Design No. 1 Started

So what would be the right size project to get started on?

Having borrowed Crewel Embroidery - A Practical Guide from the *EGV Library and having the author available for extra help it seemed silly not to go to the first project in the book called quite simply 'Design No.1".

*EGV = Embroiderers Guild of Victoria : http://www.embroiderersguildvic.org/

There are very clear instructions on the requirements you need for the project and I was very keen to get going. I used:

• a piece of tightly woven linen fabric
• size 3 & 4 Crewel needles
• Appletons Crewel wool in 3 shades of the one colour
• a wooden hoop with the inner ring bound
• Embroidery scissors
• tracing paper
• a transfer pen, water eraseable

I don't know about you but I love nothing more than wandering into an Embroidery Supply Shop and looking at all the glorious threads. Inevitably I buy something because I can't resist and my stash gets bigger with all the best of intentions. 

To purchase threads with purpose is an even better experience especially when they are the last remaining requirement needed to get a new project started. 

As you can imagine there was no waiting around until next months Guidance Group now. Once the the design was traced and transferred I was on my way following the instructions carefully.

This picture is about the half-way point in Design No. 1 - next I needed to tackle Long and Short Stitch. And being the Harry Potter fan that I am, it seemed to me that when you mention 'Long and Short Stitch' you might as well be saying 'Voldemort' at the top of your voice, such is the reaction of many an experienced stitcher!

Very important Crewel Embroidery rules I had learned at this stage:

• Always stitch the furthest away element first and then work your way forward
• Woollen thread should be cut into lengths of no more than 18 inches
• Use a size 3 needle for two threads and a size 4 for one thread
• You need a sharp pair of Embroidery scissors

If you would like to know more about Crewel Embroidery - A Practical Guide it has been reviewed by Mary Corbet on Needle 'n' Thread.

What is a 'Doodle Cloth'?

I went to my first Guidance Group Meeting at the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria in February 2011. Known as 'Shelagh Amor's Group', some 20 or more delightful ladies turn up on the third Wednesday of each month to 'chat & stitch'. I have to admit some months are more 'chat' than 'stitch'!

This Guidance Group has been running for over forty years and has seen many members come and go. The one constant of course, has been Shelagh.

"I joined the Embroiderers Guild in 1968 after seeing an exhibition of members’ work. I was inspired by everything I saw at that exhibition. The work of some of the early members such as Phyllis Strangward, Ethel Oates, Lesley Uren, Edna Wark and Merle Whittle was magnificent. From then on, a needle was never far from my hand. The Embroiderers Guild, Victoria has been a means of learning many embroidery techniques but above all it has lead to many firm friendships." Shelagh Amor http://www.embroiderersguildvic.org/

As we settled in on that first evening Shelagh asked me what I planned to do and out came a tumble of words about the Majestie piece I had started. After listening patiently Shelagh just asked "Do you have a doodle cloth?". Well that stopped me in my tracks, "A what?" was my reply.

Before you know it, I had a piece of inexpensive calico sitting in a 6" inch wooden hoop as tight as a drum. A simple curved line was drawn and on it Stem Stitch was started. The hoop was handed back to me with the needle ready to do the next stitch. My turn to try out Stem Stitch on my 'doodle cloth'. It actually takes no more than that to start Crewel Embroidery.

I have retired that doodle cloth now as it is pretty much full but I have just prepared another for a friend about to try out some Trellis work. So a number of things became apparent to me that night:

• that I wanted to be able to stitch Crewel Embroidery like Shelagh Amor
• I should start with something simpler than Majestie as my first piece
• and never be without a doodle cloth!

Footstool designed and stitched by Shelagh Amor

Inspired, encouraged and taught by one very fabulous lady, thank you Shelagh.

In the Meantime

During the same holiday break I also decided to find out more about Embroidery in my home town. While I knew of a number of retail shops I didn't know much more. You can imagine how delighted I was to find out about the Embroiderer's Guild of Victoria (EGV). Thank you Google!

I joined the EGV in January 2011. 

