Meet our committee! Nothing would be possible without a dedicated group of volunteers. Below are the current members of the committee. To get to know a little more about us, we also each answered 3 questions: What’s the best film or music to stitch to? What’s your favourite stitch? What have you tried once and will never do again?
Chairwoman
Ali Currie.
Best music/film for stitching: Sound of the ocean. That’s a bit aspirational since I live about as far as possible from the coast!
Favourite stitch: Turkey Rug Stitch – love me a bit of texture
Once tried, never again: Macrame closely followed by crochet – can’t get my head around working knots!
Secretary
Susan Cooney.
Best music/film for stitching: My Rock n Chill playlist, includes a bit of Nirvana, Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Eddie Vedder.
Favourite stitch: So hard to choose just one…, I do like trellis stitch and use seed stitch a lot
Once tried, never again: Needle felting – ouch!
Secretary-elect
Joanne Mills
Best music/film for stitching: I generally listen to Radio 4 plays, although I did have Kung Fu Panda once on repeat whilst rather quickly making a duffle coat with a quilted lining for my daughter for Christmas. Myself and the Panda seemed set by adversity but both managed to triumph!
Favourite stitch: Couching or fly stitch
Once tried, never again: Traditional offset litho printing. I found this rather messy and somewhat time consuming for minimal results as far as my efforts were concerned.
Treasurer
Claire MacPherson
Best music/film for stitching: My favourite media to stitch to are audiobooks. I love to read and so this gives me the best of both worlds. I can only stitch or knit to certain types of audiobooks though, as my mind can wander if the story is too convoluted. Historical fiction and thrillers work pretty well.
Favourite stitch: The good old French knot. I like the texture it brings.
Once tried, never again: I will try most things once, but I don’t plan on making another superking-sized quilt – it was like wrestling the Michelin man and took forever to complete.
Programme Secretary
Caron Ironside.
Best music/film for stitching: Not a film, but Gogglebox is perfect background tv, or alternatively a good audio book is perfect!
Favourite stitch: Has to be a french knot, or maybe couching – hard to choose!
Once tried, never again: Probably wet felting!
Membership Secretary & Website Admin
Merle Palmer.
Best music/film for stitching: Depends what I’m stitching, definitely music not TV. Birdsong if I’m sewing outside.
Favourite stitch: Difficult to choose . I do like a French knot and Turkey stitch comes close second.
Once tried, never again: Needle felting, too dangerous!
Website Designer & Librarian
Marieke Dickie.
Best music/film for stitching: Great British Bake Off, Great Pottery Throwdown, Great British Sewing Bee or any related amateur competition show on BBC and Channel 4.
Favourite stitch: Difficult to choose, but I have a soft sport for Bullion knots and French knots.
Once tried, never again: Crochet – the needle is a hook?! That’s weird.
Founding member and financial consultant
Alison Ellett.
Best music/film for stitching: I’m rather partial to a police procedural for stitching to. Something I can just listen to rather than look at.
Favourite stitch: Colonial Knot is awesome! Thank you to the RSN Stitchbank for helping me master it.
Once tried, never again: Shuttle tatting. Ugh! Basically an exercise in tying your hands together.
General Member
Jill Simpson
Best music/film for stitching: I’m not a great one for films or music. I love sitting with the doors open listening to the birds in my garden
Favourite stitch: Needle weaving stitch. I enjoy creating different leaves and flowers.
Once tried, never again: Knitting
General Member
Susan Berry
Best music/film for stitching:
Favourite stitch:
Once tried, never again: