Journal With Thread

Résumé
Discover the art of slow stitch fabric journaling with this practical guide to creating a fabric journal from textile artist, Jessie Chorley. Learn how to stitch your own stories in fabric and thread to create a hand-stitched journal. Jessie encourages readers to collect special pieces of fabric, threads and other ‘treasure’ and explains how to combine these precious items with techniques including simple patchwork, hand embroidery and applique, to create a unique, hand-stitched book to treasure forever. There are step-by-step instructions for how to make the fabric journal measuring 20cm x 20cm (7.8in x 7.8in). Jessie explains how to create your own seasonal story throughout the book so you can chart your year and mark any memorable occasions or events that you want to include, making it a wonderful memory book for a loved one or a family heirloom to be passed from generation to generation. The central theme of the project is the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, and there are four seasonal hand drawn motifs on iron-on transfer paper that can be used as the basis of the designs. The four seasonal motifs are accompanied by four further motifs which are intended for the inside and outside covers. Jessie then explains how to fill in and embellish these designs using a variety of her favourite stitches, threads, special notions, treasures, and keepsakes. As well as sewing techniques including scattered applique as a form of drawing and simple patchwork. In addition to the full-page templates there is a large selection of smaller motifs for readers to use throughout their books. These include Jessie’s signature alphabet and number motifs which can be used to mark people, places, and dates. Journal With Thread is suitable for all skill-levels – if you are a beginner you can follow the instructions very closely to make a beautiful book, however, if you an experienced maker, you can use it is as an inspirational guide to creating your own fabric journal, packed with Jessie’s beautiful artwork templates. This guide is about having fun with mark making with needle and thread and creating your own unique fabric journal.

Échantillon de lecture
Welcome to my seasonal, slow-stitching project, Journal with Thread. The fabric journal, which we will make in the pages ahead, is a celebration of my love for collecting fabric, thread and other personal memorabilia and treasures. It focuses on my signature style of hand-embroidery, and my unique approach to simple patching and appliqué techniques. This book is a guide to making your own stitched fabric journal. I have laid out how to do this step by step, providing clear, technical details at every stage. However, as both a maker and a teacher, I always encourage a free and intuitive approach to crafting – I don’t believe in rigidly following rules or instructions, and what you make with your hands must always come from the heart. I have been guided by this belief while creating this book. This project is rooted in the approach I take to making my own embroidered artworks, especially fabric storybooks and memory journals, which are crafted from preloved and found materials. It features my hand-drawn stitch guides and will also explain my favourite embroidery techniques – and, to inspire, guide and prompt you, I will refer to these guides throughout the book. Journal with Thread is a project suitable for all skill levels. If you are a beginner, you can follow the instructions in this book as near to the letter as you wish. However, if you are an experienced maker, and wish to embrace your own style, feel free to take your own approach to making your stitched journal, and not be inhibited by the instructions in this book. I encourage you to take inspiration from my thrifty, re-purposing, make-do-and-mend approach to crafting. Dig deep and try to make this project from fabrics and threads that you may already have. Take inspiration from your collection of materials as you build your own unique seasonal fabric journal. For me, working in this fashion has been so liberating. My hope is that you will enjoy it too.