American Patchwork
Debbie Stiehler
Level of Proficiency: Intermediate
Price of kit: $60 without shaker box
$160 with shaker box
Ground fabric and size: Ecru congress cloth (24 count) canvas size-10" x
14"
Class Description: This fanciful American flag design fits into the top
of a Sudberry House shaker box. There are over 100 stitched areas in
this 7" x 10" design. Threads used include: Overdyed floss, Anchor
stranded cotton, #8 and #12 pearl cotton, and a small amount of matte
metallic thread. Many old familiar stitches and exciting new patterns
are used. The class will include instructions on finishing the inside of
the box with fabric lining. Also included is a pattern and instructions
for making a matching scissor fob!
NOTE: The design can be made into a rectangle if the student does not
wish to place it onto a shaker box.
Students need to bring to class:
● Stretcher bars – 10" x 14"
● Thumb tacks or staples
● Regular stitching supplies
● Laying tool
● Extra tapestry needles in various sizes
● Light and/or magnifier if needed
● Frame weight or holder so that both hands are free for stitching
Not Your Grandmother’s Sewing Kit Accessories
Marianna S. Markham
Prestitching: About 2 hours
Level of Proficiency: Intermediate
Price of kit: $35
Choice of linen thread count: 28 ct or 32 ct
Choice of color: pink/peach/lavender or
blue/yellow/green
Class Description: Based on a sewing kit hand-stitched by her Quaker
grandmother, Marianna designed sewing kit accessories that are
definitely not Quaker plain. These are created with Art Deco designs
worked in counted thread techniques using Byzantine and Gobelin
stitches, cross-stitch variations, mosaic, fly and wrapped back-stitches
on 28-or 32-count linen with pearl cottons and over-dyed stranded silk
in one of two pastel color combinations (peach, pink and lavender on
platinum linen or blue, yellow and green on white linen). Students will
be encouraged to arrange colors to their tastes and experiment with
other stitches. Finishing techniques and materials are included.
Student must select linen count AND color choice by June 24th.
Blue/yellow/green color way limited to 5 kits because of limited thread
availability – first come, first serve.
Design area for 32-count linen:
● 3" X 3“ (needlecase)
● 3" X 2" X 2" (thimble case)
● 2" X 2“ (scissor cover)
The design will be approximately 15% larger for 28-count linen.
Linda Connors
Technique: Stumpwork
Design area: 5-1/4" x 7-1/2"
Kit fee: $100
Prerequisite: Some working knowledge of surface embroidery stitches.
Pre-stitching: None required. All fabrics will be prepared in class.
Class description: Tranquility is a stumpwork piece depicting a tranquil pond scene with cattails, water lily, dragonfly, and water strider. The design is worked on light blue polyester Shantung. Many of the design elements are worked over wire including the front petals of the water lily, some of the cattail leaves, the water lily bud and lily pad and dragonfly wings. The cattail heads are padded on the surface as is the center of the water lily and the bud. Some of the cattail leaves, the water strider and the back petals of the water lily are worked on the surface of the fabric. The water lily pad is worked on green Dupioni silk over wire.
Threads used include Anchor and/or DMC cotton floss, AVAS or Soie Cristale silk, several Kreinik metallic threads, cotton and polyester machine embroidery threads, clear monofilament, Weeks Dye Works hand-dyed cotton, chenille Fabrics include Dupioni silk, polyester Shantung, muslin, felt in yellow, purple and brown, two different types of organza. Beads in varying sizes are used to enhance the water lily center, the dragonfly, and water strider. Stitches used include, wrapped stem stitch, fly stitch, buttonhole, overcast, satin, stem stitch, couching both fiber and beads.
Student will learn how to embroider and cut out wired pieces to reattach to fabric, many surface stitches, padding as well as how to wrap hoops with bias tape to prevent fabric slippage while embroidering.
Kit Contents:
All fibers, beads, fabrics, wires, needles and one 4" hoop to work design.
Student should bring to class:
● Fine black sharpie
● Air erasable pen
● No. 2 pencil
● Textile markers in green and purple
● Fray Check
● Two 4" wooden hoops (can be inexpensive ones found in craft stores.) These are BESIDES the one included in your kit.
