Monogramming – a short course at Hand & Lock

Tags

Bullion, Goldwork, Hand&Lock, monogram

After stitching solidly on the RSN certificate in Technical Hand Embroidery for the last 8 weeks I decided that I needed to plan some recreational stitching to help me wind down. Scrolling across websites I noticed that Hand and Lock were offering a two day weekend Monogramming class in London on the very weekend after I finished the last of the Certificate modules.

Hand and Lock  have been Embroiderers since 1767 and they specialise in Military Goldwork along with bespoke embroidery and beading on garments. Their school offers classes in Tambour and Monogramming, and they will also be taking these classes to SanFrancisco shortly.

Louise, who was one of my classmates on all of the RSN intensives, decided to join me for these two days of fun, so we travelled in together each day by train and tube to attend the class at the H&L premises in Fitzrovia. It was great to have her along as a fellow adventurer.

Our tutor was the lovely Juliette Ferry, who had undertaken her Embroidery training in France (she is French) and has been working at H&L for a couple of years now. Across the weekend she took us through applying stitch guides via prick and pounce, and stitching three different styles of Monogram fonts (Block, Fishtail, and Script).  The class was very relaxed and lots of fun and I managed to get a few small monograms stitched on my working cloth.

The other wonderful part of taking a class at Hand and Lock was the opportunity to take a tour of their workrooms and see the wonderful Goldwork military badges, uniform elements, and goldwork supplies they have in their storerooms. I was drooling over the gorgeous gold braids and cords.

This was two fun days that have really helped me to wind down from  the RSN intensives. Tomorrow I am off on a short trip to Paris – where I hope to get to an Embroidery shop or two!

Juliette’s embroidery frame in the H&L workroom.

The Hand & Lock front door.

Our class was conducted in the middle of the main workroom. We were surrounded by pieces in progress and lovely samples of work.

Look at all that Gold Braid!

Juliette demonstrates script monogramming.

I managed a few small samples, but I need to work on my technique.

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RSN Jacobean Crewelwork – 1st certificate class finished.

Tags

Bullion, Crewelwork; stitches, French Knots, Padded Satin Stitch, RSN, RSNEmbroidery, Trellis

I will start by saying that I have absolutely enjoyed this RSN Jacobean Crewelwork class, I have learnt so much, and I am very glad that I have had the opportunity to do it.

What have I leant? Anyone contemplating undertaking the RSN Certificate via Intensive mode need to be aware that in reality an RSN Intensive class really does mean intensive. There are no “days off”, stitching takes over your days and nights, there is no time for sightseeing, or as some of my class mates found out no time for doing washing, eating out or going to the pub.  In fact I have needed several days after the course to catch-up on sleep and generally get my equilibrium back before I could write this post.

The most important part of any RSN class is the brief that you are given when you enroll. This tells you all of the stitched components that need to be included in your piece. Based on the advice given in Catherine’s blog ‘Hillview Embroidery’, I have begun to think of each of these Certificate pieces as ‘a sample of stitches and techniques arranged in a pleasing design’. Thanks Catherine for that insight!

From the brief I knew the minimum stitches and techniques – eg Stem Stitch, Block Shading, Laid Work, Long and Short Shading, Whipped and Woven wheels etc. I knew that the design should reflect ‘traditional Jacobean’ elements eg tree of life and animals and that these elements would likely be out of proportion.  I tried to incorporate most into my design, while still making it personal and pleasing.

Here are a few examples from my piece:

Stem stitch, Bullion’s, French Knots

Block Shading,

Long and Short Shading,

Laid work, whipped and Woven Wheels

 

For a personal element of the design I wanted to find a creature to include – one that I had not seen in others work – but would still fit the Jacobean brief. Hence the frog (or toad) prince.

After all stitching is completed then it is on to mounting – the RSN way. I know that others have written extensively about this process and all I can say is that it is long and difficult, and now done. I will get lots of practice as mounting is the final step for each piece. Next class – Blackwork.

My finished Jacobean Crewelwork  piece:

RSN Intensive Jacobean Crewel 2018.

I am very grateful that my husband has taken on all of the support roles eg. Meals, washing etc, giving me the time to immerse myself in this unforgettable experience.

Embroidering Pinchusions

Tags

Bullion, Chain Stitch, French Knots

One of the things I love to look at when I go along to stitching groups and classes are the beautiful stitching accessories that so many embroiderers have in their work bags. So often the items will be both useful and pretty. My own work box has mostly practical rather than decorative items so time for a little embellishment I thought.

Coincidentally I had just finished up a container of Baking Powder and as I was about to dispose of the container into the recycling I was struck by the idea of using this cardboard tube container as the base for a new embroidered pincushion. I found a long narrow strip of linen left over from a previous project, thinking there should be just enough in the piece to make up into two small pin cushions which I could make by cutting the container in half.

The pictures show how I stitched the pincushion sides first as two facing strips of embroidery – I was being very economical with the fabric. Then I embroidered the circular tops which were hand sewn to the side strips and the resultant piece pulled over the polyfilled half container. The bottoms were made from fabric covered card circles. A little twisted cord around the top to finish and wow two small pincushions done!

The embroidery design is my own based on basic embroidery stitches, and using DMC threads left over from previous projects. This was very much a ‘use up what you have’ project. Now what could I do with that empty Bisto Gravy Granules container sitting on the counter?

 

 

 

Quick Stitched Christening Gifts

Tags

Bullion, Chain Stitch

Happy New Year to all.

The Christmas /New Year season in Brisbane is so hot and humid that I have not had either the time nor inclination for stitching – leading to a decided lack of progress on all my current pieces. Amongst the many enjoyable activities with Children, Grandchildren and extended family across the holidays, I had forgotten that one special event was the Christening of our dear friends first grandchild.

Knowing that an embroidered gift was expected I was at a loss for ideas on what to stitch, and time was running out. Pinterest to the rescue! though I do have to be careful or the hours just slip by as I look with fascination at the pretty pictures. The answer to the Christening gift was resolved with a little embroidery on a small onesie and a personalised wall hanging for the nursery.

A good evening of enjoyable stitching for me, and gifts that were loved by the new parents.

Bullion Roses and French Knots

Nursery wall hanging.

Now to find the time to get back to that Redwork…