Workshops
Lotus & Butterfly is one of 3 designs. Each of the Intermediate designs have been created with the intermediate crewel work embroiderer in mind. There is scope within each design to practice the 5 essential stitches and also introduce a number of exciting new textural, filling and accent stitches.
Workshops
In the Spring of 2025 I ran my first crewelwork embroidery workshop at Scampston Hall. It’s a beautiful venue and I was really excited to get started. On Day 1 we were based in the magnificent Richardson conservatory, inside the walled garden. As a special treat, Day 2 was in the main house. I had high expectation of this venue and I was not disappointed.
Designing for more Experienced Stitchers
As with the beginner designs, all the intermediate designs have 3 elements, including a mixture of foliage, flowers and insects. The Flower here resembles a lotus and the insect is a butterfly. Within a workshop situation, intermediate designs do have a stitch overview, similar to the beginner designs stitch overviews. However I encourage each student to explore and add their own individuality. There is lots of flexibility in how the embroiderer chooses to interpret and add their own creativity.
Traditionally in crewelwork the embroiderer would have a design and then interpret that design in however which way they choose. I try to encourage this traditional approach to crewel embroidery in my workshops. I do provide kits but they are far from prescriptive. I teach a variety of stitches, such as outline stitches, filling stitches and accent stitches, then demonstrate different ways that they can be used.
Each intermediate crewel workshop comes with a kit containing all the specialist materials required to complete the crewelwork design. This includes 9 Appletons wools. 3 different colours each of 3 shades. This can be quite overwhelming if you’re not used to selecting colour ways from Appletons wools. I know this from personal experience. So I have grouped colours and shades that work well together. This example of the Lotus and Butterfly – Intermediate Crewel Design is stitched in Winter which is shades of Appletons Purple, Mid Olive and Sky Blue.
During my mixed ability crewel embroidery workshops the intermediate embroiderer is first encouraged to recap the 5 essential stitches. Having mastered the individual stitches we now focus on improving technique by paying particular attention to consistency in stitch tension and size. Below long and short soft shading has been practiced to fill the inner section of the butterfly wings. This is a more tricky space to fill with long and short soft shading than in any of my beginner crewelwork designs, taking the student to another level in stitch masterey.
Once the 5 essential stitches have been reviewed it’s time to explore some new stitches. A very popular stitch is Trellis. Simply explained, trellis is couched, laid work. Threads laid horizontally and vertically are couched down to form filling patterns. Trellis can be used in many different ways to create oodles of textural affects. Below, the lotus centre is a simple example of trellis, embellished with french knots.
Advanced embroiderers in my workshops have opportunities to explore this wonderfully creative stitch in much more detail.
The Lotus and Butterfly can be interpreted in various ways with the addition of a variety of new stitches. This design gives the stitcher an opportunity to review the 5 essential stitches, Stem stitch, Back stitch, Chain stitch, Long and short soft shading and French knots and then explore new stitches. Can you spot the Closed fly, Whipped open fly, Woven wheel and Seeding?
Now, what should we make with this beautiful embroidery? After all, crewelwork is supposed to be used. Both the linen twill and Appletons wools are colour fast and can be washed. So how about a scatter cushion, a fire screen, waistcoat panel or bedspread section, bag or glasses case, foot stool or curtain panels, the options are endless …
Workshop Dates
Jacqueline runs mixed ability small group embroidery workshops, in various venues, at scheduled times throughout the year.