Freestyle stitching session

Freestyle embroidery session - inspired by South American Motifs plus Peruvian braid making

A freestyle embroidery workshop

The Inspiration

The Incas held the mighty condor as sacred, marveling at its enormous wingspan and ability to soar vast distances from Lima to the Andes mountains. To them, it was the messenger of the heavens—a divine link between earth and sky. With its ability to fly closer to the sun god Inti than any other creature, the condor was believed to carry the souls of the dead to the afterlife on its powerful wings.

Your Creative Journey

This workshop encourages you to create your own independent piece of embroidery or textile art inspired by this powerful symbol. Whether you choose to interpret the condor literally or abstractly, let the themes of flight, spirituality, and connection guide your creativity.

Techniques to Explore

We encourage experimentation with a wide range of embroidery techniques, including:

• Free-motion stitching and couching
• Layered appliqué and reverse appliqué
• Goldwork and metallic threads (perfect for capturing the sun connection)
• Surface stitching (satin stitch, long and short stitch, seed stitch)
• Textural techniques such as French knots, bullion knots, or raised work
• Mixed media approaches combining fabric, beads, and found materials

Materials and Equipment Required

Please bring:

• Base fabric (cotton, linen, or felt recommended)
• Embroidery hoops or frames
• Selection of embroidery threads (cotton, silk, wool, metallic)
• Needles in various sizes
• Fabric scraps for appliqué
• Scissors (fabric and embroidery)
• Optional: beads, sequins, ribbon, metallic threads, fabric paints

Motif Reference

We'll provide a link to a document featuring a selection of basic condor and geometric motifs suitable for this project to help spark your imagination.

All skill levels welcome, come ready to explore, experiment, and create something uniquely yours!

About Blackheath Embroiderers Group:

We're a community of embroidery enthusiasts who love sharing our passion for textile arts. Whether you join us for this single workshop or decide to explore membership, we'd love to help you discover the joy of creative stitching.

Come spend a relaxing afternoon learning something new, meeting fellow craft lovers, and creating something beautiful to take home!

This workshop is part of Blackheath Embroiderers season of embroidery and textile art sessions looking at textile technoques from around the globe.

Our sessions are led by group members with experience and passion for the subject.

We welcome textile enthusiasts of all levels of experience, just bring along a basic sewing kit, embroidery threads, some assorted fabrics and have a go!

We also offer an online zoom link to all ticket holders, just in case you can't make it in person - the link will be sent to you with your booking confirmation.