June 2020

Our group met via Zoom again this month because of low numbers and the COVID virus . Our normal meeting space was open with restrictions, though quite a few of us had other plans for the day, and with only four of us attending, we made the call to continue with Zoom. We held two Zoom meetings with a small break between, which let us do show and tell really well.

Jenny had finished her pulled back stitch eyelet exercise from February and turned it into a needle case. The spaces between the eyelets had been filled with a variegated thread using an uneven 4 sided stitch. Cassalguidi inspired work was stitched over the background formed by the eyelets to add more interest, and a four sided pulled work hem with added tassel finished it off.

Jo was having a love affair with French knots. They are being stitched  with DMC Etoile and a rayon variegated thread. 

Susan had in worked a butterfly in a 10cm hoop. It has all been worked in DMC stranded cotton from her collection.  The butterfly in satin stitch, the background in long and short stitch, outlines in whipped back stitch. The words are:  joie de vivre, joie de faire - joy of living, joy of making.  It was made for her friend's 70th birthday, and she is a maker of all sorts of things, so she appreciated the gift.

Suganthi's work in progress - What she thinks of housework! Inspired by the Laterals Yellow Envelope Challenge - use a tangram; and Anne Kelly's six-week challenge for Textile artist.org.,  use found material in your home during this time of COVID-19 to create some folk art.

Suganthi used  used old tea towels. The family has hidden the rest of the tea towels!

Annette had found, in a cupboard, an almost complete  flap for a bag started with Jennifer Kime in 2008. Everything needed was in the bag ready to start.  It was a joy to find it and Annette  will now complete it.

Jenny had called her blanket finished after seven years. There was enough yarn to add a border, then a second border of more granny squares, then a third border similar to the first. The blanket is big enough to sit on top of a queen sized bed.  Yarn is still left over, and Jenny is yet to decide what to do with it.

Sheila is currently stitching a continuing work based on covid19 graphs published daily in the newspaper.  She is marking each death from the virus with a french knot. The individual blocks are stitched into weeks then joined to the preceding weeks. The work is growing longer and the plan is to continue while the graphs are in the paper.

Sheila is also participating in the annual Index Card A Day, ICAD, for her daily practice over the next 2 months. She is exploring simple mark making using markers and watercolour. Her cards can be found at : @thingstitcher.  The work of other participants can be found at: @dyicad.

Annette had  knitted a cardigan  for herself using Bendigo Classic 8ply wool.  Early in the COVID 19 isolation she decided to not go out to shops to find buttons but make 9 Dorset buttons. The  rings were found in her stash along with  a thread that would match. Finally buttons are ready to stitch on and the cardigan can be worn.

Annette also found in boxes and cupboards many framed pieces. The photo shows the majority on the wall in her work room. Some date from the early 1990s, and it is lovely to see them out on show.

Rhonda had made a three quarter length coat with  fabric from her Mother's stash. It is unclear how old the fabric is. The beautiful antique buttons and lining is also from the last century.

The Covid crisis is still on-going, though restrictions are slowly being lifted. Next month we may be back in our normal meeting space. Until then, creativity is going strong at home.