Creating textile art: stitch and texture

Join local artist Cath Gowthorpe for this introduction to Textile Art, to be held over four sessions of three hours.

This course covers six categories of basic hand stitch (running, chain, blanket, French knots, couching and satin stitch). Course participants are not expected to be highly skilled in textile art, but they must be familiar with basic handsewing. Each participant will create a series of up to six original stitch samples, measuring around 15cm x 15cm, and in the fourth and final session, make and bind a book and store the samples in it.

Participants will not be working to a given pattern; they will use their imagination and source materials as inspiration to create small 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. Cath’s own sample books will be available for use as inspiration. Other possible sources of inspiration include participants’ own previous art and textile work (if any), photographs, memorabilia, books on art and textiles).

Each of the first three sessions will cover two types of stitch so that the six stitch types listed earlier are covered by the end of the third session. It is expected that course participants will have at least started two samples in each session, and that if unfinished, they will finish the samples at home.

So, by the fourth session, all participants will have six completed samples. In the fourth session, using materials provided by Cath, each participant will sew together a simple Codex book with stiff covers in order to mount the samples. The plain stiff covers can be enhanced with fabric or paper, or a combination of the two.

Materials list

Please bring with you:

• An embroidery hoop (6, 7 or 8 inch would be fine, although you can work with smaller if you prefer)
• Hand embroidery needles. You don’t need to go to any extra expense for this – bring any needles that you have.
• Threads. If you have any embroidery threads (e.g. stranded cotton, perlé cotton, silks, rayons), especially those in colours you particularly like, bring them. Left-over tapestry wools might come in useful for one or two of the techniques we will be using. Cath will bring threads too, so you will be able to use some of hers if you don’t have any to hand.
• Fabrics. We will be using only small pieces of fabrics, so there’s no need to bring vast quantities with you. If you have small pieces (measuring no more than 20cm x 20cm) of cotton, linen or silk, that you would like to use, please bring them. Cath will be bringing fabric, so if you have nothing at all suitable, you can use hers.

The emphasis of this course is on using stitch in creative ways. We will use six different stitches (two new ones each week): running stitch, chain stitch, blanket stitch, French knots, couching and satin stitch. You may know some or all of these. If not, and if you would like to explore them beforehand, there are many tutorials on YouTube. Cath will be bringing sources of inspiration – her own work and books about textile art.

For session 4, Cath will bring all that you need to construct a bound book in which to keep and display your six completed samples.

Finally, please note that you may not necessarily finish your samples within the course time, and you might have to do some homework.

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

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