A (very) little History of Needlepoint , Working with Metallic Threads Those Mellow Golden Days in the Orchard, The Ending of Summer Working with Faux Fur, and Sewing Machine Needles Gathering Seeds for Next Summer Plus: September Almanac, Poetry Corner, Home Comforts and more 1
A Bustle & Sew Publication Copyright Š Bustle & Sew Limited 2020 The right of Helen Challenor to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Every effort has been made to ensure that all the information in this book is accurate. However, due to differing conditions, tools and individual skills, the publisher cannot be responsible for any injuries, losses and other damages that may result from the use of the information in this book.
First published 2020 by: Bustle & Sew Station House West Cranmore Shepton Mallet BA4 4QP www.bustleandsew.com
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Welcome to the September Magazine Hello everyone! Although we can still hope for some warm golden September sunshine there’s no denying that summer is drawing to a close. The days are shorter now and dusk falls earlier every day. Still, this is a most beautiful time of year, and it’s fun to call the Newfies and Rufus and head off for an afternoon’s foraging expedition returning laden with nuts, berries and more besides. Autumn treasures are the theme of the first pattern in this issue - toadstools, leaves and seeds jostle for space on a dusty purple background and we also have the next three new Christmas designs for this year, including the second part of the Nutcracker Dolls - I do hope you’ll like them. I’ll be introducing new kits into our Etsy shop in September - including our first ever Christmas kit, and I’ll be sure to let you know when they’re in stock. Meanwhile, do stay safe and well! Best wishes
Helen xx
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Between this month’s covers … September Almanac
Page 5
A Country Diary
Page 48
Helston Furry Dance
Page 7
Toadstool Patchwork Bag
Page 49
Autumn Treasures Hoop
Page 8
Lovely Scented Linens
Page 53
A (very) Little History of Needlepoint
Page 10
Autumn Wreaths
Page 54
By Candelight
Page 11
Working with Faux Fur
Page 55
Lovely Idea: Pumpkin Soaps
Page 14
Fa la la Llama Hoop
Page 57
Jingle Christmas Pennant
Page 15
Poetry Corner: Rich Days
Page 60
The Ending of Summer
Page 17
Seeds for Next Summer
Page 20
A (very) Little Guide to Using Metallic Threads Page 61
A (very) Little Guide to Sewing Machine Needles Page 22 Hello Gorgeous Hoop
Page 24
Those Mellow Golden Days in the Orchard Page 27 Nutcracker Dolls Part II
Page 41
The Equinox
Page 44
The Harvest Mouse
Page 45
The Harvest Moon
Page 47
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Home Comforts
Page 62
Embroidery Stitch Guide
Page 63
In the Kitchen: Conversion Tables
Page 64
Templates
Page 65
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A (very) Little History of Needlepoint needlework. The craze was so overwhelming that the words “canvas work” and “needlepoint” fell into disuse and this type of stitching was known only as “Berlin work.”
The history of needlepoint stretches back through the centuries. It became increasingly popular as an alternative to the woven tapestry wall hangings used throughout the Middle Ages both as decoration and insulation and, in the 1500’s, Turkey work developed as a way of imitating the extremely expensive oriental carpets first introduced by Cardinal Wolsey during the reign of the English King Henry VIII. The idea was to imitate the oriental knot by making a series of loops, securing each as the stitcher went along with a sort of back stitch, then clipping the whole piece of work at the end to form a velvet pile.
Needlepoint is enjoying a revival today as stitchers rediscover the rich effects of covering an entire surface with the mellow, glowing colours available in tapestry wool, and new patterns are being created by contemporary designers. The most commonly used stitch is the tent stitch, a small diagonal stitch that crosses over the intersection of one horizontal and one vertical thread of needlepoint canvas forming a slanted stitch at a 45 degree angle. It is also known as needlepoint stitch and is one of the most basic and versatile stitches used in needlepoint and other canvas work embroidery. When worked on fine weave canvas over a single warp and weft thread it is known as Petit Point in contrast to stitches, such as Gobelin, worked over multiple threads.
Needlepoint became extremely popular in Victorian times when a huge amount of canvas embroidery was stitched in the form of Berlin wool work. It was called “Berlin Work” as it owed its popularity to a Berlin printer and his wife who invented a method of printing coloured charts which meant that, with only the most basic skills, designs could be counted out onto the canvas. Special merino sheep were bred in Saxony to provide a very soft, strong wool for this
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The ending of summer ‌ 7
Flowers for next summer… Summer is inexorably drawing to a close, and soon it will be time to put the barbeque and garden furniture into storage again ready for next year. You can prepare for next summer in other ways too, and something I love to do is harvest my own seed from plants in my garden. Not only is it free, but I know it’s as fresh as possible, and by gathering seeds from plants already growing in my own garden I know that the seedlings they produce are likely to do well in the same environment.
