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Embroidered Miniatures with Jessie Chorley
Workshop Information
Available Dates
This class focuses on Jessie Chorley’s unique style of hand-embroidered storytelling in fabric and thread. Under Jessie’s guidance, you will be encouraged to play intuitively with a range of stitch types (along with darning techniques, needle turned appliqué and reverse appliqué) to create miniature standalone embroidered objects and wearable brooches. Jessie will demonstrate these techniques at various stages throughout the day, allowing you to relax into your time together.
Whether you have a personal story to tell or a family memory to explore – or if you prefer to experiment and simply learn in Jessie’s company – this carefully curated class is perfect for both ways of working, and all levels of ability.
At the start of the day, Jessie will talk you through a selection of her smaller-sized embroidered artworks and brooches.
Following this, you will be given an (the kit is essential for attending this class and is £30 payable to Jessie at the start of the class) inspiration kit, and Jessie will demonstrate how to start your own embroidered miniatures using items
from your kit. You will be encouraged to select and cut out fabric shapes. You will draw motifs directly onto base fabrics using Jessie’s signature cut and trace templates. Specialist pens and chalk pencils will be provided for drawing. This structured way of working allows you time to embroider into your miniature panels, objects or brooches under Jessie’s guidance during the rest of the class.
Over the course of the day you will discover how Jessie incorporates found or personal items, especially pre-loved fabrics, into her embroidered stories and worlds. If this is something you would like to explore, please bring along small precious materials or items. For instance, a pearl button may become the centre of a flower, or a piece of blue silk ribbon a detail in a densely stitched sky.
Pre-loved fabrics and objects can also inspire memories and personal stories. A snippet from a worn dress, a collar from a favourite shirt, or a patch from a worn curtain can all serve as treasured materials with personal associations. Focus on gathering items that hold meaning for you. Incorporating a special memory and personal ephemera into your embroidery can be highly rewarding.
Materials List-Note from Jessie
Suggested below is a list of items you may wish to bring along.
Please note that as an embroidery teacher, I am always prepared with my fully stocked class kit, which is intended for your use as my student. My kit includes my specialist embroidery threads, ribbons, strings, templates, embroidery needles, scissors and small assorted fabric scraps. Therefore, if you can’t bring materials or personal items to the class, you are welcome to share and use my kit with other students.
I look forward to sewing with you!
Jessie Chorley
Please enjoy gathering items from the list below:
Your favourite embroidery needles, sewing tools and your own little scissors.
An assortment of embroidery threads you enjoy working with. Stranded or pearl threads are ideal.
A range of lightweight fabric scraps. Larger pieces (20cm x 20cm) are good if you wish to use my purpose-made templates to cut out horse, rabbit, cat, tree, moon, star, house, cloud shapes. Smaller pieces of fabric are perfect for adding appliquéd detail.
Pieces of plain linen or cotton fabrics. Vintage tablecloths, tray cloths, hankies and linen napkins are also suitable materials for this class.
Small items that could be stitched into your work, such as charms, buttons, vintage lace, ribbons, small metal keys, or small pieces of jewellery.
Is there a memory, life event, an aspect of your family history, a poem, or simply an inspiring word that might inspire your own embroidered object or brooch?
Fabric or threads to share with people in your class
Finally, feel free to bring along any Jessie Chorley embroidery templates in progress or those you have finished. I am always happy to help and I love to see your versions of my projects!