I’ve [...]]]> Yesterday I was talking with a lady who wanted to order a copy of Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery for her friend. She said she already has her own copy and loves it. She’s taken the techniques and run with them, having recently completed a merezhka project that she adapted from filet crochet, featuring grapes.

I’ve asked her to send me a photo of the embroidery to share with you, which she said she will do.

Oh, how I love it when people take one of these techniques and really get into it! It is so wonderful to know that my books give people so much joy. Sometimes when I feel a bit down I can doubt that what I do has very much impact on the world. I’m not a doctor or a nurse, or a teacher, changing people’s lives in a very tangible way. However, if my books help people to learn to relax and gain enjoyment from a new skill, I think that’s pretty fantastic!

PS. Sorry there was no post yesterday. I didn’t really have anything to say, and I just got stuck into more of the techniques pages for the books, first thing in the morning.

I do limit my quantity of [...]]]> 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!

Merezhka bellpull from Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery by Yvette Stanton. Beautifully stitched by Lisa in Canada.

A couple of the ladies in the group had already bought my book Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery and worked the large scale sampler (we were doing a project of [...]]]> I had a wonderful day yesterday teaching merezhka to a lovely group of ladies in Springwood. They did a great job and produced some beautiful embroidery.

A couple of the ladies in the group had already bought my book Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery and worked the large scale sampler (we were doing a project of small scale technique in class) prior to the class. One of them raved about the instructions in my book. She said that they were so detailed and couldn’t be more clear. She said (my memory of her words) “you know how sometimes there are steps missing and you don’t know what to do next? Well, there were no steps missing in Yvette’s book.” I asked her when she was going to write her comments down!

Because this lady had already done some merezhka, she had already been thinking about it, and had a list of questions for me. Could she use filet crochet or filet lace patterns for merezhka? Yes. It would require a bit of thought to figure out how the closed and open bits would translate, but yes. Could you work merezhka in a circle with stepped sides, rather like you can with hardanger? Yes… you could. I’ve never done it, but you could.

I also discussed sources for merezhka patterns with another lady. Another suggestion that I had was for monochrome cross stitch patterns. To adapt these, wherever there is a cross, you could work a layering, and wherever there is blank fabric (no cross), you would have the gaps between layerings. I reckon it would take me a good while to adapt something like this – to get my head around how to adapt it – but it certainly could be done.

Last night I was surprised to find an email in my inbox with a scan of a completed embroidery. Yes, someone had already finished theirs last night, and it was beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with me. I always love to hear of people being so enthused that they finish their class project as soon as possible.

One of the other ladies in the class regularly teaches embroidery, and has been telling all her students about my books, particularly The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion and The Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion. She gave them a huge plug by saying “We think these are even better than the A-Z books.” Wow! What a fabulous thing to say. Thank you!

My train journeys to and from Springwood were smooth, and I did get quite a lot of my Mountmellick done. I was surprised how tired I didn’t feel at the end of the day. I’d say it was because I was able to relax on the train home, with some enjoyable embroidery. They’d like me back later in the year to teach Mountmellick embroidery. I’m keen!

Thanks for a great day ladies!

In the class we’re going to [...]]]> Today I’m off to Springwood to teach a merezhka class all day. It should be a great day. Springwood is about 1 1/2-2 hours on the train from where I live, so I’m taking my latest Mountmellick embroidery project with me, and hopefully I will get a lot done!

In the class we’re going to be learning the small scale merezhka technique, and making a small square panel of the embroidery. It could be framed or made into a needlecase, or applied to a bag. You could even mount it as the centre panel on a cushion. Lots of things you could do with it!

If you’d like to learn this technique, you can find it in my book Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery. It has clear step by step instructions, which have text, a diagram and a photo, to make it very clear about what you should be doing for each step. Many people comment on this threefold method of instruction when they review the book, because it is unusual, and works so well.

I know that I’m going to have a fun day. I hope you do too.

