Embroidered Mandalas - Fran Walker May Meeting 2023

 This month our workshop was led by one of our own members Fran Walker who introduced us to the idea of embroidering mandalas. A mandala is a repeated pattern with radial symmetry and many of them are very complex and she suggested that we simplify the pattern for stitching.

Fran showed us a colourful mandala that was relatively simple, explaining the stitches and her use of felt to produce blocks of colour.

Fran brought an array of patterns with her and some members had already chosen one from the internet, books or had drawn one for themselves at home. Fran went through ways of transferring the pattern to material by using a light box, transfer pencil, blue transfer and directly from a book with special ink.

A whole array of patterns had either been transferred at home or transferred in the room and placed in embroidery rings waitting for stiitch to bring them to life.

Colours and embroidery stitches were chosen and members began concentrating on their stitching.

Very slowly motifs began to appear using a whole variety of stitches including chain, stem, split etc..

Some members added felt to add blocks of colour.

One member had painted her mandala to add colour in blocks.

We embroidered on and off all day with just a few breaks to rest our eyes and backs occasionally, supported by Fran as she moved around the room with suggestions and demonstrating  stitches as pretty coloured mandalas began to emerge.

One of our members completed her mandala [See below] but the rest of us took our patterns to finish at home and hopefully we will see some completed mandalas at the next meeting.

It was a very enjoyable meeting and our thanks go to Fran for inspiring us and sharing techniques with us. Hopefully there will be some finished items soon!

Thank you Fran.