A Bedouin at Sunset

The decorative camel bags in Jordan and the cushion inspired by them

We have had a wonderful response the latest magazine and the phones have been red hot! I am including some photos of some of the projects, in the hope that, if you are not already a Member of the CSG, you soon will be. I visited to Jordan earlier this year and so enjoyed the visit. I do not think I have been in a friendlier place anywhere – and the deserts are as beautiful as you can imagine. The coloured textiles left me gasping……

Part 1 of the Silverwood Sampler

We have included a new part work in this issue of Stitch That – The Silverwood Sampler. It is a traditional band sampler worked in hand dyed silk thread, silk ribbon and stranded cottons and will be completed in four issues - the first part could, of course, be worked as a stand alone design

In Stitch That, we included booking details of our first three Together We Stitch weekends and I am sorry there have been problems with the Booking Line. I am promised, by the team at Hilton Special Events, that all will be well by the weekend. Fingers crossed! I know that is is frustrating, particularly as the weekends fill so quickly and you are nervous of missing your place.

Now I must leave you for a few days and get on with packing up for the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace where I have Itch to Stitch Classes and will, hopefully see lots of you over the next few days

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.