Kathleen Mann: Embroidery in the Modern Style Cream Teas and Sunny Days A Look at Different Embroidered Borders The Countryside in June Plus: June Almanac, Lovely Ideas, Poetry Corner and more‌ 1
A Bustle & Sew Publication Copyright Š Bustle & Sew Limited 2020 The right of Helen Challenor to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Every effort has been made to ensure that all the information in this book is accurate. However, due to differing conditions, tools and individual skills, the publisher cannot be responsible for any injuries, losses and other damages that may result from the use of the information in this book.
First published 2020 by: Bustle & Sew Station House West Cranmore Shepton Mallet BA4 4QP www.bustleandsew.com
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Welcome to the June Magazine Hello everyone! So here we are, just like that, summer is here at last! Early summer is my favourite time of year here in the Somerset countryside. Strawberries are ripening in my garden - and there are little wild berries too in plenty growing along the tracks of the old steam railway that runs alongside our house. Elderflower is blooming along the hedgerows and lavender is scenting the pathway to the front door. It’s an idyllic time of year, and even though we’re still under lock down, it’s hard to worry about the serious things in life when the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming and there’s a new embroidery project in my hoop! I hope you’ll enjoy this month’s edition and that you and your family are safe and well, wherever you may be. Very best wishes,
Helen xx
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Between this month’s covers … June Almanac
Page 5
Fergus the Little Knitted Fox
Page 54
A Country Diary: Swallows
Page 7
Wildflower Meadow
Page 57
What if you fly? Hoop
Page 8
Enjoy the Little Things Cushion
Page 58
Kathleen Mann: Artist and Embroiderer
Page 10
Lovely Idea: Strawberry Pin Cushion
Page 61
A Summer’s Afternoon
Page 20
Organising your Workspace
Page 62
Great British Picnic Set
Page 21
Summer Salads
Page 63
The Beauty of Clouds
Page 27
Coronation Chicken
Page 65
Summertime and Cream Teas
Page 28
Geranium Hoop
Page 67
Strawberries
Page 33
Home Comforts
Page 70
Lovely Idea: Rose Burlap Bag
Page 35
Embroidery Stitch Guide
Page 71
Pocketful of Posies Hoop
Page 36
In the Kitchen: Conversion Tables
Page 72
Simple Borders
Page 38
Templates
Page 73
Poetry Corner: The Orchard
Page 43
Choosing and Using your Thread
Page 44
Stay Safe Little Bear
Page 47
The Countryside in June
Page 50
Tips for Stitchers
Page 53
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A Country Diary Miss Simpson came to colour the rooms. I began with white-washing the ceiling. I worked with them (William was very busy) till dinner time, but after dinner I went to bed and fell asleep. When I rose I went just before tea into the garden. I looked up at my Swallow’s nest and it was gone. It had fallen down. Poor little creatures they could not themselves be more distressed than I was. I went upstairs to look at the Ruins. They lay in a large heap upon the window ledge; these Swallows had been ten days employed in building this nest, and it seemed to be almost finished. I watched them early in the morning, in the day many and many a time and in the evenings when it was almost dark I had seen them sitting side by side in their unfinished nest both morning and night. When they first came about the window they used to hang against the pains, with their white Bellies and their forked tails looking like fish, but then they fluttered and sang their own little twittering song. As soon as the nest was broad enough, a sort of ledge for them they sate both mornings and evenings, but they did not pass the night there. I watched them one morning ‌ for more than an hour. Every now and then there was a feeling motion in their wings, a sort of tremulousness and they sang a low song to one another.
Dorothy Wordsworth (25 December 1771 – 25 January 1855) was an English author, poet and diarist. She was the sister of the Romantic poet William Wordsworth, and the two were close all their lives. Dorothy had no ambitions to be an author, and her writings consist only of series of letters, diary entries, poems and short stories.
What if you fly? Hoop Late May and early June brings the return of the swallows, a welcome sight, entertaining with their aerial acrobatics as they swoop and dive over the trees and fields collecting insects for their hungry broods. This is a lovely simple embroidery using just satin, stem and back stitch. I worked mine on a pure linen fabric sample from Vanessa Arbuthnott left over from when I was making curtains and blinds for our new home. Shown mounted in 5” hoop.
Materials
Method
● 9” square cotton, linen or blended suitable for embroidery.
● Iron your background fabric well before beginning.
● DMC stranded cotton floss in shades 310, 321, 336, 3756
● Stitch design in accordance with guide on following pages. ● When finished press lightly on the reverse and mount in hoop for display.
Kathleen Mann - Artist and Embroiderer
The Daisy Chain 7
The Beauty of Clouds Clouds are beautiful and tranquil - and something we all, quite naturally, take for granted. But in this difficult times, cloud watching can be a peaceful activity that offers calm in a sometimes troubling world. But as well as looking at clouds, why not try learning a little about them? There are four main types of cloud, although you’ll often see more than one kind at once: ● Cirrus - indicators of fair weather, that look wispy and feathery ● Stratus - flat sheets of cloud that give us overcast or foggy days ● Nimbus clouds contain rain or snow and so these appear dark grey ● Cumulus are low lying and look like big fluffy cotton wool balls, unless they darken and deepen, forming cumulonimbus which can be the harbinger of a storm. Now we’re allowed to go out and about a little, why not find a patch of grass, lie back and watch the clouds go by. Choose a warm summer’s day when there are plenty of clouds in the sky. Use your imagination to find animals and other shapes and pictures in the clouds as they drift past.
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Summertime brings cream teas and sunny days ‌ 11 9
Look! a lovely idea -------------------
Customise your shopping bag this summer! Free from Jessica at Cutesy Crafts : Cross Stitch Bag 10
Simple Borders
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The Orchard Almond, apple, and peach, Walnut, cherry, plum, Ash, chestnut and beech, And lime and sycamore We have planted for days to come. No stony monument But growing, changing things, Leaf, fruit, and honied scent, Bloom that the bees explore, Sprays where the bird sings. In other Junes than ours When the boughs spread and rise Tall into leafy towers To grace and guard this small corner of paradise; When petals red and white Resign to warming air, Without speech or sight From our hands they will fall On happy voices there.
Laurence Binyon 1869-1943
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Choosing and using your thread ….
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The Countryside in June C Gordon-Glover
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Summer Salads : there’s nothing as nice as growing your own 15
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Home Comforts Cucumber is soothing to skin and tired eyes, and this lotion is a great way to refresh hot summer skin. Cucumber in fact has a pH of 5.48 which is very close to our skin’s own 5.5 Grate, chop or liquidise half an unpeeled cucumber (if not growing your own, then organic is definitely the way to go), and squeeze out the juice from the pulp, either through a sieve or muslin, or just use your hands. Use this juice to cool and soothe sunburned skin just as it is, or mix it with equal quantities of rosewater and witch hazel to make a more astringent toner.
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