I used to work with a very dear, acerbic chap, who used to refer to me as Headmistress.  It made me feel like I was in a very particular role, and made me come over all Margaret Rutherford or Alastair Simm's in St.Trinian's.  As a result, whenever we would email about work, I'd get a particular persona in my head, and would find myself writing in the style of a slightly pompous, slightly posh governess, and I enjoyed it enourmously.  (I'm starting to do it now, I literally can't help it).

It's this voice that overtakes me when I'm writing Mrs. Steel's School if Stitchcraft and Scissory blogs.  In fact it's partly what inspired me to open a school in the first place, the enjoyment of playing a headmistress.  It just got me thinking about how all of us that use the internet to communicate with the world develop our own voice, but also that we can have as many 'voices' as we like.

I'm hoping everyone enjoys Mrs.Steel as much as I enjoy being her, and that's it's taken in the slightly farcical tone in which it's intended.  But also that it makes the school accessible and fun too, and that's the real point of it.  Which reminds me: if you're trying to find us on Instagram, due to a 'technical error' the original account has disappeared.  So in the good, old fashioned, 1940's spirit that seems to possess me when dealing with the School, we have relaunched as @stitchcraftandscissory.

Do come and join us. 

Today's lesson has just been released; there's a free crochet lesson AND a cross stitch pattern today, all Valentine's related.

AND I've FINALLY released the Secret Loveheart Mitten pattern for general sale, which is over at the Shop if you'd like it xxx

I am super lucky to have heaps of crochet work on at the mo, but it comes with a couple of downsides. 1. I can't share any pics of any of them and 2. I get so fried crocheting all day, that I no longer find it relaxing of an evening.  This is when all the other stitchcraft and scissory come in to play.

This week I have mostly been playing with my cottons and a yarn needle, and getting my stitch on.  Couple that with some Tom Hardy in BBC's 'Taboo' and once the sun has set and the Bests are in bed, I have been an extremely happy lady.  What's more, starting up Mrs.Steel's School is giving me a lovely opportunity and excuse to do more of this sort of thing AND I can share all the how to's with you as I do it.

Customising thrift finds with a bit of stitchery is one of my fave ways of making something individual.  I'm not a massive fan of applique, so creating my own surface designs for garments really only left me with one option.  But getting the guts up to work my first stitches into a jumper was really hard.  However, once you get on it, there's no going back.  My first  attempt was actually a sugar skull storm trooper, just using DK yarn and a big old needle.  The purdy flowers have evolved over the last few months and now I'm trying to get the guts up to work the phases of the moon around the neckline of a mohair jumper.  I'm not quite ready for perfect circles and delicate fabric, but I'll get there!

How to free style a hand embroidered flower is now over at the school
;)