Our January Meeting

The weather was snowy, sleety and consequently icy here in Yorkshire but most members braved the conditions to come along to our first meeting of 2025.  We were happy to meet some visitors and hope they found us welcoming.  New stitch clubs will start next month so January was a time for self-directed stitching and embroidery.  Did I spy a knitter in our ranks?  Well our members have a wide range of talents!

In June we will be holding an exhibition of work so members were encouraged to think about contributing to the displays.  This could be under the exhibition theme of 'Architextures' or simply to showcase their own talents.  In the months ahead the detailed planning will get underway.  Save the Exhibition Date : Friday 27th through Sunday 29th June 2025.

Julie had taken the travelling book home over the festive break.   She returned it with a lovely indigo and white Broderie Perse sample enclosed.  

Julie's page on Broderie Perse

The book also had a festive addition contributed by Barbara who had made a landscape at a previous stitch club (wet felting) and who had finished it off at home with embellishments.

Merry Christmas from Barbara

Browsing the fabulous work going on in the hall I stopped to chat to two people whose work was quite different, but who were both making well considered colour choices and extremely neat stitches.  First was Jill who was stitching a stunning piece of Crewel work.  Although it was a pre-printed panel she said that she prefered to sew according to her own fancies, choosing filling stitches and colours as she goes.  She expressed disappointment that the central motif had so much ink as she prefers outlines which allow her more flexibility.  However I'm sure that once she takes the plunge with the centre she will find a solution and it will come together harmoniously.  

Jill's crewel work in progress

The next piece that caught my eye was being done by Megan who had dropped in for a first visit.  She was working squares of Japanese sashiko patterns in a rainbow of colour using 2 strands of embroidery floss on aida fabric.  This is a modern type of sashiko that has been developed by Sashikonami who is a popular Japanese Instagrammer.  The book, 'Colourful Sashiko' was certainly lovely and inspirational and I hope to see the finished piece in due course.

Meghan's colourful sashiko - work in progress

Alison Larkin 'Arts and Crafts Embroidery'

In the afternoon Alison Larkin came to give a talk/slide show about the artists of the Arts and Crafts movement based on her personal interest in the Arts and Crafts aesthetic.  

Alison brought along some examples of her own beautiful historical embroidery and copies of her book 'Jane Austen embroidery' which was written with Jennie Batchelor and which showcases Georgian style work.  More examples of Alison's work and her book/kits for sale can be found on her website, alisonlarkinembroidery.com

Georgian style posies and part of one of Alison's cross stitch kits

Georgian style 'pocket' 

Regional information - The Yorkshire and Humber Embroiderers' Group (YHEG)

Many YES members also belong to other groups.  One local/regional group is the Yorkshire and Humber Embroiderers' Group which organises several meetings a year and hold a residential summer school in July (day rates also available).  They are actively looking for new members and participants for their activities.  

This year's Summer School will run from Friday July 11th to Sunday July 13th.  Several YES members endorsed the Summer School as being challenging, well run, fun and inspirational.  The workshop facilitators are well established professional practitioners as well as teachers.  

Amanda Hislop 'Land and Sea - print: place: stitch'.  Her website is amandahisloptextileartist.com

Julia Triston 'Between the Lines' Her website is juliatriston.com

Tracy A Franklin 'Contemporary Crewel Work'.  Her website is tracyafranklin.com 

Georgina Bellamy 'Contemporary Goldwork - Grandmother Mouse'.  Her website is thatembroiderygirl.com

Further information about joining YHEG can be obtained from Stephanie Palmer whose email is palmer@tect.co.uk and details of the summer school can be obtained from Pauline Heywood whose email is pauline@whitgifthall.co.uk

Our next meeting ....

Will be 1st February in Haxby Memorial Hall 10.30-3.30.  The afternoon speaker will be Jessica Grady 'Journey into Unconventional'   Jessica is a young but much lauded textile artist whose mixed media work is bold and tactile - if this sounds interesting please join us!  Visitors and new members are always welcome.  

