Little Stitches

I spent Saturday at an embroidery class taught by the very lovely Aneela Hoey.

Aneela and Pennie did a fantastic job organising the day, especially considering that it was their first time at organising such an event. We were kept well fed and watered with tea & posh biscuits, a lovely lunch (in the sunshine) and afternoon cake (a-m-a-z-i-n-g chocolate brownies and cheesecake) Should you be in the Henley/Berks area and looking for a caterer then please look up Thames Catering. The company that Pennie runs alongside her Husband.


It was nice to see some faces that I had either met or recognised from The Fat Quarterly Retreat back in June as well as some new ones.





After practicing our stiches we all got stuck in to the “Cherry on the Tree Swing” pattern . I stitched onto some osnaberg, which is a natural, unbleached cotton fabric with a texture a bit like linen only about half the price. My filling stich needs a bit of practice – Aneela’s tip was to make fairly big stiches, mine are far too small but I am happy enough with my first attempt.


I love my copy of Little Stitches, and have been picking it up anytime I have a spare moment. If you love Aneela’s fabrics (sherbet pips, little apples, walk in the woods) or follow her blog, then you will really enjoy her book.  The book comes with 12 projects for using her designs as well as over 100 embroidery designs. You can trace the designs straight from the book or use the iron-on-transfers.


There are at least 3 patterns I am desperate to start once I have finished Cherry although I also fancy stitching another version, this time all in a dark graphite grey (like a pencil drawing) and then adding a pop of colour to just her dress maybe using applique?


Thank you Aneela, Pennie and all the other stitchy ladies! I had a fantastic day and it was well worth the course fee.


You can read more about the day from these guys, Ruth, Hadley, (who might have even got a picture or two of me) Kelly and  Elena.


Whilst I am on the subject of embroidery, my bloggy friend Miss Pixie has set up a shop selling her original embroidered makes that she has designed and made.  Please pay her a little visit