Stitch Along: Carolyn Pearce

3/7/2017

Last week, I received my copy of Inspirations Magazine #95. And wow what a beautiful issue it is! Packed with great embroidery projects exploring a wide range of embroidery techniques. Clear favourite for me: Strawberry Fayre, a heart-shaped sewing necessaire designed by Carolyn Pearce. Carolyn is one of my favourite embroidery designers. A couple of years ago, I stitched her famous Home Sweet Home needlework box.

The sewing necessaire is packed full of lovely stitched details in green, pink and blue. This projects uses 40 embroidery stitches ranging from the well-known French knot to the more exotic cable plait stitch. Equally, it uses a whole array of yummy embroidery threads in cotton, silk, rayon and metallic. And the design uses beads as well! A perfect project to learn new embroidery skills. Not unlike a sampler, but then way more useful.

Inside the sewing necessaire there is ample room for your scissors, stiletto, tape measure, needle pages, pincushion and thread rings. The heart-shaped necessaire closes with a pretty Dorset button. Another pretty technique you will learn from this project!

Dangling from the necessaire are exquisite little needlework essentials: a pinwheel, an emery strawberry and a thimble holder.

I so love this new Carolyn Pearce design, that I ordered the kit as my birthday present (I'll turn 39 on Friday!) from Stitchology. As an Inspirations subscriber, I paid €146 + €26 shipping. Yup, that isn't cheap. However, Carolyn Pearce is known for using many different components in her designs. Trying to gather them yourself from suppliers all over the world isn't necessary any cheaper. That said, if you have a large stash and you don't mind swapping things out, you will be perfectly fine stitching this necessaire with your own supplies!

As the kit is on pre-order at the moment (it will probably ship at the end of July) and will take 3-4 weeks to arrive in Germany, enough time to see if there are others who plan on stitching this project. Wouldn't it be great to hook up online and stitch this project together? Like a Stitch Along (SAL)! Please leave your comment below if you are up for the game. Looking forward to start...

28 Comments

Catherine link

3/7/2017 20:43:07

I too love Carolyn's pieces! I have the book for the workbox but have never felt that I am a competent enough stitcher to actually be able to stitch it. I keep telling myself 'one day'. I see so many of these being made by various people, I do keep thinking I might be able to do it! I would love to join you with this stitch along, although I'm not sure I would 'keep up' very well. Once term starts up again. I think I will be a little short on time to do much else!

Jessica Grimm link

3/7/2017 22:03:23

Oh, you would be absolutely fine regarding the level of difficulty of the Home Sweet Home project! The only thing I found really difficult was the thimble holder. The thing is so tiny! My fingers war far too big to sew it all together. That was a real struggle :).

Sheila Garrett

3/7/2017 22:32:35

Oh Jessica, I too got my copy and just drooled over this project, I also have the home sweet home book and would love to complete, but have put it on hold due to the massive selection of threads and notions that I do not have in my stash.
I think the kit for this is a little expensive but as you have stated you are paying for the specific selection. To buy separately would indeed be more expensive! And I may indeed be persuaded to get it for my cupboard of inheritance x
Sheila

3/7/2017 22:55:27

Sheila, I love your cupboard of inheritance! What a lovely idea. Oh yes, Home Sweet Home has a monster list of materials. I did that one from the official kit as well. Unfortunately, the kit did not include everything as the Inspirations team wasn't able to source it all. I ended up going to London to get some of the ingredients. Not exactely cheap either :)!

3/7/2017 23:51:56

Ha ha Jessica, my daughter has strict instructions if anything happens to me to find an embroider who can value the contents of my inheritance cupboard. It is well stocked - I have only been really buying the last three years. But it has a lot of gold work, silks and C.O.C. Goodies that only an embroiderer can truly appreciate. It's the most valuable thing I have...... other than my family x but it is a passion that grows with a deep satisfaction.

Catherine Kyngdon

4/7/2017 08:26:58

Hi Jessica,
You have done an amazing job with Caroline Pearce's Home Sweet Home project. Caroline's Strawberry Fayre is pure Caroline Pearce. I'm sure you'll love doing it too.

4/7/2017 16:16:33

Thank you Catherine! I am so looking forward to start :).

Rachel link

4/7/2017 13:44:31

Not this time, I'm afraid, but I will very much enjoy watching you stitch it. I had to give up buying embroidery magazines when I realised that the ideas coming out of my own head would probably keep me out of mischief for several lifetimes...!

4/7/2017 16:17:39

Yes, plenty of ideas in my head too, Rachel! Just not so good with finishing and that's why I need my favourite magazine :).

Dima link

4/7/2017 14:52:31

I have that book too =D I bought it mainly for the finishing instructions. I don't think I will ever be able to stitch the house although I would love to if I could. I'm still waiting for my magazine and I plan on stitching a different project from it. I can't wait to get it to start putting together the materials. I will enjoy watching your progress on this though. It's a lovely piece.

