Our September meeting was well attended and there was a lovely buzz in the room as people chatted to friends and got on with their projects. In the last session of this set of morning stitch clubs Angela's group continued with their canvas work samplers. The new stitches they learned were Scottish stitch, cashmere stitch and upright cross stitch.
Jean's cashmere stitch section in progress
Meanwhile Sally's group continued experimenting with coffee packaging. Sally demonstrated how to make flowers and other (mostly circular) motifs from cleaned coffee pods and members marvelled at her ingenuity before getting going with their scissors and pliers.
Jill making progress with her fabric collage using a coffee pod flower
Stitch clubs are optional and there was a wide range of interesting work being done in the hall. This month I chatted to Jeanette about what she jokingly referred to as her 'sackcloth and ashes'. She was stitching onto a hessian background that she had stabilised with lightweight wool/wadding. Working with variegated wools, knitted ribbons and cotton threads she was using a wide range of stitches including couching, bullion knots, pinwheels and various woven techniques as well as applique. The overall effect was exuberant and she said she was more of an experimenter than a planner and would simply cut out bits that she didn't feel worked. She had brought it to YES as it was a companionable piece that she could easily pick up and put down as the mood took her. The photograph doesn't really do justice to the lovely colours and tactile quality of her piece.
Jeanette's work in progress
September is a competition month and the submitted entries had to be of an original design. The standard was very high and it was difficult to choose a winner from among so many interesting pieces and varied techniques. Jane, Liz and Helen had produced wonderful work and were all close on the heels of the overall winner ....
Some of the competition entries
However the winning entry was a beautifully stitched passionflower by Celia who was delighted to receive the Ida Barber trophy and a gift voucher for the Viking Loom. The three dimensional embroidery was meticulously worked and the overall design was very harmonious. A worthy winner!
Celia's original design and competition-winning entry
Jo Yeates, Putting the Text into Textiles
Jo Yeates was our afternoon speaker who brought along a selection of her imaginative work to accompany a slide show. Jo is clearly inspired by the natural world, loves words and lists and explores different ways of putting the 'text' into 'textile art.' Jo joined South Bank Studios in York in 2020 and is a member of York Textile Artists. She was very clear in explaining her process and the techniques she uses to create a range of thoughtful pieces. These techniques include hand stitching, machine stitching, applique, mono-printing, laser-printing, stamping and stencilling. She explained that she often uses reclaimed and repurposed fabrics for environmental and aesthetic reasons.
Jo Yeates framed textiles inspired by 'The Shipping Forecast'
In addition to selling original pieces Jo also looks for ways to expand her range. She has printed cards and had fabric printed so that she can make up cushions. She recommended Printfab who offer an online digital fabric printing service suitable for domestic as well as commercial users.
Jo Yeates cards and cushion
Jo described how her work has progressed as she gained confidence and experience. She keeps a notebook to jot down ideas, phrases that interest her and poetry. She plans her quilted pieces by drawing them out and trying out different fonts and fabrics. Jo particularly enjoys using fabric that contains asemic writing (a form of abstracted text that conveys ideas visually). One of her most popular works is 'The hats we wear' that celebrates the huge range of women's labour (often unacknowledged and unpaid). Other pieces speak about mothers/motherhood and sisters/sisterhood. A recent piece was inspired by Sharon Owen's poem 'Dangerous Coats' and we appreciated the quiet subversiveness of the poem and her response to it (literally producing a coat with many pockets).
Close up of Jo Yeats quilt 'Pockets are a feminist issue'
Back of Jo Yeates response to Sharon Owen's poem 'Dangerous Coats'
As someone who had moved into making and selling her textiles following her career as a lawyer Jo was modest about her work . She described herself as largely self taught and experimental. However it was clear that she had a clear view of what she wanted to achieve and had made a successful transition into being a textile professional. Jo was a lively and engaging speaker and we particularly enjoyed the poignancy and humour of her work.
Further information about Jo Yeates can be found on
Instagram: @madeat52
Facebook: Madeat52
Our next meeting
This will be our AGM on Saturday 4th October at 10.30 in Haxby Memorial Hall. We will be looking back at a very successful year and planning for the year ahead. After the 'business' element is concluded we have been promised scones with our cups of tea!
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