Crewel Twists

Whether you refer to it as crewel or Jacobean, this free form of surface embroidery has been around for centuries and is still popular amongst needle artists today. Because of the nature of the fanciful objects and the tradition of using a large variety of stitches in one project, it lends itself to endless creative expression. In this titel Hazel Blomkamp uses a wide selection of materials to update techniques and inspire embroiderers to explore whilst working loosely within the confines of crewel work styles. She shows needle artists how to be creative with fabric, threads, beads and alternative stitches, borrowing techniques from other forms of needlework, and still producing a product that is typical of the crewel or Jacobean style of embroidery. The original designs include: Projects including beads and metal threads to add sparkle and texture to your work; monochrome embroidery making use of a variety of threads and beads, all within the same colour range; techniques employed in needle-made laces with designs defined by means of texture; more traditional embroidery including shading and satin stitch and the many variations of trellis couching to provide texture and interest.The completed embroideries are displayed in ways that are not only decorative, but are useful in the home.

Hazel Blomkamp has dabbled with all the needlecrafts since childhood. When her children were babies she developed a passion for embroidery to break the tedium of life with toddlers, using it as her evening reward for having got through the day with her sanity intact. Her children are now young adults and she still embroiders in front of the television every night. She has been designing for the past 18 years. Preferring to design projects which appear to be traditional, she pushes the boundaries by introducing other forms of needlecraft into traditional techniques, exploring further in everything that she does. Along with designing, she runs a busy website from home. She teaches at her home studio, in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, and travels throughout South Africa and to Australia teaching embroidery and fine beadwork. She is a regular contributor to South African and Australian embroidery magazines and is a columnist for South African Stitches Magazine. Hazel Blomkamp has an active mail-order business for all embroidery and bead requisites related to her designs. It is possible that, from time to time, bead and thread colours are discontinued. If you are unable to find specific threads and beads for any of the projects in this book, please email Hazel at info@hazelblomkamp.co.za and she will be able to send requisites to you or, in the event that they have been discontinued, will be able to suggest viable alternatives. Screen-printed fabric panels, bead packs and thread packs for all of the projects in this book are available from her website.