Hand Embroidery Alive at Ulverstone
Members meet at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Hall every Monday.
Hand Embroidery, slow stitching as it is known today, fancy work as it was called years ago, has long been known as one of the Gentle Arts.
It is now being recognized as a mindfulness activity with benefits from feeling a sense of accomplishment when completing a project.
While we each work on our own projects, mini workshops are held regularly to enable us to improve our stitching by trying something new.
Help is always at hand for those who need assistance. We are very fortunate to have among us, members who are willing to share their skills and knowledge to help keep the art of embroidery alive.
Some forms of embroidery that have recently been taught are:
We have learned Chicken Scratch, an American style worked on gingham, Dorset Buttons worked on small metal rings, Silk Ribbon, and Assisi, an old Italian form of embroidery.
Currently we are working on Wessex Stitchery. Many small useful articles have been made from these workshops, needle cases, biscornus, a French type of pincushion and scissor fobs and scissor keepers.
In pre Covid times, tutors from other guilds would hold longer workshops such as Stumpwork and Elizabethan, both old English embroideries that give a raised 3D effect, Hardanger, from Norway, Casalguidi from Italy and Blackwork, another old English technique that originally came from Spain with Katherine of Aragon which became popular because it emulate lace, when lace at that time was only for the wealthy.
Contemporary methods were explored, such as Cornpad Embroidery, a New Zealand technique that raises the stitching above the fabric, Encrusted Calico that traps small items between fabric to create a rich textured surface.
Our annual display in the Ulverstone Library during November. Our theme for 2024 was “Living Creatures”.
Members are free to choose any design, which results in a rich variety of embroidery techniques.
The Central Coast Branch meet Mondays, except public holidays, from 10 am to 1.30 pm. Subscriptions are $50 for a full year.
Anyone interested in the art of embroidery is welcome.
Hazel Girolamo 0408257541