Serendipitous Surprisingly Splendid Summer
 Stitching ‘Stravaganza!!!
 July 24 – 25, 2009
 Highland Park Baptist Church

 

Friday Only Classes
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Written permission to display these photos on this website was given by the instructors. These photos may not be reproduced in any way other than for personal or chapter use.

Succulent Strawberry
Barbara Jackson
Technique: Crewel
Prestitching: None
Level of Proficiency: Intermediate
Price of kit: $45

Class Description: Using a wide variety of traditional crewel stitches, a twirling vine laden with buds and berries springs to life on this Elizabethan strawberry. Twisted and raised buttonhole bars, bullion stitches, and trellis work all add extra dimension to these fantasy flowers and leaves. Stitched in the beautifully shaded Heathway hand dyed crewels with touches of silk for accent, the background fabric is Strathaven linen with felted wool for the strawberry leaves. A generous five inches in length, it makes a wonderful pincushion or object d’art for your stitching accessory collection. Complete (and simple!) instructions are included for creating the berry.

Kit Contents:
Linen with design drawn, wool for leaves, all threads, needles, instructions with color pictures, finishing information for strawberry. Stuffing for strawberry not included.
 

 Call of the Sea 
Ellen Chester
Prestitching: None
Level of Proficiency: Intermediate
Price of kit: $65

Class Description: Your heart will long to be near the sea as you stitch this nautical-themed sewing case. Some of the design motifs found on the outside are a lighthouse, a house with a widow‘s walk, a young lady tending chickens, a wonderful ship, sea life such as fish, seahorses, starfish, and octopuses hidden among the seaweed, and even a mermaid.  Also on the outside of the case is a wonderful verse from an old sampler: “Go take the wings of morn and fly beyond the utmost sea.”

The inside of this case includes a stitched lining with more sea life. Also on the inside are a needle page, an attached stitched scissors sheath, and a place to hang silver fish bodkins. (The bodkins are not included in the kit.) Options for a pocket will be included for those stitchers not wanting to use the bodkins.

Stitches used: Algerian eye, backstitch, brick, closed herringbone, cross stitch, cross stitch over one linen thread, encroaching slanted gobelin, leaf, mosaic, Parisian, satin, shell, slanted gobelin, smyrna cross, straight, tent, and vertical closed herringbone.

NOTE: Ellen’s class closes registration on May 24th, because she requires 60 days notice on number of kits.

Kit Contents:
In addition to photos and detailed directions for stitching and assembling the project, the kit includes two colors of 32-count linen, silk threads (including some overdyed silk threads), doctor’s flannel for the needle page, hand-dyed ribbons, a bead for closure, a painted mermaid charm, Skirtex interfacing, fish-shaped scissors, and a needle.

Special Order Items:
The following items should be pre-ordered and will be available to be picked up at class time.
● Silver fish bodkins (set of 3): The price is dependent upon the current silver price.
● Mermaid scrimshaw ruler: $30
● Mermaid scrimshaw thread winder: $38
● Fish needlecase: Sadly, this is no longer available.
 

Saturday Only Classes
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The Curious Rabbit Etui
Barbara Jackson
Technique: Crewel
Prestitching: None
Level of Proficiency: Intermediate
Price of kit: $45

Class Description: Our curious rabbit ponders the many stitches that can be used to create colorful shading in crewel. Solid rows of stem stitch, tapestry long & short and encroaching satin will be incorporated into this delightful bit of Jacobean whimsy to help students understand how each technique differs in results. Special emphasis will be on the proper tapestry shading of small animals. For added texture fantastic flowers will be created in bullion knots and French knots. Stitched on cream
Strathaven linen the design is worked in Heathway crewel, Gloriana, Lorikeet and Pearsall‘s silks with a touch of metallic in the bee’s wings! The finished design size is 4" x 5". Instructions will be given for making into a foldover etui with pockets on the inside, but it could also be used for a pincushion or small tabletop picture.

Kit Contents:
Linen with design drawn, all threads, needles, instructions with color pictures, finishing information for etui. The lining will not be included in order for students to pick their own favorite colors.
 

Tokens from the Sea
Ellen Chester
Prestitching: None
Level of Proficiency: Intermediate
Price of kit: $196

Additional Photos

Class Description: This nautical project includes a beautiful reproduction sailor‘s ditty box with an embroidered linen band on the inside, a compass pincushion, and a fish-shaped case for storing scissors and needles. Since the early 1600’s, sailors have stored small personal items in ditty boxes. Some of the most elaborate were made of baleen or sperm whale panbone and wood and were highly decorated with carvings or paintings. The ditty box used in this project is a reproduction. The lid and bottom are cherry wood. The sides are made of a synthetic material that simulates panbone. The box measures 8 inches by 6 inches and is 3-1/2 inches high.

The embroidered linen band on the box interior has a vine border at the top and bottom that resembles the carved borders on the outside of many antique ditty boxes. In addition, the band includes a verse from Psalm 104: “Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living creatures too many to number, creatures both small and great.” There is a small embroidered pocket on the band. In addition to the ditty box, there is a compass pincushion and a fish-shaped case. The outside of the case is designed like a small band sampler and has a verse from Psalm 107: “They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; / These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.“ Store your scissors inside the case. The fish tail opens to reveal a pair of needle pages.

As you stitch in class, Ellen will talk about the history of ditty boxes and the art of scrimshaw. She will also show images of some beautiful antique ditty boxes.

NOTE: Ellen’s class closes registration on May 24th, because she requires 60 days notice on number of kits.

Stitches Used: alternating double backstitch, backstitch, barrier, closed herringbone, cross stitch, cross stitch over one linen thread, cushion, fishbone, four-sided, mosaic, plaited cross, Rhodes, rice stitch variation, smyrna cross, tent, tied half Rhodes, and zigzag.

Kit Contents:
In addition to photos and detailed directions for stitching and assembling the project, the kit includes a reproduction ditty box, two colors of 32-count linen, silk threads (including some overdyed silk threads), cotton threads, silk dupioni, beads for closure and decoration, Skirtex interfacing, and a needle.

Special Order Items:
The following items may be pre-ordered directly from Ellen to be available to be picked up at class time, or will be available in limited quantity at the class.
● Scrimshaw bodkin: $42
● Scrimshaw ruler: $30
● Scrimshaw thread winder: $38
● Fish-shaped scissors: $12
● Silver fish bodkins (set of 3): The price is dependent upon the current price of silver.

NOTE:
Personalized ditty box scrimshaw label can be ordered at the class: $50