Wednesday 26 January 2022: Online Workshops (Stitched Doodles Journal)

Gary Mills - Wednesday 26 January 2022 - 7.00pm to 8.30pm (GMT)

Online Interactive Workshops: Stitched Doodles Journal Classes x 3

We're delighted to announce that our multi-talented craft/design guru Gary Mills is returning early in the New Year with another trio of connected, 90-minute, workshops! In line with his previous Creative Sketchbook Series of classes that proved so popular in 2021, but putting our pens, pencils & crayons aside for the time being, Gary's three-part Stitched Doodles Journal project embraces Sewing & Mixed-Media and will run from 7.00-8.30pm (GMT) on Wednesday 26 January, Wednesday 16 February and Wednesday 16 March 2022 - participants can book via just one ticket which encompasses all 3 x classes, which should make it much easier to book. Anyone not able to attend one or more of the classes will receive a link to the video recording soon after the class has first aired. This promises to be another treat series of classes  and a 'must' for all who've previously enjoyed Gary's past Creative Sketchbook series - we can't wait to welcome you aboard for this trio!...

Introduction by Gary:-

Have you always wanted to feel more confident and freer to play with exploring simple stitches and imagery within a journal format? This is a project in three consecutive workshop sessions designed by me, Gary Mills, that can help develop creative ability in anyone. In this latest edition to my hugely successful and popular “Creative Sketch Book” series of workshops, the natural progression had to lead to this; doodle and “draw” with just stitches. I have created a journal of explorations and responses with only a needle, thread, and some fabric.

Within this workshop you will not only practically make this beautiful cloth journal but, guided over the next three sessions, you will discover that hand-stitching is becoming one of the new key meditative and relaxing pastimes to calm our minds in a world which, at times, can seem really unsettling and stressful.

It is amazing how much pleasure can be had from slowing down, picking up a needle and thread and simply sewing, be that just taking a simple running stitch on a journey across some cloth, or playing with one shape and seeing how many combinations you can create on a theme. Try mixing media with additions of found papers and some paint upon the cloth you sew.

This will become a lovely past time of mindful stitching, the practice has connections to sustainability, simplicity, preserving memories and reflection.

IMPORTANT: You do not have had to have taken part in any previous Creative Sketchbook series, to enjoy and get something form this set of new workshops! This new, exciting and engaging project has been specifically designed to be accessed by everyone and it's for all abilities: for all of you who admire stitch, who would like to learn and have a go, and those who enjoy stitch but would like to become a little 'freer' and more open to some new ideas!...

What You Will Learn in this Online Interactive Workshop:-

Session ONE - Wednesday 26 January 2022:

To begin you will make a decorative cloth journal cover, which is easily made through bonding, layering, and securing found fabrics with some simple hand stitches. Here memories can be laid down as you could use pieces from past garments and snippets of previously worked fabrics; even papers in combination to form a simple patchwork outer cover.

After this first session you have a month to continue to stitch and work into your journal cover as you then prepare for the second session.

Session TWO - Wednesday 16 February 2022:

In this second session you will progress the project through exercises to add pages of hand stitch skills through the exploration of ideas and engaging playful creative tasks. Taking the simple running stitch, you will be going on a guided “walk” across your first page of the journal. A session of playful doodles is explored through threading, interweaving, and trapping down stitches. Consider negative space and doodled spirals in contrast to thickness of threads. Then as your imagination expands consider creating simple drawn forms in stitches upon prepared painted and collaged cloth for a mixed media concept. This session will leave you with a plentiful menu of easy to expand upon ideas to fill another month of playful stitching until we meet again for the third session of the project.

Session THREE - Wednesday 16 March 2022:

In this final session of the current series, you will explore just one simple shape, the square, and apply playful creative stitched ideas to that. You will mask and paint and stich on cloth, you will bond fabric and stitch across blocks, you will tumble and topple squares and stitch upon them. You will even join, splice, and frame your square. At the end of this session, you will have several pages of creative ideas to add to your journal to inspire and continue your creative journey in stitched doodles.

Skill Level for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

Gary has many years’ experience as a professional practitioner and teacher of art & textiles. His workshops are so enjoyable, rewarding, fun, and very well organised with his clear and patient guidance. This workshop is suitable for all; if you are a beginner this is a great way to learn and explore the rudiments of stitch within art-based textiles and design processes and for those with some confidence and experience you could further diversify your approaches to hand sewing through your artistic ability and imagination.

