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Last
year one of the prestigious Embroiderers' Guild National Anchor Awards was awarded
to the Young Textile Group (YTG) of the Harrow and District Embroiderers' Guild.
This creative group designed, stitched and made a unusual 'Book of Stitches'
- a picture of which was shown in Issue 47 of New Stitches magazine.
We were so impressed by the flair and skill of these young people that we have
invited the Group's teacher, Diana Spencer, to write about YTGs and their activities.
YTGs meet on a variety of occasions, sometimes regular meetings after school, or on Saturdays, or in the holidays. Whenever the meeting is held, a number of young people and children gather to enjoy working with fabric and thread. The Groups are mainly organised by members of the Embroiderers' Guild branches with a number of helpers, members, parents and grandmothers - all volunteers. Projects are set up to be completed during the meeting or to be worked on at home and continued at the following meeting.
For the Harrow YTG, some of the small items completed at their after-school meetings included a needlecase and pincushion, bookmarks and Christmas decorations.
The
leaders are always looking for new ideas, referring to the Project Book, visiting
exhibitions and involving branch members with their wide variety of skills and
ideas.
The 'Book of Stitches' idea was set by the Annual Anchor Awards Competition organised by the Embroiderers' Guild and Coats Crafts UK, who award the prizes. This competition is open to all members, including YTG members, and it presented a challenge in considering how the young people could participate. It had to be in a form which could be achieved through their own efforts and skills.
It was decided to undertake the 'Book of Stitches' over two Saturday meetings. Whole days would be spent on a carefully planned objective. The Harrow YTG's spring meeting was devoted to 'Fun with Stitches' to make a page for the 'Book'. Our leader was textile artist and lecturer Gwen Hartley, who brought her inspiring hand stitchery skills combined with printing to the group of keen youngsters. Calico backgrounds were painted and printed with printing blocks using 'Colour Fun' generously donated by Dylon. After lunch and a period to dry the pages, the images were stitched, creating pattern and texture to enhance the pictures. At the end of the day the Group had completed the pages for their 'Book'.
The pictures
on the pages came entirely from the imaginations of the children themselves
and show how creatively they used the 'print and stitch' idea.
On
a second Saturday in the summer of 1996, the Group met to make a photograph
album fabric cover for themselves and together to make up the complete 'Book
of Stitches'. The pages of the 'Book' were made up by sandwiching cereal box
card between the painted and stitched page and a calico backing. Each member's
name and the stitches used were recorded on the back of their pages.
Everyone contributed
to the cover, painting squares with fabric dyes and adding the silver letters
using Glitter Dimensional Paint. It was important that the Group could complete
the project themselves. Finally the pages and cover were threaded together and
tied with a hand made cord - the Book of Stitches was complete.
In
addition to the after-school meetings, Harrow Group's activity days take place
three times a year organised by volunteers with a paid lecturer once a year.
Whatever the idea - from Making Hats from Plastic Bag Material to Building Your
Own House - the teacher and helpers always plan ahead, cutting patterns, photocopying
outlines, preparing paper, paint brushes, fabrics, threads, needles and scissors
etc. The day is fully planned, organising the time to complete the project -
making sure lunchtime is early and the youngsters have time to have a run outside!
All this is achieved by the helpers. They are the important factor in the Group's
activities, ensuring there are enough hands to thread needles, supervise the
iron and man the sewing machine. We collect materials such as threads, fabrics,
beads and sequins. Guild branch members generously donate materials from time
to time and if the Group has a special request the Guild branch always comes
up trumps.
For
the adults involved, it is wonderful to see the imagination, enthusiasm and
determined concentration the children and young people bring to their embroidery.
The reward for this commitment is the satisfaction of making something one has
created oneself, from the initial idea to completion. The helpers share in this
satisfaction, having enabled the young people to achieve their chosen goal.
Note: Since this article was published the Young Textile Group (YTG) has changed its name: it is now known as Young Embroiderers
This
article first appeared in New Stitches, No. 55. Reused by permission. All rights
reserved.
New Stitches is a monthly embroidery magazine from Mary Hickmott's design studio. Each month quality designs in Cross stitch, Hardanger, Blackwork and other techniques are featured and supported by clear instructions, sound technique and helpful advice. Introducing and developing new techniques are a hallmark of the magazine and New Stitches is popular with developing embroiderers from all walks of life. Also featured are regular news, reviews and editorial from all over the world.
New Stitches
is available from all good newsagents and supermarkets.
For more information please contact:
| Creative
Crafts Publishing Ltd. The Old Grain Store Brenley Lane Brenley Faversham Kent ME13 9LY Tel +44 (0)1227 750215 Fax +44 (0)1227 750813 |
Why
not pay a visit to Cross
Stitch Gallery - also available from Creative Crafts Publishing |
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