Stitched Stories, Drawings and Experiments

This group masterclass focuses on Jessie’s signature style of hand embroidered illustration. Under Jessie’s guidance, you will be mark making and playing intuitively with a mix of new and vintage threads and a selection of new and time worn fabrics. Jessie will help you get started with a variety of appliqué techniques, which she encourages you to use as a form of drawing. You will also explore several embroidery stitches including satin, running, seed, cross and couching. Incorporating found objects and personal ephemera into your embroidery is another exciting part of this class. For example, Jessie will show you how a pearl button may become the centre of a flower, or a piece of blue silk ribbon a detail in a densely stitched sky. At the start of your class Jessie will talk you through a selection of her original artworks and then advise you, both as a group and individually, as you embark on your personal journey of creating your own stitched story or drawing. Please note that your work does not have to be narrative based, nor does it have to be finished by the end of the class. Jessie suggests you approach this day as an explorative and peaceful slow-stitching experience inspired by her artworks and materials. For instance, you might like to focus on making a creative stitch sampler. This approach can free up one’s mind and spark fresh ideas in preparation for future stitching projects. You will be working directly onto a piece of natural fabric.