4/7/2017 16:19:24

Hmm, funny to read that so many seem to be intimidated by THE House :). Really, it isn't that difficult and you would have the skills Dima! What project will you stitch from #95? The beading one?

4/7/2017 16:47:51

Yes! I saw it in the catalog for Beat Around the Bush last year. So glad they decided to publish it.

Kathryn J

5/7/2017 22:39:18

I am preparing to stitch the Home Sweet Home project very shortly. I have gradually collected all the threads and materials so I know exactly what you mean by the monster list! However I am excited to start work and learn so many new skills that this rather unique sampler teaches. I will also be very interested to see you work up the necessaire. Carolyn's designs are just so pretty! :)

6/7/2017 13:55:23

Oh, you will have so much fun Kathryn! I learned so much from the Home Sweet Home project.

ardene

22/8/2017 02:07:30

Ypur work is an inspiration. So lovely.

Carolyn Houghton

16/9/2017 18:45:24

Hi Jessica, I stumbled onto your website researching to see if anybody else was starting work on Strawberry Fayre. Gulp...looks like I am going to do it....supplies are on order. This is a step up for me and would love to be part of the stich-along!

19/9/2017 09:12:47

Hi Carolyn,
Lovely to have you on board! As a real stitch-a-long isn't coming together as so many of my readers can't find the time (or money) to start the project, I will just start and publish my progress on here. With a bit of luck, I will publish the first article today or otherwise Monday. Depending on what else happens today :).
Have a nice day, Jessica

Mary Pat Barry

15/1/2018 23:38:38

I finished the House last winter. I loved doing that! Now I am beginning the mbroidery on the heart. I am thrilled to have found your blog so I can learn from you. I did not get the kit but gathered all threads on my own with numerous substitutes on both projects. I did mostly DMC on the House and on this one decided to try some of the silks to stretch myself. Thanks for forging the way on the heart! I will visiting often!

Patricia

10/4/2019 22:19:30

I would lika so muchu buy a copy of home sweet home Carolyme Pearce, Can you help me where can i get it?

10/4/2019 22:39:50

The book is unfortunately out of print. It might be worth contacting the people of Country Bumpkin/Inspirations Magazine who published the book. Good luck!

Kathryn J link

13/4/2019 15:22:25

Hi Patricia, if you don't mind ordering from Australia, there are still copies available directly from the publisher Inspirations (they had three left when I looked just now) and also Create in Stitch has them plus the ready to stitch thread & fabric packs. I have ordered successfully from Inspirations in the past to here in the UK and it was very straightforward and surprisingly quick. There will be postage costs of course, but I'm pretty sure books are exempt from customs fees so that is one less expense to worry about! :) Hope you can find a copy ... I started stitching the accessories last year and I am sooo enjoying this project. There are so many delightful little details and although the scale of the project can feel overwhelming initially, the embroidery itself isn't too difficult. Wishing you all the best in your hunt for the book! :)

13/4/2019 15:48:21

Thank you for that Kathryn! Unfortunately, books are NOT exempt from customs fees here in the EU :(.

Carol Harrison

9/8/2019 04:09:53

What count Permin did you use for the roof. The directions in the book are very good but nowhere have I seen what count Permin is used. Thanks

10/8/2019 10:25:03

Unfortunately, I can't help you Carol. I bought the kit for Home Sweet Home years ago from Inspirations. I think it is best that you either contact Carolyn Pearce, the designer of the workbox, or Inspirations. Good luck!

Kathryn Jakubovic link

10/8/2019 15:25:58

Hi Carol, I've just had a look at the fabric pack sold by Create in Stitch for the Home Sweet Home workbox design, and they have included a piece of 28ct Cashel linen for the roof. I chose the 28ct Permin linen in dusty green and although this colour is now discontinued, you may be able to find an end of line piece on eBay if you particularly want the exact fabric Carolyn uses. However, there is a shade called Waterlilly in their current range which I suspect is very similar. Failing that, any 28ct linen in a soft sage green shade would probably be a suitable alternative. Really hope this helps and that you enjoy making a start on the project! I am currently working my way through the accessories and I'm thoroughly enjoying stitching each one. :)

10/8/2019 19:25:29

Thanks, Katherine, I have some 28 count that will be perfect.
I appreciate your help.

Carol

Sylvia

12/11/2020 16:01:27

Please could you tell me the name of the fabric used for the box lining on the original Home Sweet Home and who it is by . The book is still available at the Royal School of Needlework , Apartment 12a , Hampton Court Palace , Surrey, KT8 9AU.
Telephone: +44 (0)20 3166 6935.
www. royal-needlework.org.uk
I think the price was £24 approx (British Pounds) .I received my copy this morning. I am going to use threads from my stash and embroider all the motifs . Happy sewing ,kind regards Sylvia.
Stay safe

Dr Jessica Grimm link

12/11/2020 16:05:40

I have no idea, Sylvia. Sorry! I used some left-over fabric from my stash.

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