Community stitch challenge 2021: Jennifer Collier
- Category Community Stitch Challenge
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Welcome to your third free workshop of the Community Stitch Challenge 2021 with embroidery artist Jennifer Collier.
Back in March 2020, when countries all over the world were being plunged into lockdowns for the first time, we launched the Community Stitch Challenge as a way of reaching out to stitchers all over the world. You responded so positively to the original version, we decided to revive the initiative for a limited period in 2021 to bring you three brand new and 100% FREE textile art workshops.
The Community Stitch Challenge 2021 so far…
In the first week, former Chair of the world famous 62 Group Sue Stone encouraged you to explore the basic principles of design and composition by using either a photographic image or your imagination as a starting point for a small stitched work inspired by your own personal interests.
And last week mixed media artist and creativity expert Merill Comeau shared with you techniques for incorporating stitched words into your art using a variety of expressive stitches to reinforce the message at the heart of your work.
Check out Sue and Merill’s workshops now
And this week we’re delighted to welcome paper and stitch pioneer Jennifer Collier to lead the final workshop of the Community Stitch Challenge 2021.
Who is Jennifer Collier?
Jennifer Collier creates exquisite sculptures from vintage recycled papers in conjunction with stitch for a contemporary twist on traditional textiles. The papers serve as both the inspiration and the media for the work.
She completed a BA (hons) in Textiles in 1999 at Manchester Metropolitan University, is internationally exhibited, and has had her art featured in over 60 magazines and over 15 books.
What is Jennifer’s workshop all about?
This is a sampler’s workshop with a difference! Jennifer will inspire you to experiment with traditional stitches, but instead of using fabric as your base, you’ll be using paper.
You’ll explore a variety of techniques including Cathedral Windows, Suffolk Puffs, button loops and patchworking, and you’ll incorporate your own beautiful papers, to create a very personal piece, full of meaning and treasured memories.
The work can be made with just hand stitch, but Jennifer will also offer a few hints and tips for anyone choosing to stitch the project together on the machine.
Watch the workshop video
What to do next
- Download the accompanying workbook for Jennifer’s stitch challenge
- Join the Community Stitch Challenge Facebook Group
- Discover more about Jennifer’s approach to making textile art here
- Got questions for Jennifer and don’t want to join the Facebook group? No worries! Leave a comment below.
Jennifer Q&A replay
Watch all of Jennifer’s answers to questions during her workshop week in the replay below
20 comments on “Community stitch challenge 2021: Jennifer Collier”
Comments are closed.
Oh my god! I’m in awe over all the beautiful things you do and sit here with a huge grin on my face after watching your video.
You are spoiling us with all the ideas and secrets of your work. (finally I learn what “jojo’s” and suffolk puffs are that people in stitchclub talkes about)
I thoroughly enjoyed doing gloves last year, started with a real one (in momigami) and then tried a flat plastic one and looking forward to do more paperwork. Now I might even learn to do the 5 point venetian lace instead of my go to lace with just blanketstitch in several rows.
Thank you for all inspiration! Love your work and totally fell for that last big sampler you showed. Have a nice easter! 🐣🐤
Lee
Lee, thank you so much for your really kind words, and I am delighted you are so excited! Happy stitching!
Fabulous and inspirational. Thank you.
Thank you so much!
I really enjoyed your workshop this morning and have already had a couple of quick goes at the cathedral window! I like to use sheet music and other retrieved paper as well as painting my own papers so look forward to more experiments.
Your work is amazing and I love the way your material connects with the pieces.
Thank you for generous sharing.
Diana
Thank you for your kind words, and this sounds like it is going to work amazingly! Happy stitching
Thank you for the gentle walk through your paper techniques which inspire some action to be taken!!
Joan, thank you so much for your kind words and good luck!
Thank you Jennifer for another wonderful, inspiring workshop. You have given me an excuse to save even more “scrap” papers! But I do have a collection waiting to be used.
Delighted to hear it!!
Thank you for sharing your process and tips, Jennifer! And for Textile Artist for organizing these workshops!
Thank you so much for your kind words!
Thank you for sharing so many ideas and techniques in your workshop! I can’t wait to try them out with some of the bits of paper saved from trips and children’s art that I’ve saved up over the years. The puff, pocket, button loop, and paper rose details will be fun to make to add some depth and playfulness!
LOVE the idea to make cathedral windows out of paper. I’ve always wanted to make this quilt square, but doing it out of fabric was too daunting. A paper option makes this so much more approachable. I can’t wait to start folding and sewing!
I have a role of rice paper that I have wanted to use in a project with hand sewing but wasn’t sure how to begin. The cathedral windows might be a way to use it along with some really small fabric scraps that I’ve been saving. And, thank you for sharing how to stitch paper without tearing it. Prepunching the holes makes so much sense!
Thank you so much for your kind words, and your approach sounds PERFECT! Happy stitching!
Thank you so much Jennifer. I was super inspired by your careful, clear workshop
You are so welcome- Thank you
Thank you for this amazing workshop. I found it very inspiring and appreciated your skilled teaching. Thank you
Patti, Thank you so much for your kind words and I am delighted to hear it. Enjoy!
Jennifer- So much fun! I took a workshop with you in London about 4 years ago to learn to make the paper gloves and dresses. You had a image transfer technique with packing tape and magazine photos. I have taped images- but I can’t remember what to do with them! Can you help!
ps I finished both when I got back to Canada
Dear Jennifer,
Another fun workshop with you. I love to recycle old catalogs and for this project I made all kings of things from the squares, beads , roses and button loops all from one catalog. I love working with paper, but combining stitch make it all the more fun. I love what you do and how you inspire me.