White Threads

My class at EGA 2019 Seminar

I don’t think I’ve mentioned here yet that I’ll be teaching at the EGA (Embroiderers Guild of America) 2019 Seminar. This is more than a little bit exciting for me, as it’s the first time I’ll be teaching in the USA! The seminar will be held from October 30 to November 3, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The class I’ll be teaching is a Whitework Cube Sampler. This project came about because I was thinking of making an embroidered cube. I was thinking that 6 different Portuguese whitework designs (one for each face) would make an interesting project, but my husband suggested putting different styles of embroidery on the faces. What a great idea! The three different techniques we will learn are Holsaum (Norway), Punt ‘e nù (Sardinia), Guimarães embroidery (Portugal). There will be two faces of each style, each with a different design. It’s a fourth day class, so we’ll have one day for each style, and then the fourth day will be continuing with any or all of the embroideries, and a demo of the construction of the cube.

Whitework cube sampler with Yvette Stanton EGA 2019

Currently enrolments are only open to EGA members. If you’re not a member, one presumes you could become one and enrol now. Otherwise, non-member enrolments will open on 16th March 2019.

Whitework cube sampler with Yvette Stanton EGA 2019

To see the full listing of classes, with details of my class, go to the classes listing, and either scroll down to class 407, or use the search feature near the top of the page to choose “4 day classes” from the drop down menu and type in “Stanton” in the search field. To sign up for the class, go to the EGA website.

If you have any questions about the class, please just ask. I look forward to meeting so many new people at the EGA 2019 Seminar!

Mary Corbet has reviewed Smøyg

A book review from Mary is like a generous gift. We all know she writes such wonderful book reviews, and I think we really do trust her recommendations. So when Mary reviews your latest book, it quite simply changes your day in a magnificent way!

Two days ago I woke to a flurry of orders in my inbox, and then I realised why: Mary Corbet of Needle’nThread had reviewed my book Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway.

So if you’re wanting a reliable, and non-biased opinion on my latest book, hop on over to Needle’nThread and see what Mary has to say about it.

You can order your copy from me here, or support your local needlework store by asking them to get it in for you. Supporting small business is always appreciated by small business owners.

smøyg project supplies packs And when you’ve had a good look through come back to me at Vetty Creations and order the supplies pack for the project/s you’ve decided to make. Of particular note is that the Misti bookmark supplies pack comes in a few extra colours not shown in the book.

Thank you again, Mary, for your generous review!

How to pronounce smøyg

A question I’ve had a lot in the last few months since publishing my book Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway is, “how do you pronounce smøyg?”

While that’s really difficult to explain in words and without you actually hearing me, I’ll have a go!

First, sm as in small. The ø sound is like the ir in bird. Then you have the y sound as well, which is like the ee in see. Finally, g as in go. So it’s sort of sm-ir-ee-g.

With it spelled out like that, chances are you’ll pronounce it slowly, however it is quite fast. And of course, as we probably all pronounce those sounds differently around the world, we’ll all have our own interesting spin on it…

French translation of Portuguese Whitework book

While I was away in New Zealand, a parcel turned up on my doorstep. It was a little unexpected, though not totally. It contained copies of my first foreign language publication: “La Broderie Blanche Portugaise”.

When I was in Paris at the beginning of the year, I met with the general manager of Les Editions de Saxe, a large French craft book publisher. (You probably thought the Paris trip was a bit of a junket, but there was actually a business purpose to it!) They were interested in doing some French language editions of some of my books. On my return home, we made an agreement for the first one – Portuguese Whitework: Bullion Embroidery from Guimarães, under the new title of “La Broderie Blanche Portugaise”.

Some time ago I sent them all the projects from the book, so that they could rephotograph them according to their house style. Let me tell you, it was pretty nerve-wracking sending my precious embroideries off to the other side of the world. Whenever I travel with any of my embroideries, they go in my cabin luggage, and never in my checked bags, such is my desire not to lose them! They have since been returned safely!