Our December Meeting 

This took place on Saturday 14th December and was very well attended.  December is a social time and it was lovely to catch up with friends and do some sewing.  Some members worked on their own projects whilst others had a go at making a small decoration for which materials/threads/buttons/beads were provided.

Helen organised materials for a 'scandi' felt decoration and the birds and stars were popular.

Helen's sample decorations

Helen's lovely star garland

Gina making a start on a star garland in the 'scandi' style

Diane provided materials for Suffolk puff baubles.  These involved gathering a circle of fabric around a circle of cardboard and then adding a hanging ribbon and decorative centres with buttons or beads.  

Diane's Suffolk Puff baubles

 

Sara and Sue embellishing their Suffolk puff decorations

In December there was a competition for the best Christmas card, voted for by group members.  There was a diverse range of styles and they were all lovely.  What a talented bunch YES members are! 

Competition entries

And our chosen winner was ....... 

Moira's -  The photograph doesn't do justice to the delicate colouring of the original.

In the afternoon we enjoyed delicious fruit cake and mince pies with our teas/coffees.  Wensleydale cheese was a tasty accompaniment and a surprise addition for those not brought up in Yorkshire. The food historian Peter Brears has traced this tradition at least as far back as Victorian times.  There is an early written reference in Joseph Lucas's book of 1871 'Studies in Nidderdale' which describes Yule Cake being given to each family member along with a piece of Christmas cheese some of which was saved for Christmas morning.  Our heartfelt thanks go to those who provided the refreshments and as all the cakes and cheese were polished off in the afternoon they won't make it to Christmas morning!

Our next meeting

Our next meeting will be 4th January when we are expecting Alison Larkin to speak to us about Arts and Crafts Embroidery.  If this is of interest to you, please do join us in Haxby at 10.30am.  Visitors and new members are welcome.  

Remembering Josie Storey

 Josie Storey

Long-standing member of YES (and previously the Embroiderers’ Guild), Josie Storey passed away peacefully on 21 November 2024 after a stroke. Her daughters (Marie, Diane and Karen) were with her when she initially became unwell and stayed by her side during the following days, as it became apparent that she would not recover. She will be sadly missed by family, friends and the many people who knew her and her creativity with textiles – all are invited to join a celebration of Josie’s life and art being held at 11.30 on Saturday 8 February 2025, at The Pavilions of Harrogate. 

Josie, who was born Iris Josephine Keward on 7 May 1936 in Nottingham, took to sewing from an early age. By the age of 5, she was using a sewing machine to make belts for the clothing piecework her mother took in. She made a first dress for herself at the age of 7, and had early hopes of becoming a fashion designer. However, rather than go to art college as she’d hoped, Josie had to leave school early to assist in her family’s newsagent’s shop. But her creativity could not be suppressed. After marrying, she opened her own wool and haberdashery shop, taking on dressmaking, embroidery and knitting projects as a sideline.

Moving to Wetherby in the early 1960s, Josie embraced motherhood. Her three daughters were always immaculately dressed in stylish outfits she created based on the latest fashions, often with dolls wearing matching ensembles. Josie was generous with her time and had a gift for teaching, running an afterschool art club at Crossley Street Primary School in Wetherby that resulted in an offer of a formal teaching role – though she didn’t accept it as she thought her lack of formal qualifications and inability to spell made her unsuitable. 

Once her children were grown up and she enrolled in a City and Guilds textile course (which of course she aced!), Josie’s confidence grew. Her creativity found the right outlet, developing innovative silk painting techniques which she combined with free-form hand and machine stitching to produce striking bags and pictures, waistcoats and jackets. Josie greatly enjoyed participating in the Ebor group, Embroiderers’ Guild and YES. She also gave talks, held workshops and developed kits so that others could gain creative satisfaction too. In this spirit, her daughters will be sharing mementos of Josie’s work at the celebration in February. They hope to see you there. 

If you'd like to attend please contact Diane using the email address in the image below.

