The Knitting and Stitching Show, Harrogate
Stef Francis Threads For Amarna Project
Since I don’t have a convenient, well-stocked local embroidery shop, and have discovered over the years that colours often don’t display well on screen, leading me to spend lots of money on the wrong thread, I now concentrate almost all my embroidery shopping around one event: The Knitting And Stitching Show in Harrogate. I had a wonderful weekend there last week, and even managed to take tea at Betty’s Tearooms, and to visit the Royal Pump Room Museum which had few items from Amarna, as well as a rather fabulous painted and embroidered screen from the early 1900’s.
Pearsalls Silk and Gold Jap For Christus Natus Est
Pearsalls Silk and Silver Jap For Hittite Amulet
It’s particularly useful when I am planning to branch out into a form of embroidery I’ve not tried before. There are always stallholders with a deep knowledge of the particular technique I have in mind, and they are always willing to talk, and share tips and ideas.
This time I am planning two or nué pieces, so my first stop (after buying some merino/possum blend wristwarmers from Jamie Possum) was to visit The Golden Hinde. I described what I had in mind, and soon had a spool of gold and a spool of silver to use for those pieces. Then on to the Pearsall’s Embroidery stand to buy the silk to couch it down with. I’m not sure how much I will need, so I bought one skein of each colour. Since these are single colour threads, I can re-order if I need to.
Oliver Twist Threads for Amarna Projects
Silk Threads For The Second Dig House
I also bought some more turban cotton and faience-coloured threads from Stef Francis and from Oliver Twist, and some silk threads to make another attempt at the Dig House. I’ve been looking for threads that resemble some of the other colours I will need for the Dreams of Amarna panels – the carnelian and jasper and other semi precious stones the Egyptians used, but some of those aren’t so easy to find. I am going to need to do some more reading in my references to get a clear idea of some of the colours I will need.
I’ve found I’ve bought more silk threads than cotton, this time around. All this work using silk for the Floral Glove Needlecase Course and the Tudor and Stuart Goldwork Masterclass is changing my habits!
Threads for Christus Natus Est? That sounds an interesting project! The colours look spot on.
It sounds like you had a wonderful time at K&S in Harrogate. I have met Sarah and Sue a few times at GMEX, just the people to discuss your or nué projects with. I have long since been fascinated by or nué and am intrigued to know more about what you have planned.
I can see that you have been bitten by the silk bug (or should that be moth?). There’s no going back now, you know 🙂
Okay – I have serious thread envy!
Silk thread are lovely just to touch and dangle, and brush against your face – even if you have no intention of ever stitching with them!
Just read Action Ma’am’s comment – are you going to do an interpretation of your mum’s piece…?
Oooh, that looks great. I’d love to go to an embroidery show one day 🙂
It’s amazing how many different types and colours of threads and needles there are! But then – it is an art.
you had a REALLY good time!! I love Pearsalls, beautiful
I love all the colors you got for the Amarna project!! Can’t wait to see how things develop. Wish we had a show like Harrogate so I could browse for lots of pretty threads too.
[…] references to the Hoard: a small or nué panel of the amulet itself (in fact, you may recall that I’ve already bought the materials for this!), and a panel showing the discovery, which will give me the chance to include some gold […]