​I am a designer of knitting patterns & cross stitch patterns, as well as a textile artist & dressmaker, selling my work on several online shop platforms. This experience is something I can pass on to my students when tutoring.
I have new projects in 2025, and one of them is designing flower doll knitting patterns, publishing a new pattern each month. The patterns are for those who have just mastered a basic knitting technique. Each pattern has a visual instruction manual on 'How to Knit', as not everyone likes reading written instructions when learning to knit.

If you are a beginner & have learnt the basics of machine sewing, do not feel you have to move on to sewing projects like tote bags or something similar. There are plenty of easy dressmaking patterns that any beginner can sew whilst working alongside an experienced & qualified tutor, who can help with fitting & adjusting the pattern. Alternatively, several pattern designers have online tutorials that accompany their patterns. In the last couple of years learning a new skill has changed, so to help with those beginner projects, having an occasional one-on-one with a qualified tutor while working on your project at home, makes the experience of sewing fun & rewarding. 

I am very proud that I have taught knitting in Brackley to many children & young people since 2012. I taught at a knitting club I set up at a Primary School, and still meet people who have continued to knit to this day. It makes me so very proud.

Lots of creative fun with felt & mastering the basics of hand sewing.

All set up for creative stitching. I have included an original design from lessons I have tutored for young people, this project has been really popular over the years. ​

A 1970s petticoat with broderie anglaise. This will go under the tiered skirt which is nearly finished & the petticoat will make the skirt fuller. ​

​Last week was very busy and this week is equally as busy due to half-term, but I am all set up for the week...
This lesson is ideal for younger primary school children. It includes French knitting, weaving & ancient Lucet cord making, which can be traced back to Viking times. All these lovely crafts are fantastic for fine motor skills and will help a student understand what patterns wool makes before progressing to knitting & crocheting. It is also excellent for adults who are just starting to explore wool crafts.

Share the cost of a tutoring lesson between two people and learn about:
Basic Knitting Skills, Tools & Equipment Needed, Understanding Knitting Patterns & Materials, Knitting Flat & Circular, Cable & Fair Isle Knitting, Blocking & Construction Skills.

If you would like to know more about children & young people's textile and dressmaking classes, click on the link below for more information on tutoring, a full price list, and a form to contact me. Alternatively, please message me on FB.
http://www.edithgracedesigns.com/tutoring.html

​©Joanna Cox Marshall 

Take inspiration, draw & stitch

I am looking forward to embroidery stitching this evening. ​

Daffodil Flower Doll Knitting Pattern by Edith Grace Designs 
The doll is 15cm tall including the hat, knitted in double knitting wool & worked flat. 
This pattern can be bought as a PDF Digital Download from - Etsy, Love Crafts & Ravelry.

Since a child I have a collection of Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairy books which contain poems and illustrations of flower fairies. I have always wanted to design dolls with this theme in mind due to the imagination the books gave me while growing up. I still grab a book now and again to look at the beautiful illustrations. I intend to design one flower doll per month for 2025, so a daffodil doll for February seems a good choice. 

This is an easy knitting pattern and perfect for beginners. This little doll is 15cm tall including the hat. She wears a flared skirt, which is very simple to knit, and a pretty hat depicting all the colours associated with a daffodil.          

Ooh, I love it when someone brings gorgeous fabric into the studio... ​

​The tiered skirt has quite a few panels so time was spent to match the panels and ensure all the fabric was facing the same way, a common mistake that isn't explained in sewing patterns. It is important to spend time studying the fabric pattern when buying the fabric and when cutting it. Dressmaking does not have quick shortcuts and time spent at the beginning of a project can make the whole process very enjoyable. The buttonhole panels and waistband are next...
The skirt is pinned to the mannikin for photographic purposes only.
The 70s vibe is really in at the moment, so this skirt will look gorgeous later this year, especially with the petticoat pattern that is included in the pattern.

It's been another busy week, but doing some catching up on the makes from the studio from last week. A finished pair of child's dungarees, aged 1 year using a 1969 sewing pattern. ​

Last week, we continued knitting with a cable needle. Below is a sample knitting 'Slipstitch Crosses', using a cable needle and two colours. The stitch is for intermediate knitters. ​

​If you would like to learn knitting, click on the link below for more information on tutoring, a full price list, and a form to contact me. Alternatively, please message me on FB.
http://www.edithgracedesigns.com/tutoring.html

​©Joanna Cox Marshall