Gorgeous fabric for a tutoring project... ​

©Joanna Cox Marshall ​

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

Website: http://www.edithgracedesigns.com

Etsy: https://edithgracedesigns.etsy.com

Love Crafts: https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/user/Joanna-Marshall/9ca214ef-042f-4f4a-9953-4b30489a8591

Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/stores/edith-grace-designs

This little doll is perfect as a gift for Mother's Day, Easter, Birthdays, Bridesmaids or just as a 'thinking of you' or 'thank you'. The doll is 15cm tall and is suitable for beginners, using very basic knitting techniques. The body and head are knitted all in one, has an overskirt over the main part of the body, and holds a bunch of tulips.

I have updated my website...

There is information on:
- Tutors & Tutoring
- Price List & Contact Form
- My Original Knitting & Cross-Stitch Patterns
- Links to my Online Shops
- Free Knitting Stitch Patterns
- My Blog
All sessions are 90 minutes and held in my Brackley home studio. Tutoring for children, young people & adults is available Monday to Saturday during the day & evenings.
#brackleytextilesclasses #brackleyknittingclasses #brackleydressmakingclasses

©Joanna Cox Marshall ​

My homage to Alfred Wallis, Voyage to Labrador
My 'Copy Cat' piece is an interpretation through hand embroidery. Wallis started painting in his 70s, after being a fisherman all his working life. His work is described as Naive, a style that I have always enjoyed and which I like to replicate in my textiles. In my sample, I have tried to stay within the original piece's composition as a base, but brought colour and texture through the variety of embroidery stitches used. When I start stitching, I always start with an outline, but I do not have a plan on the stitches or colour I use, I stitch freely. 
The backing fabric is 100% cotton, hand dyed with fabric paint & water, dried in the sun with a stone, twigs, mustard seeds & salt placed on top, to give the fabric a pattern. I have used DMC embroidery threads. 

©Joanna Cox Marshall ​

I love it when someone spots something they like on FB and is inspired. So, I was in the studio on Friday with a 1970s pattern for a petticoat and later worked on a personal project 'Copy Cat', which is nearly finished. ​

Tudor Cardinal 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.

This doll is based on Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a Catholic Cardinal, English statesman and The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. Wolsey is associated with the Tudor period and King Henry VIII. The doll is 15cm tall and is dressed based on a painting in Hampton Court Palace. The Cardinal is very easy to knit and is suitable for beginners. 

This is a 1970s Wrap Skirt. Before I tutor privately or in a workshop, I like to test the pattern first. This pattern is an excellent beginner's sewing pattern. I feel vintage patterns are far easier to follow over modern patterns, and the fit is better once adjustments are taken into account, which is not needed with this skirt. Vintage patterns follow basic dressmaking techniques and can help a student build on dressmaking foundations as they progress through the patterns. I am looking forward to teaching this pattern at the weekend. This is a size 14, but fitted to the mannequin for photographic purposes only. ​

​©Joanna Cox Marshall 

I did some hand dyeing today for a personal project, 'Copy Cat'. This dyeing process used calico fabric, water, fabric paints, salt & mustard seeds. I am looking forward to stitching tomorrow. ​

©Joanna Cox Marshall ​

​Here is my short development from a picture to drawing & colouring materials to a finished sample from 2019. The finished sample is printed paper, calico, and embroidery thread.
This process is excellent to start creative stitch & developing your artistic skills and confidence.

A selection of gorgeous fabrics brought into the studio this week... ​

​©Joanna Cox Marshall

​©Joanna Cox Marshall

Three Tiered Skirt with Petticoat. 
​There is as much hand sewing as there is machine sewing in this skirt, but sometimes the old fashioned way is the best, as this handmade skirt will last for years because of the finish. ​

​If you would like to learn creative stitch, 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