Obviously they beavered away in France much quicker than I expected, because I certainly wasn’t expecting the book to already be done. But then, I suppose that while it takes me two years to write a book, a team of people translating and repackaging an existing book in a new format doesn’t take nearly so long!

Beautiful new photography of the projects, though I can’t say that I was thrilled about food being placed on my embroidery!

Still the same step-by-step stitch instructions you love in my English language books

“La Broderie Blanche Portugaise” by Yvette Stanton is now available in French, from Editions de Saxe and in all the places you can normally purchase your favourite French embroidery books.

If you have a particular request for any of my books to be translated into French, please let the editorial team at Editions de Saxe know. There are plans for them to do more.

If you’re French or French-speaking, please enjoy my first book in your mother tongue. And if you have French friends who would be interested, please let them know!

Book review – Smøyg: Pattern Darning From Norway

This morning my daughter and I head to New Zealand for the ANZEG National Conference. I’ll be teaching two classes and giving a lecture. Vetty Creations will have a stand in the merchants mall. I’ll have all the projects from “Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway” on display, as well as a selection of my products for sale.

While waiting in the airport for our flight I’ve had the chance to read the first review of my new book, with the review written by Jessica Grimm, a very talented, Royal School of Needlework trained embroiderer and embroidery designer.

You can read her review at her blog. Thanks Jessica, for the wonderful things you say about “Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway”! I know you’re already addicted because you keep making new things from and inspired by the book!

Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair roundup and new products online

Vetty Creations at the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair

This time last week I was at the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair launching my new book “Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway” which had arrived the day before the show setup. Talk about last minute!

The show went really well. I had a larger stand this year, which helped me and my customers because we fitted better! It gave me room to have some very small classes on the stand, teaching people the basics of smøyg, by starting a bookmark.

For three of the show days, I had my daughter (The Reader) helping me on the stand, which was great. She’s finished school now, and is having a gap year before heading to university next year. She’s been working in a bookshop this year – how terribly appropriate for The Reader – and she loves helping customers.

I again enjoyed catching up with past students and regular customers, and meeting new stitching friends. Thanks to all who introduced themselves, bought things from me, and came to have a look. It is fun meeting so many people who share my passions.

At the show we had several new products for the first time. These have now been added to the website.

Please note that after this weekend, I will not be able to fill any orders for these products until the beginning of August. Certainly, place your order, but note that it will not be sent until the beginning of August. This is because I head off to New Zealand to teach at the ANZEG conference, and then almost immediately after that, I go to Melbourne to do the Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair (for the first time!). I apologise for this delay. There are only so many hours in the day, and I can only spread myself so far!

Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway by Yvette Stanton

Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway has now arrived from the printer! Yippee! I have sent all pre-orders already, so some people are already enjoying their copy. If you haven’t yet ordered your copy, it’s now the right time to do so!

Supplies packs for the projects from Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway

I have uploaded the supplies packs for “Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway” to the website. Please note that the supply of some of the threads in these supplies packs is still becoming established. Therefore there may be periods when some supplies packs are unable to be sent while we wait for threads. If this is the case with your chosen supplies pack, we will let you know of the likely wait. We apologise for this inconvenience – we’re still training the supplier in what will need to be regularly in stock to support the projects in the book.

Please note that these are supplies packs only. They are not kits. The instructions are found in “Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway”, so you will need a copy of the book to make the project.

Mountmellick Pomegranate Biscornu

We have launched a new kit, for the Mountmellick Pomegranate Biscornu. This kit contains the fabric, thread, needle and instructions to embroider the front of the biscornu. It also contains instructions on how to make up the biscornu. The backing fabric, buttons and filling are not included, so that you can choose according to your taste.

