White Threads » hardanger

Hardanger Treasure Chest write-up

yvette — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:55:13 +0000

Last night, on a forum that I belong to, I read that someone had done a write-up of their experiences with making my Hardanger panel for the Treasure Chest project that’s in the current issue of Inspirations magazine.

You can find Jillian’s write-up on her blog, AlwaysStitching.

Congratulations to Jillian, on such a magnificent result. I’m thrilled that you did so well, having never done any Hardanger before. (In fact I find it amazing that you’ve never done any before… an experienced stitcher nonetheless, I am sure!)

Has anyone else made this project yet?

Hardanger step-by-steps

yvette — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:47:06 +0000

In the most recent issue of Inspirations magazine I have a Hardanger project – Treasure Chest – a collaboration with Janie Hubble.

One of the features of this design is needleweaving that has groups of three parallel woven bars. The process for doing these neatly so that the thread doesn’t show up obviously between the bars, is a precise one. I sent detailed step-by-step photos and instructions to Country Bumpkin to help them prepare the instructions to go into the magazine. They always do their own photography of their own step-by-steps so that they fit with the style of the magazine, based on what the designers supply them.

Unfortunately what went into the magazine did not show exactly the same process that I had shown. At times, mistakes happen. As soon as I noticed, I let them know, and in an effort to rectify the mistake, they have now placed revised instructions on their website.

http://www.countrybumpkin.com.au/article_info.php?articles_id=693

Please note that the bars they have shown do not have the correct tension. Bars should be thin and narrow – not fat and wide as they are shown – as that is how they were worked on historical examples. However, if you keep that in mind and work with these instructions, you’ll now get the correct results.

Thanks for supplying these correct instructions, Country Bumpkin!

Treasure Chest hardanger project

yvette — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:20:40 +0000

On Friday I received my copy of the latest issue of “Inspirations” magazine. In it I have a new Hardanger project published. The project was a collaboration between me and Janie Hubble.

At the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair last year I found some lovely scrummy Cottage Garden Threads colours and felt that I just *had* to use one in a project. And so I quickly designed a Hardanger on my computer one night after the show, and started stitching it on the train on the way in to the city the next day.

I asked Janie, who I was sharing the stand with, if she’d be interested in collaborating on it with me. Janie makes beautiful fabric covered boxes. She happily agreed and so our Hardanger-topped box came about.

My only photo of the embroidery is where the fabric isn’t totally flat, but I guess its better than nothing. Its not mounted on the box lid because I then sent it off to Janie for her to do all that, of which she did a lovely job!

There are much nicer photos of the project – they’ve called it “Treasure Chest” – on the Country Bumpkin website and in the magazine!

If you’d like to make it, you’ll need to avail yourself of Issue 73 of Inspirations magazine.

BATB Hardanger bookmark kits

yvette — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:40:12 +0000

Because the advertising for next year’s Beating Around the Bush conference is now out, I have already had a few enquiries for the kit for the Hardanger Bookmark that I will be teaching.

I think it is lovely that people are keen to try this project, but the kit is not yet available. I have not yet even written the instructions! I ask that you be patient, as I won’t have the chance to even think about this until after the book I am currently writing is finished. Being completely realistic, I will probably end up writing the instructions and putting the kits together in the month before the conference.

The kits will only be limited editions – once they are gone, they are gone. This is because I don’t generally stock Hardanger fabrics and threads for sale – there are so many different types and colours of fabric and thread that it could take over my business. Writing books is my core business, not selling Hardanger supplies, and there are many excellent businesses out there who will happily sell you Hardanger supplies.

If you are interested in the kits though, and would like to be one of those who purchase a limited edition kit for the bookmark, you can register your interest here. That will help me with numbers for how many kits I should make up.

The advertised kit cost in the Beating Around the Bush programme does not include any postage (because I will hand deliver them to the students in my class!) and therefore is different than what will eventually be here on the Vetty Creations website. I am sure you understand this.

So, in short, the kits for the Hardanger Bookmarks that I will be teaching at Beating Around the Bush will be available after the conference in April 2012. They will be limited edition kits, but you are welcome to register your interest now, to purchase one. Thank you for your patience.

