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
Old Rag Rugs:
Some tips from Jean Stewart who just loves this sort of work: The doormat she is holding has been in use for over 20 years and was made when she first arrived in the Highlands with tartan offcuts from Lochcarron Weavers. Below is a fleece rug that is still a work-in-progress; Jean finds that if she makes a diagonal cut the fabric pulls through more easily and if she raises a crease then she is able to do a row quicker; but remember to pull it flat before raising the next one!
A Happy Customer
Hi, Just wanted to say a huge thank you for this website. A Godsend to someone like me who is unable to go to workshops now and misses them very much. I especially liked the video about the needles and threads. Most welcome information, but I am working my way through them all and they have given me new incentive to start sewing again.
Inspired by Justhands-on.tv
I thought you might like to see the Scottie Dog Handbag I made for my niece using the pattern from Mandy Shaw. I also used the very small Scottie dog to decorate a head band. The final set of photos are of the Christmas banner I made after being inspired by Mandy Shaw's Christmas decorations. Regards Sandra Parker