Programme 2026

 

October’s meeting

 A really interesting meeting with lots of ideas for places and landmarks to consider when making our maps. 

A 7 inch square was decided on as the most appropriate size for the pages which can then be bound into a book.

There were lots of examples to draw ideas from and most people ended up with a rough plan and some even had a firm plan.

October 7th ideas for map making

 The next meeting will be on 7th October at 2pm in Alsager Library meeting room. This month we will be trying to bring together ideas and suggestions for us all to make a textile map of a place or area that means something to us. It might be where you live or where you were born, it might be a favourite holiday spot or connected to your ancestors. Try to collect together things associated with your place and a few ideas of what you would like to include. Stevie was originally planning on us each making a 7 inch square but if you think A4 or any other size would work better then have your say, it is all open to discussion.

Try having a look at katetarlingtextiles.com for some ideas of the kind of map you could make.

Maggie Pearson

 Great meeting today with Maggie Pearson telling us about her journey into eco printing. Catch her workshop on Saturday 13th September.______________

Thank you for booking on my workshop, The Secrets of Summer Leaves and Flowers

 

- on Saturday September 13th 2025

- from 10.30am to 4.30pm

- with Alsager Creative Stitchers 

- at United Reformed Church Hall, Brookhouse Road, Alsager, Cheshire, ST7 2PA

 

I'm really looking forward to working with you. 

 

Please could you bring with you:

 

• An apron or old clothes which you don’t mind getting messy

• a good pair of shoes or trainers which will support your feet well. You will be standing for a lot of the day.

• A note book and pen for taking notes

• Smart phone or camera to take photos of your layout before you bundle, if you wish.

• A pair of scissors to cut leaf stems with

• A small hammer if possible [in case we have tie for hapazome]

• A pair of washing up gloves or surgical-type gloves to protect your hands, but flexible enough to enable you to work with leaves.

• Bags or bucket to take home damp samples and items.

 

It would be great if you could bring the following, but don’t worry if you can’t:

 

• Onion skins, just the dry external skins [red and/or yellow kept separately]

• Flowers [optional]

o Cosmos

o Coreopsis

o Marigolds

o Colourful daisies

• Any of the following leaves [you don’t need them all!]:

o rose 

o herbaceous/hardy geraniums/cranesbill

o paeony

o tree paeony 

o silver birch

o sumac 

o cherry

o walnut 

o maple

o sycamore

o cotinus [smoke bush] 

o Japanese acer [acer palmatum];

o horse chestnut;

o catalpa [Indian bean tree]

 

    

If you have any other favourite leaves you want to try to print, either pick them on the morning of the workshop, or the evening before [they will be ok overnight in an airtight container or bag in the fridge], and we can discuss and explore at the workshop whether they will print!  

 

 

Workshop materials

 

For the materials fee per person of £25, I will supply all necessary mordants, dyesand fabric fully prepared for each of you:

• cotton fabric for printing for samples

• cotton fabric for shibori with onion skin dye

• one piece of linen for a target piece, 

• all tannins and mordants

• carrier cloths, scoured

• resists for the bundles, to prevent shadow prints

If you have any questions, just email me.

 bymaggienaturally.co.uk

 

Workshop Saturday 13th September

 Don’t forget the workshop “The Secrets of Summer Leaves and Flowers “ with Maggie Pearson, Saturday 13th September, 10.30 to 4.30 at the United Reformed Church Hall, Alsager, ST7 2PA.

She will show different methods of applying heat and moisture to mobilise and transfer natural pigments from foliage to fibre and share key techniques which ensure the best possible prints.

If you want to use a particular leaf or flower please bring some from your garden. Some plants work better than others so it’s trial and error.

Tuesday 2nd September “My Accidental Journey Into Botanical Eco Printing” by Maggie Pearson

Maggie Pearson is a textile artist passionate about sustainability. She uses local leaves with natural dyes to design and create by hand unique and sustainable designs, by bundling them with natural fibres and steaming or simmering. She works on both fabric and paper, using upcycled fibres. She also prints with rust and indigo.

Tea Rota

 Tea Rota

September  Ellie B. and Lyn R.

October Val and Rosemary 

November  Sally R. and Lorraine 

December Jacob’s Feast , (everyone bring a small plate of food, sweet or savoury)

Ruth’s cards

Next meeting 2nd September