RSN Exclusive Heath and Harebells by Sarah Smith

RSN EXCLUSIVE Heath and Harebells by Sarah Smith

"I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath and harebells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth."

Inspired by the haunting final paragraph of the novel 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Brontë, this online class uses a combination of surface stitches to recreate this tranquil moorland scene. Heather ('heath') and harebells combine with Yorkshire fog grass, cotton grass and Large Heath butterflies to create a unified circular design.

The project uses a wide variety of stitches, including: split stitch, stem stitch, detached chain, turkey rug stitch, satin stitch, silk shading, fly stitch and French knots, with several elements stitched to add a three dimensional element to the work. One of the butterfly wings, for example is created using a 'Stumpwork' technique with a fine wire edging. All of these are covered in the kit instructions, but some previous experience of these, in particular of silk shading, would be advisable.

The threads used are lustrous pure silk Soie d'Alger from Au Ver A Soie and the background fabric is a beautiful high thread count pale blue linen. The finished piece is designed so that it can be framed in a standard 8 inch embroidery hoop.

Your kit comes with everything you need to complete the design but you will also need sharp embroidery scissors and an 10 inch embroidery hoop.

Warning: Not suitable for children, kit contains sharp object