Karen Ruane

embroidery and crochet

Crochet? It's ok you haven't come to the wrong blog.

If you missed the news.......I am expecting two grandchildren in the new year.

(I have to keep repeating that to myself, I still can't quite believe it. Needless to say we are completely over the moon.)

What you see here is a baby blanket in progress, pattern and colours chosen by mummy number one.

I have to tell you, this one is quite an undertaking. 157 chain foundation row and around 200 rows of crochet. If I go missing you know why.

I do have plans for tiny knitted matinee coats, let's hope this mammoth blanket doesn't prevent those happening!

I best get a move on.

 

The embroidery? More pages and a front cover for my next little stitch sample book.

I am trying to rotate my work, one day crochet, the next day embroidery.

So far it's working.

(If you are registered for October 2021 Sewing Circle you should have received an email from me this morning. Please let me know if you didn't!)

plans

A post about my next class, 'October 2021 Sewing Circle'.

A gathering of like minded people who share a love of cloth, embroidery, thread and the opportunity to let their imaginations wander whilst passing needle and thread through cloth, paper and lace.

Thank you to those of you who have signed up already, I appreciate your support for this tiny business more than I can say.

Today it is a closer look at my plans.

It can be difficult to assess the needs of those who wish to learn embroidery or those who wish to extend their embroidery skills and there are people who just want to be creative in any form yet may also wish to fulfill that need within the setting of a group, a supportive and encouraging environment.

I can one hundred percent guarantee the presence of support and encouragement in this class.

From the very beginning of my 'online teaching' life the willingness of these groups to embrace the chance for friendship and sharing has completely blown me away.

The introduction of 'Zoom' sessions in my last class confirmed for me the special nature of these groups.

Although not compulsory, (nothing is ever compulsory in my classes), the Zoom sessions were popular and something the group came to look forward to.

Going back to what I said about it being difficult to assess the needs of those who may join my classes. Some classes are focused on set outcomes, artist books for example. Other classes are more open, free, fly on the wall experiences where anything can happen.

October 2021 sewing circle is a mixture of specifics. By that I mean there will be set outcomes from this class, a timetable for the creation of specific creative pieces.

In two weekly blocks I will cover four separate creative outcomes.

(Two weeks is the timescale for me to deliver the instructional videos. You will have access to those videos forever, you will not have a two week deadline. The deadlines are mine alone.)

The following images are an indication of predicted outcomes for this eight week course.

The pieces I create will not be identical to these pieces however the overall aesthetic will be the same.

And remember, you are not compelled to create the pieces I produce. Individual Zoom support is provided within the class timetable for advice and appraisal of any creative works of your choosing. If you do not wish to participate via Zoom then feedback is always available via email and our private online image sharing forum.

Our first two weeks will be all about buttons. Learn to hand embroider your own fastenings and adornments.

Button creation will be followed by lace, frothy, delicate lace.

Weeks five and six are when I will demonstrate several ideas for artist books.

We will finish with ideas for completing your hand embroidered works, pieces that can also be used to adorn pages in your artist books, those final, finishing touches such as hand worked ribbons and bindings, puffs, toggles and decorative edges.

Registration is open here.

 

 

gingham and baby shopping

Yes, it's still all about the gingham. I've picked up where I left off when I went to London.

I had a completely different London experience this time, baby shopping as opposed to fabric, lace, ribbon, paper and bead shopping.

I also bought things that are sure to distract me over the coming weeks, this being one of them.

At the moment I am crocheting a blanket from that book. I may post progress of that on here at some point.

But, embroidery...gingham.

There are two new pages here for my next stitch sample book and the piece with the buttons is from sewing circle. It's my nod to my nanna's button tin and will form the lining of a pocket. You can see that in the last image here.

two finished and the start of the third.

The second embroidered stitch book I showed you yesterday is finished now, that makes two fully embellished little cloth books with the third in progress.

I have embroidered another little book over the past couple of months but haven't used gingham in that one, that's why it isn't shown here.

For the next book I am going to use the bolder Liberty print which I have used for the applique here.

The gingham is a smaller print too and it will be interesting to see how both those patterns live together.

I am going to London tomorrow for a few days.

Registration for my new class will remain open whilst I am away.

I'll see you on the other side. Stay safe x

web stitch....gingham, Liberty, hand embroidery

 

Gingham has featured a lot on here lately. That's because I have been making a table covering in 'sewing circle' inspired by memories of my nanna's. Those memories include gingham.

What particularly appeals to me in this work is how 'web stitch' appears to be perfect as a filling for those little squares.

(I'm hoping you notice the little isolated squares of web stitch dotted across the open gingham areas.)

