Description
The Roundel is based on the interior of the White Drawing Room in Blackwell House in the English Lake District and was originally designed as the course project for the Spring Residential Retreat offered by Lady Anne’s Needlework Tours. This area was a popular holiday venue for wealthy 19th Century businessmen escaping the grime of the industrial north of England. They commissioned architects and designers of the period to create homes in the popular Arts & Crafts style, and Blackwell House is a typical example of this style. It sits above Lake Windermere, each of its rooms, surfaces and interior features designed to reflect the surrounding rural landscape.
As its name suggests, the White Drawing Room is decorated almost entirely in white, applied over beautiful plaster friezes and carved wood, depicting local flora such as rowan berries, oak leaves, acorns, wild roses and quince. The room is a light and tranquil space, with the only pops of colour coming from the reds and browns of the rowan berry fire-guards and the turquoise tiles of the fireplace.
The Roundel’s design is inspired by the carvings in this room, and is worked using raised and padded stitch techniques on a delicate ground of translucent silk organza. The oak leaves and acorns are depicted using connected eyelets (“beading”), seed beads and chips of metal purl, with double back stitch shadow work and padded silk shading. The rowan berries are created using highly padded silk shading with eyelets and leaves in cut metallic tubular purls, while the quince fruits are formed using shadow appliqué with pin stitch, sequins and satin stitch, with leaves in applied kid leather edged in pearl purl. The wild rose is in shadow appliqué, with a centre of pleated silk-wrapped plate (made specially for this design) and edged using silk gimps, made specially for me.
This delicate piece is designed to be stretched over an open space when complete, allowing the viewer to see through the organza ground fabric. You may like to purchase either a hand-made round wooden box, a picture frame or pivot top miniature table to display the design.
You may also purchase the Pins and Needles Workbox, created in the Arts & Crafts style to fit with the design. This includes a front aperture to contain the embroidered panel, with UV filtered ‘Waterwhite’ glass and laser-cut spacer rings to raise the glass from the work. The drawer in the bottom include a marquetry panel showing the text ‘Pins and Needles’. A tweed-covered pin cushion sits atop a panel which lifts out to reveal a storage tray in the top. The reverse of the box also has an opening door to give access to a storage compartment. These boxes are made specially by my cabinet-maker in Cornwall. The feet of the box are hand-turned in steel with a blued finish by my father.
KIT FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT DOES MY KIT INCLUDE?
Your kit includes all the fabric, threads and needles required to complete the design, together with a highly comprehensive illustrated instruction manual, written and drawn by Jenny. All threads are carefully packaged and labelled to denote where they are to be used in the design. We suggest you have a look through all the components to familiarise yourself with the complete kit before starting work. Where relevant, kits also include the materials required to construct the completed embroidery.
WILL I NEED ANYTHING ELSE TO ENABLE ME TO COMPLETE MY KIT?
Yes, but only basic embroidery equipment. A list of the items required can be found in the front of your instruction manual. All items can be purchased from our website. If you have any queries about equipment, please feel free to contact us for advice.
HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE DO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE KIT?
Most of our kits are designed for embroiderers with some experience, but the instruction manuals are extremely comprehensive and will teach you all you need to know.
If you have any difficulties, or need advice on the difficulty level of a certain kit, you are welcome to contact us.
I FIND TRANSFERRING DESIGNS ON TO FABRIC DIFFICULT
Don’t worry, the designs are all pre-printed for you!
CAN I POST IMAGES OF MY KIT/WORK ON MY BLOG/SOCIAL MEDIA/WEBSITE?
We will be delighted if you wish to show images of this project on your blog/social media/website, as this often inspires others to have a go! However, as a courtesy, please do let me know if you plan to do this, and be aware that blogging of techniques, step-by-step or close-up images, either of the project in progress, the instructions, and the kit contents, is an infringement of copyright. Please always credit the design source and always include Jenny’s website and contact details so that those reading your blog can get in touch. Please highlight any infringements of this copyright which you observe from others.
