Members of the Ashburton Embroiderers’ Guild, in conjunction with Annie’s Country Quilts, are hosting a free, stitch and chat session to celebrate World Embroidery Day.
It will be held on July 29, at Annie’s store on Archibald Street in Tinwald, from 10am to 4pm.
World Embroiderers Day is July 31.
Ashburton Embroiderers’ Guild president Nicky Horrell said all are welcome to the stitch and chat; it’s not just for members.
‘‘We’re trying to see how many embroiderers we can get embroidering on the day,’’ she said.
‘‘We just thought that it would be nice because there are a lot of embroiderers in Mid Canterbury that embroider from home, and to be honest it would be really nice if they wanted to come and join a stitch and chat at guild … let’s all get together for World Embroidery Day.’’
The session will be run in the workshop of Annie’s Country Quilts, at the rear of the property.
Embroiderers can pop in and out during the day, and get help if needed, Nicky said.
‘‘How fun (will it be) to get together for World Embroidery Day. Come one, come all, bring your lunch. Come and have a stitch and chat and bring your embroidery,’’ she said.
Guild members will also have a show of their works on display in the workshop from Thursday.
‘‘God bless Rachel at Annie’s’ for letting us use her classroom,’’ Nicky said.
‘‘She has also asked if we would like to have a mini exhibition (of work) … so people can come along and have a look at the Guild (members) work.’’
It will be on show from July 27 to 29, between 10am to 4pm.
Nicky is working on Cottage #2 Michael Powell cross stitch piece, which is part of a four piece cottage collage which will be framed once completed. It will be a wall hanging.
Nicky started it over Matariki weekend and expects to finish it in a couple of weeks. It’s a piece which will go in the Ashburton Embroiderers’ Guild exhibition at the Ashburton Art Gallery in next year, she said.
The guild’s exhibition is held every two years. Members are trying to encourage people to attend stitch and chat sessions among like-minded people – regardless of knowledge, she said.
The guild meets regularly during the month, with day time and evening sessions. Dates and times are on their Facebook page.