Best Laying Tool

Some of the projects in “Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway” are best stitched with a laying tool so that the threads lie “just so”. A laying tool will help with this, and how to use one is explained (with clear diagrams) in the book. Shay Pendray’s Best Laying Tool is obviously the best laying tool (well, it must be – the name tells you it is!). The tool has a sharp point at one end, and the other end, which you hold, has flat sides, meaning it won’t roll off the table. The tool comes with its own storage tube for safe-keeping, and so that you don’t accidentally stab yourself when you’re searching around amongst your embroidery supplies!

12cm brass bell pull hangers

According to comments at the craft show both this year and last year, I think one of the most stitched projects from “Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway” will be the band sampler. We have the 12cm brass bell pull hangers to complete the project. While you may not complete yours for a little while yet, if you get the brass hangers at the same time as the supplies, you’ll know you have them for when you do finish.

See me and Smøyg at the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair

Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair

This year, I will again be at the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair. It’s on at the Sydney Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour from 20th to 24th June. Stand D06: go in the front entrance, turn left and head for Aisle D – Stand D06. Look for the orange flag.

My new book will be there!

I’ll have copies of “Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway” with me! You will be able to purchase your very own signed copy from me.

All the projects from the book will be on display so you can see them in real life, which we all agree is always so much better! I will have supplies kits for the projects, as they use wool and some silks that are not readily available.

To help you get started on your smøyg journey, you will be able to book in with me on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday to start a bookmark. There will be no charge to learn, but you will need to purchase the book and the bookmark supplies kit.

New Mountmellick kit!

Mountmellick pomegranate biscornu
I’ll have a new Mountmellick embroidery kit – a pomegranate biscornu. This kit doesn’t feature the knitted fringe, so for those who can’t knit, or don’t like the fringe, this is a great kit for you.

The kit includes fabric, Mountmellick thread, and a needle. The kit does not include buttons or backing fabric, so that you can choose some that suit you. There are step-by-step instructions for all the stitches, and included are instructions for making the biscornu.

And I’ll also have…

As well as all that, I’ll have all my other books; precut Zweigart, Graziano and Weddigen linen, and Mountmellick fabric; Vaupel and Heilenbeck linen banding; Mountmellick thread; Mountmellick knitting cotton; Klass and Gessmann quality wooden sit-on hoops and stands; needles; pendant kits; pendants; embroidery scissors; a display of projects from my other books and so much more!

I’m coming to Melbourne!

In very exciting news for people in Melbourne and surrounds, you’ll be delighted to know that I’ll also be at the Melbourne Craft and Quilt fair for the first time this year! Come and see me there! Stand E08, Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair, 26–29 July 2018, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Advance copies have arrived!

Advance copies arrived! Yesterday I opened a very exciting parcel containing the advance copies of Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway!

I’m really happy with the way the book has turned out. I hope you will love it too.

The full Australian and New Zealand shipment should depart from the printers in the next day or so, arriving here in mid June. The rest of the world will have a joint Vetty Creations and Search Press publication. This edition will be available in September.

If you’re a reader wanting to purchase the book, you should be able to get it from your favourite needlework store. And of course you can also purchase it from Vetty Creations. I endeavour to sign all books that I send out to customers from the Vetty Creations office, though I don’t guarantee this, as sometimes it’s just too busy to do so!

If you’re a shop owner outside of Australia and New Zealand, please contact Search Press in the UK or USA to order copies for your shop. If you’re a shop owner in Australia or New Zealand, you will be able to get the book through the normal channels (Vetty Creations, Craft Book Wholesalers, David Bateman).

In time, I will be putting supplies kits for the projects up on my website. I want to make it as easy as possible for you to enjoy creating them.

I don’t know what size you imagine my publishing house, Vetty Creations, is. Perhaps you think it’s a large publishing house with many employees. Actually, it’s just me. Just me. So when you think of the books I publish, remember that in buying them, you’re supporting me and my family. You’re helping my daughters with their education. You’re helping me pay my bills. Anything you can do to help support my small business (buying my books, writing great reviews, commenting on my blog and FB pages, telling others about my books) please know that I really appreciate it.