I AM STRUGGLING WITH A SECTION OF THE DESIGN
One of the most important aspects of buying a kit from us is that you have direct contact to Jenny by email and she will be happy to assist you and provide advice. We cannot always answer within the hour but we will get back to you as soon as possible. If you are really struggling and need more help, we can arrange a lesson for you or to complete the section for you.
I AM MISSING A COMPONENT IN MY KIT OR HAVE RUN OUT OF A THREAD
We do our absolute best to ensure these situations don’t occur, but your kit is made by humans rather than machines and we do occasionally have a senior moment! Please feel free to let us know and we will be happy to supply more.
I AM NOT HAPPY WITH MY WORK AND WOULD LIKE TO RE-WORK
We totally understand this – most embroiderers incline to perfectionism! While we sadly can’t provide more materials for free, please just let us know what you require and we will be very happy to supply more.
MY DOG/HUSBAND/HOOVER/SOFA/CAT/GOLDFISH ATE MY THREAD!
It happens! Not a problem. Just let us know what you need
and whilst we can’t send these for free, we are more than
happy to supply more.
MY THREAD IS DIFFERENT TO THAT IN THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DESIGN
Thread colours may vary somewhat due to dyeing processes and can appear different in reality due to photographic distortion. Due to limitations posed by suppliers, we also reserve the right to substitute project materials with suitable alternatives to those illustrated if absolutely necessary.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT NEW DESIGNS?
Please go to Jenny’s website where you can join the mailing list to find out about all new releases. We promise only to send you relevant embroidery-related news and not to pass your details to third parties.
CAN I SUBMIT MY WORK TO A CRAFT SHOW OR COMPETITION?
We are delighted if you have enjoyed working the project and would like to submit your piece to a craft/country show competition etc. Please do let Jenny know if you are doing this as she would love to hear how you get on. Please always credit the design source and always include Jenny’s website and contact details so that people viewing the piece can get in touch.
CAN I TEACH THE DESIGN TO OTHERS?
If you have enjoyed working the project yourself and would like to share this with friends or wish to work the design with your students, you are welcome to contact Jenny for more kits. The kit and accompanying instructions must otherwise not be copied, reproduced or taught in any form without prior permission. This will otherwise infringe copyright. Multiple kit orders are welcome and can be supplied on a wholesale basis by arrangement. Please contact Jenny for more details.
I WOULD LIKE HELP WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OR DISPLAY OF MY FINISHED WORK
Excellent news. We hope you have enjoyed the journey and are delighted with the finished result! If you would like help with mounting or finishing the design, please feel free to get in touch. If you would like to order a frame, box or similar for displaying the finished piece, please visit the webshop.
Yvonne Dent –
This was such an enjoyable stitch , I just couldn’t put it down . It seemed so daunting at first , with so many different techniques and stitches. Some I had never done before but with the detailed instructions I managed it . I loved the way the quality materials were wrapped and marked for each step of the way letting you just get on with the stitching . Jenny thinks of everything and her instructions give you the confidence to tackle even the most difficult techniques. I loved handling and working with the most expensive and quality materials some I had never used before. It was a joy .
Jenny-Adin-Christie –
Yvonne, thank you so much for taking the time to write such lovely feedback! I am so pleased to know that you have enjoyed the kit so much and have enjoyed working with the special materials we provide. So lovely to hear! xx
Niqui Cordingley –
WOW, what an absolutely amazing kit. I have just finished and truly loved every moment of working on this. Such an array of techniques, some I had done before and others that were new to me. However, there were plenty of great instructions so nothing was too complicated or felt impossible. The quality of the threads and materials was stunning, they were a joy to embroider with. I am so happy with the result I achieved. Thank you Jenny for designing this beautiful piece.
Jenny-Adin-Christie –
Hello Niqui
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such lovely feedback! I am so glad you enjoyed the design so much….makes designing these pieces so much more worthwhile to know they are well received xx