Exploring Texture and Colour With The NIEG

Christine Boyle

Creative Director - Sewing Tutor

On Saturday, the cloth spoke and the hands listened. Each of the women reached into her own memory of this island — its coastlines and counties, memories and traditions. Family and friends — with fabric and thread. Each began to embroider her story into being. From a view from a window in County Down to the limestone of the Burren, County Clare. No matter where in the world you call home, or where Ireland lives in your heart — there is a thread that connects us all.

DAY 02

SATURDAY AT DRUMALIS

We welcomed the rain. Perfect sewing conditions. I had set up the room with my own story in textiles, to share and inspire.
Saturday was the full immersion. The day the cloth speaks and the hands listen. The day the machine becomes a pencil and the fabric is chosen.
I invited the group to feel the fabric. Notice the weave, the drape. Count the colours through the tweed.

The blank piece of fabric was daunting. Where to start?

I played Enya quitely. I suggested a few exercises from ‘Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain’ by Betty Edwards. A new way of seeing.
We listened to Jo Andrews’ Haptic and Hue podcast, Series 7, Episode 63 — ‘The Intelligence of the Hands and the Creative Brain.’

Yvonne used free motion embroidery on her Bernina 1008. Pat sketched the Burren on her Bernette machine. Layering into her landscape of limestone, slashing into the stones to reveal the vibrant native flora. Helen sketched a familar floral scene on her Janome and added shoes made from maps. A lovely translation of her journey. Fabrics, yarns and threads were shared across the table; beading and needle felting wove their way in.

Lorna used a natural dyed silk scarf as her base, fraying the edges when before she would have cut them neatly. She navigated family roots between County Down, Mayo and Navan. Anne upscaled and took on the whole island with each county a different colour. Each day she wore a beautiful dress she had made to match the colours she was using. Karen‘s Ireland immediately took shape when she used her parents curtain fabric as her base. The memories started to roll in.

Lucy explored layers of grey leather and imagined sea urchins from french knots. Janine looked at Ireland through the eyes of the strong warrior Irish women. Each county had its own fabric, and had a connecting stitch. Outlined in gold braid and using paint to surround the green with blue water. The colour contrast was striking. Anne approached the theme with a view from her window in County Down. She used Harris tweed from her mothers offcuts combining silks and leathers. Using needle point to create the clouds. Selvedges became fields, gold cord became hay fields, and raw silk became ploughed fields. She left threads uncut, ribbons for water flowing outside the edges and embraced the irregularity.

Each member took their own path — and that was exactly what I had wanted to happen. I moved through the room — watching, encouraging, demonstrating. After a long day, we sat down our tools and rested.

By Saturday evening, the room was full of work that had not existed that morning.

💡 Christine's Tip Sew outside the lines. Cross the borders, let your needle explore the fabric. Leave threads uncut. Unravel edges. You have permission.

DRUMALIS

We were welcomed to Drumalis. The sunlight shone through the stained glass on our walk to ‘The Craft Room’. The rooms were restful. The gardens were a bounty of beauty. Scents of flowers, views of water. Such an inspirational place. We ate delicous meals, and shared stories around the table. After our evening meal, some came back to sew, others took their knitting to the sofas. Everyone gathered again, just to relax and unwind.

These surroundings allowed us all to let go. To let the needle and fabric carry the conversation. A sewing room begins its day filled with chatter. After 20 minutes it hushes. Literally you can hear a pin drop.

I had been on my feet all day, and retired to my room. I had a phonecall to make to America.

"Christine's suggestion on a thread colour transformed my piece"
- ANNE CONATY, GUILD CHAIR

STORYTELLING & CONNECTION

We all love a ‘good yarn’. My friend Deirdre is a knitter, dyer and writer inspired by her family connections to Ireland. We houseshared in Belfast before she moved back home to America. Her Grandfather was groundskeeper at Drumalis, living in the gatehouse. Her dad remembered playing in the garden as a young boy before they left for America.

Part 3 of this blog (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?

Visit Our Sewing Shop

Annes landscape view from her window

Janine colours the counties

Anne matches her dress to her handwork

Neil Shawcross stained glass

Drumalis gate lodge

Helen handstitches

Karen creates counties from curtains

Lornas landscape with frayed coastline

Lucys French knots

Pat embroiders the Burren

Patchwork fields of Ireland

Tweed colour pops

Yvonnes free motion

Selvedges yarn and ribbons create the land

Needle felting

Yvonne on her Bernina

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   Ann Gillespie 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had my Janome sewing machine serviced by Brian. He did an amazing job, within 24 hrs, and my machine is now like new.  Brian and Christine are such a lovely couple, friendly and welcoming, very knowledgeable and professional.  I found them inspirational.  Christine demonstrated stitches and types of needles and at the end a little gift which means so much to me.  I would recommend them very highly. Ann
  
 
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   Georgia McStravick 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I cannot thank Christine and Brian at Colour and Cloth enough! They recently repaired my Granny Teresa’s vintage Singer sewing machine, which holds so much sentimental value for our family. I felt in such capable, knowledgeable hands from first speaking with them. They explained every detail clearly and made sure to show me the machine working perfectly before I left. A huge bonus was their amazing website—being able to check live updates on the progress of the repair was brilliant and kept me informed every step of the way. Outstanding service, I couldn’t recommend Colour and Cloth more!
  
 
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   Danni 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I've just completed a 6 week beginners course with Christine in Colour and Cloth. I had never used a sewing machine before booking the course and was nervous going into it but Christine put me at ease from the very beginning. The course was really enjoyable and the 6 weeks flew in, I learned so much during my time and made a lovely skirt for myself. I would definitely recommend Colour and Cloth to anyone interested in sewing. Christine's knowledge was invaluable and I will definitely be booking another course.
  
 
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   Jackie O'Hara 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent service … very fast turn around .. great reception.. Brian cares about sewing machines.
  
 
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   Janet McNamee 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Left two sewing machines in with Brian for repair/servicing.  His knowledge and attention to detail was very reassuring.  Both machines are now working perfectly.  I would thoroughly recommend.
  
 
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   Elaine Price 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. What lovely people to deal with. I left in my sewing machine to be serviced. My machine is  an older singer model. Im so happy that Brian was able to do a good job servcing  it and  sort out its problems within the mechanism. Also lots of great advice. Great job. Thank you. Very happy
  
 
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   Lucy Johnston 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Contacted Brian to book in my Pfaff machine for repair. He got back to me almost immediately and had it fixed within 48 hours. An excellent job and customer service. Brian and Christine are such a lovely couple and it was a pleasure to meet them. I'll definitely use the service again.
  
 
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   Cal Wright 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was such a wonderful experience! The skills and knowledge I have taken away will propel any future creations immensely. I’ll never look at the Sewing Bee in the same light! I honestly believe these are life skills, honed and taught in the most easily understood way by Christine… such an honestly beautiful person who truly has the patience of a saint. These past 6 weeks will stay with me a lifetime… tho I do hope to complete another course at some stage again. Highly recommend to anyone with no or a lot of sewing skill or knowledge. You will thoroughly love it!  Fabulous!!! Also had my sewing machine given the once over… cleaned and serviced… by Brian - again, highly recommend! My sewing machine now runs so smoothly, with an excellent timely turnaround. Thank you both of you!
  
 
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   Caroline Colgan 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had such a lovely time with Christine.  She helped me on a mission to adjust and repair jeans I had been looking to have fixed for a long time. Christine's advice was incredible and I went home and completed the adjustments. I also bought a fabulous sewing machine which has been brilliant
  
 
  
  
 
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