I’ve been wondering about doing a Mountmellick embroidery stitch along. If we were to do a project exploring the thread, fabric, and stitches of Mountmellick embroidery, would anyone be interested in joining in?
I’d probably do a simple design that could be put on a doily or cushion. I’d give everyone the time to purchase the authentic thread and fabric, and then we could get going. I think it is important to use the right thread and fabric as this is one of the “things” about Mountmellick embroidery – it uses matt thread and satin weave fabric. Without using these, you don’t get a real feel for the way Mountmellick looks and feels.
I realise that some of you will want to see the design before committing, but is there anyone out there who thinks its a good idea just generally? I’m not making any promises, but I’d like to gauge interest at this stage.
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
I would be very pleased to take part in a Mountmellick stitch along.
Just to clarify, if it goes ahead, I wouldn’t be teaching the Mountmellick embroidery stitch along as a class, but people would simply be able to stitch along with me, seeing how I work out where the stitches go. So you’d learn of why I used which stitch choices where etc. But I wouldn’t be teaching how to do the stitches as such. That would become a class, and not something I could offer for free on my blog. It means that you’ll probably need access to my book “Mountmellick Embroidery: Inspired by Nature” for the stitching instructions. If you don’t have a copy yourself, perhaps your local library will.
This sounds really intersting Yvette, I’d love to take part. I’ve been wanting to have a go at Mountmellick for quite some time, this would give me the push to get started.
Hello Yvette
I would love to involved in a Mountmellick stitch along. I have been to Ireland and learned Mountmellick from Maree Maher and love the embroidery. Like you I don’t like to see the wrong fabric and threads used for this embroidery. I did do a couple of pieces using Australian flora designs and called it Mountmellick Australian Style. I do have your books on Mountmellick and am looking forward to seeing your right handed stitch book. I love the left handed one even though I am not left handed. Look forward to hearing from you. Irene
I would be interested. Fortunately I already have a copy of your book. I took a correspondence course a few years ago and really enjoyed this form of stitching.
Yvette
What a great idea! I bought the fabric and some of your thread from the needlework shop in Jan but it is still waiting for me to start something – this has to be the opportunity/ Thankyou
marg
Hi Yvette,
I would be interested in a stitchalong. However, I have no prior experience in Mountmellick, so this may not be the right “group” for me. If not, and you decide to offer a class online, I would definitely be interested.
Sharon Brodeuse
Sharon, you’d be fine! Most stitches used in Mountmellick are common to other forms of embroidery, so you’d probably know them anyway (or be able to teach yourself). Cable plait is one of the unusual ones, but that’s in the left-handed stitch dictionary, which I know you own and love, so you’d be fine!
Hi Yvette – I think it’s a great idea and would love to be a part of it. Mountmellick is perhaps my favourite form of embroidery and I have made a couple of pieces as presents, using my own designs. Unfortunately I didn’t take photos or keep details – but have learned my lesson and will certainly do so in future. Irene mentioned Mountmellick Australian Style – would really like to know more about this version.
Thanks for your wonderful, informative blog – it’s a lot of work but I for one appreciate keeping up to date.
Regards, Eunice
Hi Yvette,’m Barbara from Modena (Italy)I would be very much interested.I already have a copy of your book and I have started some mountmellick projects.I’m not sure to use the right thread and fabric so that it will be the special occasion to have them.Let me know if you start…
Thank you, Barbara
Hi Yvette,
Yes that is something that I would be highly interested in.
I have already purchased most of your books, but have not yet done any of the projects. That would be a nice way to get me started 🙂
Thanks for thinking about this.
Pierrette =^..^=
Hi Yvette, I too wouls enjoy a SAL. I have supplies I purchased from you several years ago still sitting in my “someday” drawer.
I’ll check out what I have against the supply list you post to see what I need to up date.
Oh I like this idea
Shay
What a wonderful idea. I won’t be able to contribute – I’ve gone back to college. However, I’ve posted a note about it on my forum to see if there was any interest there.
Would be interested. Rena
Yes I would be very interested in a stitch-a-long. I already have your book. Please let us know ahead of time about fabric and threads as some may have to be ordered. Sharon
I would love to join in but have never done Mountmellick. My library does not have the books. Would the online tutorials, like at Needle n’ Thread, be enough? I’m pretty good at embroidery, I don’t think I’d need *much* help.
I would love to see you do a stitch along or a class. I like the look of that type of embroidery and would welcome the chance to try doing some of it myself.
I would LOVE it!
Supplies: Yes, I would definitely post a list of supplies ahead of time, as I realise that some may need to order supplies, and that they may have to go a reasonable distance in the post.
