About Susan
Susan has been teaching embroidery for many years and loves to share her enthusiasm for a wide range of techniques.
She completed her City and Guilds Part II in Embroidery with the inspirational Anthea Godfrey at the London College of Fashion (as it then was). Over the past twenty years, she has taught a wide range of classes including City and Guilds and leisure classes, with the WI, and most recently independently in the Wivenhoe and the Colchester area of Essex.
Susan took early retirement in 2013, giving her more time for embroidery and textile related activities. She enjoys being an active participant in the local branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild, visiting more exhibitions, attending workshops and reading more about her favourite textile art topics both in print and on-line.
She has also become a student again, signing up for the City and Guilds in Patchwork and Quilting with Creative Stitch Suffolk. According to Susan, “It’s been great to take on new challenges and learn new skills.”
Susan blogs regularly on her website, Threadlines, where she gathers together various elements of her long-standing fascination with embroidery and textile arts more generally. Her hope is that Threadlines will widen her circle of embroidery and textile art friends, and encourage non-embroiderers to try it – just once (that’s all it takes!
Signature Technique
Embroidery
Susan’s Top Tips
- The simpler the stitch, often, the more you can do with it.
- One of the (many) aspects of textiles that I love is that you don’t need to be doing just one project. Try new things…several at a time!
- Doing something completely new with a group of friends makes it extra special.
- If you want to know the ‘right’ way to embroider then turn to a technique manual.
Books and Patterns
Posts
National Patchwork Championships at Sandown 2014
Had a great time with lots of visitors and both Jennie and I enjoyed meeting so many of our viewers - thanks for taking the time to stop by. Also bumped into many of our contributors, but a couple of new people we will be following: first Shirley Bloomfield who is an embroiderer with a new bok out Beyond the Applique Garden, which we will be featuring on the site as well as a delightful tablerunner - so keep an eye on the shop: and Nancy Adamek, who is passionate about paper piecing (!); lovely work and a new supplier to the patchwork world: here is an idea from her stand (it's just 7" across) and if you want to know more, and/or order paper pieces just visit her website: www.linapatchwork.com (we love to support home grown industries)
What rotary cutting equipment should you buy?
This is such a personal choice it's difficult to answer however there are a few things to think about that might help: Are you left handed? If so be sure that the rotary cutter works for you - most work both both right and left handed people but not all. What about the ruler? Well this should be a companion piece to your board - make sure that the ruler works across your board in both directions (i.e.
Tumbling Blocks quilt get’s adopted
Jo's lovely handmade Tumbling blocks quilt was adopted by the newest addition to their household - good choice Ziggy! If you want to know how to make this lovely quilt, you can enjoy the video with Valerie.
Handpiecing Tumbling Blocks or if you would rather work this by Machine, you can join Jennie:
Tumbling Blocks with Jennie Rayment