Newsletter March 2026

March meetings

Stitch Day there was the opportunity for some to take part in a ‘Marbling Workshop’ led by Yvonne. Lots of examples were glanced and our grateful thanks go to Yvonne who is repeating the workshop in July.

Our speaker in March was Heather Audin talking about ‘Treasures from the Quilt Collection’. This was a very informative and fascinating talk enjoyed by many. On 14^th March there was a day workshop led by Donna Cheshire entitled ‘Landscape in Fabric and Stitch’.  Many of you will remember that Donna gave a talk to the group recently and this was a chance to see how she applied some of the principles she had spoken about. The day was well attended and I am certain much enjoyed.

April meetings

Stitch Day is April 2^nd and meeting day is April 16th when the speaker is Alice Fox, a textile artist https://alicefox.co.uk/.

Forthcoming workshops

On 9^th May Tracy Franklin will be leading a workshop for us entitled ‘Embroidered Knots’. Those choosing to take part will be creating a sampler including French and Bullion Knots based on design elements such as colour, texture and line, and learning how these might be used in both traditional and contemporary style embroideries. At the time of writing this there is one spare place.

Pauline T. has kindly and generously offered to run two morning workshops on Thursdays 16^th April and 18^th May from 10.15 -12.15 to make more of these hearts Palm Hearts as illustrated. She can accommodate up to 10 members on each workshop. I do hope you will support these workshops. There will be a sign up sheet at meetings and Pauline will bring a pair of hearts for each participant ready for stuffing and decorating.

Visit Wednesday July 1^st.

There are a few places left for this visit to see and hear about the Stamford Bridge tapestry. There are 15 panels depicting the story of The Battle of Stamford Bridge which took place in 1066 when King Harald defeated the Viking Army. It was stitched by the local community between 2015 and 2021 under the direction of Shirley Smith, a professional textile artist and former Minster Broderer. On our way home we have arranged to call into Viking Loom a real shop crammed full of threads, wools, fabric, canvas, kits, charts, beautiful patchwork cottons, dressmaking fabrics and patterns!

Members’ Challenge Reminder.

The title of the 2026 Members’ Challenge is: “Inspired by Great Artists”.

The piece can be in any medium and must include stitching. Measurements to be no larger than A4 in any direction, whether 2 or 3 dimensional. Members’ Challenge pieces to be displayed at our July meeting. It would be helpful, not essential, to show an image of the inspiration alongside your piece.

Finally

This comes with all good wishes to you all and especially to those of you with health issues either personally or family ones. Happy Stitching,

Carolyn.

 Chair1rlcs@gmail.com  07454 536 072 https://richmondandleyburncreativestitchers.wordpress.com

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Newsletter February 2026

February meetings

We duly arrived for our normal stitch day on February 5^th but unfortunately the electricity failed. This was eventually rectified by Norther Power Grid several days later. Some of our members decamped to warm up with coffee at Tennants where they were offered a room at short notice which they accepted on our behalf. Many then joined them for a few hours in comfy chairs with good lighting and warm loos! It was very relaxing but unfortunately not cheap and it was explained that even if we wished to, we could not have a permanent booking as the rooms are used for View Days prior to Sales events. Our grateful thanks must go to those who saved Stitch Day though.

Our speaker on February 19^th was Tanya Bentham, making a return visit with a talk entitled ‘Colour in Medieval Embroidery’. As always this was both entertaining and very informative. It was interesting to both hear about the dyes used in medieval times and those Tanya uses herself today. As always Tanya brought a vast array of worked examples and kits to sell.

March meetings

Stitch Day is March 5^th when some have signed up to take part in a ‘Marbling Workshop’ led by Yvonne. Judging by the samples this promises to be a very interesting occasion. Yvonne has kindly offered to repeat the workshop in July for more members.

Our meeting day is March 19^th when Heather Audin is talking about ‘Treasures from the Quilt Collection’. Heather is a historian, costume & textiles enthusiast, author, and sometimes maker.