BATB: Hardanger class

yvette — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:50:29 +0000

In April 2012, Country Bumpkin’s needlework conference, Beating Around the Bush, will be on again and I’ll be teaching at it. It will run from Saturday 14th April until Friday 20th April 2012 in Adelaide Australia. I will have three classes, and over the next few days will tell you about them. Bookings opened last week, and several classes are already booked out. So get in quick!

Class 50: Hardanger Bookmark with Yvette Stanton
Sunday 15th April 2012
I have previously taught Hardanger at BATB, and this time received requests for beginners to be able to take my class. Management wanted more experienced stitchers to be able to take the class, so the best way to solve that was to offer the choice of two bookmarks in the one class. Beginners will learn with the upper bookmark, and the lower one will take those students who have previously done some hardanger, that little bit further.

Beginners will learn counted satin stitch, cable stitch, Algerian eyelet stitch, four-sided stitch, cutting threads and needlewoven bars.

Intermediate stitchers (those who have already learnt the basics of Hardanger) will be extended with extra stitching and the addition of Greek cross fillings and a dove’s eye filling. Please note that this option will not be available for beginners as it will be too much to cover in one day.

The bookmarks are worked on natural 28 count linen, with pretty variegated pearl cottons and stranded floss. They are constructed by hand, so a sewing machine is not needed to finish your bookmark.

If you have any questions about this class, please just ask. If you’d like to book in, that can be done through the Country Bumpkin website.

Booking classes

yvette — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:46:27 +0000

Just a note to those who are likely to want me to come and teach for their shop, community or guild group next year. I am taking a lot of bookings – it seems people really want to learn Portuguese Whitework! – so if you’re interested, get in quick.

I do limit my quantity of teaching as I have a young family, and taking me away from them increases the load on my husband and extended family.

While classes on Portuguese Whitework seem to be the flavour of the month at the moment, I also teach Hardanger, Mountmellick, Merezhka Poltavska, left-handed embroidery, and stitch exploration classes.

If you’re interested, please email me with details of your requirements. I look forward to hearing from you!

Cottage garden delights

yvette — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:05:34 +0000

Yesterday I spent my demonstrating sessions at the show working on a Hardanger embroidery. I had bought some Cottage Garden Threads the day before, and was eager to try them out. I was a bit disappointed that the perle threads don’t come in perle 5, so I bought stranded cotton instead. Who says you can’t use stranded floss for Hardanger? I certainly don’t!

The colour I was using was Raisin, a gorgeous mix of reds, oranges and purples. Not a colour scheme I would normally try, but it just looked so yummy that I couldn’t resist! I took a selection of like coloured skeins with me from home to use in conjunction with the Raisin Cottage Garden Thread.

It turned out that I really needed a better purple than the ones I had in my stash. So on my way home last night I stopped off at a local craft shop to get one that was more suitable. It wasn’t as easy as I had hoped.

When we had our discussion of red thread last week, Elmsley Rose pointed out to me that the purples in the DMC range are a bit lacking. Last night, I realised that what she said was very true! There really wasn’t much to choose from in a rich, dirty, warm purpley aubergine colour. In the end I chose two skeins and hoped that one would assert itself over the other when put next to the rest of the stitching. (It did.)

I’m going to be a real tease and not show you the embroidery, because its probably going into a magazine, and therefore they need it to have not been “seen” before.

So instead, I’ll show you my selection of colours, some of which I used, and others I did not.

'Raisin' Cottage Garden Thread on the left, with DMC skeins to go with it on the right.

To report on the Cottage Garden Thread, I found it lovely to work with. The colour gradations change VERY often. I’m not sure if I was imagining it, or if it was actually true, but they seem to change colours more often than other variegated threads. In some instances, this would be a good thing, and in others, it might not. However, it worked fine for me and my satin stitch kloster blocks on my Hardanger. I particularly loved the colour of the “Raisin” I was using. I’ll definitely be using their threads again.

For a great run down on yesterday at the show (with photos!), you can also read Janie’s blog.

hardanger: flavour of the month (or week!)

yvette — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:38:56 +0000

In the past week I have had not one, but three very nice reviews of my book Elegant Hardanger Embroidery sent to me. It has been lovely reading people’s comments about why they love the book so much.

