What Are You Stitching?

In our Welcome this week we asked the question, ‘when did you last hold a needle and thread in your hand?’ Within the Inspirations community we celebrate many different stitching styles and approaches, but whether you’re an ‘everyday stitcher’, or an ‘I’ll get to it one day’ stitcher, Inspirations is so grateful to be on the journey with you.

This week’s What Are You Stitching? features a few stories that showcase just how varied our paths can be…

Kate Petty

‘Thought I’d share from the UK a piece I made using a Bothy Threads cross stitch kit that I started in 2020 and finished in 2021 (it took longer than I thought!). It kept me busy during the lockdowns and distracted from the news somewhat.’

‘I have ME so my energy, on good days, is about used up after our main meal is done at lunchtime so I always look forward to feet up and sewing afternoons and evenings. On bad days I don’t have enough energy to sew but can sometimes manage a bit of easy knitting.

Stitching keeps me sane when I can do little else and seeing all the amazing work in All stitched Up! is always inspiring.

I entered the piece above into our village Parish Show and got a first prize, which was very gratifying.

These were my other entries that year.’

‘I got a 2nd prize for the fish and 3rd for the button trees (very therapeutic sorting through my mother’s old buttons, a great low energy project!) the cushion (upside down in the photo I think!) had too much competition!

I also joined the Facebook craft group set up for the Australian animals devastated by the wildfires a few years back and made a few Joey pouches.’

‘Thanks for the lovely community I now feel a part of across the miles.’

What an amazing achievement Kate, and well deserving of 1st prize! All your projects are lovely and have been stitched beautifully. We love the button trees, what a great way to reduce, reuse and recycle. Thank you for your kind words, we are touched to hear how much Inspirations means to you.

Sharon Gray

‘Here is one of my threadpainted pieces.’

‘The maple leaf is a design by Tanja Berlin and is worked mostly using DMC cotton thread, one strand. Although I did forget to put in the veins and I’m sure I will hear from Tanja about this! The maple leaf is an iconic symbol in Canada, it’s on our flag and pretty much everywhere here.’

What a striking finish, Sharon, even without the veins (we won’t tell Tanja if you don’t!). You’ve captured the intricacies of the maple leaf with needle and thread beautifully.

Mrunalini Nimbalkar

‘I am super pleased to share the ‘Spectra Blast’, which first appeared in All Stitched Up! issue #298 as part of World Embroidery Day celebrations, has finally been mounted and framed!’

‘I feel proud and happy about my achievement and it’s not complete without sharing it with you guys.’

You should be very proud, Mrunalini. The white frame and mount you’ve chosen does a superb job of drawing your attention directly into the eye of the ‘Spectra Blast’ and creates a lovely harmonious balance. We have no doubt that wherever you chose to display this vivacious project in your home, it will become a talking point for all who visit.

Do you have easy projects to interchange with harder projects? Have you entered your pieces into any competitions? Or have you recently framed and mounted a finished piece?

Whatever you are stitching, we’d love to see it! Email photos of what you’ve created with needle and thread along with a few details about your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com