● One good quality 8" hoop (no plastic hoops; try to avoid inexpensive craft store hoops)
● White sewing thread
● White bias tape (two 4 yd packages of single fold white)
● Sharp tweezers
● Sharp embroidery scissors
● Two different sizes pliers (small for pulling needle; large for tightening hoop screw)
● Wire cutters or serrated metal scissors for cutting wire (don‘t use your good scissors.)
John Waddell
Technique: Canvas
Prestitching: None
Level of Proficiency: Intermediate
Price of kit: $82.00
Class Description: We are going to take the shape of a piñata and color it with the six (6) major color points from a color wheel. We will fill the areas with a variety of shaded eyelet stitches. We will each deconstruct the given stitches and choose from the four (4) shades of each color point to develop a shaded eyelet stitch or stitches for each color area.
A metallic thread will be used in each area for accent. Between each of the areas we will add a wrapped backstitch using the two (2) adjacent colors to form the look of a cord. The central element will be nosegay of silk ribbon and embroidered flowers. To accent the festive nature of the party we will couch two colors of a multi-colored yarn to represent serpentine and sequins will be used to represent confetti. As a last finishing element we will add two handmade Mexican mugs to help the party along!
Kit Contents:
Line drawn canvas (#18 white mono canvas) with printed stitching instructions, all threads and silk ribbons for stitching the piece, embellishments and needles.
Students need to bring to class:
● Usual stitching materials
● Stretcher bars (10" X 10" mini)
● Tacks or staplers
● Masking tape
● Clamp of some kind
● Laying tool
Cindy Hambrick
Level of Proficiency: Intermediate to Advanced
Price of kit: $125
Choice of Color Purple/Gold
Purple/Silver
Blue/Gold
Blue/Silver
Green/Khaki
Pink/Silver (if you must!!)
Class Description: Based on Diane Fitzgerald's newest book, Shaped Beadwork, this class will cover the essential elements of the book so you are able make any of the projects that it contains. The class will cover two-dimensional shapes, three-dimensional shapes, open shapes, a faux bezel, and herringbone chain. Be forewarned – this is an intermediate to advanced level class. You must already be familiar with beading terms and very comfortable with the peyote stitch; otherwise you will not be able to keep up.
Kit Contents:
Diane Fitzgerald's new book Shaped Beadwork, beads (Delica beads, Swarovski crystals, Gold/Silver rounds,) and findings to complete the projects presented in the class, including 3 pair of earrings, 1 chain, 1 box, 1 trillium, and 5 leaves, plus needles, thread, and a bead mat.
Students need to bring scissors, and a light and magnification if necessary, to class.
JAPANESE EMBROIDERYMary Alice Sinton
Level of Proficiency: Beginner (see more info below)
Price of kit: $127.50 (additional supplies required)
Class description: This unique class offers the opportunity for the student to sample the stitches of traditional Japanese Embroidery. The design is called “Sho-Chiku-Bai,” or plum, bamboo and pine; three auspicious motifs commonly believed to bring good luck and also referred to as the Three Friends of Winter. It is worked on a silk fabric called “habutae” with a combination of flat silk and metals threads. Nine of the basic techniques of traditional Japanese Embroidery are covered, as well as the precise method for finishing the work once the stitching has been completed.
The design, which is worked in nine of the forty-six basic techniques, is provided already framed up, so the student may go straight to stitching.
A complete and comprehensive booklet is provided, which will enable the student to review what has been taught in class as well as to comfortably finish the piece at home
This course was created for the beginner. No prior experience in any form of stitching is required. Although this is a basic class, the finished piece is interesting enough to be attractive to those who have previously studied Japanese Embroidery, and all levels are welcome. The class is designed for the student who is interested in Japanese embroidery, but who wants a ‘taste’ before entering the traditional program. Students already in the traditional program may enroll and take this piece or bring the piece for the level on which they are working.
Additional supplies required. The cost of the kit is divided into two parts. The kit cost listed above is for the class kit. In addition, basic equipment is required, which you may purchase à la carte from Mary Alice. You do not have to buy items you already own and you can buy them elsewhere. The prices listed below are for purchases from Mary Alice.
● Japanese Frame (standard 29") $75.00
● Tekobari $25.00
● Awl $9.50
● Needle Set $33.00
● Koma (pair) $13.75
● Triangles $4.50
● Wheat Starch $2.00
● Finishing Paper $2.00