Education

Mermaid Sewing Pouch

Sandie Cormaci-Boles

 

 

ABOUT THE DESIGN:
“The Mermaid Sewing Pouch” features: cross stitch over one and two threads, rice stitch, tied
oblong cross stitch, French knots, straight stitch, diamond eyelets, nun’s stitch, and bead
attachment. The finishing of the sewing pouch uses hand overdyed silk ribbon, silver charms,
and an assortment of glass charms. The finished design size is 4″ wide x 5.5″ high per side
(front and back).

SUPPLY KIT LIST
11” x 18” cut of 28 or 32 count linen
Threads: DMC cotton floss, DMC perle cotton, hand overdyed silk & ribbon, Kreinik metallic
Extras: glass beads, embellishments, charms, needles, Instruction Book

Sandie Cormaci-Boles will be teaching the next online class for the Metropolitan Region, with her design, Mermaid Sewing Pouch. Class will begin on October 7th, 2025 when the first lesson is emailed; more lessons will be provided every week.

The “Mermaid Sewing Pouch” features counted thread techniques. The Pouch is two sided and stitched on a rectangle cut of 28 or 32 count linen. The techniques taught are: cross stitch over one and two threads, rice stitch, tied oblong cross stitch, French knots, straight stitch, diamond eyelets, nun’s stitch, and bead attachment. The finished design size is approximately 4” wide x 5.5” high per side (front and back)

Students will be stitching on a 10” wide by 18” high cut of 28 or 32 count linen. The teacher recommends stitching on a hoop or on Q-snaps (but students may work “in hand”).

Embroidery scissors are required.  Light and magnification is optional but highly recommended.

Also optional but recommended: an awl and/or laying tool, a needle magnet or a pin cushion.

For more information, please contact Marietta Douglas at mlette@yahoo.com

The registration form can be found here.

Sandie Cormaci-Boles Bio:

Sandie hales from Southern California. She has been designing and teaching needlework professionally to children and adults since 1992. Sandie has a passion for learning and sharing her knowledge about all forms of needlework, but particularly counted work, samplers, and the history of needlework.

Sandie has professionally judged needlework and handcrafts for adults and children at State and County Fairs. She has also entered her own work earning several blue ribbons as well as a perfect score. Her teaching goals are to instruct and truly encourage her students. She likes to introduce them to new fabrics, threads, embellishments, and techniques.

Sandie also mentors students wishing to go further with their abilities with the goal of winning judged competitions and exhibits.

 

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Creative Uses for Blackwork on Canvas

Virtual Lecture with Ann Strite-Kurz

Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 1:00 pm

 This lecture will begin with a discussion of some traditional uses of blackwork on Congress cloth and show why traditional patterns are better on 24-count canvas.  Then Ann will progress to some unconventional applications that include layered patterns with laid work both underneath and on top of the blackwork pattern, layered patterns using two values of one color and/or two weights of thread, patterns in two colors, patterns that are combined with canvas filling and patterns with strategic outlines that punctuate other elements.
Ann will also discuss the three methods of executing blackwork sequences and cite the advantages and shortcomings of each method.  These styles are the backstitch method (commonly used on hardanger cloth or aida fabrics where traveling threads don’t show), reversible or double running method and the combination method of alternating back stitches and running stitches with double running side trips.
Some charted examples of her original patterns will be shown with their sequences to illustrate that patterns can use unconventional stitch lengths.  Approaches to designing original patterns will also be included along with ways to avoid crooked outlines.
There is no fee for this lecture.  A Zoom link has been sent to all Region Members.
For more information, please contact Marietta Douglas at mlette_97@yahoo.com
Bio: Ann Strite-Kurz has been an active designer and traveling teacher for forty years.  She received her Level II certification in canvas embroidery in 1982 from NAN (formerly the Valentine Museum).  She also earned a Master Craftsman in Canvas Embroidery from the Conn. River Valley Chapter of EGA in 1980 and wrote three group correspondence courses for EGA.  She specializes in creative applications of counted thread techniques to canvas and is noted for her unusual analytical approach to stitch refinement.  In addition, Ann has published five books on unconventional patterning, including diaper patterns, couching patterns, backgrounds and open composite treatments.