12th - 14th April Talk and two workshops with Lis Binns

TALK

Lis Binns titled her chatty talk, “In at the Deep End” because, when she started quilting, she didn’t start with basic squares but with challenging, technical quilting techniques! 

 However, she had started stitching at the very young age of four with instruction from her mother. This was until she could read and she was then told she could teach herself!  Lis made clothes and dolls but also did lots of detailed cross stitch, worked on 18 count linen.

As an adult, after studying for a degree in electrical engineering, stitching was a way of relaxing.  The quilting started by accident when she and her mother needed to sit down in a shopping mall and the only place to do so was a quilting demonstration, which was free! 

 From then on Lis went on to study for a City and Guilds' course in Quilting and we were shown lots of quilts that she had made over the years, for herself, her family and friends, and for the City and Guilds course.  Only a year or so after taking up quilting, her entry into a competition at the NEC Quilt Show won third prize!  The competition was for 12 small quilts made one per month, so all were very different and reflected what was going on in her life during that month. 

 Lis gave us an illustrated talk with photos and followed up by showing us a selection of quilts and smaller quilted pieces which she had made – we were all in awe!

 

STAINED GLASS WINDOW APPLIQUÉ

 

Lis is a very thorough tutor. She explained the stages we would do, before we started cutting and stitching and she monitored us all as we went along.  After tracing the design on to our backing fabric and applying the bonded pattern pieces to it, we started the process of applying the bonded bias tape, although this turned out to be a particularly fiddly aspect of the workshop which most of us struggled with!

 

After lunch we continued bonding the bias outline and then got down to stitching.  This was also quite fiddly, requiring stitching on the inner edge first and then the outer.  Predictably, only Helen actually finished stitching completely – the rest of us have another UFO!

Apologies that photos of this project are not available. If you attended and finish the piece, please send a photo, so that it can be posted. (jeanmarg48@manx.net)

Lis demonstrating the origami twist technique

ORIGAMI TWIST

Lis’ second, half-day workshop, was attended by 10 members and, once again, she gave lots of tips and instruction to help us all make a variety of Origami twist samples.  Some are going to make a banner, others a cushion, and then others just a pincushion!  Janet actually finished her pin cushion – everybody else has work in progress! 

 

Again, it was a workshop with its challenges – how difficult can it be to fold fabric?!  Well - it can be quite fiddly and

is also made more difficult dependent on the fabric chosen.  Lis demonstrated how to make a basic origami square and then how to adapt it in a multitude of ways by additional folding.

 

All in all, I think everyone would agree that, while they were challenging workshops, they were also hugely enjoyable and we all got a lot out of them.

A selection of completed "twists"

 

30th March 2019 Cushion construction workshop with Hilary Cairns

Hilary Cairns' talk on Friday evening about her stitching life was light-hearted and enlightening. She told us of the time her friend persuaded her to apply for the Great British Sewing Bee and she got down to the final 24 for selection but was very glad not to have been chosen, having realised that the programme was all about personality and not sewing skills and that she would have had to pay for her travel, hotels and even the fabric!!  Hilary also told us about her alteration business, where some of her customers were well known Blackburn footballers. This impressed her husband and sons who were season ticket holders!  When Hilary first started the alteration business she was bemused to be asked to alter a dozen pair of men's trousers to very specific requirements only to discover that, when she went to chase for payment that the customer had been stealing the trousers, one at a time from big shops, getting them altered and then selling them on!  She quickly learned her lesson.  Hilary's sewing is wide ranging though, from dolls and puppets, dress-making to embroidery and particularly quilting which she explained was far more skilful and exacting than dress-making.  Hilary's talk was very well received - it was just a pity that so few people attended!

The informative workshop was also, sadly, poorly attended, owing to a clash with the Lacemakers' open day. It did mean that those of us, who were there, got extra special attention from Hilary! She was a mine of information on zips. We had no idea how many different types there are and she clearly demonstrated how to insert them. Invisible zips, put in properly, are truly invisible! Piped cushions with neat corners are also no longer a problem. Thank you, Hilary.

getting started

A mitred join in bias piping

some finished or nearly finished covers.