Dangermom: Yes, online tutorials such as at Needle’nThread would help, but there’d be some stitches that Mary probably doesn’t have, such as cable plait stitch. I believe that instructions for this stitch are only found in books. Another book that may help is Country Bumpkin’s A-Z of Whitework. It has some Mountmellick stitches in it, though I don’t like their cable plait instructions much. (As I am a good friend of CB, they got me to check them before going to print, but some instructions were not able to be corrected to my satisfaction!)
Dianne: Hello!! Long time, no speak – it must be quite some years! What are you studying at college? (You’re welcome to email me privately if you’d prefer!) I hope that life is going well for you.
And there are quite a few other names I recognise on this list of respondents, so hello to all of you too!
I have wanted to learn Mountmellick for years and this might be the perfect reason if you don’t mind a newbie. Please let me know if you move forward with this idea and if the project will be suitable for beginners.
Hi Amy,
There’s more information to be found in today’s post. As its not going to be a class – that is I’m not going to be teaching the stitches – but rather, a stitch along, I guess its up to you whether you feel that as a Mountmellick beginner you can join us. If you are not an embroidery beginner, you may find that you know some of the stitches already. And if there were some that you felt were too difficult for you, you could substitute a different stitch (one from the Mountmellick repertoire). I will be able to supply a list of the stitches we’ll be using later – just not ready to do that yet!
I could be interested, but it would depend on when it was to start. I couldn’t really think about it before I get home from the Far East (where I’m living now) in mid-September and then get settled, but I expect that’s too long to keep everyone waiting.=(
Hi Elizabeth, the plan is to start around the beginning of July. So, I’m sorry that you will miss it – BUT, there’s no reason why you can’t do it starting in mid-September, by just going through the posts a day at a time.
I’m expecting that some people won’t keep up to my pace anyway – I know that life gets in the way! – so I’m very happy for people to do it at their own pace, and even at their own time!
There are some extra posts, after this one that we’re commenting on, that have more details, so you might like to check them out also.
I would love to participate in this. I’ve admired Montmellick embroidery for a long time, but have never done any despite my many years of embroidery adventures.
Joan in Fair Oaks
Would be very interested in doing your stitchalong with mountmellick & would also be interested in getting a kit if you are doing them as its hard to get some fabrics & threads here . Thanks Doreen .
Yvette, I would love to be involved in your stitch-a-long for Mountmellick. I have your book and this would be a wonderful incentive to begin a piece in this beautiful style. The embroidery group I belong to is Maitland Embroiderers Inc. and even though this lovely style has been taught over the years I have missed out on a class, so this would be a great way to be involved with learning about Mountmellick.
Thank you, Susan.
So Susan, were you one of the MANY Maitland ladies that I met over the last few days?! It seemed like they ALL came to visit me and my Mountmellick embroidery at the craft show!
Yvette, I would be very intersted in your stitch-a-long. I just a few days ago found your site, so don’t know anything about Mountmellick embroidery. I am a sticher and do crewel embroidery. Since you are getting ready to start soon,,,where can I find information about this type of embroidery? And the supplies I would need.I love whitework!
Hi Mary,
I’d love to have you join in our stitch along. As soon as I have worked out quantities, I will put together kits so that everyone has the right stuff. When you get a kit, you can also order a copy of our book “Mountmellick Embroidery: Inspired by Nature” which many regard as the Mountmellick “bible”. We’ll start about 3 weeks after the kits are ready, so that they have time to go around the world to people.
You can also go to the main part of the Vetty Creations website and click on the Mountmellick tab. There’s more info there.
I look forward to you joining us!
hola yvette me gustaria saber en colombia donde puedo conseguir el libro, pues mi deseo mas fervoroso es aprender a bordar moiuntmellick. gracias, por favor espero que me responda.
Hi, I am not sure where my books are sold in South America. However, if you are happy to order from further afield, you could try
Book Depository:
http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780975767726/Mountmellick-Embroidery
Nordic Needle:
http://www.nordicneedle.com/PROD/TEST/1784.html
or direct from us here at Vetty Creations:
http://www.vettycreations.com.au/mountmellick-book.html
I hope that helps. Good luck with finding a copy!
Hi Yvette!
I’m just learning of this type of embroidery after having embroidered since I was a child. As my background is Irish, it’s odd that it has escaped me for all my 63 years, but here I’m finding lots of info on it. I’m so sorry I didn’t know of this SAL back in 2010 for it would have been perfect for me. I’m wondering if it “got off the ground”? Are you at all considering doing another SAL or have you moved on in life? There’s enough info on the web to get me started with supplies, but the idea of doing it with others is fun idea. Just curious! Thank you, Susan
Hi Susan, yes the stitch along certainly did go ahead, and many enjoyed it. If you look further through the blog, you’ll find all the posts there. I’m sorry to say that I’m not considering doing another stitch along, as currently I’m working on writing another book. Do you know that I’ve written a book (the best seller on the subject in the town of Mountmellick itself) on Mountmellick embroidery? It can be found here on my website. You are always welcome to ask me any questions that you may have.