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Join us at the beautiful MISTÅL Kitchen for a creative and relaxing session where you can learn the art of freestyle embroidery. One free hot or cold drink included in the ticket price!Learn the basics of freestyle (or “surface”) hand embroidery, working with an embroidery hoop, needle and embroidery floss to create your own Stitch Library of essential stitches. This is a skills class where you’ll build up your stitch repertoire in a fabric book - your own Stitch Library - which you’ll take home with you along with an embroidery hoop and the inspiration to start working on your own decorative embroidery projects.
A little about hand embroidery
Hand embroidery has been developed over millennia all around the world by many different cultures and involves a huge number of techniques, stitches, threads, base fabrics and embellishments. These different styles and techniques have various names e.g. bargello, cross stitch, blackwork, sashiko, etc. Many of these embroidery forms use specific patterns and stitch lengths often determined by the regular weave of the base cloth.
Freestyle (or “surface”) embroidery however encompasses any form of hand embroidery where the design isn’t determined by set patterns or the weave of the base fabric, so it is extremely flexible in allowing the embroiderer to interpret almost any image or text they wish onto most base cloths. There are huge numbers of named stitches which can be used in whatever combination the artist desires, and embellishments such as beads, fabric scraps (“applique”), metallic threads, paper or even natural objects such as leaves can be incorporated for added effect. Designs and styles can range from simple line drawings up to intricate and almost photographic “thread painting”.
The Workshop
In this beginners and improvers workshop we'll use an embroidery hoop, needle and embroidery floss to learn the basic freestyle stitches every embroiderer needs to know to go on and create their own designs. You’ll build up your own bank of stitch styles in a personalised fabric Stitch Library which you will take home with you along with the hoop and needle and some thread so you can continue adding to your library as you develop.
Depending on your skill level, the stitches you may practice in this session include: running, back, split, stem, seed, straight, chain, petal, fly, feather, blanket, satin, leaf, long/short, French knot, Bullion knot, woven rose, basket weave, couching.
If you have some other stitch in mind that you’d like help with please let Marianne know before the workshop!
All materials will be provided, but please feel free to bring any of your own tools and materials that you might prefer using. To inspire your sewing you may also like to bring a n embroidery design you want to start work on or need help with. But don't worry because resources will be provided to study and inspire!
The workshop is suitable for complete beginners or those wanting to refresh their hand-sewing skills. Please note, you will need reasonable hand/finger mobility and eyesight.
A bit about the artist
Marianne is an upholsterer and sewing specialist with a lifelong background in textiles, embroidery, dressmaking and upcycling.
She loves the simplicity, accessibility and mindfulness of sewing and believes that anyone can learn to sew and express themselves creatively through needle and thread.
Marianne can guide you in both practical and artistic methods of embroidery, and show you how to use sewing to make beautiful decorative items and also transfer these skills to extend the life of your clothes and textiles. Follow her on Instagram or Facebook @forminfabric
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Mistal Kitchen, East Chevin Road ,Otley, United Kingdom
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