I purchased the goldwork instructional DVD Part 1 from Golden Hinde in the UK. I am a member of the goldwork group on Stitchin' Fingers but have yet to make anything. Feeling intimidated by the prospect of having to learn something as difficult as goldwork without an instructor nearby, I decided to buy the DVD. I am glad that I dids because instructor Sue Hinde made it look easy. She is a terrific teacher, speaking slowly and clearly for a beginner such as myself.Sue begins the DVD with a discussion of frames. For the beginner she recommends just putting 4 pieces of wood with slots together to form a frame. Then she uses tacks to hold the fabric in place. A combination of a cotton base and silk background is used as both fabrics are self-healing. The needles that you typically use in goldwork are large and leave holes in the fabric. Sue says that the fabric should be as tight as a drum on the frame. She then demonstrates how to trace the pattern onto the fabric. There are also demonstrations on how to add felt padding and leather to the project as well as how to use Jap, bright check, rough pearl and smooth pearl wire. The camera stays on her hands most of the time so it's just like having someone in your home showing you the techniques. Toward the end, Sue shows some of the different types of gold wires you can use as well as how best to use them.
The DVD is an hour long. Since several bloggers have stated how difficult goldwork is to do, I have developed an anxiety about it. Sue remains so calm and takes her time with the stitches that I believe I can do it. I purchased a goldwork kit with a cat motif from Golden Hinde and can now get started on it. Note that this is a DVD for a beginning goldworker.
1 comments:
(popped across from Stitchin' Fingers). Thankyou for your review :-)
I was really scared of goldwork at first. There seemed to be so many types of gold thread, in different sizes, and different techniques - really hard to find the basis, the beginnings.....
Country Bumpkin's A-Z Goldwork book is just fantastic. Step by step clear photos and instructions, lots of finished projects from all ages to look at, and covers beginner to more advanced techniques. I have a lot of goldwork books now, and that one is definitely my favourite, coz because it's so clear. If I could only have one, I'd choose that one :-)
Hope this in helpful in your journey in learning goldwork. It is really rewarding and once you get a handle on the techniques, it really ISN"T that hard!! Just a bit fiddly at times :-)
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