Our March Meeting

Stitch clubs were in full flow this month.  Helen's group were very busy creating foundation-pieced trees and stars.  Helen had brought additional tree samples and new star templates. Some of the group continued piecing trees whilst others had a go at stars.  Diane had been particularly industrious in the past month finishing six small blocks and making them into a bag.  Diane had used a William Morris fabric charm pack for her patchwork so the colours were very soft and harmonious.  

Helen's small but perfectly pieced samples

Diane's bag made from foundation pieced blocks

In the other stitch club Eileen was encouraging those who were working on their boro pieces.  Chris had retrieved a piece she had started some time ago and slung in the back of a cupboard!  Although it wasn't her usual style of work she was giving it another go in the spirit of 'make do and mend' which she had embroidered onto it.  The small and tidy stitches were starting to harmonise the piece nicely.

Chris's sample of boro

Elaine was also making steady progress with a colourful piece of boro.  Her process was to tack colourful patterned fabric scraps onto the base and then to attach coloured buttons.  She was matching the colours of the embellishments to threads which she intends to use for the stitching. 

Elaine's boro with embellishments 

Not all members choose to participate in a stitch club.  Many enjoy coming along to sit with their friends to chat and sew.  There is always a productive buzz in the room with a wide range of stitching going on.  Jill was sewing a piece of 'chicken scratch' embroidery which she was working on a small piece of gingham.  Barbara had got her started on the technique and Jill was enjoying the emerging lacy effect so much that she was considering using the technique to sew something original for our upcoming exhibition.

Jill's 'chicken scratch' embroidery

March competition 

The competition requirement was for a commercial design from a book, kit or magazine and a great variety of pieces were submitted.  It is always lovely to see finished work and every piece had merit.  The competition was judged without anyone knowing whose work was being presented and voting revealed three entries with the most votes.  However Angela's whitework drawn thread sampler (from a pattern designed by Linda Driskell) was our ultimate winner.  

Angela's drawn thread sampler.

 Runner up pieces were Celia's reworking of 1930's transfers and Monica's satin stitch and goldwork flower.

This month the 'Travelling book' featured fabric collage researched and created by Jill.  

Our afternoon speaker - Gill Roberts - "The Corset Unlaced"

Gill Roberts gave a wide ranging talk on corsetry in the afternoon session.  She is an embroiderer as well as a dressmaker and the first part of her talk was about the history of corsetry.  We learned that even before Victorian times people (mostly women) wore foundation garments to conceal their bodies, fit themselves into clothing and be presentable according to the fashions of the time.  However corsets were also made for men and children and the styles altered over time as new materials were discovered and garment fashions changed.  Many of the images she showed of corsets and advertisements for them were bizarre to modern eyes and possibly detrimental to health but that's fashion for you!  

Gill moved through the ages to explore recent couture designers' use of corsetry on the catwalk and its evolution to wedding and occasion-wear.  Gill took a very non-judgemental approach to corsetry and its links to lingerie, burlesque and fetish-ware for both men and women.  She described how some people today alter their bodies in quite radical ways through the use of tight lacing in corsetry to please themselves and also to present themselves to the public gaze as an artistic endeavour.

Nowadays mainstream corsetry is designed to enhance and celebrate the body and be very much on show.  Gill's own work certainly falls into this category and she had brought along examples of her beautifully embroidered dresses which feature made to measure and very flattering corsetry.  By basing her garments on historical patterns she was able to explain how complex and labour intensive it is to create a corset even using modern materials.  For Gill the smooth surface of a corset provides a canvas for embroidery and embellishment and we greatly admired her skill.  

Occasion wear corsetry embroidered by Gill Roberts

Our next meeting

We will meet in Haxby Memorial Hall on Saturday 5th April.  Visitors and new members are very welcome to come along and meet us.  