The pieces here are 'ingredients' for my next cloth, stitch sample book.

I have one more page to embellish then I can start to put all this together.

Please take a look at my new class which begins in a few weeks.

This one is project specific which may appeal to some but as always in my classes you are free to work on any embroidery project, the guidance and support I provide remains the same whatever you decide to create!

as requested

During a Zoom chat with my class group yesterday evening I was asked if I could show this work again.

Happy to oblige!

the other edge

This is the opposite edge of the cloth you saw here earlier this week.

I have used the hand embroidered ribbon from this post to cover seams and there are more embroidered gingham applique circles too.

Also here are the newest pages for my next little cloth sample book.

This little book will be pieced together in a similar manner to this one.

I'm almost there......

Registrations for my new class are going well, thank you.

You can read more about that here.

making progress

Gingham remains the dominant cloth here.

This table cover is my main focus at the moment.

If you remember, the embroidered gingham is being appliqued to a cut up and pieced vintage table cover.

In these images three pieces of embroidered gingham are completely finished, attached to the surface and edged with bullion and French knots.

One piece is partially edged and the final one is just pinned. I'm hoping to finish the last two this evening.

buttons, lace cloth, artist books and adornments

Whilst I have been absent (mostly) from this space I have been busy with 'sewing circle', arranging and participating in live chat, demonstrating embroidery process and hosting 'fly on the wall' videos.

I normally list new classes just as other classes are coming to a close. This isn't unusual, a lot of embroidery teachers list classes, fill their calendars twelve months in advance but this time I wavered. I wondered about perhaps not doing any more classes.

I then started to think 'but what are you going to do Karen?' and anyway, 'why are you even thinking that?'

What I do think though is 'fly on the wall' is perhaps too non specific.

So today I am launching a 'process specific' eight week class beginning in six weeks.

Over the course of eight weeks four specific uses for embroidery will be demonstrated with two weeks allocated to each.

Built into this programme will be the availability of private one on one, face to face mentoring (just you and me!) along with group 'get togethers'.

I realise a 'Zoom' aspect will be off putting for some but remember, this feature of the programme is not compulsory.

Sharing and discussion options will still be available to the whole group via the forum of a Private Flickr group.

I hope this new format appeals to you.

All the information is below.

October 2021 Sewing Circle.

Begins October 18 for 8 weeks.
Suitable for the beginner and the more experienced embroiderer.

This eight week class will focus on creative embroidery with a process specific timetable which is listed below.

Built into this programme is time for one to one appraisal and feedback of your works in progress via Zoom, private sessions where we can discuss your plans and your work in progress.
There will also be an opportunity for group 'get togethers', again via Zoom.
Individual Zoom appraisals of 20 minutes duration will be available twice during our eight weeks as will group 'get togethers' of one hour duration. These sessions will be timetabled once class begins and I can ascertain the needs of the group and you as individuals.

Participation in the Zoom aspect of this programme is entirely voluntary. You are under no obligation to participate in this aspect of class if you choose not to do so.
Image sharing and group discussion opportunities will also be available in a private online forum.

The timetable below illustrates my plans week on week.

You are under no obligation to work on the same pieces as me. If there is a particular creative, embroidered project you would like to bring to class that is more than acceptable. I am happy to appraise and guide you with any project of your choosing.

WEEK ONE. Embroidered buttons.

WEEK TWO. Embroidered buttons.

WEEK THREE. Lace cloth.

WEEK FOUR. Lace cloth.

WEEK FIVE. Hand Embellished artist book.

WEEK SIX. Hand embellished artist book.

WEEK SEVEN. Decorative embroidered embellishments. Bindings, trims etc.

WEEK EIGHT. Decorative embroidered embellishments. Bindings, trims etc.

Please allow 24 hours from registration to receipt of a welcome mail.

If you are unfamiliar with 'Zoom' a video will be provided regarding its use prior to the start of class.

Access to all video resources is permanent.

Registrations are non refundable unless I have to cancel the course for any reason in which case monies will be refunded in full.

 

Register here.

applique and hand embroidered ribbon

Last time I was here I spoke about how I couldn't share any work from class.

Today I can give you a glimpse........

This piece will be a table cover, inspired by memories of my nanna Sally and my nanna Beryl.

A table cover created using a vintage table cover as a base, a cut up and re pieced vintage table cover.

The large applique circles are embroidered prior to being attached here and I have a stack more waiting to be finished.

(the lemon applique is for a cloth book but lives well here I think)

The long strip? hand embroidered gingham ribbon for finishing touches.

I can't even calculate the time it takes to embroider this ribbon, I can only say it is a labour of love.