Forthcoming workshops

On 14^th March there is a day workshop led by Donna Cheshire entitled ‘Landscape in Fabric and Stitch’. This is an opportunity to create a landscape using fabric applique and hand stitch from your own source material- a photo or sketch of somewhere special to you. You will use this to make a line drawing to the size of your piece, around A4 size that will become the template for your work. The cost of the day is £28. There are a few places so please do ask if you are interested.

On 9^th May Tracy Franklin will be leading a workshop for us entitled ‘Embroidered Knots’. Those choosing to take part will be creating a sampler including French and Bullion Knots based on design elements such as colour, texture and line, and learning how these might be used in both traditional and contemporary style embroideries. Sign up sheets and requirement lists will be available at the March meetings.

Members’ Challenge.

The title of the 2026 Members’ Challenge is: “Inspired by Great Artists”.

The piece can be in any medium and must include stitching. Measurements to be no larger than A4 in any direction, whether 2 or 3 dimensional. Members’ Challenge pieces to be displayed at our July meeting. It would be helpful, not essential, to show an image of the inspiration alongside your piece.

Visit Wednesday July 1^st.

We have arranged a visit to see and hear about the Stamford Bridge tapestry. There are 15 panels depicting the story of The Battle of Stamford Bridge which took place in 1066 when King Harald defeated the Viking Army. It was stitched by the local community between 2015 and 2021 under the direction of Shirley Smith, a professional textile artist and former Minster Broderer. On our way home we have arranged to call into Viking Loom a real shop crammed full of threads, wools, fabric, canvas, kits, charts, beautiful patchwork cottons, dressmaking fabrics and patterns! Save the date!

Finally

This comes with all good wishes to you all and especially to those of you with health issues either personally or family ones. Happy Stitching,

Carolyn.

 Chair1rlcs@gmail.com  07454 536 072

https://richmondandleyburncreativestitchers.wordpress.com

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Newsletter January 2026

January meetings

The weather defeated us, so we cancelled Stitch Day. I do apologise but it was lovely to see so many at our meeting day on the 22^nd where many of us spent time exploring Counted Satin Stitch which is the stitch we have sponsored on the RSN Stitchbank.  A description can be found at https://rsnstitchbank.org/stitch/counted-satin-stitch

Andrea led us into the exploration of the stitch as used in Hardanger embroidery and many tried their hand at stitching kloster blocks and then the scary process of cutting and withdrawing threads. Please do bring in your finished  examples at the next meeting. The afternoon was spent on producing the ship pattern also often seen in Hardanger work. Grateful thanks to Andrea and to all the other members who supported people including but not limited to Ione and Ann E . Members also brought in a variety of complex stitched examples. Something to aspire to!

Travelling Books

There was an exchange of travelling books and the return of books following the ending of our exhibition at Tennants.

February meetings

Normal stitch Day on February 5^th and then our speaker on February 19^th will be Tanya Bentham, making a return visit with a talk entitled ‘Colour in Medieval Embroidery’

Forthcoming workshops

On 14^th March there is a day workshop led by Donna Cheshire entitled ‘Landscape in Fabric and Stitch’. This is an opportunity to create a landscape using fabric applique and hand stitch from your own source material- a photo or sketch of somewhere special to you. You will use this to make a line drawing to the size of your piece, around A4 size that will become the template for your work. The cost of the day is £28. The maximum number of students is 15 and you can sign up on February 5^th when you will be given a requirements list. There will be the opportunity to buy an optional pack from Donna on the day of the workshop.

Members’ Challenge.

The title of the 2026 Members’ Challenge is: “Inspired by Great Artists”.

 The piece can be in any medium and must include stitching. Measurements to be no larger than A4 in any direction, whether 2 or 3 dimensional.

This year marks the 250^th anniversary of the births of JMW Turner and John Constable in successive years. An exhibition of their paintings at Tate Britain demonstrates very contrasting styles. It is also the centenary of Claude Monet’s death in 1926. No need to feel restricted to artists having anniversaries, however.

Choose any work of art which you love or which will inspire you. Whether that is Jack Vettriano’s The Singing Butler, Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss, Edvard Munch’s Scream, Constable’s Haywain, Monet’s Japanese Bridge, JMW Turner’s The Fighting Temeraire, or one of Degas’s many ballerinas….

