Tuesday 16 September 2014

The Stitch Gathering

Hats off to Jo Avery for organising a really fantastic event - it was great.   

The day started with registration where we picked up our goody bag - the sponsors had been amazingly generous.


There were Aurifil threads, Nairns biscuits (actually more - I have no idea where the others went, cough), a Frixion pen from  PilotCoats needles and thread, lovely fabric and a panel from DashwoodLove patchwork and quilting mag, embroidery floss from DMC,  Liberty fabric from Very Berry, scissors from Groves and Banks , a Liberty tote bag and fabric, yet more lovely fabric from Blend and Robert Kaufman, and DMC perle cotton and beads from Mybearpaw.  My word.

This was followed with the hunt for your secret name tag swap partner - here is the one I handed over to Agnes once I had finally tracked her down.  


The butterfly is made of Oakshott, and the veins on the wings are tightly zigzag stitched. I had a head-poppingly difficult time making it but it got there in the end.


I received this one from Norma who was very bashful about it but I love it especially the tiny flower.



Then we went into our first class - mine was improv New York Beauty with Jo.  I kept finding myself anally trying to get the wonkiness just right if you know what I mean, rather than just go with the flow, but it was a lot of fun.


There was time during the lunch break to vote for your favourite embellished Stitch Gathering ticket bag before giving your own to your secret partner.  You can see the variety of beautiful bags here - each person came up with something so different and they were all amazing.  You've already seen the one I made - here is the beauty I received from Jane - it's so pretty and grown up.




There was also a lucky dip, show and tell, and a raffle for the quilt made from last year's fabric tickets - and a lovely buffet too!

In the afternoon there was some very intense sewing.  I took the tote bag class with the brilliant Katy Littlest Thistle Cameron.   The bag needed a patchwork panel for the front pocket so I just whipped this one up (haha) the day before in case the New York Beauty wasn't ready.  A massive gin and tonic was required when it was done.


We picked up a lot of really useful tips, including one for making neat boxed corners, how to put in magnetic fasteners and a method for inserting the zip for an interior pocket.



I didn't manage to finish the bag at the class, but the sprogs and I had a pyjama day yesterday because they were having a holiday Monday and I am still getting over the back-to-school cold they infected me with last week.  They made pompoms while I finished it off, only nipping out to the shops at teatime so we didn't starve.  Bag photography is definitely not my forte so you will have to take my word for it that it is rather nice, if I say so myself!




This post has so many superlatives it is beginning to remind me of Brilliant Kid on the Fast Show, but really it was a brilliant day. Thank you to Katy, Jo and all her helpers.

21 comments:

  1. What a fantastic day. I think my favourite thing is the panel on your lovely tote.

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  2. So nice to see you again. I ended up sitting next to your lovely mother in law in my morning class, she was so friendly.
    Such a fu day with so many treats! Love the items you made, and you certainly received a pretty bag!

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  3. Hey Catherine,
    1. Wow, that goodie bag IS nice. Really neat-o useful stuff.
    2. I liked looking at your link with all the bags. Yours is one of my faves.
    3. I am surprised you needed only one gin and tonic after a go round with cathedral windows!
    4. That little snail in your previous post is adorable. I have never seen a snail "in the wild" here. But we have plenty of slugs and I like them a lot.
    5. Smiles from m & jb

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  4. Those superlatives are warranted!! Your day looks as if it was so much fun. Love those name tags and your tote bag, just gorgeous. Love the cathedral windows and all those pretty Liberty fabrics. I totally understand the need for a gin and tonic after stitching those....I am surprised you stopped at one!!

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  5. Looks like a brilliant day, how great to be close enough to get to something like that. I really love the name tag you made, and those goodies look like it was worth attending for them alone.

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  6. Looks like an amazing day! I specially like your new tote bag. The cathedral window block beyond beautiful /

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  7. I followed the link to the photos of the tote bags. They are all amazing. I don't know how so much was packed into one day- superb!

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  8. Love the Cathedral Windows block it looks fabulous on your bag! Certainly looks like the Stitch Gathering was a great success too :)

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  9. looks like a great day, the class is looks fun and your liberty cathedral windows are great. Maybe this is something I could come to next year, Scotland being next door so to speak.

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  10. so glad you had a lovely time. Your new tote bag is absolutely amazing - totally envious!!

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  11. How wonderful, it all looks so much fun and your finished items are fabulous!

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  12. What a fabulous day you had! Lots of goodies, so many interesting people to meet, so much to learn and plenty of fun. I looked at all the tote bags... They are amazing, so creative! And the tag you made is beautiful, Catherine! Hope you are over your cold by now.

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  13. Your bag does look quite nice, and wow, I could use some tips on putting in those magnetic fasteners. Looks like you had a great time!

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  14. It DOES sound like a brilliant day :-)
    xx

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  15. wow all your stuff is gorgeous Catherine! I love how your bag turned out and your NYB block is one of the best I've seen! And I loved your gorgeous nametag and matching tote - your tote actually came joint 7th in the vote, which I think is pretty good with the competition! It was one of my favourites and was much commented on. Very pleased you had a great day. Could you head on over to my blog and add a link to the bottom of the post please? thanks :)

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  16. It was a great day and your bag looks amazing.

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  17. Your name tag that you made was so amazing, the woman who received it thought I was nuts for saying a couple of times that you'd used Oakshotts for the wings. I should have just stolen it ;o)

    Love your finished bag, those cathedral windows are beautiful :o)

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  18. oh my you make some lovely stuff, mrs. I'm glad the event was so good and hope to make it up next year!

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  19. It looks like it was a great time. Everything looks wonderful. The "trying to get the wonkiness just right" statement made me smile. I understand :) Your bag looks great.

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