Material requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

All the materials are easily accessible. Such as found and recycled fabrics, papers and paints which can be sourced from your own scrap and stash collection or local shops or online and most other materials can be found around your sewing box. You will need for these workshops:-

Session ONE - The Journal Cover

• For the outer cover you will need 1x 12 ½ “x 9 ½” (32cm x 24cm) of interlining batting / bumph. I use a synthetic one, but you can use cotton or wool
• I x sheet of fabric heat transfer adhesive (Bonda web or similar) 12 ½ “x 9 ½” (32cm x 24cm)
• A selection of square and rectangle pieces from past garments and snippets of previously worked fabrics, even papers. Sizes can vary as these will be layered upon the adhesive and fixed onto the interlining, but approx. 5” x 3” (13cm x 8cm) and smaller
• Important: For the top layer of your journal to initially trap down all your layered pieces and then hand stitch into, you will need some cream or white fine nylon tulle net, or you can use synthetic organza or silk organza. Size 13 ½ “x 10 ½” (34cm x 24cm)
• For the inner cover 1 x rectangle measuring 12 ½ “x 9 ½” (32cm x 27cm) of neutral medium weight fabric such as a biscuit / beige colour linen for the inner. You can also use cottons and other found or recycled fabrics which can be joined to create the desired rectangle measurements.
• For the ties of the journal 32” of cotton tape or ribbon ¼ “wide (consider the colour with your chosen outer fabric)
• Threads: for construction a matching or natural tone colour hand or machine sewing thread
• For decorative stitches DCM embroidery thread or cotton Perle thread a couple of colours (think about a good contrast colour which will stand out or compliment your chosen cover fabrics and papers.)

Session TWO:

• 1x 5 ½” x 8 ¼“(14cm x 21cm) white or cream felt or boiled wool / wool flannel
• 2x 5 ½” x 8 ¼“(14cm x 21cm) white or cream calico or linen pre painted and dried with some cream acrylic paint or house hold emulsion
• Scraps of printed newspaper or old book papers
• Black DCM embroidery thread or cotton Perle thread
• Black fine hand sewing thread or even machine thread
• For contrast: red embroidery thread or cotton Perle thread

Session THREE: Colour Theme in Various Blues and Orange Contrast

• 1-2 x 5 ½” x 8 ¼ “(14cm x 21cm) white or cream calico or linen
• Masking tape
• A little blue acrylic paint small brush or sponge applicator
• 3-4 x 5 ½” x 8 ¼ “(14cm x 21cm) biscuit or beige colour calico or linen
• A selection of square and rectangle pieces from past garments 2” x 2” (5cm x 5cm)
• Blue DCM embroidery thread or cotton Perle thread
• Orange DCM embroidery thread or cotton Perle thread
• A selection of square and rectangle pieces from past garments
• Blue fine hand sewing thread or even machine thread

Equipment requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop: -

Items, that can usually be found in your general sewing-box, are as follows:-

• Pins
• Fabric Shears or Rotary-Cutting Blade
• Cutting Mat
• A selection of different sized Hand Needles from fine to those with a larger eye for threading thicker thread.
• A Ruler or Grading Ruler for squaring up and cutting squares.
• An Iron, Ironing Mat or Board and baking parchment to protect your work when you press.
• A Fabric Pen/Marker (I use one which disappears with heat, but any similar will do)
• A Hairdryer to hand when speed-drying is required
• PVA Fabric Glue (I do also use an ordinary glue stick such as Pritt Stick as well)

Optional: You can use a sewing machine for making the journal cover if you wish but hand stitches work just as well.

Additional Information relevant to this Online Interactive Workshop: -

Those attending the workshop will receive Gary’s guidance notes on six simple hand embroidery stitches.

Tickets for this three-part series of 90-minute Online Interactive Workshops (via the Zoom platform) will be limited & allocated on a first-come/first-served basis! If applicable, any free pattern, or other information, relevant to this course will be forwarded to you after booking and approximately 5 days before the course date. The ticket price of £50.00 includes attendance on ALL THREE WORKSHOPS and is based on ONE person attending each class.

These CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshops are being broadcast from the United Kingdom and the class time given is based on Greenwich MeanTime (GMT). We advise you check via Google Search (or similar) to see corresponding start-time in YOUR location!

Ordering MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT Online For Any Class/Workshop!

In light of the ongoing situation regards potential delays with supply of certain materials/fabrics/equipment from around the world due to the lasting impact of Covid-19, please ensure you book your place & order any materials/fabrics/equipment online in plenty of time ahead of course dates.

Enjoy This Class/Workshop Again on YouTube!

A link to a recording of each workshop will be sent to all who buy a live ticket for the Zoom broadcast approximately 5 working days after the event; the video will be available to view for 30 days from the video release date.

Are you not able to attend this class due to living in a different time-zone?

Are you otherwise engaged on the date of this workshop? Well, we have excellent news!

This class will be available to view as a Pay-On-Demand video via our Online Shop for 30 days following the video release date (approximately 5 working days after broadcast on Zoom).