Good for the Goose by Betsy Morgan

The world is full of inspiration when it comes to needlework designs and it is always a delight to come across a project that uses something a little different and perhaps unexpected as its muse. Good for the Goose is the first project from Betsy Morgan’s new book, Willing Hands 2, that we are highlighting, and it has drawn on something quite unique as its inspiration.

When Betsy lived on a farm, one of her neighbours had a large pond that would attract all kinds of migrating birds. One of the most striking breeds she saw was the Canada Goose, a beautiful bird of bold colours and impressive size. This majestic bird, originally a native of the Arctic and North America, has now been introduced to other parts of the world. Nevertheless, it is still predominantly migratory, flying south every year in the hunt for a warmer climate.

Betsy has used the colouration of the Canada Goose as the basis for this fascinating box.

The choice of natural linen matches the colour of the feathers, and the range of threads she has selected all complement the colours of the birds as well as the autumn hues.

The unusual triangular shape of the box is then mirrored in many of her stitches, with three-sided stitch being employed around the edge of each panel and various triangular stitches making up the majority of the pattern. This choice is not random. Betsy remembered a quilt pattern known as ‘Geese in Flight’ that consisted of triangles stacked on top of one other and felt it was a perfect choice for the design of this particular project.

The three main panels feature an image of a goose, each in a different but highly characteristic pose – one flying, one standing watching over its clutch of eggs, and one, beak down, carefully tending to an egg.

Despite the small size of the design and the box, the detail in these images is meticulous and represents this magnificent bird to perfection.

As with all of Betsy’s projects, there is as much pleasure in the intricate construction of this box as there is in the stitching of the panels. We can’t think of another designer who takes such care and uses such creativity in their construction.

When complete, ‘Good for the Goose’ could be used to store threads or bobbins, crochet hooks or scissors, or it could just sit in pride of place on a table or mantlepiece, a work of art to be enjoyed in its own right.

No matter how many of Betsy’s projects you’ve done, you’ll always find something delightful and new in each and every one. Whether you fall in love with the colours, the triangular shape, the delightful geese appearing on this box, or the fact it features on the front cover of Betsy’s new book, our guess is you won’t require much convincing to add this project to your stitching list.

Make Your Own | Good for the Goose

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Good for the Goose by Betsy Morgan from the book Willing Hands 2 is a sturdy, three-sided box inspired by migrating Canada geese.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Good for the Goose includes everything* you need to re-create this delightful box: Fabrics (unprinted), interfacing, interlining, beading thread, embroidery threads, beads 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.