Purchase this digital product and receive a link to the three YouTube videos of the CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshop featuring leading craft expert Gary Mills and his wonderful Stitched Doodle workshops. This is incredible value as you have 3 classes for only £25.00!
 
We're delighted to announce that our multi-talented craft/design guru Gary Mills has provided a three-part Stitched Doodles Journal project embracing Sewing & Mixed-Media.
 
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. I have created a journal of explorations and responses with only a needle, thread, and some fabric. Within these workshops 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. This will become a lovely past time of mindful stitching, the practice has connections to sustainability, simplicity, preserving memories and reflection.
 
Session ONE -
You will make a decorative cloth journal cover
Session TWO -
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.
Session THREE -
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 CoverFor 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 woolI 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 smallerImportant:
 
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 flannel2x 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 Contrast1-2 x 5 ½” x 8 ¼ “(14cm x 21cm) white or cream calico or linenMasking tape
 
A little blue acrylic paint small brush or sponge applicator3-4 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 these Online Interactive Workshops:-
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.
 
This video is available to view as many times as you like for 60 days FROM THE DATE OF YOUR PURCHASE
 
NOTE: Any short video featured in this promotional info is a Trailer and not the fully-edited version you'll gain access to via YouTube!
 
© Copyright CraftyMonkies Ltd. All rights reserved.