Is there anything as magical as a bluebell wood? Gone are the days when one could pick handfuls with a clear conscience but, luckily, a friend has access to a private wood and so I was able to stitch these from life.  They bring back such memories: the image in EM Forster’s novel Howard’s End of Leonard Bast walking ‘ankle deep in bluebells’ ; making trips to the ‘bluebell wood’ near Amersham with my mother and being enchanted by the sight of them for the first time, aged about 7. You don’t arrange bluebells, they are best plonked in a jar and left to find their own way. They are not strictly blue, and given that everyone sees colour differently, feel free to mix the shades provided in any way you please.

The kit consists of a card folder printed with the full colour design together with illustrated instructions. Dotted among these, is another sketch of bluebells you might like to embroider and a few facts about bluebells. Don’t be put off by the painting: it is entirely optional. The print just shows the jar of bluebells.  The instructions suggest a couple of different ways you might add to this.

The finished design is roughly 15cm square, and is printed on a piece of antique French linen roughly 30cm square. The kit also contains a pretty, full-colour thread card with all the threads you will need.

Suitable for all levels.

To complete the kit you will need a 7″ or 8″ embroidery hoop, a selection of embroidery needles (sizes 8/9/10) and a pair of small, sharp embroidery scissors. If you decide to add paint, you will also need a little watercolour or silk paint and a fine synthetic watercolour brush. You might want to read or download my article about painting on linen, which can be found on the home page of this website.

The price includes postage by Royal Mail International and packing to all areas of the EU. Postage is not tracked but you can purchase tracking and this is recommended if you live somewhere off the beaten track. Items are rarely lost in the post but tracking can expedite things.