First needlework project?

I made some practice pieces just winging it, starting when I was 3 or 4, but don't know where they got off to. Somewhere around age 5 or 6, I was presented with a stamped XS kit for a little doily, and, yes, I still have it.

The first thing I can remember actually being "something" is a pair of linen tea towel with a stamped pair of I think swans that I made when I was 9 or

1. They disappeared when I moved to Florida 10 years ago and I can't ever remember using them, but they were really kind of neat and I don't know why they were never displayed anywhere.

Lucille

Mine was a traycloth for my Mum - royal blue and bright yellow daisies with bright green stems and leaves (Ugh!). It was all in Lazy Daisy and stem stitch, and I was four years old. It was the first thing I was taught to stitch by Mother Tienan at the convent school.

I don`t have it now, although I remember it as if it was yesterday. Mum kept it (and used it!) until she died. I think Dad must have thrown it out eventually, but I do wish I still had it.

Pat P

My first memory of stitching was my grandmother teaching me to knit then at school the nuns started us on embroidery. I was keen, I can remember that, but only being five and new to it, I made the error of catching a stitch to my skirt. Big ear boxing for that. I can't remember what we stitched as I thereafter felt very nervous stitching in their presence.

When in my teens I was in hospital for a few months. My mother brought me in a painted needlepoint canvas of a hunting scene and showed me how to do it - I enjoyed that. I know she had it for years, but like you, don't really know where it went lol

Odd how one can go on to love doing the embroidery. I remember making a needlework sack in home ec. It was really rather like a sampler I suppose. One had to trace your name on it and embroider that in chain stitch, lazy daisy flowers, stems in stem stitch etc. As to being any use for keeping ones embroidery in, hardly lol

Then again that same teacher taught us to correctly launder large, white damask napkins. They were boiled, well rinsed, dunked in starch we had mixed, then folded and laid on an enamel pie plate rather like a crepe - she insisted one do this neatly. Then they were carried out to a washing line and correctly pegged up, well stretched.

Back into the classroom to study a book on the correct method of removing stains of any kind, mind numbingly boring. Then out to bring the napkins in and iron them correctly. When I look back I suppose the bright side was she sure put whole classrooms of girls (that should be gels really) off housework for life lol

I hated, absolutely hated, home economics in school, and although we stitched a bit, I don't count anything I did there (really pedestrian and ugly projects they were too) as needlework. More a form of medieval penance. The first thing I voluntarily tackled was a huge (more than a metre in each direction) crewel kit, a picture of a fence post, barbed wire, long grasses and wild flowers, for my then MIL. It turned out wonderfully, and she hung it in her living room for years, even after I became an ex-DIL. After 4 years of abuse in home ec class (my teacher ripped up things, threw them on the floor, called me names etc) it was an epiphany to be able to make something that someone else considered beautiful. And I still love surface embroidery and crewel. Dawne

Jaenne Bonner said

I have a vague recollection of doing some rug hooking (or should that be hooked rugging???) while visiting my grandmother. I believe my alleged creativity and willingness to try different crafts came from her. She took quite a few classes at the Grange in Houlton, ME, and some of my family's most priced possessions are her work.

Like others, I had to take Home Ec in high school and absolutely hated it!!! Best as I can remember, the teachers were tyrants who took the fun out of everything.

I don't remember having any kind of needlework lessons in school at all until 8th grade, when we made an apron. Then we were taught to sew on a machine and I made a sleeveless blouse. The class was for 45 minutes, 1 day a week, with about 30 girls, so I guess not a lot was accomplished there. I don't remember any kind of decorative stitching taught at all.

I came from a crafty family, so I learned at home. My mother, if she wasn't reading a book, never ever sat down without some kind of needlework in her hands. She knitted, crocheted, did needlepoint and surface embroidery, tried anything new that came out even if she didn't love the look, and made all of my clothes. I will add, my clothes got me a designation as one of the best dressed when I was in high school, so that tells you how good she was.

Coming from a home like that, how could I have not learned. lol

Lucille

Lucille

Great thread!

I recall doing pillowcases. Then some crewel work - my grandmother was buried with a rose pillow I did for her. I was annoyed - I'd have liked to have it back all these many years later. That she seemed to cherish it will appearing to dislike me was always a mystery.

I would love to find a really great crewel piece to do - I've seen a few things, but nothing that makes me run get the credit card out.

Cheryl

I am doing a large cushion at the moment. I had a nice piece of linen in my stash and ordered a transfer from a place in the UK, it was only CAN$7 mailing included.

All in all, that is a far more reasonable way to do it rather than buying one of the Elsa Williams kits. Last time I saw one of those here it was around $60, very nice but very pricey.

I would have really loved to bury my first piece with my grandmother. I was doing it from a design she picked out when she had her stroke. The colors, the stiching, everything was for her.

Jaenne

Oh some of those are darling.

I did pick up the Vogue pattern of the Arts and Crafts pillows. One of those might just be my next project

Cheryl

I had loved doing the project; my grandmother saw it, loved it and sort blackmailed me into giving it to her. Since I was a patient 13 year old at the time, I caved in, knowing I would out live her in all likelihood. I was sort of PO'd when many years later, I walked into her funeral to see that pillow in her casket and my aunt telling the world it was my idea.

Lucretia Borgia said

Yes I have done that by that method and also just plain sketched my own. I do like the Deighton Transfers though as they have many traditional style crewel designs. They are a very old company and I like to encourage some things - it's no good complaining when sources dry up if we are all scrounging them on the net then ripping the suppliers off. It's in the pot along with copying charts etc.

On Tue, 4 Oct 2005 18:05:19 -0700, Jaenne Bonner muttered something like:

I think I started out with some little icon-type things to learn how, but my first real project was the Morgan horse designed by Stephanie Seabrook Hedgepath.

Not knowing better at the time, I stitched the thing about a quarter-inch away from the edge of the fabric, reasoning that this would leave me plenty of fabric for other things.

Years later, when I worked at a frame shop, I dug it up again, dry-mounted it (carefully keeping the fabric weave as straight as I could), and framed it. Not conservation-quality, but it's a cute little picture and being my first real project has pleasant associations when I look at it.

-Bertha

Lucretia Borgia said

You've raised a very valid point -- if few people buy the designs and use a variety of sources for inspiration instead, then companies assume that type of embroidery isn't being done and stop producing it. These same companies also seem to assume that those of us who like doing crewel and free style embroidery are only interested in somewhat elegant floral arrangements or nature (birds, squirrels, trees, etc.). If you know of a source for contemporary and/or whimsical designs like Lula creates, please share it with us.

You might look for one of the following books

"The Embroidery Design Sourcebook" , Inspiration from around the world, by Helen Fairfield, Cassel , 1994.

"Design for Embroidery", A Fine Art Approach , by Diana Springall, Pelham books, 1988.

'Embroidery From Sketch to Stich" by Pat Lnagford, Knagaroo Press ,

There are plenty more books that will help you . best of luck mirjam

More books i found in my library

"Strating to Stich Creatively " ed by Valerie Campbell -Harding , B.T. Batsford, 1994.

"Colour and Design for Embroidery" A practical handbook for the daring embroiderer and adventurous textile artist. By Richard Box , B.T, Batsford, 2000.

" The Art Of Manipulating Fabric" By Collete Wolff, Chilton, 1996. The last one isn`t embroidery but it very inspiring how one can use cloth and create wonderful art with needles and threads.

In fact every picture, every poem , everything ones sees hears tastes is a source for embroidery... mirjam