Here’s all the information that you’ll need to take part in our Mountmellick embroidery stitch along. (And if there’s anything I have left out, let me know, and I can update it to reflect that!)
We will be working a panel featuring a lily. I am going to work mine as a cushion front, but I think the design could easily be repeated and turned to make a gorgeous runner. You could make it into a feature panel on a bag too (though the sense of having a white bag probably isn’t that great…!) It could be used on a doily or table mat also.
How it will work
Each day or every second day, I will post a new post detailing my progress on the embroidery of the panel. I will talk through my thought processes in designing, and also in stitch selection. I will go through any of the bits that I see as being tricky. You will be able to ask questions about problems that you may be having in doing the same steps, or simply in response to what you have read in my post.
If you come to the stitch along late, or get left behind, that’s fine! You are welcome to join at any time (even if we’ve already finished) and work through at your own pace.
What you will need
Authentic supplies. I really think it is worthwhile to use the correct thread and fabric to work on, so that you get the full effect of what Mountmellick embroidery is really all about. As they used cotton satin jean and completely matt thread for embroidery, that is what we will be using too. You can purchase supplies packs to make up a cushion, and also one to make up a runner. Details below.
If you already have some Mountmellick supplies, and want to check whether you have enough, this is what you will need:
- a fat quarter of cotton satin jean, 50×68 cm (this will be large enough to make a cushion with, doily, table mat, and runner)
- No 1 darner needle
- No 22 chenille needle
- a hoop of frame anywhere between 6 and 10 inches.
- In addition, to this you will need 1 maxiskein of No 3 Mountmellick thread for the cushion/doily/bag type project, OR 2 maxiskeins of No 3 Mountmellick thread for the runner (which has the design worked twice, hence twice the quantity of thread needed).
The design. You will also need a copy of the design that we will be using. If you purchase a supplies pack, it will be included as a hard copy. But if you choose not to, as you may already have the appropriate supplies and have just been waiting for such an opportunity as this to use them(!), then you will need to purchase a copy of the pattern (for a minimal price, just so that I can keep track of how many are going out there into cyberspace). These copies will be emailed as PDF files (by a real person – me – not by an autoresponder), so you will need to MAKE SURE that the email address that you have attached to your Paypal account is fully functional, and one that you are able to access. I should be able to email you the file within 24 hours. You will need Adobe Reader, which is freely available from http://get.adobe.com/reader/ to read the file.
Stitch instructions reference material. As I will not be teaching the stitches themselves (that would be a class not a stitch along, and not something I can offer for free) you will need some appropriate reference showing how to do Mountmellick stitches. Stitches that we will use include cable plait stitch (one of the characteristic stitches of Mountmellick embroidery) for which instructions are not available anywhere on the internet that I know of. I therefore suggest that you either purchase or check your local library for a copy of our book “Mountmellick Embroidery: Inspired by Nature”. You could also use Country Bumpkin’s “A-Z of Whitework” but it doesn’t have all the stitches we will be using.
If you are left-handed, you will find the stitches in “The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion”, though not all the background information on Mountmellick embroidery, or any of the knitted fringe instructions should you want to use that around the edge of your piece. (They can be found in our Mountmellick book, of course.)
When?
We will be starting on Monday 20th July 2010. This should give time for the supplies packs to be posted out so that everyone can have the right materials and thread to work with. If yours doesn’t arrive in time, do not fret! The first few posts will be about planning and designing, not the actual stitching. You can either catch up, or work behind at your own pace (there’s no shame in that!).
I have no idea how long it will take to do the whole stitch along. That will probably depend on the questions you ask, and how much detail I might need to go into to answer them.
Purchasing Mountmellick embroidery supplies:
There are two prices, one for domestic postage (to Australia) and one for international postage (to outside of Australia). Please see the Vetty Creations terms and conditions for the terms of the sale. All prices are in Australian dollars, and are subject to change without notice.
Stitch along Mountmellick lily cushion supplies pack
Sorry, no longer available. Please see the Vetty Creations online shop to purchase Mountmellick embroidery supplies.
Stitch along Mountmellick lily runner supplies pack
Sorry, no longer available. Please see the Vetty Creations online shop to purchase Mountmellick embroidery supplies.
Stitch along Mountmellick knitted fringe supplies pack
Please see the Vetty Creations online shop to purchase Mountmellick knitting cotton.
Mountmellick Embroidery: Inspired by Nature
With its detailed step-by-step instructions, this is the only book you’ll need to learn the stitches for Mountmellick embroidery. A customer once described it as “It’s the complete package, no classes required: clear, precise instructions, beautiful patterns and a fascinating history. This book is truly a gem.” JF, Australia. Purchase this wonderful Mountmellick book at the Vetty Creations website.
Stitch along Mountmellick lily cushion pattern
Sorry, no longer available. Please see the Vetty Creations online shop to purchase Mountmellick embroidery supplies.
Stitch along Mountmellick lily runner pattern
Sorry, no longer available. Please see the Vetty Creations online shop to purchase Mountmellick embroidery supplies.
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
