Sewing Residential with NI Embroidery Guild

Christine Boyle

Creative Director - Sewing Tutor

Ireland has always been stitched together — patchwork fields of emerald and gold, hemmed by coastline, threaded through with story. In May we gathered our threads, needles and fabric and headed to a beautiful location near the Glens of Antrim. As guest tutor for the Northern Ireland Embroidery Guild, I guided the members through a textile experience , emphasising the intelligence of the hands, and the art of leaving things beautifully unfinished. Whether you are rooted here or drawn to Ireland from across the world — this is a blog about heritage, cloth, and the quiet power of making something by hand.

DAY 01

ARRIVING AT DRUMALIS

I arrived as guest tutor at Drumalis Retreat Centre for the annual Northern Ireland Embroidery Guild Residential weekend. Nestled at the gateway to the Glens of Antrim, it is the kind of place that exhales for you the moment you step inside. For three days, we would slow down and slow stitch. My connection with the NIEG goes back to 2019, when I hosted natural dyeing and upcycling workshops at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra. Our paths crossed again at the Knit and Stitch Show in Belfast in 2024, where I had my ‘Epic Emerald Isle Roadtrip Coat’ on display at the Colour and Cloth stand. It sparked a conversation which, a year later, led to Drumalis.

Inspired by my coat, the theme for the weekend was ‘A Journey Around the Emerald Isle’ — not a map, but an invitation to each woman to ask: What does this island mean to me? What is my own journey? Finding their place, their roots, a home. I hoped the weekend would open up and allow questions and conversation on this roadtrip of life.

Though I was coming from a background of Fashion and Textile Design, and not embroidery, I have a great love for cloth and stitch in all its genres — having had two designs published in 1000 Artisan Textiles in 2010.

💡 Christine's Tip Notice how the fabric behaves. Handle it. Let the fabric lead the story.

NOTICING OUR HANDS

Before we reached for our needles, I asked everyone to notice their hands. Really look at them — the creases, the lines, the particular way the fingers fold. Our hand tools for the weekend. A combination of ‘by hand and by machine’: we would embroider, embellish and stitch. We moved through gentle wrist exercises together, releasing and freeing up what would carry the work of stitching across two full days.

Friday evening was not for sewing. It was for talking — sharing ideas and impressions, letting the phrase ‘a journey around your Emerald Isle’ become personal and stir up something unique in each of us. We observed the foraged fabrics, the collected colours that the members had been gathering for their weekend. The Guild members were used to embroidering between the lines. I wanted them to unravel these ideas and allow their threads and fabrics to take a road less travelled. I encouraged everyone to hold their ideas loosely and sleep on them.

Let your hands rest. Let your mind wander. Tomorrow, something will be ready.

As for Drumalis itself — walking the grounds that first evening, I found myself thinking: this is where I want to bring my own students. That dream is taking shape.

"What a great weekend had by all attendees."
- ANNE CONATY, GUILD CHAIR

STARTING YOUR JOURNEY

Each stitch can lead you somewhere you never expected to go. Little did I know, aged 6, when I started to sew, the path that was ahead. I am blessed that every day I get to do what I love. Every day I continue to be inspired.

Stay curious, playful and enjoy a willingness to learn and explore.

In Part 2 of this blog (published on Saturday) I’ll be sharing a friendship connection to Drumalis. In Part 3, published on Sunday, I will share another story — all in a name.

At Colour and Cloth, we teach all levels of sewing courses and workshops, so no matter what level you are at, there is no better time to start than now. My new Summer Sewing courses are ready for booking and start mid July. And my new Free Motion Embroidery workshop date will be released on Sunday.

Remember — your journey starts with making that first stitch. Ask yourself: Where would I like to begin?