We were joined after lunch by an enthusiastic bunch of Young Embroiderers, who had their own project of a flower design to embellish with stitching, beads and buttons. They seemed to enjoy themselves!

9th February 2019 "Take a stitch and play with it"

A pleasing numbers of members showed up for the meeting which preceded the workshop and it was interesting to hear our Chairman's summary of the outcome of January's meeting and the positive suggestions for our way forward.
Ladies also passed on information about an upcoming exhibition at the Hodgson's Gallery, the BBC4 radio book of the week "Threads of History" and a reminder about the Branch Facebook page (Embroiderers's Guild Isle of Man)

Twelve ladies stayed on for the workshop. We started by watching U-tube tutorials on how to do various stitches, some of which were new to even the most accomplished members. Coral stitch was to prove very popular.

The 4" squares were also brought out to show what could be done with either single or multiple stitch types.

A very convivial atmosphere then developed as ladies set to with their own interpretations of the one stitch theme. There was a buzz of conversation and busyness.

After lunch we were joined by 6 Young Embroiderers' and some of their mothers, who all settled down to start work on their project using lazy-daisy stitch.

Samples of two of the adults' work can be seen below. The little bird is created using lines of coral stitch and a "hairy" thread. The abstract is in French knots and inspired by lichen.

Betty and Maureen K's work.

19th January 2019 An excellent start to the year

 Our decision to step outside the "norm" and hold our January meeting at Green's Restaurant in St John's, paid off. It was attended by 17 of our 29 members with four more sending in their suggestions about the future of the group. Discussion was very positive and constructive. 

Everyone appreciated being able to buy drinks, cakes and delicious lunches and we hope that Green's, who let us have their room for free, also benefited from our being there. Thank you, "Green's".

It also gave ladies the chance to stitch sociably at UFOs or their own endeavours, so a big success all round.

CHRISTMAS 2018

Our Christmas celebrations seem to be jinxed by the weather. Last year's was cancelled because of snow, this year it was a dreadful day - pouring rain and Storm Dierdre doing her best to blow down trees and people off their feet. 10 ladies braved it and, fortunately, our numbers were boosted by 6 Young Embroiderers and their mums.

We started with a contributory lunch, which, as usual, provided us with a wonderful, tasty and varied spread

Kits were provided to create a Nordic-style Christmas tree decoration and nearly everyone managed to finish and take home a hanging to go on their tree.

A Centenary Celebration 1918-2018

In Spring 2018 the Embroiderers' Guild IoM Branch was approached by the King William's College Masonic Lodge with a request to renovate and update their banner in time for their centenary. The work was undertaken by Helen and Jean and resulted in a nice donation for Branch Funds.

The pictures are lifted from the commemorative brochure, published by the Lodge.

The pictures are lifted from the commemorative booklet published by the Lodge.

17th November 2018 - Talk and Workshop with Chris Eastham

The subject of Chris Eastham's talk was  "Perfection can be overrated". 

She had brought along about 30 examples of her quilts, which traced her work from her first, to her most recent creation (a Christmas tree "skirt")

She had embarked upon quilting as a rebellion against her mother's perfect-front-and-back embroidery and she detailed how it had been a steep learning curve, but fun!

Her talk and workshop were littered with words like "fudge, fiddle, adjust" and quotes like "better finish than perfect" or her tutor's description of a piece of her work as "naive quilting"

Chris was being far too modest, because, although she kept pointing out what she saw as faults, the result seemed intentional to us and the quilts were stunning. We did, however, get the point that, mistakes can be rescued and a piece does not need to be abandoned, if, in the end it isn't quite as it was meant to be!

Chris's quilts piled high.

And another pile!

So we embarked on the workshop - to create a pieced border for an existing piece of work - with a relaxed attitude. For some this was the "steep learning curve" but, for us, with expert guidance. Others were more experienced and the amount achieved in the day reflected this. Those wanting to turn the end result into a cushion have until next March to finish the piece!

A hive of industry

Nearly there! 

Way to go!