Move the Needle
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Move the Needle
Join Sue Spargo for an immersive five-day exploration of embellishment! In this workshop, you’ll create a highly embellished sampler using Sue’s signature techniques of layering, appliqué, and embroidery on hand-dyed wool.
Begin by choosing a tone-on-tone color palette, then create a layered background using a variety of textural fabrics and applique techniques like needle turn, english paper piecing, reverse applique, hand piecing, yoyo’s, and more!
From there, we will dive into the world of embellishment - focusing on the serenity that hand stitching can bring. Sue will guide you through a variety of embroidery stitches, experimenting with thread types, weights, and stitch combinations to add depth, texture, and personality to your piece.
Whether you’re new to stitching or looking to expand your skills, leave this workshop with a one-of-a-kind piece and a renewed love for slow stitching.
Meet the instructor!
Sue Spargo is a celebrated quilt designer known for her vibrant, textural approach to contemporary folk art. Born in Zambia and raised in South Africa and England, her global upbringing deeply influences her colorful, layered designs. Now based in Ohio, she is renowned for combining hand-dyed wool, silk, velvet, and intricate embroidery to create highly embellished wool quilts. A self-taught artist, Sue has published several books and teaches workshops worldwide, encouraging personal storytelling through textile art.
For this workshop, you will want to choose a tone-on-tone colorway or very soft color palette.
- Examples: Blush (shades of light pink and peach), Tea (shades of sage green and aqua), Neutral (shades of light beige, cream, and warm grey)
Your supply list will vary depending on your desired colorway, but here are some ideas of what to bring with you to class:
- Move the Needle Kit OR hand dyed wool background and fabrics for layering
- We recommend a fat 1/8 wool background, (x4) wool fat 1/32 for piecing and layering, and an assortment of cotton, silk, velvet, and other textural fabrics in your desired colorway
- Creative Stitching book
- Needles: Short Darner 11 & 9, Chenille 24 & 18, Milliners 3, 1 & 15, Tapestry 24 & 20, Bullion Knot Short/Fine & Long/Regular
- Ellana Wool Thread and Efina Cotton Thread for applique
- Embroidery and specialty threads in varying weights, fibers, and textures in your desired colorway
- Some that we used include Eleganza and HOB Perle Cotton, Razzle & Dazzle, Silk Ribbon, Aurora, Metallic Braid, Gimp, Nami, Natural Dyed Threads, Plant Dyed Sashiko Thread, Petite Very Velvet, Angora, Plied Yarn, Silk Eyelash, Straw Silk, Silk & Ivory, Shinju Silk Pearl, Double Twisted Silk Gimp, Soft Cotton, etc.
- Couching yarns, ribbons, rick rack, etc.
- Beads, buttons, sequins, charms, etc.
- EPP hexagons, yo-yo makers, looms, bunka brush, rubber stamps
- Perfect Circles, Perfect Stems, Hot Ruler, Fabric Folding Pen
- Spoke Easy, Loop Easy, Circles Easy and other Creative Stitching templates & rulers
- Freezer paper and marking pencil
- Any other fun fabrics or elements you think you may want to incorporate!
We will have items available for purchase during class so no worries if you don’t have everything on this list!
Class is held in our Ohio Studio located at 3755 Boettler Oaks Dr, Suite B, Uniontown, OH 44685.
Coffee and tea are provided, as well as use of our fridge and kitchen. Lunches will be provided each day of the workshop, please let us know if you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions!
Supplies are available for purchase in-store during class if not purchased ahead of time.
For suggestions on hotel accommodations or any other questions/concerns, contact Abby at shop@suespargo.com or call 330-899-9454 ext. 114.
Cancellation fees reflect the cost of registration, staff, instructor contracts, material acquisitions, and other services. This policy applies to all registrants, regardless of the reason for canceling. We encourage you to take our cancellation policies into consideration before registering for classes.
If you need to cancel your registration, you have the following options:
Transfer:
Registrants who cancel their enrollment in a workshop held in our Ohio studio may make a one-time transfer to any other workshop held in our studio.
- Transfers may be made either in the current workshop season, or any workshop in the following year. Transfers must be made more than 30 days prior to the workshop, and is subject to a 5% cancellation fee.
Refund:
If you prefer not to transfer your workshop registration, the following fees apply:
- More than 60 days prior to the workshop, refund of your deposit minus a 20% cancellation fee.
- Less than 60 days prior to the workshop, no refunds will be issued.
Redirect:
Registrants are able to send someone in their place into the workshop for no additional fee. In this case, no refunds will be issued, payment arrangements are the responsibility of the original registrant if needed.