Temporary office closure – cruising again!

Temporary office closure
From 22nd April until 17th May, I will be out of the office, on a teaching trip. I will be cruising from Sydney to Seattle with the Needlework Cruises and Tours Craft Creations Cruise.

While I will have internet access, it is likely to be intermittent. Therefore, any enquiries and orders, I will attend to on my return. I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience.

Pre-publication reviews

As part of the final stages of preparing Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway for publication, I sought and received some pre-publication reviews. I sent PDFs of the book to a number of respected and highly knowledgable needlework enthusiasts for review.

One of these people was Kari-Anne Pedersen, Curator of Costumes and Textiles, Norsk Folkemuseum, Oslo, Norway. She is a specialist in smøyg, particularly smøyg from Telemark. Kari-Anne was immensely helpful to me during the writing of the book, and was really excited to see it.

“Smøyg is an old embroidery technique dating back at least to the Vikings. It is called pattern darning in English. This book details the history of the technique, and also describes how the techniques were used on different textile pieces and clothing. There are few written sources describing smøyg, and this book is going to bring joy to many Norwegian embroiderers, who have been looking for material on this technique. It is still used in the traditional local clothing, or bunads, that are used for special occasions.

Yvette Stanton has done an impressive job with researching this technique, and presenting her finds in an admirable way. She sorts and defines different aspects of the technique and patterns. She outlines possible projects using smøyg, in addition to instructive explanations of the different stitches. A book to enjoy and learn from, answering most questions that can arise concerning smøyg. Thank you Yvette, for making such a stupendous book!” – Kari-Anne Pedersen, Curator of Costumes and Textiles, Norsk Folkemuseum, Oslo, Norway.

Spreads from Smoyg - Pattern Darning from Norway

Spreads showing the use of smøyg on traditional shirts, the many motif uses in smøyg, and the band sampler project.

Heidi Fossnes is the editor of Bunad magazine. This Norwegian magazine focuses on the folk dress of Norway, exploring the many different styles from the many different regions, and was one of the first places I noticed smøyg embroidery. Folk dress is still worn regularly in Norway for special occasions, and many Norwegians enjoy embroidering garments for themselves or their relatives to wear.

“Finally, a long awaited book about the embroidery technique, smøyg. It is both a beautiful and educational ‘step by step’ book. In addition to showing a number of examples of garment types where the smøyg technique has been used, and is still used, in Norway, the book also contains a lot of patterns and illustrations to use in both bunads and other textile works.

The illustrations are very easy to follow. In the last part of the book Yvette shows a lot of examples using different fabrics, embroidery yarns and needles for the same pattern. This is also very useful information.

If you have not embroidered smøyg before, you will want to read this book!” – Heidi Fossnes, editor of “Bunad” magazine, Norway

Spreads showing the shirt project, the scissor keep with needlebook project, and both left- and right-handed stitch instructions

Mary Corbet, the world’s premier needlework blogger at www.needlenthread.com, also wrote a brief review. My hunch is that she will follow up with a longer, more in depth one on her blog in due course.

“I’m so excited to see Yvette’s newest addition to her ever-growing collection of excellent instructional and project books! Smøyg, a traditional technique hailing from Norway, is sure to appeal to needleworkers around the globe who love historical techniques, folk embroidery, colorful stitchery, and counted work. As always, Yvette’s approach to instruction is clear, concise, and easy to follow, making the array of gorgeous projects in this latest volume accessible to beginners and beyond. Beautiful techniques, great history, fun projects, and thorough instruction – what more could any stitcher want?” – Mary Corbet, www.needlenthread.com

You can pre-order your copy of “Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway” by Yvette Stanton now, from Vetty Creations. I will send your copy as soon as my shipment arrives here in mid June.