..... darn it......

10% off our next 2 workshops  /  earlybird tickets We've got the summertime blues as 2 or 3 participants have had to drop out of our upcoming workshops for various reasons.  But there are also greens, yellows and reds in abundance all around us!  Yes, the temperatures in south west France have moved up to the 30s most days now, the gardens are at their colourful peak and when we're not enjoying regular dips in the salt-water pools to cool off we're learning a little bit more about the arty craft of darning......   We all know how technological advances have engaged us in constant fast-forward motion making life overscheduled, stressed and hurtling towards the next task, whether at work or at home.  We mostly rush our food, our family time and even our recreation. If, like us, you can make space to sit in the shade for a few moments we'd like to pass on a little information about the slow art of hand-darning as a method of repair, embellishment, and a means of prolonging the life of a garment for economic or sentimental reasons.   Darning offers the stitcher an opportunity to slow down; the hand moving the needle into and then out of the fabric in a soothing, rhythmic pattern offering simultaneously a quiet time to unwind and a meditative recharging of the spirit whilst producing something useful yet beautiful.   Traditionally, darning is often employed where patching is impractical or would create discomfort for the wearer, such as on the heel of a sock, cardigan elbow or trouser knee.  It generally employs a simple running stitch "woven" in rows along the grain of the fabric, with the stitcher reversing direction at the end of each row, and then filling in the framework thus created, as if weaving and  But simple over-and-under weaving of threads can be replaced by various fancy weaves, such as twills, chevrons, etc., achieved by skipping threads in regular patterns. The length of the stitches are often varied to produce geometric designs.Though the skill and techniques of darning and pattern darning are essentially the same, the line between them holds significance in the intention of the maker. Is this pattern being used to repair and extend the life of the garment, emphasise its historical use or simply  to enhance and embellish the piece; possibly all three?     Since the original purpose was to reinforce weakened fabric or replace areas where the fabric had been ripped or disintegrated it was usual to match the repair threads as closely to the fabric as possible and if the fabric had a pattern, it was necessary to find suitable replacements for all the colours. Many sewing baskets contained scraps of fabric that could be unraveled and threads reused. The repair was worked from the topside where fabric remained, and rewoven where it was completely gone.   Our knowledge of pattern darning originates from textiles from Egypt dating to the 11th century.  Traditional embroidery using pattern darning is found in Africa, Japan, Northern and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Mexico and Peru and designs for pattern darning seem to be carried forward from generation to generation.  Current darning methods are remarkably similar to the much older Egyptian designs. The skill is believed to have moved north along trade routes and is called skakkaglit in Iceland where it appears on altar cloths, bed linens and curtains. In this stitching, we start to see wool thread being used on linen and church inventories mention skakkaglit as an adornment.       Sashiko has been used in Japan for centuries for the continued reuse old clothing and is most famously visible on their Boro clothing (should you ever find yourself with some spare time in Tokyo, we highly recommend a visit to the Amuse Museum  where you will find an amazing private collection of Boro garments).  Starting with a couple of layers of old cloth, a new layer of fabric was added on top using tiny stitches. Sashiko means "little stabs" and resembles grains of rice. Traditionally the thread was white and the fabric indigo blue. Several styles of sashiko developed over time but the most basic pattern is called Moyozashi. This pattern is very geometric with straight or curved lines. The main difference with this type is that the lines do not cross. There should be a tiny bit of fabric showing between the stitches. If the geometric design does meet and cross, then the style is called Hitomezashi. The more colorful version is Nanbu. Kogin is also a derivative of Hiteomezashi but it follows the weave of the fabric and the stitch extends up to five threads in length with fabric threads showing between the stitches.   Our 5-Day workshop, KNITTING, DARNING & MENDING, this September, is to be led by Celia Pym,currently enjoying a UK Craft Residency at Cove Park, Scotland, who has travelled widely in Japan studying their darning, knitting and stitching techniques since completing her degree at Harvard University.   For many years Celia has been the enthusiastic, leading light in the art and craft of "Visible Mending", it's history and value in the household which combines the skill and philosophies of textile repair.  A small hole in a sweater might be darned with a matching yarn for practical purposes, but "Visible Mending" combines the utilitarian with the decorative by choosing contrasting colours and perhaps a different weight of yarn, maybe adding pattern and picture to the work. This visible mend brings frugality, design and frivolity into one place, literally stitching history into our daily lives as clothing and household linens sprout small testaments to a lineage of stitching as an essential skill in the human story. Several places have recently become available on both Celia Pym's Knitting, Darning and Mendingworkshop, 21st to 27th September - a hands-on adventure learning beautiful traditional methods to repair - as well as a couple at Claire Wellesley Smith's Weekend event from 7th to 10th October.  We'll be writing more about Claire's exquisite work and teaching methods in our next newsletter, but if you can step in and  book a place at either event before the middle of August, we can offer a 10% discount as late-comers.        And just a little reminder that we still have tickets for the incredible Gigspanner concert the weekend before Celia Pym's workshop, (www know this because Gigspanner have performed here twice before!).  So if the idea of some first class music, followed by a few days of quiet B&B accommodation in an amazing location, before moving into the world of stitches, we'd be happy to sort it out for you.  Bring your partner and we'll give you a special rate.

