Why do you enjoy hand embroidery?

I developed a love of textiles from my mother, who was a fantastic seamstress. Following her around fabric and craft shops as a child, I was fascinated by the colour, weight and feel of fabrics and threads. Embroidery allows me to play with all of these while, hopefully, creating something beautiful.
I find hand stitching very relaxing, though there are days when stabbing something, even if it is fabric, is incredibly therapeutic.

What’s the first thing you can remember stitching?

The first thing I remember stitching was a cross-stitch kit my great-grandmother gave me. I don't remember what it was, but I was hooked and stitched numerous cross-stitch kits during my teens and early twenties, then life got in the way. I dabbled with the odd bit of embroidery here and there until lockdown, when my husband spotted that the RNS were offering online classes, and I signed up for Kelley's sampler class.

What are you currently working on?

I still haven't finished the sampler, though I hope to in the next couple of months. I'm one of those people who always want to play with the new, shiny thing and have no understanding of time, so I have a huge WIP that I'm trying to get under control.

What is on your wishlist of stitching projects?

I love learning new techniques.  Having discovered that I hate silk shading because of the continual colour changes, I'd like to try white work next, as using a single colour appeals.