| From Bands, Stitches and Motifs into Samplers: A Sampler Design Notebook Workshop |
 |
 |
 Bring
your love of needlework samplers and a desire for a taste of designing. (Even if you
think you don't have a designing bone in your body, this class will make designing
easy). And I will bring a collection of sampler bands along with charts and detailed
step-by-step instructions and diagrams of each band. The photos of the bands are individual
and can be cut apart to promote the selection, mixing and matching, and positioning
the photos in the order you choose to create your own Heirloom sampler. Many helpful
hints for beginning your special sampler will be offered. Whether you are a beginner
or an experienced stitcher, this class will be an adventure for you. We will discuss
design, stitches, inspiration, suitable fabrics and threads, and how to begin your
Heirloom Sampler. We will review the familiar stitches and patterns in the workbook
and I will teach the techniques and stitches that are new to the class. You'll enjoy
going through a journal of wonderful stitches as I share an abundance of information
and variations from my personal reference notebook as well as many ideas for their
use. Many helpful tips that you can use in all your needlework will be offered in
class. You may doodle (please bring your favorite doodle fabric) or begin your sampler
in class. Complete step-by-step instructions, many diagrams, and helpful tips will
be included to help perfect your stitching technique. The stitches for this class
will range from basic to super advanced to enable you to spread your creative wings
and fly...CUT FABRIC SIZE: 14" X 18". DESIGN SIZE: The student may elect to begin a sampler of the size she desires. APPROXIMATE FINISHED SIZE OF PROJECT: N/A SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate to advanced level. TIME NEEDED FOR THE PROJECT: Two days. MATERIALS IN KIT: White Dublin linen, 25 ct., (or the student may request white Congressa, formerly called Soft Congress Cloth, 24ct.), a collection of floss, rayon and pearl cotton, sizes 5, 8, and 12. Needles, very detailed step- by-step instructions with many charts, diagrams and photos as pages for your reference notebook. COLOR IN KIT: White fabric with white or ecru pearl cotton and a collection of flower, grass, and butterfly colors of floss are included to be used as you wish. COST OF KIT: $40.00 plus teaching fee. Total maximum cost of the workshop is $110. SUPPLIES THE STUDENT SHOULD BRING TO CLASS: Scroll frame with 14" tape or suitable support for the fabric. Dritz Dual Purpose Marking Pen. Small sharp scissors, light and magnifier, if necessary for your stitching comfort. Colored basting thread. Two cotton balls. Paper cutting scissors. Any other usual stitching supplies you may desire. Linda Driskell Designer & Teacher Needlecrafts Unlimited Co. P.O. Box 4333, 2500 Forrest Avenue Gadsden, Alabama 35904 (256) 546-1099 Fax (256) 546-1299 E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leslie Lewis, our president, opened the meeting with the following announcements:
|
||
|
|
||
 Our
April program was presented by Linda Driskell. Linda began by sharing some of her
background with us. She started stitching in 1973 and her interest in stitching expanded
so much that she opened a needlework shop in 1976. Back in those days, there were
not a lot of cross stitch shops. Other crafts like knitting were more popular. Also,
there were not a lot of books on how to stitch. One of Linda's missions in life is
to document how many of the more exotic stitches are done. Linda said that her husband
has collected many antique linens. She has studied them and analyzed the stitches
used. She wants to make sure they are recorded before the threads and linen deteriorate
so much that they disappear. Consequently, Linda has also become an author. She has
written multiple books that document in great detail how these stitches are done.
Recently her works have been extended to include two mystery stories along with corresponding
needlework projects. In
response to a friend that could no longer attend classes at her needlework shop, Linda
does an heirloom sampler project as a correspondence course each year. You get the
materials to stitch the sampler and then get a pattern each month.Linda says she is addicted to drawn thread. She showed us many slides of her designs and explained the variety of stitches that they contain. She also provided us with words of wisdom like "If no one tells you that a stitch is difficult, you'll just dive right in and do it!" We'll all have to try to remember that as we work on some of the more challenging stitches in Linda's designs! |
||
|
|
||
|
Linda brought many samplers for us to examine and admire. She also bought many of
her books, charts and kits for us to buy.
No one could pass up another opportunity to increase the size of their stash!
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Kathy Joassin brought in a finished sampler: Mary O'Gleed from the Scarlet Letter for us to admire. Make sure you check out Adam and Eve and the wonderful apples on the tree below. Kathy said that they really weren't hard to do. She also explained that she changed the stitch used on the lamb.
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
Some of our other members shared works in progress. Several members mentioned that
they "defected" and are doing needlepoint projects as an alternative to cross stitch
for variety.
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