Tickets for Concert only

..... spring into colour......

We've learnt over the years that creativity doesn't always follow an obvious route, and having just come to the end of yet another fabulous, week long Silver Yoga workshop here we're all feeling renewed, recharged and ready to spread our creative wings!

As luck would have it, the weather was mostly glorious, allowing us a few sessions on the terrace overlooking the fabulous surrounding countryside, and we were able to stretch and extend and discover our inner strengths after the long wet winter months.  There is another Silver Yoga week planned for the middle of June so if you are interested in discovering (or rediscovering) the joy of yoga, with intelligent and creative morning classes based on Hatha and Iyengar disciplines, book now as we like to keep classes small and personal.. Our Yoga expert, Liz Bolton, carefully designs each session for mixed levels, offering modifications for beginners, and greater levels of challenge for advanced students, always  with an emphasis  on safety, awareness, intelligence and ability. Residential guests can enjoy fresh mornings walking in the countryside followed by yoga, and afternoons free to lounge about the pool, visit local markets or explore a classic French village.  For prices contact Lizi directly.

For us, Spring's softness and simplicity and pastel colours always suggest northern Europe, more specifically Scandinavia.  If you are similarly smitten, then you won't want to miss our first event of the season, aKnitting Masterclass with Åsa Soderman.  Asa combines her quintessentially Scandinavian colour palette with a lifetime of knitting knowledge to produce her stylishly beautiful designs. With only a few weeks to go now and to give you a taste of what's in store over this Weekend Workshop we have chosen one of her shawl patterns, together with some fabulous yarn - of your choice -from a favourite hand-dyed yarn supplier, Dye For Yarns, as a free gift if you book within the next week (Wednesday, 30th March).  

  

With  Easter weekend upon us we were tickled pink by the possibilities of these delightful, non-fattening Easter eggs for all the family (tutorial on We Are Scout).  It surely wouldn't take long to decorate individual Easter bunny vases filled with tiny flowers for each place setting .... using the eggs themselves to serve up a delicious frittata with spring vegetables?

We're getting news trickling in from some of those lucky people who made it to this year's Edinburgh Yarn Festival by all accounts a roaring success.  Asa Soderman, (see above) was there of course giving classes, as was another favourite knitter of ours, Kate Davies who now has an on-line store selling her (moderately complicated) but entirely gorgeous fairisle inspired patterns and wools.  Shame we couldn't make the Festival this year, but we have it ear-marked for 2017.

Kate Davies and Ellen Mason in their own home knits

To continue the seasonal note, it's not to late to join us for Julie Arkell's workshop, Birds on a Table, at the beginning of June as another place has recently become available.  If you can step in we're extending our offer of a 10% discount but you'll probably need to contact us quickly as places are picked up quickly for this very popular teacher and event. 

   

You may have noticed the new logo for Les Soeurs Anglaises, designed by multi-talented calligrapher/graphic designer, Anja Savic, better known as "The Letterist".  Anja generally works on commission - business cards, wedding invitations, book covers, websites and so on - but you can find some cards with her favourite quotes for sale at her web shop.  If you don't need her services just at the moment, we recommend you file her name away somewhere safe for the future.  She's a joy to work with, bubbling with creativity and happy to discuss any project!

Have a happy, hoppy Easter!
Katie  Susie  Carol
xxx

... lovely article

For those of you who don't subscribe to the UK's Embroiderer' Guild Embroidery Magazine (and you really should as it is truly one of the most considered, interesting and intelligent journals around for anyone interested in textiles and textile art), there is this month a lovely article about yours truly, Les Soeurs Anglaises.  Thank you Jo Hall of all your kind words;  we loved having you here and delighted that you found Rosalind Wyatt's workshop last year so inspiring.

.... following on...

It's OK to blow someone else's trumpet so we'd really like to share what Becky Dawson from Canada wrote about her experience here last year at Rosalind Wyatt's five day event:

"Rosalind is an excellent teacher!! I so loved her workshop. I cherish all my projects. Sign up for a brilliant visual and tactile class. Rosalind is so positive and inspiring!! What are you waiting for - she is the best!!"

Thanks, Becky, we really enjoyed your joyful participation and hope to see you again soon.

If you're inspired by exquisite hand-stitched calligraphy then you might like to join Rosalind's group here at the end of September, Grafted Words.  The event looks all set to be another  cracker so now is the time to sign up as we have only two places remaining.  

