Here’s a toile I made of the banner a couple of months ago. It’s full size – a yard square, plus bits top and bottom. It’s made from cotton sheeting, with the central cross attached with machine zig-zag stitch in gold. I wanted to make a mock-up of the banner for a few reasons: it…
Here’s Fiona’s design, taped to my drawing board. The paper was a bit wider than the board, so I’ve trimmed it (badly), but the design is unaffected. I’ve started on some prep work, ready for the fabric arriving. I’ve decided to do the central crosses first – that’s crosses plural, as there’s one on both…
I mentioned before that I’m starting work on a big new project. I’m thirlled to be able to tell you that this is a commission from the Northumbrian Association to make a replica of a lost Medieval processional banner dedicated to St Cuthbert, for presentation to Durham Cathedral. This a major project, and I’m really…
The last of the squares I’ve done as part of an Embroiderers’ Guild group project, and I think my favourite. This time, the outline is chain stitch in Gutermann gold metallic thread (the sort that comes on a reel, like sewing thread, and is horrible to work with), and the filling-in is split stitch. I…
The second of the squares I’ve done. 4″ square again, and more goldwork, but really in gold this time. The trunk and stems are in couched no. 8 Jap gold thread, and the leaves in rough purl and bright check purl. The trunk is worked on one layer of yellow felt, and the leaves on…
As a group project, all the branches of the Embroiderers’ Guild in the North East Region are currently working on rainbow squares. These are 4″ squares in rainbow colours, to be worked in any technique. Each branch is doing things slightly differently, but my branch, Sunderland, is covering all the colours. All members have been…
I took a trip over to Durham yesterday, and had a good look round the Cathedral. It’s just a few miles from where I live so I’ve been there a lot over the years, but it’s always worth a visit. I particularly wanted to see their ecclestiastical embroidery; they don’t have much on display, but…