Creating a series of samples using additional stitches (stem stitch, fly stitch and cross stitch) and making a book to store them.

Join local artist Cath Gowthorpe for this series of four workshops.

Building on existing skills with needle and thread, each participant will create a series of original hand stitch samples, measuring up to 12.5cm x 25cm. In the fourth and final session, they will construct a book out of fabric for mounting their samples. Inspiration for the samples will come from participants’ imagination, prior work, reference books and Cath’s own samples.

This course builds upon the first course in the series (delivered in March and June 2026). Completion of the first course is not compulsory for this course, but new participants should be able to embroider confidently a range of basic hand stitches. Please note that this course does not teach very basic skills, e.g. threading a needle, pushing it in and out of fabric to make a stitch.

The course introduces three new stitches in addition to those covered in the March and June 2026 courses: stem stitch, fly stitch and cross stitch. Participants can choose which stitch or combination of stitches to use in their samples. Additional stitches will be taught if requested by participants.

Participants will not be working to a given pattern; they will use their imagination (and source materials as inspiration) to create small, original sample pieces. They can bring any materials (fabric, wools, threads) that they have to hand, but a range of materials in different colours will be provided as well. Sample books created by the lecturer will be available to examine and use as inspiration. Other possible sources of inspiration include participants’ own previous textile work (if any), photographs, memorabilia, books on art and textiles).

The lecturer will discuss the process of selecting and using a theme to link the samples. In the first class she will show participants examples of using themes, such as landscape, limited colour combinations and personal memories, to create a sample book.

By the beginning of the fourth session, all participants will have completed several samples. In the fourth session, using materials provided by the lecturer, each participant will sew together a simple padded book made of a combination of fabrics. The pages of the books will be used to mount the samples.

There are 10 places available on this course. There will be a tea break half way through each session and refreshments can be purchased from the Granary Cafe downstairs from the conference rooms where we meet.

Cath Gowthorpe completed City & Guilds Certificate and Diploma courses at Stitchbusiness in Durham City between 2009 and 2015, taught by Julia Triston and Tracey A Franklin. She has attended many other courses with distinguished textile artists, including Matthew Harris, Alison King, Claire Wellesley-Smith, Sheila Mortlock, Alice Fox and Bobby Britnell. Examples of her work feature in ‘How to be Creative in Textile Art’ by Julia Triston and Rachel Lombard (Batsford, 2011).

Cath was a member of the exhibiting group Prism from 2015 to 2017, and since 2017 has been a member of EDGE Textile Artists Scotland. She regularly shows work in exhibitions organised by EDGE and other groups, and has sold textile work and paintings at several exhibitions.

Cath spent much of her working life as a lecturer and has extensive experience of adult education. More recently, she occasionally lectures and runs workshops on textile art.

www.catherinegowthorpe.com

Instagram: @catherine.gowthorpe

All bookings are subject to our Terms and Conditions. If you book this course online, we will hold your personal data in accordance with our privacy policy. If you do not wish us to hold your personal data, please book by post (see www.berwickea.co.uk) and do not supply an email address.

Attendees with special requirements should check with the venue before the event if possible.

Description supplied by the event organiser.