The Sampler Book

Samples of the Pages

Detail from the Hardanger Page

This  exquisite project was designed and stitched by Sue Hawkins, our first Technical Director and has been worked over the past year, usually at Together We Stitch Events.  Sue has decided that now that the book is complete, it should be available as a CSG Project available to all and not just those able to join us at our events.  As a result, you can now buy the complete kit and reproduce the book or adapt it to make it your own.  Go to Special Counted Projects to order on line.

The original idea came from a visit to the Museum of Art & Industry in Copenhagan, where we were shown a 18th Century book sampler (rather like a child’s rag book) and Sue was simply inspired. The book is made up of a linen cover with a folded hem,which is fairly plain so you can decorate it at will. There are a further six pages using different techniques including pulled and drawn thread, Hardanger, hemstitch, counted thread stitches and pure cross stitch. Simply a treasure – we are very grateful to Sue Hawkins for all her hard work over the past twelve years and particularly for this lovely project.

Sarah and Daphne and chocolate!

I am back at my desk again -as you know from my previous message, I lost my father on 19th August and it has taken a while to drag things back to somewhere near normal. You can see from the picture, we are mailing Stitch That Issue 72 and your Christmas Cracker supplement. I caught these two having a crafty chocolate brownie and a cup of tea. If anyone has chocolate in their envelope I am really sorry. Did I have one? Well, what do you think!

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Hearts and Flowers Thimbleybob by Sue Hawkins

We are all poised to start the process of packing envelopes with Issue 71 of Stitch That and I have been volunteered to go in to town to buy the chocolate brownies- much needed halfway through the morning! With luck and a forward breeze, you will get your magazine by the weekend. For those of you not yet Members of the CSG, (go to Join Us) I thought you would like to see some of the projects in this issue. The thimbleybob shown above is counted on to a piece of canvas and Sue shows you how to complete the project using stepped photographs. In the picture above, you can see our faux ivory Stitch Catcher and Laying Tool and the corner of an Ivory Inch.

Yellow Rose Tote Bag, Two Little Samplers & Antique Flowers Pocket Sampler

These three projects are also included in Issue 71 of Stitch That with Jane Greenoff with full instuctions and detailed charts, plus the usual give aways and puzzle.

The Yellow Rose Tote Bag

Two Little Samplers

I had hoped to get the next copy of Stitch That to the printers before I left for the trip but that is looking unlikely at the moment. I will therefore be posting out Issue 71 about the 2nd week of June, a few days later than hoped. I will endeavour to include some pictures here of the envelope stuffing ceremony and you can see the new member of our team – the wonderful Sarah! More of that when I come back from this working trip to Bermuda!Well, someone has to do it……

I thought you would like to have a sneak preview of some of the projects in the next copy of Stitch That- the two little samplers above are worked on different fabric using a variety of stitches and the teddy is called Tealeaf.

The Yellow Rose Tote Bag may be worked as a picture or made in to the bag as illustrated above- Members will be able to send for the ready-made bag if preferred.