At our December YES meeting members spoke about Josie and shared their memories. Many said how welcoming Josie was when they first joined the group, and how encouraging and supportive she always was. One member said she didn't think she'd have even got started with embroidery had it not been for Josie and her classes at the Viking Loom. We all agreed that Josie's talent was prodigious and inspiring. We are happy to be able to show some of her work at our exhibition in June

Our November Meeting

A rather grey day didn't dampen the enthusiasm of members who came to our November meeting.  Some worked on their own pieces whilst others joined a 'stitch club'.  One group, with Jacqueline's expert guidance, continued working on their crewel work embroidery.  Although the three weeks of tuition is now over she intends to help participants finish their pieces.  This was an over-subscribed club so we are hoping she will be able to offer it again so that more members can learn the techniques.  

Jaqueline stitching a crewel work butterfly

Jose produced some charming pieces following last month's wool felting stitch club and brought them in to show the group.  

Grazing sheep/Tobermory by Josie

The wet felters worked away following Liz's instructions to create 3-d bowls.  Using a resist circle they layered up wool rovings before wetting and rolling the pieces many, many times.  After removing the resist the shapes could be pulled gently into shape and then vigorously worked around the edges to create bowls - magic! As the bowls were still damp they couldn't be finished off with embroidery/embellishment on the day but hopefully there will be some finished pieces for the next 'show and tell' session.  Liz's felted poppies were rather fabulous too.  

Liz demonstrated wet felting using a resist.

A selection of 3-d wool felted bowls made by members at the meeting

The Travelling Book

Each month a member takes the Travelling Book and creates some pages based on their personal interests.  This month Diane had produced informative pages on pictoral patchwork and appliqué as well as some lovely samples. 

Diane's Pictoral Patchwork and Appliqué

Meridith Towne: Dress Historian and Costume Maker

In the afternoon we were happy to welcome Meridith Towne back to Haxby. 

The Christmas Stocking: a happy history of ho-ho-hosiery

Meridith gave a very entertaining talk about the history of hosiery from Coptic/Egyptian socks onwards.  We learned about the etymology of hose (German) and the way early leg coverings were constructed (Scandinavian Nalbinding, knitting with needles, and eventually woven on knitting frames at the start of the Industrial Revolution).  She described how hosiery was worn differently by men and women and also about the different fibres and construction techniques used.  With her fabulous display of stockings she discussed the colour of hose and how these changed over time as fashions changed and different materials became available.   We doubted anyone today would aim to be alluring by revealing their blushing pink ankles or would be scandalised by young women wearing tights (the original preserve of dancers and women of dubious morals).  The demise of brown lisle stockings (school uniform standard issue) was not much mourned.  Interspersed with the facts she told amusing stories about the strange traditions associated with hosiery, stockings and garters.  Meridith brought along many samples from her collection and we thoroughly enjoyed her detailed research and festive frivolity!

meridithtowne.co.uk

Stockings from Meredith Towne's personal collection

The next meeting  will be on Saturday 14th December at 10.30am.  Visitors and new members are welcome to join us for Christmas activities and refreshments.  We're a friendly bunch so if you have an unfinished/inherited piece do come along and we'll try and help you tackle it.  Alternatively just turn up to 'sit and sew' with us by bringing your own work or kit to stitch at your own pace. The December competition prize is for the best Christmas card, the winner is voted for by members and wins a Viking Loom voucher. 

October Meeting

Our October meeting was busy as ever. In the morning the two stitch clubs continued. Jacqueline's group were working hard on their crewel work pieces and learning new skills with expert guidance. Chris and Wendy's work is progressing beautifully, with lovely chain stitch and stem stitch. 

Meanwhile Liz's group were adding to their wet-felting skills with colourful landscapes and pictorial pieces. Look at these glorious colours! 

Elsewhere in the room members were engaged in a wide variety of activities. 

