Meeting the Easter Rabbit

How exciting!

Normally I teach these workshops when we are all sitting together in the fabulous workshop at Cowslip and I chat about the materials and accessories I use. It is a little harder this way, but I will do my best to be as clear as possible. The huge advantage we have on a zoom workshop is that your fabric stash is to hand, and you don't need to lug bags and bags of fabrics!

If you would like to purchase anything it would be brilliant if you would consider supporting a small independent business and everything is available from Jo at Cowslip Workshops, 01566 772654, as I have been teaching for Jo for so many years, she is great and buys in and makes sure there is stock of the things I love to use.

My fabric choice is essentially muted, and I love greys, linens, stripes and for this workshop Jo has put together a wonderful small kit of happy Spring fabrics which I will use to demonstrate with in the workshop.

I stitch using Metler thread in Black or Steel Grey as I like the finished piece to look a bit like a scribbled pen drawing and I really love the quality of this thread. I use the 60-weight silk/cotton thread in Black as it is quite fine which helps as I go over the stitching lines a few times. I use the large reels as I go through so much and quite a lot also ends up on the cat!!!!

Sewing machine needles I use an 80 sometimes a 70 when the figures are very small.

The best item in my sewing box though for this work are my scissors. I use the small red handled curved and very pointed Karen Kay Buckley scissors which are extraordinary, and I wouldn't use any others now. The blade angle is very steep, so it gets right up close to the stitching line and the blades are serrated so they act as mini pinking shears. They are amazing. They come from the US, but Jo has plenty in stock.

These are all suggestions and you absolutely can use your own threads and bits and bobs; I do get asked a lot about the things I use and rather than telling you on the day thought I would be extra efficient and tell you now in case you wanted to buy anything for the Workshop.

The piece of fabric to stitch your picture on to, you can choose, white, a colour background, I love work stitched onto a natural but do bear in mind that colour you choose will also be the colour of the face.  Minimum 12 x 16 inches. Be generous with yourself as it is easy to cut it down to size afterwards.  The rule of thumb is that if you can see your hand behind it it is probably a little too thin, however you can use it but you will have to double up the stitch and tear. For anyone completely new to this the stitch and tear will be on the back of the fabric. It is a stabiliser and I prefer it to the Iron On or Vilene as it is flexible and a good surface to draw onto.

MATERIALS

Sewing Machine, please check your feed dogs are down and your embroidery foot is on.

Main Fabric for the picture

Scrap fabrics for the clothing and appliqué.

Sewing kit, threads, scissors. etc.

Needle and thread to embroider eyes and mouth.

Paper and pencil, please make sure your pencil is sharp.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the workshops.

Janine x

Approx. Timetable.

10.30 start, zoom meet, you will be sent the link a few days beforehand, I will chat and talk about the technique and the pattern and about 11.15 coffee and you will trace the pattern.

After Coffee until about 12.30/1.00 I will demonstrate the sewing after which it is over to you.

We will have a lunch break and then you can get sewing.

There will be time for lots of chat and we will finish about 3.30.