The Basics:

Name:

Kelley Aldridge

Email:

mystitchsanctuary@gmail.com

Website:

www.stitchsanctuary.com

Instagram:

@mystitchsanctuary

Facebook:

Stitch Sanctuary

TikTok:

@mystitchsanctuary

My Story:

Why do you enjoy hand embroidery?

At it's most basic, I love the act of stitching with hand, needle, thread and fabric. That's the same for quilting, appliqué, dressmaking, or toy making (which I also love). Embroidery however, at least how I do it (from my training), is slow, precise, and requires focus, patience, and TIME. I know that when I sit down to embroider, everything else must be put on hold, take a back seat, and I must bring all my attention, concentration and fine motor skills to the task in front of me. Then the rhythm begins and the meditation takes over. It's bliss, and several hours later (if I don't set an alarm) I resurface with a bit of an aching back and wonder where the time went!

What’s the first thing you can remember stitching?

This is actually quite hard! I vaguely remember making really bad clothes for my Barbie dolls out of fabric scraps and (probably) running stitches. I also remember doing my first cross-stitch design (a wee little house) sitting next to my Auntie Lily as she showed me how to do it. But somewhere in between, I stitched a needlecase/pincushion for my mum, in bright yellow felt with 'Mum' chain-stitched on the front. I think I was probably at primary school or with the Brownies. Mum kept it and now it sits in her workbox in my studio. It went through the wash a few times by the look of it, so it's pretty 'interesting' now!

What are you currently working on?

As I type this, I am spending most of my studio time completing the epic 'Sugar & Spice' Gingerbread House Advent Calendar Box (!!!) I'm in the attic/eaves now, and once this is done, there only remains the outside casing, platform and trees. This marvel has grown in scope almost from day one, and the last 'upgrade' I've included is the exploding chimney stack which is compartment 25. Other than adding a conservatory to the side, I think the design is pretty much set now! :)

What is on your wishlist of stitching projects?

Too many things! Most of them are quite humble actually: some embroidered bunting for my Glass Tent (conservatory/studio), seasonally-themed cushion covers for the sofa, a Christmas-themed quilt for the bed... I REALLY want to learn pattern drafting as I used to sew a lot of my clothes, but now want to create my own custom-fit designs (which may or may not have some embroidered embellishments on them). Sew much to do, so little time... :)

How long have you been teaching?

28 Years

What types of embroidery do you like teaching?

Crewelwork/Freestyle Stitches
Canvaswork
Goldwork
Whitework
Stumpwork
Thread Painting
Appliqué
Textiles
Embroidered Boxes
Mixed Media

What else can you tell us about yourself?

Well, I'm the Founder and Artistic Director of this magnificent Stitch Sanctuary! You can find out more by clicking here.

Teaching at the Stitch Sanctuary

What do you enjoy about teaching online?

I LOVE teaching online and have done so exclusively since 2020 and the Covid Pandemic. What started out as a necessity gradually became my favourite format as I learned more technology and developed more and more ways to give my students the best possible experience. I've always loved tech (I used to be an IT Trainer back in the 90's) and how it can add to the learning experience. I'm very proud of the value-for-money I can give my students, which I would only be able to do otherwise in my own bricks-and-mortar studio.

All of the tech-nerd stuff is great fun for me, but the other great thing is that I can teach FROM anywhere (I once taught from my sister's house on the other side of the world!) TO anywhere (I have students from many countries across the globe). Many of my wonderful students have forged strong friendships with each other that have lasted years. Some of my students wouldn't be able to join a class if it were not online, and I'm so pleased that I can offer them something they can be part of and enjoy so much.

What do you think are the drawbacks of online learning and how do you overcome them as a teacher?

I think the biggest obstacle for some students is the technology. I'm grateful that I am such a tech-head as I can usually spot the problem and sort it out from my end, and other students are always happy to pitch in with their help too. I've stayed with a handful of platforms since I started: Zoom, Padlet, WhatsApp and Email. I created very clear instructions on how to access/use each one of these at the outset, and I find that after the first class or two, a new student has settled into the 'groove' of how to join in, and of course many of my students have been with me so long, they could teach the tech themselves! :)

The other drawback can be that the student might feel isolated, and I try to overcome this by asking everyone to leave their cameras ON throughout class, to reinforce the group feeling, and by making sure there's a lot of humour, joshing about and laughter - we're supposed to be having fun (even when we knock over a packet of beads all over the floor...)!

Some say that the inability to see the students' work is a drawback, but thanks to phone-cameras and WhatsApp, I can see their embroidery much better than I would in a classroom! I can even zoom in to see fine detail that I would need a magnifying glass for in person.

In the end, there are people who prefer learning in person, and there are some great places they can go for that all over the world; I'll see everyone else in the Zoom Room!

What would you say to someone thinking of booking onto a Stitch Sanctuary online class for the first time?

Start with something small, or with a teacher you already know, to get the feel of how the classes work here. The technology is very user-friendly and the teachers are wonderful: talented, generous and full of fun. Make yourself a cup of something nice, sit somewhere there is good light, and join the class knowing you'll be in excellent, enthusiastic company for a couple of hours, without even having to take your slippers off! x