Please be inspired to be as creative as ever. Members’ Challenge pieces to be displayed at our July meeting. It would be helpful, not essential, to show an image of the inspiration alongside your piece.

Visits

Last year members enjoyed a visit to Durham Cathedral. If anyone has ideas of where we might go this year please do let me know as soon as possible.

Finally

This comes with all good wishes to you all and especially to those of you with health issues either personally or family ones. Happy Stitching,

Carolyn.

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October 2025 Newsletter

Firstly my apologies that this newsletter is late. Time ran away from me!

October meetings

We were treated to a fascinating talk by Pippa Foulds ‘Don’t Forget the Plain Ones’ on the meeting day. This was about Pippa’s research into large tie-on pockets worn by women in the 18th & 19th centuries. At a time when women had few if any rights over themselves or their property, these pockets gave them a place where they could ‘own’ and store their most personal possessions. Pippa explained that the majority of pockets, throughout this period, whether for aristocrats or fishwives, were made from plain or re-purposed linens or cottons, often with no embellishment other than maybe a laundry mark. In museum archives there are collections of embroidered pockets but few plain ones. Pippa explained that overlooking the ‘plain’ ones meant missing a rich source of contextual information about women’s lives in the past. Using museum examples and evidence from the criminal courts about the contents of the pockets she endeavoured to tell the stories of some of these women.

November meetings

Stitch day is November 6th and at the meeting day on November 20th we welcome Helen Poremba who is a textile artist, working from her home studio in the Northumbrian village of Felton. Her artwork is based mostly on botanical subjects and her designs are informed by the shapes, patterns and colours of flowers and foliage. She will be both demonstrating and talking so the format of the meeting will be slightly different. More details on the day.

Unfortunately Helen cancelled owing to adverse weather conditions

Travelling Books

We saw the first exchange of books at the October meeting and, as always, it was fascinating to see the range and variety.

Exhibition at Tennants Wednesday 19th November – Thursday 18th December

Reminder that these are the dates for our forthcoming exhibition at Tennants Garden Rooms of all the incredible f lower embroideries you have produced for RHS Harlow Carr. If you can spread the word, bring your friends and family and join in on one of the Open Stitch Days we hope you will. We will also provide flyers with details of our group. Reminder that the opening event is on the 19th November at 3pm where after light refreshments Sam Findlay the librarian at Harlow Carr will be giving a short presentation. Numbers that we can accommodate are limited so if you have not already signed up and wish to attend please do speak to me at the Stitch Day, November 6th . As you will be aware we would like to include in the exhibition a display of some of our travelling books. Obviously these cannot be the ones journeying this time! These books will be behind glass for the entire exhibition for visitors to look at. If we get a good response we may well rotate them and the pages they are open at. If you have not already passed to Jackie any travelling books you wish to be in the exhibition please do so at the Stitch Day. As mentioned before the books will be on display at your own risk. There is a rota as we would like to ensure that there are at least four members stitching and chatting on the two open stitch days at all times. Please encourage participation. On both days there will be stitching that visitors can participate in and kits to take away if they wish to make their own decoration. Some of the sample pears and birds for the Open Stitch days have already been taken by members willing to start stitching but there are more available for preparatory work. We hope you will help.

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn.

Chair1rlcs@gmail.com 07454 536 072             https://richmondandleyburncreativestitchers.wordpress.com

