Summertime Stitches: Final Session with Ruth Parkinson‑Johns

A joyful finale of hand and machine embroidery

Our final Summertime Stitches workshop with the wonderful Ruth Parkinson‑Johns brought the whole block to a beautifully creative close. The studio was full of colour, conversation, and that familiar hum of concentration as everyone continued developing their summer‑inspired textile pieces.

This session was all about bringing ideas together – refining details, adding texture, and letting each piece find its own voice through a blend of hand embroidery and machine stitch. Ruth guided the group with her trademark calm expertise, offering thoughtful suggestions, demonstrating techniques, and encouraging everyone to push their work just a little further.

🌼 Hand Embroidery: Slow, Intentional, and Full of Story

Many participants leaned into the slower rhythm of hand stitching, building up layers of detail with:

• delicate seed stitches

• expressive lines of backstitch

• tiny pops of colour through French knots

• subtle textural accents inspired by summer foliage and flowers

There was a lovely sense of mindfulness in the room – that quiet, shared focus that makes hand embroidery feel almost meditative.

🌞 Machine Embroidery: Movement, Energy, and Experimentation

Others continued exploring machine embroidery, adding:

• flowing lines to suggest grasses, waves, or drifting petals

• bold stitched shapes to anchor their compositions

• layered fabrics and appliqué to create depth

Ruth encouraged playful experimentation, reminding everyone that machine stitch can be both precise and wonderfully free.

🌿 A Celebration of Summer Creativity

As pieces developed, it was clear how much confidence had grown over the block. Each textile artwork captured a personal response to summer – whether through colour, texture, memory, or motif. The variety was inspiring: abstract landscapes, floral studies, stitched sketches, and richly layered mixed‑media work.

The session ended with a relaxed show‑and‑share, giving everyone a chance to talk about their progress and celebrate each other’s achievements. It was a fitting finale: supportive, joyful, and full of creative energy.

✨ Thank You, Ruth

A huge thank you to Ruth Parkinson‑Johns for leading this block with such generosity, skill, and encouragement. Her ability to nurture both beginners and experienced stitchers makes these workshops a highlight of our summer programme.

We’re already looking forward to the next creative chapter.

To book onto the next Textiles workshops with Ruth please click HERE We'd love to have you join the group.