Textile Art – Mark Making on Calico/Cotton & Hand Embroidery
If you prefer to spend more time experimenting with new techniques and looking into design possibilities then this is the workshop for you. It is split into two or three sessions.
Session 1 – Includes mark making on paper then mark making on calico or cotton. We will limit our colour choices, consider mark making tools and make a few to try out.
Once you have painted your fabric you will consider how to use it to design and make your own project in session two.
Session 2 – Cut, stitch and create your own project. The picture, brooches and cards in the image are suggested projects; however, pieces of your painted fabric could be used to make decorative, motifs for bags, cushions etc. Birkhill has an overlocker and four sewing machines if you require them to finish your chosen project.
By the end of the two sessions, you should have created enough painted fabric for subsequent project designing at home.
Price: £89/person for six participants
Who it’s for: Ages 16+
Length: 11 hours - two sessions of 5.5 hrs duration or three sessions of 3.75hrs duration
Mairi Flood
Hello, I’m Mairi the stitching creative behind @Meandering Yarns which is a documentation of my explorations into textile art and sewing. From a very early age, my mum instilled in me a love of making with yarns, textiles and much more. My parents took us on holidays to the Cairngorms and west coast of Scotland where we walked, camped or hostelled so not surprisingly that fascination with the natural world resulted in me studying Forestry at Aberdeen University. Later, when I had my children, I retrained as Primary teacher specialising in early years. All through my career, I continued to craft, sew and be creative. After early retirement, I bought a new sewing machine and decided to see if I could sell what I made as Bosie Hug Tweed Baby Booties and, latterly, as Meandering Yarns. I developed a love of Tweed and wool. In 2024, after ten happy years of this, I decided to change track to give me more time for my personal exploration of sewing and textile art. I was keen to find opportunities to sew with others and share skills. So, I started volunteering at Birkhill. I now run workshops and, when needed, help plan and deliver longer projects at Birkhill, such as the Multiply 10 Cats Numeracy Bags, Saturday Slow Stitchers and making tote bags with the Wednesday Makers Group.