I wrote it 10 years ago now, which seems pretty mindboggling, actually. (I’ve been writing books for 10 years now! Me, who didn’t even like the subject of English at school!) But to continue to have people saying very nice things about it 10 years on is quite lovely and very encouraging.

Amongst the things people have said this week about Elegant Hardanger Embroidery:

Your writing style and illustrations finally made everything come into focus and showed me that I don’t have to feel like I am all thumbs when I am doing hardanger. This book will be my constant companion for at least the next two project and treasured reference thereafter.

I also am very appreciative of the way you pointed out the path to common mistakes without talking down to the reader. I tend to be one of those stitchers who makes the mistakes without the skills to get out of the mistakes because almost all my instruction comes from the written word and diagrams. Thank-you again for giving me tools to increase my confidence.

I am really impressed with it. I knew there must be more to Hardanger than the simple Kloster blocks you see demonstrated on the web. I feel quite confident now to try a project, and I’m hoping I won’t need to refer back to your section on fixing mistakes!

Thank you to each of you who has sent me these encouraging words. Each time it happened, it made my day!

If you don’t have your own copy of Elegant Hardanger Embroidery, perhaps you should! To try before you buy, you can see an online turn the page preview at Scribd. You can purchase it from your local needlework store (and if they don’t have it, ask them to get it for you!) or otherwise online from me at Vetty Creations.

From yesterday, thank you to all who have made suggestions of items for embroidery. I’ve loved reading them all, and it has been quite thought provoking. Please keep the suggestions coming!

photographing needlework

yvette — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 19:21:49 +0000

Today will be a busy day photographing needlework and either sending the photos off, or sending the needlework off. All the projects are for upcoming classes, some soon and some more than a year away! Some of the photos will need to be styled shots, some not. Some will be closeups of detail, to go in student class notes.

Before I start photographing though, I have to first finish off two of the projects. One is a Mountmellick cushion, and the other is a Hardanger bookmark. Fortunately the embroidery is done for both, so I really only have to construct them. The cushion will need a zip inserted, the cushion made, and then the fringe attached. The bookmark will be hand sewn but relatively quick. I’m looking forward to crossing off a number of projects from my mental list!

Its going to be stinking hot today – and worse tomorrow – so I’ll be holed up here in as much coolness and darkness as possible.

random collection of thoughts

yvette — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:36:19 +0000

Yesterday was Australia Day here. We celebrated two birthdays with a lunch in the backyard in the sweltering heat. My dairy-free, gluten-free and egg-free cake worked well – rising, which was one of the most important aspects of it – and tasting great. A swim in the afternoon completed the day, then home for leftovers for dinner.

I have been working on the proposed Hardanger class projects for Beating Around the Bush 2012, and wanted to make a bookmark that could be worked in simple stitches for beginners, and more difficult stitches for intermediate Hardangerers, all able to be learnt and mostly completed within a 6 hour/1 day lesson. I had designed the intermediate level one some time back, but was a bit stuck on the beginners version of it. I took my daughters to the beach on Tuesday, and we went by public transport. I knew this would mean I’d have a lot of stitching time, so I quickly designed a simplified version early in the morning before we left. I took it with me and was able to get a lot done. It has since been completed. While it looks a lot less interesting than the intermediate one, it will be a good introduction to Hardanger techniques for beginners, and should be achievable in the one day.

I’ve been wondering if anyone would be interested in some tips about machine sewing on stretch fabrics? I had a question or two about this because of my recent “little red dress” project, and the mention of sewing leotards. Would anyone else like to ask any questions?

All my book sales are going well, with a reprint of The Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion recently arriving. I also will need to reprint The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion very soon, which is so pleasing. And this is a book that some people didn’t think needed to be published…! If you received a copy of any of my books during the recent Christmas season, I’d love to hear what you think of it/them. Better still, why not write a review for your blog, or on your favourite online bookseller’s website, such as Amazon?

Today we’re doing more last minute things before school goes back next week. I was hoping to get lots of work done today, but then realised we have an appointment to go to, so there goes that idea! I hope that you have a great day.