While the EGV has turned out to be more inspirational than I could ever have imagined the first five things that I benefited from were:

1. Guidance Groups
   There were so many Guidance Groups to choose from but one selected me - Shelagh Amor's Group who meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month in the evening. Why was this so perfect? As I am a full time worker the evening timeslot was great but even better was meeting Shelagh Amor, author of Crewel Embroidery - A Practical Guide.



2. New Members Group
   On the second Saturday of the month for all of 2011, I visited Embroidery House and learned all about the EGV and how it operated. In addition, each month a guest speaker would introduce an Embroidery technique to new members. I saw so many new things to try.
3. Classes
   Scheduled for March 2011, I enrolled in my first Class, Beginner's Crewel (over 2 separate days). I also had my eye on the Intermediate Crewel Class that was to start in July 2011 which would be scheduled over 3 months.
4. Library
   Books, books and more books on Embroidery. I could borrow four at a time for a month as a member. So I did, every month until I had read all the books on the Crewel shelf. 
5. Threadlines Magazine
   At the start of each month, the EGV's Threadlines magazine arrives in my mailbox. It is full of updates and information and most importantly the upcoming Class schedule.

I felt like I had hit the Embroidery jackpot and the truth is I had.

Setting up Majestie

I was lucky to find a small piece of linen twill to use for the Majestie design. 

Having come from a counted thread background I really knew little of the various ways you can transfer a design. So out came my trusty HB lead pencil and I made sure that design was visible on the fabric while using Nature's light box, bright sunlight through the window.

And while the piece of linen twill was large enough for the design it wasn't for use in a hoop or any frame I had so I machine stitched on some extra calico fabric all around.

I consulted with some friends online and learned that:

• I was going to have to cover all of those HB lead pencil lines as they would not be removable. I know that sounds so obvious but it really did impact the way I had to stitch.
• It was not necessary to be so heavy handed. I have since started using a variety of transfer pens but if I am going to use a pencil I now use a Papermate Non-Stop Pencil when I need to draw a line I know will be covered. Much easier to control and with a nice fine tip.

• my KlipFast frame set up, so useful for cross stitch would not be suitable for Crewel. The fabric needs to be drum tight, not sitting politely waiting for threads to be counted and the tension reliant on the experience of the stitcher.

The Majestie was transferred onto a tapestry frame with the sides laced for all around tension.  

The instructions required the raised stem stitch stem be completed first. I used a 3-ply Caron Watercolour prima cotton thread and separated it into a single strand. It worked a treat.

At least I had now started, even if I was not using wool.

One thing I learnt was that Crewel refers to the use of 2 ply worsted wool  as was used historically on linen fabric reaching as far back as the Bayeux Tapestry, thought to have been stitched nearly a 1,000 years ago. 

In modern days though, Crewel is a term used much more flexibly and is often used in association with Jacobean design rather than the strict use of woollen thread.

I thoroughly enjoy looking at:

• Renaissance Dyeing
• Appleton Threads Colour Charts (via The Embroidery Den)
• Needle'n'Thread Crewel Wool Comparison
• Bayeux Tapestry

Taking that first step

The first embroidery technique I decided to get 'serious' with was Crewel. I am and will always be entranced by the world of Jacobean design and William Morris even if I didn't really know what that meant back in 2011. 

While on a holiday break I took the opportunity to get started.

I bought this book....

I selected this design....

It is called Majestie and was designed by Avril Ambrose-De Havilland. I chose it because I really liked the colours. 

I was really excited to commence stitching but soon discovered that it takes preparation to get a new embroidery project underway. For me starting something new can be so much fun - the adventure of working out what you need and in some instances having to try quite hard to get just what you want.

So in trying to get this project started what did I find out?

• that finding exactly the threads used in the design are not always easy to source but you can always substitute something else
• that linen twill, the fabric historically associated with Crewel, is relatively expensive but you can find what you want if you keep looking
• and finally that having someone to help you get started when you don't really understand what the instructions are telling you is priceless. This can be online or with friends or in a classroom.

In the end to get the supplies I needed I had visited or spoken with:

• Ocean Grove Sewing Centre
• Bustle and Bows
• The Embroidery Den

and to get the encouragement I needed I joined

• Stitchaholics (invitation only)
• Stitchin' Fingers

I was ready to get going.