These classes were held on our 2017 Escape to New England and Canada.
The Secret of the Sea
2017 Cruise Commemorative Sampler
Teacher: Jean Farish
No Charge as your primary class
A Commemorative sampler to treasure long after the cruise ends! A quote from Longfellow’s classic poem, ‘The Secret of the Sea’:
[Till] my soul is full of longing
For the secret of the sea,
And the heart of the great ocean
Sends a thrilling pulse through me
Stitched over two on 28-count Cashel linen from Zweigart, your finished sampler will measure approximately 15” x 9” and features iconic landmarks for each of our ports of call plus a glimpse of our ship, Serenade of the Seas. The sampler is designed so that it can be stitched entirely in cross stitch and back stitch or you can include the specialty stitches which will be taught in class (herringbone, fishbone, and star stitches). Clear, easy-to-follow stitch diagrams are included for all specialty stitches for those who wish to include them.
Your class kit includes
- 28-count count Antique Ivory Cashel linen
- DMC cotton floss
- Easy-to-read printed chart and stitch diagrams
- Tapestry needle
All students in Jean’s classes will be entered in class drawings with lovely prizes for the lucky winners!
Needlework scissors, floss organizers, zippered pouches and more!
Petite Waterlilies Stocking Ornament
Teacher: Jean Farish
Stitch this delicate stocking-shaped ornament in Caron Collection Waterlilies! You’ll work on a painted canvas (18-mesh) with a skein of hand painted silk in a variety of stitches: long-arm, stem, ray, T, satin, and crossed star in an open canvas technique. Finished size is approximately 5.25” tall.
Your class kit includes
- Hand painted canvas (18 mesh)
- Caron Collection Waterlilies
- Easy-to-read stitch guide
- Tapestry needle
All students in Jean’s classes will be entered in class drawings with lovely prizes for the lucky winners!
Needlework scissors, floss organizers, zippered pouches and more!
Peggy’s Point Lighthouse
Teacher: Marureen-Appleton Sorenson
Halifax is not only the capital of the Province of Nova Scotia, but is also our final port of call. Maureen chose this beautiful historical fishing port as the theme for her class project. It features the most photographed lighthouse in the world, Peggy’s Point Lighthouse, and Maureen’s unique detail of one-over-one on linen to portray this fabulous stark white lighthouse with the vibrant red roof lines against the rolling stormy sky set on the wet-soaked huge boulder foreground at the ocean’s edge as if viewed through the ship’s porthole.
These elements truly come to life with the unique manner in which your linen is hand-dyed to achieve these two atmospheres. Can’t you envision the wonderful white flosses and hues of candy red fibers against that stormy sky? Brilliant.
Maureen’s design will feature memorable bits from our journey on the Serenade of the Seas, with spaces allowed for your personalization. She infused this design with nearly four months of detail, study, and design, to offer you a most worthy token of this outstanding journey from Boston to Nova Scotia. Peggy’s Point Lighthouse not only captured her heart, but immediately she knew it would provide the perfect subject to commemorate our journey.
Your class kit includes
- 36 count Edinburgh linen hand-dyed for your lighthouse scene
- easy-to-read printed chart for your ease in stitching
- DMC cotton fibers, all individually number-tagged
- 26 & 28 gauge tapestry needles
- color photographs
- laundering and finishing instructions and suggestions
- Maureen’s gentle guidance and numerous hints for one-over-one linen stitching
All students in Maureen’s class will be entered in a class drawing with three prizes! Two lucky winners will each receive one of Dennis’ quality crafted wooden hand turned needlework accoutrement sets which include a scissors block, laying tool, and a pin cushion with wool roving. A third lucky student will receive a $100 gift certificate from the Heart’s Content to spend in the onboard boutique.
Wessex Embroidery Biscornu
Teacher: Kathi Green
Wessex Embroidery is an English embroidery technique developed in the late 1800s by an English lady, Mrs. Margaret Foster, who lived in Bath in County Wessex. She was a phenomenal needleworker and stitched well into her 90’s. In 1934, a major exhibit of her works was shown in London. Wessex embroidery features counted repetitive patterns worked in simple stitches. It is also a study in complementary color variations. Wessex embroidery stitches up quickly and cheerily.
The biscornus Kathi designed for this cruise feature back stitch, straight stitch, and wave stitch. The class kit includes materials for two biscornus. A themed souvenir biscornu will be stitched on 25-count antique white Lugana in gorgeous fall colors. A jewel-toned blue and green biscornu will be stitched on hand dyed cornflower blue 28-count linen. Each biscornu has a stitched front and back. Approximate finished size of each is 4″ x 4″. Both will make great display pieces in a smalls tray.
The materials will be shipped in advance so that you can stitch one or both before the cruise; the class price includes Priority Mail postage to US addresses. The on-board class will involve whip stitching the finished fronts and backs together, adding stuffing and front and back buttons which are then pulled up and tied off. Finishing materials will be provided in the class.
Kathi has been sewing since a young age and stitching for over 30 years. She is active in the Foothills Chapter of EGA in Colorado and has taught Wessex for the chapter. Her favorite embroidery techniques are Wessex, hardanger, and cross-stitch.
- Your class kit includes
- DMC floss
- DMC #12 perle cotton (2 colors)
- 25 count antique white Lugana
- 28 count cornflower blue hand dyed linen
- 4 buttons
- 3 needles (tapestry, chenille, and doll)
- Polyfill for 2 biscornus
- Printed instructions w/color photo and color master charts and detailed stitching