September 2025

The chill of Autumn seems to be approaching fast but at last we have had some much needed rain and plenty to occupy us all.
September meetings
Helen Barnes with her talk ‘Vietnamese Textiles’ at the September meeting was interesting and inspiring. I know I learnt a lot and Helen had obviously researched thoroughly.
Thursday 25th September Visit to Durham Cathedral It was a joy and a privilege to visit the Cathedral and our heartfelt thanks must go to the three members who are Broderers, Ann, Ione and Melita. I certainly learnt a lot and I know from feedback that many of you did too. It was inspiring to see so many pieces of detailed embroidery in such close detail. They were truly beautiful.
October meetings
Stitch day is October 2nd and at the meeting day on October 16th we welcome Pippa Foulds with her talk entitled
‘Don’t forget the Plain Ones’.
Workshop Saturday October 11th
We are sorry that this workshop has been cancelled but hopefully we have learnt from the experience and we look
forward to better things as we move on.
Travelling Books
There are five groups going forward (including a ‘Chinese Whispers’ group) with the first exchange taking place at the October Meeting Day: October 16th. Our thanks to Elaine D and Jackie B for organising this and to Alison F. for her detailed explanations for the ‘Chinese Whispers’ group.
Exhibition at Tennants Wednesday 19th November – Thursday 18th December
Reminder that these are the dates for our forthcoming exhibition at Tennants Garden Rooms of all the incredible flower embroideries you have produced for RHS Harlow Carr.
We will be holding an opening event on the 19th November and we will be asking you to sign up if you wish to attend. The event is scheduled from 3pm and after light refreshments Sam Findlay the librarian at Harlow Carr will be giving a short presentation. Numbers that we can accommodate are limited so please do sign up on October 16th. We would like to include in the exhibition a display of some of our travelling books. Obviously these cannot be the ones journeying this time! These books will be behind glass for the entire exhibition for visitors to look at. If we get a good response we may well rotate them and the pages they are open at.
On the two stitch days in the upper gallery on Monday 24th November and Tuesday 9th December (10am-3pm) we would like some travelling books on a table and these may be handled. This will allow visitors to ‘follow a journey’. Would you please let Jackie know if you are willing to lend your travelling book and then we will collect them at the meeting on 16th October. The books will be on display at your own risk. We would like to set up a rota to ensure that there are at least four members stitching and chatting on the two stitch days at all times. We will provide flyers with details of our group. Please encourage participation. On both days there will be stitching that visitors can participate in and kits to take away if they wish to make their own decoration.
Some of the sample pears and birds for the Open Stitch days will be ready for preparatory work on October 16th. We hope you will help.
Happy Stitching,
Carolyn.
Chair1rlcs@gmail.com 07454 536 072
https://richmondandleyburncreativestitchers.wordpress.com

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August 2025

Another busy but hopefully enjoyable month with lots of time for stitching. No doubt many of you were on holiday or visiting or entertaining friends and family so we were pleased to see so many of you at the meetings.

At our meeting day we displayed the items you had stitched for the member’s challenge. The variety and imagination was impressive from embroidered handkerchiefs to needlecases and stitched models of Jane Austen herself. I hope you all enjoyed seeing the exhibits as much as I did. Our thanks must go to Carol Waterhouse for all her organisation, information and encouragement.

We also heard how the ‘Chinese Whispers’ group had produced their pieces and I am glad to say that by the end of the afternoon another such group had been formed for the forthcoming journey.  

We also took the opportunity to examine the pieces stitched for the recent Travelling Books journey (aside from the Chinese Whispers group). So much inspirational stitching which was a delight to take the time to examine.

Many members brought in pieces from workshops both internally and externally tutored over the past 12 months. So much variety and hopefully you all enjoyed the time to admire and be inspired. Thank you all for your contributions.

Now is the time to stitch your piece for the new Travelling Books journey. It should be in your book and ready to swap at the October Meeting Day: October 16^th.

September meetings

Stitch day is on September 4^th  and the meeting day is on September18th when the speaker will be Helen Barnes with her talk ‘Vietnamese Textiles’

Thursday 25^th September Visit to Durham Cathedral There is one space on this visit as someone is no longer able to join the group. Please do get in touch if you would like to join us.

Workshop Saturday October 11^th

Further details will be available at Stitch Day on September 4^th.

Exhibition at Tennants Wednesday 19^th November – Thursday 18^th December

 Reminder that these are the dates for our forthcoming exhibition at Tennants Garden Rooms of all the incredible flower embroideries you have produced for RHS Harlow Carr. We will be holding an opening event on the 19^th November and two stitch days in the upper gallery on Monday 24^th November and Tuesday 9^th December. Please do save the dates.

And finally: My good wishes to all of you and please do offer your suggestions as to how the group may continue to flourish.

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn.

 Chair1rlcs@gmail.com  07454 536 072 https://richmondandleyburncreativestitchers.wordpress.com