 Our February Meeting

There was a large turn out for our February meeting.  Two stitch clubs got underway (and will run for a further two sessions).  Eileen started a group off with Boro stitching.  Derived from the Japanese boroboro meaning something tattered or repaired boro refers to the practice of reusing and repairing textiles by piecing, patching, stitching and reworking them.  Nowadays we tend to be less thrifty with our clothing but still save small offcuts of fabric that can be pieced together and stitched to make decorative pieces. Running stitches were typically used but apparently there are no hard and fast rules!  Eileen brought some lovely samples in to start the group off.

A piece of boro worked by Eileen

A page of boro in Eileen's stitch sample book

This was a very relaxing technique and everyone made a start assembling small pieces onto a background and starting to stitch.  It will be interesting to see everyone's progress next time and to explore how stitch patterns soften and harmonise the little scraps.  

Helen led the other stitch club who were trying foundation piecing on a very small scale.  Helen had brought along some paper templates to which members were adding little pieces of fabric.  The technique yields very accurate blocks but requires careful consideration of the sequencing of the different sections.   

Helen's tree blocks

Linda backstitching fabric scraps onto the paper templates

Workshop participants managed to get their heads around the technique which initially seemed a bit tricky and fiddly.  However with Helen's encouragement and guidance they made good progress and we should see a mini forest emerging at our next meeting!

Elsewhere in the hall members were enjoying working on their own pieces.  Monica's lovely Japanese flower caught my eye.  The design is a kit designed by Samantha Bourne.  Worked on black silk the shaded flower will eventually be outlined in gold thread (and the central yellow ovals are padding over which gold stumpwork will sparkle).  Monica had started it years ago and had recently decided to give it another go - she was enjoying the colour work and working through the detailed instructions to learn new skills. 

Monica's embroidered flower

Sue was working on something entirely original. Many years ago she had travelled to Russia and was creating an embroidered piece for our upcoming exhibition.  She liked the shapes and colours of Saint Basil's Cathedral and had drawn up a design from a photograph.  Having stretched her fabric onto a frame she was making a start on one of the onion domes.  The architecture is certainly striking and colourful. 

Sue's work in progress

Marina had brought in a 3-d building made from wool fabric and felt which was much admired and will certainly be in our exhibition.  We are lucky to live in the beautiful city of York and one of the outstanding buildings is the 16th Century home of Sir Thomas Herbert (now a shop selling York Gin). We are intending to create a table display of 3-d buildings of various kinds for the exhibition and Marina has motivated us to get going with our own creations.  

Marina's model of York Gin Shop, Pavement, York

Jessica Grady, Journey into Unconventional

 

Our afternoon speaker was Jessica Grady who is a mixed media embroidery artist, workshop tutor and author.  She is a very inspiring and talented young artist who has developed a unique style developed over the last ten years since graduating with BA Textiles from Norwich University of the Arts .  Using playful embellishments created from recycled materials and hand embroidery she makes joyful sculptural pieces in bright and contrasting colours.  Her work has been recognised in the UK and internationally.  In 2018 she was awarded the under 30s Scholar by the Embroiderers Guild and in 2019 she was made a permanent member of Art Textiles Made in Britain.  In this capacity she was invited to travel to the Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival in 2020.  

What was particularly striking was Jessica's comment that only 5% of her time was creative, the rest being administrative, applying for grants and commission opportunities, taking stands at shows, showcasing her work, answering emails and attending to her social media accounts.  It certainly made us think that being a professional artist is a heavy lift!  However despite the difficulties she was enthusiastic and optimistic, we enjoyed her talk, admired her work and we certainly wish her well in the years ahead. 

Jessica working on a textile collage

A selection  of Jessica's sample pieces 

Further information about Jessica Grady (and links to her shop and social media accounts) can be found on her website.   www.jessicagrady.co.uk

Our next meeting

This will be on Saturday 1st March in the Haxby Memorial Hall starting at 10.30.  Visitors and new members are always welcome and there is parking behind the hall if required.  

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.