couldn't get that to work - eventually this was the chart I came up with. Just three colours of thread. J,E,A and S on the top line encroach into the border space, but I think I've got away with it!

Now to outline every section with 2 strands of green, in backstitch,. "Soporific TV Stitching" was K's description.

Will we get it done by the end of the month? and how will we finally complete the outer border? [no, we don't yet have the answer to that question either!]

Sew Far, Sew Good

I have been very slow at posting about our latest collaborative stitching. We have both been busy with other projects. But here are our Jan-Feb pieces

I love snowdrops and this is a beautiful piece of stitching, my photo does not do it justice

My piece was our names done in hieroglyphics in a sort of Egyptian cartouche. I only discovered afterwards that the horizontal line at the bottom and the crossed lines indicate that this means a Royal Personage!

I have yet to work out what my final section will be. I had a really good idea in the middle of the night on Saturday, but I have been struggling to remember what it was since I woke up on Sunday morning. Hopefully it will come back to me soon.

I have been working really hard on three memory bears. They do look sad and floppy when they are half-stuffed!

 

Just To Say Thank You

So many people have been kind and helpful in the last week or so. I cannot possibly them all, but here are a few...

The guy at North Tuddenham Garage  As I turned off the A47, about 3 miles from home, an orange warning light flashed up "Tyre pressure low, check asap". Bearing in mind that another blogger had recently mentioned an incident where this happened, then the tyre exploded, I was a little anxious. I was nearly home but passing the garage. I pulled in and went inside "Hello, are you OK?" said the woman at the desk "Yeah, I'm fine - but I'm not sure about my tyres" I said. She fetched a young chap from the workshop, who checked all the tyres, and two were rather low, so he pumped them all up to the correct setting, "Do you know how to reset the warning message?" I said I didn't, the car is new to me. He showed me and wished me a safe journey home. "What do I owe you?" I said, and he grinned "Nothing!" 

Then my church friends- so many have volunteered help in one way or another with the club, which starts this morning. Yesterday at noon I posted in the WhatsApp group that we would be getting everything ready at 2.30pm, and would appreciate help chair shifting etc. Nick, the pastor, and five others turned up. All the furniture was sorted by 3pm.  

Bob was there till 5pm working on the technical stuff. [thanks Bob] Do you like the coat-of-many-colours? I made that about 25 years ago. It's been used loads of times since in plays and holiday clubs etc.

Thank you to Karen, at Sew Creative in Norwich. After 20+ years, the time has come to upgrade my machine and she was so helpful, answering all my questions. I went in with 2 models in mind, and she suggested a third [between the two in price] I was able to try everything out, and take my time, and finally reached a decision. There will be more about this later.

Thank you to Rosie for a lovely time last week. We did so much, and learned so much, and read lots of fun books...and her visit was top-and-tailed by seeing the rest of her family. Jess is a proper little character too. What fun we all had together.

Thank you to my neighbour Justine, and her daughter Brooke - good friends in the everyday ups and downs of life.

Thank you Kirsten - the collaborative stitching continues to prove both a challenge and a joy -and I am sure I have learned much more than I would have done without it.

Thank you to Nina [and her Mum] at the Flow Craft Cafe in Dereham - in the last four months you have become such a good friend, a kindred spirit in the craft world - and provider of the best teacakes too.

Thank you to you, my blogfriends, who have posted such encouraging comments- and some sent lovely private email messages. And I see those same people posting on other blogs with kind words too. I know some regard the internet as a dark and sinister space- but there are wonderful corners of love and light and friendship too. 

The kids at one Leicester school where I did lots of supply work loved the song which had the chorus "So I mustn't forget, to say a great big thankyou - no, I mustn't forget"  

Thank you Lord for all these good people

What are you thankful for this week?