Here's Sara's colourful blackwork piece in progress

Jane was busy knitting a baby blanket for her first grandchild in lovely colours

And I simply couldn't resist taking this still life shot of Shenagh's work space

In the afternoon we held our annual AGM, after which there was some discussion and preparation work for the YES exhibition coming up in June 2025. There are lots of exciting plans for individual and group projects, but we're not going to reveal any of those here! 

The day was rounded off with scones and cakes, all home made by the committee. 

Our September Meeting

This month there was a lot of activity in the hall.  Two new stitch clubs started with Liz leading an introduction to wet felting and Jacqueline getting a group started with traditional Jacobean crewelwork.  

Liz had provided all the equipment and materials for the wet felting process including felt 'tops' in a range of vibrant colours, bubble wrap, plastic sheeting and dowels as well as water/soap sprayers for wetting the wool.  The first session was all about playing with colours and learning how the wet felting process worked.  In brief the process involved laying thin criss-cross layers of wool 'roving' onto the rough side of bubble wrap to create a white base and then laying coloured wool on top to create a coloured surface.  Other embellishments could be added including glittery thead 'angelina', tiny wool balls 'nepps', silk strands, thread offcuts and twisty wool 'locks'.  

Liz layering coloured wool tops onto white wool layers at the start of the wet felting process

The next step was to thoroughly wet the fibres and then add another layer of bubble wrap before rolling the layers around a dowel.  Then there was a lot of vigorous rolling, unwrapping, rotating and re-rolling to encourage the fibres to bond together and then shrink.  When Liz was happy we'd done enough we could rinse our pieces in water (and at home water with white vinegar) and allow them to dry.  It was lots of fun and we are looking forward to next time when we can attempt more considered 'landscapes'.  

Crewelwork is a type of surface embroidery using fine two-ply or one-ply wool. It is associated with England in the 17th and 18th Century  and the traditional design styles are often referred to as Jacobean.  They typically comprise subtly shaded stylised floral and animal designs. Jaqueline produces very lovely crewel work and for her novice group she had produced a simple kit comprising a piece of cotton twill, a pattern and wools (3 shades in each of three colours). 

Jaqueline's Crewelwork sample 

The first part of the process involved learning how to transfer the design using a traditional method of tracing, pricking and pouncing. 

Preparing the design for stitching

After this participants were able to put the fabric into hoops ready for stitching.  It will be interesting to see how they progress over the next two sessions.  

As always there was a lot of stitching and embroidering going on in the hall by members who were working on their own pieces.  There is such a wide range of talent but Jenny's sewing caught my eye this month.  She was working on linen with linen threads and feature buttons and was producing a very 'scandi' piece!  

Jenny's piece from a Nordiska (Studio Flax) pattern - a circle sampler stitched with linen embroidery threads.

Competition time!

The autumn competition was for something original and there were many wonderful pieces on display.  Celia's very striking 3-d mixed media piece worked on a gnarled wood base was chosen as the winner of the Ida Barber trophy.  

Celia's 3-d piece

Other competition entries

The Travelling Book

This month Nicky had worked on the travelling book.  She had produced some detailed information and lovely samples of traditional and modern blackwork embroidery.  

My "F Plan" Diet: fabric, fibre and felting - Karen Lane

In the afternoon Karen who is a talented feltmaker and textile artist gave an illustrated talk.  She had brought along a large selection from her earliest experiments with David Hockney inspired applique hangings through to her more recent sculptural felted work.  We were interested to see the range of thoughtful pieces made in response to competitive challenges set by the various groups Karen had attended.  With no formal background in stitching/embroidery she had developed a highly original style using unusual fabrics and experimental techniques.  She was clearly a creative and playful maker who was also learning from established felt artists so as to improve her technical abilities and move her practice forward.  She was also making incredible 3-d pieces using lutradur and tyvek fabrics which allowed her to sculpt and burn away sections to create unusual textures and surface effects.  Mind blowing!    More information about her work is available on www.lincsinstitches.com

Work created by Karen Lane 

Our next meeting will be on Saturday 5th October.  Visitors and new members are always welcome.