And above are just three of the designs coming in January.
I have been taking a look at some of the Facebook hand embroidery groups
and have noticed comments and questions including "what do you do with hand embroidery when you've finished it?" "I'm fed up of all those little circular designs" and "hoops, hoops, hoops just so boring" I think this is really sad to read as embroidery can be used in so many different ways.
I've always tried to incorporate
embroidery into practical items rather as my mum and grandma used to do - think of embroidered pillowcases, tea towels, tablecloths and the very old fashioned fire screens and antimacassars - and this is something I definitely plan to continue in the year ahead. So next month's patterns include a drawstring bag featuring a posy of snowdrops and a cushion cover bearing the words "nolite te bastardes carborumdorum" which you may recognise from Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" as
"don't let the bastards grind you down!" as well as much more besides.
A heads up though - the January Magazine will be published on Saturday 28 December, a couple of days later than usual - due to the Christmas and Boxing Day break.
