Beginner's Crewel at the EGV

Once you know about the Embroiderer's Guild of Victoria (EGV) website then it is a simple matter of looking at the Education section to find out what classes are coming up. When you join the EGV then the monthly magazine, Threadlines, is also an excellent way to keep up to date.

This is how the Beginner's Crewel class was described:

'The aim of this class is to teach basic stitches for crewel embroidery,
show you how to frame up and block your work, and finally how
to lace your work in preparation for framing. This class is for both
 beginners and those who wish to refresh their skills.'

The class was to run  over two days with a two week gap in between. We were to get together from 10am until 3pm at Embroidery House and would be having a break for lunch.

This is the Beginner's Class design.

It couldn't have been more perfect for me. And actually lots of others thought so too with the first class booked out and a second having to be scheduled. 

So what did I need to do a Beginner's Class in Crewel?

Once enrolled the Class Requirements List arrived in plenty of time to gather up what was needed. Some things were new and surprising to me.

I needed:

• Embroidery frame
• Crewel needles size 3 & 4
• Large darning needle
• Fine marking pen, water erasable
• Tracing paper
• Pencil 0.5mm HB
• Sharp scissors
• Quickgrip Clamp
• Lacing thread 
• Fabric - natural coloured linen or cotton twill
• Appletons Crewel wool

I went out again to 'purchase with purpose' my Appleton's Crewel threads, 5 shades of a pink and and 4 shades of a green. My favourite kind of embroidery thread shopping.

I will always remember with delight doing this shopping at The Needlepoint in East Malvern, which sadly is no longer open. Thank you to Noelene who was always so very helpful.

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.