Running with Stitch

About the course

Join Linda for this hand stitched appliqué workshop using sheer and transparent fabrics to achieve painterly colour effects. Inspired by paintings such as Paul Klee’s abstract watercolours, you’ll create a beautiful piece with raw edge applied layers. The fabric ‘collage’ will then be stitched by hand with a variety of embroidery threads to accentuate and blend or define the fabric shapes. Details will be added with couching and simple embroidery. Linda will also demonstrate how the same materials and techniques can be used to create a fabric landscape. Finally, you’ll be shown how to present the finished piece in a variety of different ways. This short course is suitable for all levels of experience and could be a way to recycle lots of fine fabrics you already own.

During this course Linda will cover:

  • working with fine, sheer fabrics
  • free appliqué
  • running stitch by hand
  • couching and French knots
  • stitch density and direction
  • colour effects
  • making something from your stitched fabric

During the course you’ll see Linda work on a variety of scales to create stitched pieces that can be used for a range of purposes from greetings cards to framed wall art to decorative bags.

You’ll work with fabrics like a painter might use paint, considering soft and hard edges as you lay down areas of colour and shape. Then hand stitch will be used to bleed colour, blend and diffuse edges and create contrast. The meditative, slow stitch approach of using the running stitch will introduce texture to the surface.

Linda suggests referencing the paintings of Paul Klee and others, but if you have another favourite painter then that could also work. If you’re not familiar with any of the artists’ work, don’t worry, you’ll see we’ve included links to paintings held in collections around the world that you can view online.

Included in the course materials are original paintings by Linda, inspired by the work of Paul Klee, that you are welcome to download and use as reference.

Sign up here..

What do I need?

We hope that you’ll already have much of what you’ll need for this course and we encourage you to repurpose and recycle fabrics when you can as you’ll only need small pieces.

  • Lightweight cotton fabric as the base, scraps of sheer or fine fabrics such as chiffon, organza, gauze, muslin, tulle, lawn, habitat silk.
  • A variety of embroidery threads – Linda uses 6 strand embroidery floss, single strand cotton embroidery thread, Danish flower thread, hand dyed and variegated threads. All or any of those would be perfect.
  • Thread for basting.
  • Basic sewing kit to include a small chenille needle with a large eye.
  • Temporary spray adhesive is an optional but helpful item!

You might need other items, depending on what you’d like to make your stitched piece into. We’d recommend watching all the videos before you decide and then you can choose something that’s appropriate to what you already have.

All signed up? Let's go!

Below you’ll find all the course materials (these will be fully accessible once you’ve signed up).  If you have any questions be sure to visit the Community page and chat with us and your fellow students there. Don’t forget, you need to be logged in to view the Community page.

You will keep access to these workshops, and to the Community indefinitely so there’s no rush to complete the course. You can confidently work in your work in your own time and enjoy that slow paced hand stitching. We’d love to see what you make and how it’s looking as you go along. Please feel free to post photos of your progress in the Community.

The video workshops...

Workshop 1 - In the first workshop of this course join Linda to take a look at some inspirational images that will inform the appliqué and colour choices. Then make a start with gathering materials and beginning the composition.  To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
Quilting

Running with Stitch – Inspiration and Materials

Workshop 1 – In the first workshop of this course join Linda to take a look at some inspirational images that will inform the appliqué and colour choices. Then make a start with gathering materials and beginning the composition. 

To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
On this page you'll find reference images which you may like to work from when making your free appliqué. These are all original paintings by Linda, made in response to her study of the work of Paul Klee. To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
Quilting

Running with Stitch – Reference Images Part 1

On this page you’ll find reference images which you may like to work from when making your free appliqué. These are all original paintings by Linda, made in response to her study of the work of Paul Klee.

To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
Workshop 2 - Work along with Linda to layout the composition of fabrics. Consider the scale of the piece you're working on and how you'll layer your fabrics ready for stitching. To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
Quilting

Running with Stitch – Composing your Fabrics

Workshop 2 – Work along with Linda to layout the composition of fabrics. Consider the scale of the piece you’re working on and how you’ll layer your fabrics ready for stitching.

To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
Workshop 3 - In this session work along with Linda to begin your stitching. Linda will show you how you can use simple running stitch to blend or contrast with your fabric layers. To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
Quilting

Running with Stitch – Stitching

Workshop 3 – In this session work along with Linda to begin your stitching. Linda will show you how you can use simple running stitch to blend or contrast with your fabric layers.

To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
Workshop 4 - Now you have the essential techniques, let's move on with making a second piece. This time we'll work with the idea of a landscape to help our composition.  To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
Quilting

Running with Stitch – Landscape

Workshop 4 – Now you have the essential techniques, let’s move on with making a second piece. This time we’ll work with the idea of a landscape to help our composition. 

To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
Here are some reference images for your landscape piece. To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
Quilting

Running with Stitch – Reference Images Part 2

Here are some reference images for your landscape piece.

To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
Workshop 5 - In this session we'll explore how we can add line to our stitched pieces using couching. This is a great technique for adding outline and additional motifs. To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
Quilting

Running with Stitch – Couching Line

Workshop 5 – In this session we’ll explore how we can add line to our stitched pieces using couching. This is a great technique for adding outline and additional motifs.

To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
Workshop 6 - In the final session of the course Linda will show you some of the options you have for using your stitched piece. Maybe you'll make a cushion, bag, card or frame your work? To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.
Quilting

Running with Stitch – Final Steps

Workshop 6 – In the final session of the course Linda will show you some of the options you have for using your stitched piece. Maybe you’ll make a cushion, bag, card or frame your work?

To access this post, you must purchase Running with Stitch.