Native Wildflower: Traveller’s Joy with Natalie Rowe

This design is inspired by traveller’s joy, Clematis  vitalba, a climbing plant that clambers across  hedgerows and trees and is therefore considered  a weed outside of its native habitat in the south of England. However, the plant does provide a  valuable source of food for a variety of insects, and its distinctive seed heads (which give it  another of its common names, ‘old man’s beard’) are eaten by birds. 

This class provides an introduction to a number of surface stitches, including stem stitch, couching, raised stem band, woven wheels, fly stitch and needle-woven picots. It is finished with the application of glass beads for the stamens. 

The design combines a number of different stitches where threads are woven on the surface of the fabric to create a variety of three-dimensional effects. The repetition of the design elements provides plenty of opportunities to practise and perfect these techniques.  All the stitches will be covered within the tuition and you will be provided with a detailed instruction booklet to enable you to complete the design after the class. Using a selection of stranded cottons, silk and cotton perle threads and glass beads, this design is worked on a vibrant-green cotton fabric.