Etuis by Betsy Morgan

For years, Betsy Morgan has delighted the stitching world with her exquisite, hand-stitched etuis and needlework accessories. We’ve featured them in Inspirations magazine on numerous occasions, and we’ve even published two books packed full of these unique and gorgeous projects.

The most recent, Willing Hands 2, has ten stunning projects all bursting with surprises, with the most incredible details in every carefully constructed piece.

Bee Contained Etui is a clever, hexagonal shaped box adorned with everything bee themed.

Worked in a limited palette of black and honey-gold, each panel is filled with gaily buzzing bees and beehives created using a range of counted stitches.

Inside the box is a hand-made ruler, scissor fob, hexagonal needlebook, thread winder and a tiny, beehive shaped pincushion all continuing on with the apian theme.

Betsy has chosen a pale golden linen that is set off by the black silk dupion interior of the box to create a really striking set that will delight all stitchers, whether you’re a bee lover or not. She has even taken the time to find bee-themed charms and buttons to add the perfect finishing touches.

Gathering for Winter Etui is yet another of Betsy’s intricately clever designs. For this etui, she has chosen to construct a cylindrical box and has chosen acorns as the main motif.

The colour palette is filled with greens, browns and golds and she has come up with as many different acorn shapes and styles as she could possibly think up, all worked in a range of counted stitches.

As before, the box itself is just the beginning. This project also contains a cute little pincushion with a spiral top designed to mimic the spiral pattern found on an acorn cap. It also has a tiny needlebook, a scissor fob and an acorn-shaped scissor sheath to complete the set.

Betsy has chosen to attach a hand-turned wooden acorn charm to the end of the closure cord on the etui, however she invites you to use any sort of charm or button you wish. You may have something else to hand that fits with the theme and will make this project uniquely yours.

We know that many of you were sad when you learned that Betsy had announced her retirement. We were too! However, it seems that there are still new designs in Betsy’s talented and ever-busy mind. It’s no wonder – how could someone as innovative as Betsy ever truly stop? So, you’ll be thrilled to learn that we’ve heard a rumour.

There are whisperings that, although she’s retired from teaching, Betsy still wants to answer the call of her creativity.

That means, we may still get the pleasure of new Betsy Morgan designs in the future!

In the meantime, it is very easy to fall in love with both of these etuis, not to mention all of the others that appear in the book.

While the creative process is happening, you’ve got plenty of wonderful projects to keep you busy. Whether you choose Bee Contained or Gathering for Winter, you’re sure to love every single moment of the process of making these stunning etuis.

Make Your Own | Bee Contained Etui

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Bee Contained Etui by Betsy Morgan is a hexagon box etui celebrating bees with motifs and form.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Bee Contained Etui includes everything* you need to re-create this gorgeous hexagon etui: Fabric (unprinted), interfacing, comic board, wool felt, button, charms, beading thread, embroidery threads, ribbon and needles.

Make Your Own |Gathering for Winter Etui

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Gathering for Winter Etui by Betsy Morgan is a cylinder box etui showcasing a busy squirrel’s acorn collection.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Gathering for Winter Etui includes everything* you need to re-create this whimsical cylinder box etui: Fabric (unprinted), interfacings, interlining, wadding, wool felts, Mylar®, button, wooden acorn, charm, beading thread, embroidery threads, bead, ribbon and needles.

*Please Note: To cater for flexibility of purchase, instructions are not included with our kits. For step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to the book.