Newly released Merezhka daisies cloth pattern

A new design [...]]]>

Newly released Merezhka daisies cloth pattern

A new design is now available: Merezhka daisies cloth pattern. This pattern makes a beautiful table centre for any table. It features a contemporary design of daisies, and would add a freshness to any setting.

Merezhka is drawn thread embroidery from Ukraine. This particular type of merezhka (there are a number of different styles) is from the Poltava region, and uses the small scale method with wrapped bullion corners.

The design is for an intermediate to advanced merezhka stitcher.

Purchase the pattern and find more information about the Merezhka daisies cloth at the Vetty Creations online shop. You can also learn more about Merezhka at the Vetty Creations merezhka page, and from my book Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery.

Merezhka Bell Pull from 'Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery' by Yvette Stanton

Embroidery instruction, No 3 should read: From the pin, [...]]]>

Merezhka Bell Pull from 'Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery' by Yvette Stanton

Embroidery instruction, No 3 should read: From the pin, count 29 threads across to one side. From this point work the satin stitch bar (59 stitches, four threads wide) across the fabric, inside the line.

The graph shows 59 stitches, and is correct.

Sorry for any inconvenience this error may have caused. If you ever find a mistake in one of my projects or books generally, I want to hear about it so that I can issue a correction, and change future editions. That would really help me and others!

I received word yesterday that my merezhka class at Springwood [...]]]> I’ll be teaching embroidery at various places around Australia in 2011. I’m really looking forward to it all, as I’ll be teaching new projects and in some new places. I’ll also go back to some places I’ve been before, and hopefully meet some students again.

I received word yesterday that my merezhka class at Springwood in January is full! What a great start to the year that will be!

If you liked the look of my sample Portuguese whitework embroidery (shown left) get thee to Brisbane in February! I will be teaching it as a project at All Threads Embroidery on 26-27th.

In September (29-30th) I’ll be in Tasmania teaching Mountmellick embroidery at A Stitch In Time.

I will also be teaching Mountmellick embroidery to three different guild and non-guild groups in the Hunter Valley. That will keep me busy throughout the year.

If you’re interested in me teaching to your group or at your shop, I could probably still fit in one or two more bookings at various points in the year, so get in quick!

Merezhka at Springwood Arts Centre, Springwood NSW Monday 17th January 2011, 10am-4:30pm Bookings: Ruth Marshall, 0407 235 215

Merezhka is drawn thread work from Ukraine. Merezhka Poltavska is the name of this specific type of merezhka, [...]]]> Here’s a great opportunity for anyone who’s got nothing to do just after Christmas – learn something new!

Merezhka at Springwood Arts Centre, Springwood NSW
Monday 17th January 2011, 10am-4:30pm
Bookings: Ruth Marshall, 0407 235 215

Merezhka is drawn thread work from Ukraine. Merezhka Poltavska is the name of this specific type of merezhka, which means that it comes from Poltava, in Ukraine. Traditionally, this type of embroidery was worked on the top of the sleeves of women’s blouses, and down the front of men’s shirts. It was also worked across the width of the ritual towels, commonly used in religious observances in Ukraine.

This class is suitable for beginners through to advanced stitchers. Some experience with counted embroidery would be helpful. We’ll be working a small square panel of merezhka which could be framed, made into a tiny cushion, applied to a bag, or made into a needlecase.

However, Mary Corbet and others also directed [...]]]> I was reading a needlework forum recently where some time ago a lady wanted to learn merezhka to put some on a sampler she was making. Many people directed her to websites where she could get the information. She used one of those websites for her sampler.

However, Mary Corbet and others also directed her to my book Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery. Some time later she came back to the forum and said that she had purchased my book to work some merezhka, and found that using my instructions created a neater and straighter result than the websites.

Smiles all round.

You get what you pay for.

If you’re wanting to learn merezhka, Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery comes highly recommended by people who have used it and and found it very beneficial.