Join us for a stitched adventure into the native ecology of New York State. Simple stitches and custom drawn images by Diana will take us though twelve months of hand work bliss. Beginning in January 2024, Going Native is an exclusive program from The Village Fabric Shoppe with original hand embroidery patterns by Diana Louie.
This twelve-month long series project is based on Native Animals and Plants in the Northeast, and New York State in particular. Each month you will receive an email from us that contains an embroidery pattern for redwork style embroidery, some guidance on stitching it, and information on the significance of the image for that month. Instructions for a simple setting that finishes as a wall hanging will also be included in the free emails. We have an “All at Once” kit available by mail if you would like it, but we encourage you to join us monthly in person if possible. There is so much more that can be shared to enrich this program when we are together in person. It is particularly helpful if you are new to hand embroidery or quilting in general to come to the monthly meet ups.
For the monthly face-to-face meetings, you will get a printed copy of the pattern, base fabric and floss, access to our lightboxes for ease of tracing, sashing/hexagon backing for that month, optional additional floss colors, personal instruction and troubleshooting, and extra information on the Native species featured that month. If that wasn’t enough you will have instruction and demonstrations of tracing, coloring on fabric, stitching by hand, using a hoop or not, pressing and trimming to square, using a sashing, using the Hex-n-More ruler, Quilt as you go Hexagons, English Paper Pieced Hexagons, Using embroideries in Crazy Quilts, and more. All this is designed to help you create personal and unique artwork that you can proudly display or use in your home to help you spread the word about the importance of native species.
The joy of this sort of pattern is the large variety of uses for the designs once they are embroidered. The project was originally envisioned in hexagon shaped blocks, so we have options for finishing that include a Quilt as You Go Hexagon version, and an English Paper Pieced “flowers” version that is twin sized and of course you can use them in a Crazy Quilt. Joining us monthly at the shoppe allows us to guide you to exactly the finish that makes you happy. Besides all that, it’s much more fun to meet with a group.
The twelve designs are original drawings by Diana Louie, and you may use the finished embroideries as you see fit for personal or gift purposes but please don’t share the patterns. If a friend wants to do this with you, they need to sign up for the emails. (after all that part doesn’t cost you or them anything)
The monthly embroidery needs only a basic kit and if you are doing this all by yourself you likely have all that you need already. You will need thread scissors, pencil or micron pen for tracing, embroidery needle and an optional 6” hoop to work the embroidery. Quilting tools will be needed to assemble the stitched designs into a quilt top. It is also suggested that you have a folder or looseleaf with page protectors to hold everything. If geography keeps you from attending in person there is a Facebook Group called Healing Garden VFS in which you can get some more support and guidance. Our mail order kit for the whole project includes base fabric, five colors of setting fabrics, embroidery floss and instructions for stitches and the simple setting that finishes at 26 x 34.
For the monthly face-to-face meetings, you will get a printed copy of the pattern, base fabric and floss for that month, access to our lightboxes, sashing/hexagon backing for that month, optional additional floss colors, personal instruction and troubleshooting, and extra information on the Native species featured that month. If that wasn’t enough you will have instruction and demonstrations of tracing, coloring on fabric, stitching by hand, using a hoop or not, pressing and trimming to square, using a sashing, using the Hex-n-More ruler, Quilt as you go Hexagons, English Paper Pieced Hexagons, Using embroideries in Crazy Quilts, and more. All this is designed to help you create personal and unique artwork that you can proudly display or use in your home to help you spread the word about the benefits of using and supporting the native species in our area.
Please let me know if you will be joining us in person on the first Saturday of each month, 10 am for about 2 hours. If you can’t make that and need us to mail you an “All at once” kit we need to also hear from you, so please call during our business hours. I am so excited to get this started. There will be posts in the Facebook group Healing Garden VFS to build your excitement until then. Check it out!!!
Monthly in person workshops $10.00 per session – First Saturdays 10 -12
All at once kit by mail or pickup $55.00
Facebook and email Free.
Month by Month in person workshops $10.00 per session Monthly on the First Saturday at 10 am.
All at Once Kit is $55.00
Village Fabric Shoppe 