Sylvia M

My life in embroidery began with being taught running stitch, chain stitch and stem stitch by an ancient Aunt, when I was 5 years old. Despite a teacher at junior school telling my mother that I’d never be able to stitch properly if I lived to be a 100 (getting there!), a love of stitching of all kinds grew. After marriage and the arrival of my children, I developed a love of dressmaking. This led to my first City & Guilds in Fashion and Design, which I duly completed.

My real interest, however, was embroidery, and after an enforced rest with a broken ankle and a book called ‘Needlework School’, I decided to try my hand at my own designs so I signed up for the City & Guilds Embroidery with Design. Struggling to the top storey of Gawthorpe Hall for 4 years with sewing machines and so on took some doing, but we survived – making lifelong friends in the process.

I followed the City & Guilds Patchwork and Quilting course at Horwich, with the Stumpwork City & Guilds. Glutton for punishment were the words that sprung to mind, as we battled with CGLI instruction and their tendency to move goalposts halfway through the course.

My favourite techniques are almost anything that is hand-embroidered, silk shading, Casalguidi, needlelace and general surface embroidery. I also like layering techniques, using sheers, scrims etc. I have done some machine embroidery and admire the skill involved but don’t feel very comfortable with it as a medium for myself.

I cannot imagine life without something to stitch, but am quite happy never to go near another City & Guilds.