The time to harvest your seeds is when the seed heads have turned brown and the seeds are hard and dry. Choose a fine, dry day and snip off the seed heads close to their bases with sharp scissors (not your sewing ones obviously haha!) or secateurs. Place the seed heads in paper bags or envelopes - don’t use plastic as inevitably they will contain some moisture and if this is trapped it may cause rotting and fungal infections. Carry a marker pen with you and mark your bags and envelopes as you go as it’s
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easier than you might think to get them muddled up. Some seeds, such as the example teasels, foxgloves and hollyhocks shown on the next page will need a little extra work to separate them from the pods and heads. Empty your bag or envelope of harvested material out onto a sheet of clean dry paper - newspaper is perfect for this - and gently pull the seed containers apart with your fingers, discarding the excess material. When you’ve done this then small envelopes are a great method for storing your seeds over the winter - the cheap
brown paper ones you can purchase from any newsagent are ideal. Label your envelopes carefully and store then in an airtight container in a cool, frost free place until you’re ready to sow them. You’ll almost always be able to harvest more seed than you could possibly use yourself, and if you have green fingered friends, then seed swops are great fun! They make great little
gifts too, or can even be sold at fundraising events. If you enjoy harvesting, then you can always take things a little further by selecting seeds from your favourite flowers - perhaps you’ve especially enjoyed a particular colour or petal shape. Of course you can’t guarantee that the seeds will be true to the parent plant, F1 hybrids definitely won’t come true from seed, but you can increase the odds of
Plants that grow easily from seed include (clockwise from top left) nasturtiums, nigella, foxgloves, teasel and hollyhocks
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ending up with a very similar plant next summer - a whole range of cottage garden favourites will grow reliably from your specially harvested seed. You will need to mark these plants before the flowers are over - simply wrap a piece of colourful yarn around the stem so you can be sure which one it is when you’re ready to collect the seeds.
Spiced Pear Chutney Ingredients
● 100g dark brown soft sugar ● 1 dessertspoon grated root ginger
● 500g pears, peeled, cored and chopped ● 500g tomatoes, peeled and chopped ● 2 large onions, chopped ● 2 fresh red or green chillies, seeded and chopped ● 125ml cider vinegar
● 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
Method ● PIn a heavy saucepan or casserole, combine all ingredients and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 to 45 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent burning. ● Ladle the hot chutney into sterilised jars and seal.
Blackberry Cordial
Orchard Fruit Crumble
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When Day equals Night …. September brings a moment of harmony - a time of perfect balance when day and night are of equal length - the time of the Autumnal Equinox. This moment marks the transition between summer and autumn, the time when the new season begins as we move inexorably towards the darker days and longer nights of the winter months ahead. This year the equinox falls on Friday 22 September, when the sun passes over the equator from north to south. In the summer the tilt of the earth’s axis brings the northern hemisphere closer to the sun, which makes the sun’s heat more intense and the days longer. Then as autumn progresses, the North Pole gradually begins to point away from the sun, which day on day rises ever lower in the sky. This makes the days shorter, temperatures begin to fall and autumn has arrived.
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Dressed in Autumn Hues, the Harvest Mouse lives a solitary life in our fields and hedgerows 15 27
Autumn Wreaths In some European countries in the past it was the custom to weave ears of corn from the last sheaf to be harvested into a wreath entwined with flowers. The prettiest girl in the village then wore the wreath to the farmhouse and the farmer hung it up in the hall. The following Sunday he took it to the church to be blessed and then kept it until Easter when grain from the wreath was scattered in among the newly sprouted corn - a similar tradition to that of sowing the old corn along with the new, or feeding it to the plough horse.
To make a simple wreath, start with a base of thick gauge galvanized wire looped into a substantial circle three strands thick. Gather together a selection of grasses and grains such as corn, wheat, barley, oats, fox tail millet and quaking grass and tie the grasses into small neat bundles, preferably with garden twine or neutral raffia. Use more lengths of twine or raffia to tie the bunches of grass to the wire wreath, working in one direction with the seed heads lying the same way and overlapping the stalks. When the wreath is densely covered add smooth grey poppy seed heads, dried sunflower heads with the petals still attached or silvery honesty seedpods for contrast. Attach a hanging loop and display.
Wreaths, not only of corn, but of meadow and garden grasses, or stems ready dried from specialist flower shops, make ideal decorations for this time of year, whether to hang on your front door or to decorate church or hall for harvest celebrations.
When your wreath is past its best it can still be useful hang it outside for a treat for seed eating birds such as sparrows or finches.
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Rich Days Welcome to you, rich Autumn Days, Ere comes the cold, leaf-picking wind; When golden stocks are seen in fields, All standing arm-in-arm entwined; And gallons of sweet cider seen On trees in apples red and green. With mellow pears that cheat our teeth, Which melt that tongues may suck them in, With blue-black damsons, yellow plums, And woodnuts rich to make us go Into the loneliest lanes we know. W H Davies
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Home Comforts Celebrate autumn’s bounty with a walk through the woods as summer gives way to autumn in a blaze of glorious colour. There are sloes and damsons, crab apples and blackberries to gather, as well as clusters of hazelnuts to be pulled down with a stout stick. For cheerful colour around the house bring back sprays of rosehips and haws, two tone spindle berries and skeins of Old Man’s Beard (wild clematis) with its soft, fluffy seedheads. You may find wild hop bines tangled through the hedges too - these can be carefully unravelled and brought home to garland a mantlepiece, lintel or beam. Their heady scent will permeate the house and, according to plant lore, ensure that everyone will sleep soundly.
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