At first glance, Jessie Chorley's equally beautiful stitch work might look similar to Rosalind's but on closer inspection it is obvious that her style is less formal and more folksy.  If your taste is for edible vintage linens and personal ephemera, then her second workshop with us, Usable Treasures, later this summer might be right up your street.  Again, don't leave it too late to book as travel to and from this part of France becomes harder to organise for late August and early September.  If you need any help organising this, do get back to us and we may be able to help.

Here is a photograph of the fantabulous Renée Perle, muse of photographer Jacques Henri Lartigue (1894 –1986) and wearing what looks like it could have been one of Jessie's very own finished outfits!!  

Lartigue took the photograph that we used on our last newsletter of the girls walking on the beach in the wind, and here is a wonderful quote of his that we have snatched from Rosalind Wyatt's website: 

"There is within me a spectator who looks on without worrying about any contingency, without knowing if what is happening is serious, sad, important, funny, or not.  A sort of being come from another planet just to enjoy the show.  A spectator, for whom everything is a puppet show, even – and especially – me!"

.... last minute bag buys....

We're fortunate to have one of the best and largest brocantes/vide greniers as a monthly visitor to our local village and yesterday it was choc-a-block full of goodies as usual.  

Meanwhile, we've been busy putting together the goody bags for our reception next week, and fortunately had left enough space for some of the lovely vintage haberdashery items we found at the brocante.  We thought you'd like to see some of them, especially if you're planning to join us for the Raystitch Reception on Monday, 14th April!!  We still have a few places open for the morning and afternoon sessions if you haven't replied yet, but don't delay in contacting us if you like the look of our purchases below!

Don't forget that our workshop leaders will be judging our Textile Jigsaw of Words competition at the Reception.  There's still just enough time to make one or two and post them to us; surely worth the haste when you could win a free place on a Les Soeurs Anglaises' workshop?

…. time to get cutting…..

If you haven't already started on your piece of our Textile Jigsaw of Words, this weekend might be a good time.  There's only a few weeks left now until our Reception with Raystitch (14th April) when our workshop leaders will all be casting a vote as to the best and most creative submission.  The prize for the winner is a free place on one of our workshops this year, where there are still places available, so hopefully worth the effort downloading the template and instructions, followed by a few hours of creative  stitching (don't forget your quote!)



To help you along, the talented and delightful Claire Wellesley-Smith, who is leading the Slow Colour and Stitch workshop for us in May, and whose superlative patchworks are continuously inspirational, has this advice:

"I've always loved searching out old unfinished scraps of patchwork and quilts. They are like little snapshots - the fabrics giving clues to their age and to the lives of the women who stitched them.   (By the way the hexagons shown in the image will be used at my workshop)."

And if that doesn't get you going, I've always found that when stuck for a idea, a long walk - especially at this time of year -  is what I need to get the creative flow moving.  There's nothing like the first of the spring flowers after a long cold winter to inspire.  Here are a few that are have felt brave enough to show show their faces round here recently…….

… busy stitching...

Late winter and early spring is a relatively quiet time for Les Soeurs, as we look back at the events for the last year with a little more perspective and consider how we can make small changes to improve the experience for participants.  As the snowdrops, aconites, narcissi and finally tulips begin to push their way through the cold earth, we still hunker down indoors and try to catch up with some sewing and knitting projects - some for the Maison de Maitre and l'Espace (our studio complex); others just to to keep us warm and stylish.

My latest creation is a gathered smock shirt;  made with some wonderful fine cotton check, from a favorite on-line haberdashery, RayStitch.  Sadly, I may have bought the last of the red, but they have other colours to amuse and inspire and it is a fabulous fabric to work with, incredibly soft and comfortable to wear and just the right weight under a wool cardie whilst it's still cold outside.  It has a longer, scooped front with a shorter reverse with a button at the neck.   I made the first prototype of this shirt in a floral silk I've had for many a year - great with jeans and jacket for that slightly more formal occasion. 

flattering scooped front

Meanwhile, a project that Les Soeurs have been supporting since we first discovered them last year, is Comma Workshops which is the brain child of Kerry Larkin. In 2006, Kerry installed an art piece at the SAAW gallery in Philadelphia that explored fabric, typography, and storytelling. Wanting to explore this more, she went back to her roots and embraced quilting. From a family of quilt-makers, seamstresses, and upholsterers, Kerry is continuing the tradition with a fresh perspective and her company, Comma, is dedicated to bringing a fresh perspective to the time-honored traditions of quilting and storytelling. Crafting original poems and stories about life and adventure, her talented stitchers thoughtfully sew these stories into every beautiful quilt, producing functional heirlooms.  Beset by floods last year, their workshop was temporarily shut down, but work continued regardless and we recently received a "thank you" pillow for our support of their KickStarter campaign.