October 16, 17 & 18
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Instructor: Amanda McCavour
Materials Fee: $70 (paid directly to the Instructor)
Students: 12
In this 3-day workshop with Toronto artist Amanda McCavour, you will explore the construction of dynamic, textured surfaces using machine embroidery and water-soluble stabilizers.
Students will work with three types of Sulky stabilizers: Sulky Solvy, a lightweight, transparent film ideal for building up free-motion stitched lines; Sulky Fabri-Solvy and Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy, a self-adhesive version that holds materials in place while you stitch — perfect for incorporating fabrics, yarns, and other found materials. When dissolved in water, only the thread and embedded materials remain, creating lace-like, textile surfaces full of texture and depth.
Through free-motion and presser foot machine embroidery, hand embroidery embellishment, and layering techniques, students will develop a series of abstract or botanical embroideries using a limited colour palette. You will learn to translate natural forms into expressive stitched compositions, simplifying complex shapes into designs that balance fragility with structural resilience. Finished samples can be incorporated into quilts, garments, or mixed media projects.
Students will need to bring their own sewing machines with a free-motion foot and should have basic sewing skills for this workshop.
You will also need to bring:
Sewing machine needles — Universal, Sharp, or Machine Embroidery needles; bring extras, as the stabilizers can wear them down.
Extra bobbins — Approximately 5
Embroidery hoop — 6–10 inches; slightly larger or smaller is fine.
Scissors — Fabric and/or embroidery scissors.
Extension cord — Any length; please label with your name.
Old towel — For drying samples after dissolving the stabilizer.
Pins — Helpful for holding materials in place.
Sewing machine oil, tweezers, and lint brush — to keep your machine running smoothly.
A materials kit will be provided for the materials fee that includes: embroidery floss, specialty sewing machine needles, hand sewing needles, polyester machine embroidery thread, 2 yards Sulky Solvy, 2 yards Sulky Fabri Solvy, 1 yard Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy, wool roving, ribbons, and scrap fabrics. If you have special materials you would like to bring like threads, ribbons, or scrap fabrics, that is welcome!
October 16, 17 & 18
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Instructor: Amanda McCavour
Materials Fee: $70 (paid directly to the Instructor)
Students: 12
In this 3-day workshop with Toronto artist Amanda McCavour, you will explore the construction of dynamic, textured surfaces using machine embroidery and water-soluble stabilizers.
Students will work with three types of Sulky stabilizers: Sulky Solvy, a lightweight, transparent film ideal for building up free-motion stitched lines; Sulky Fabri-Solvy and Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy, a self-adhesive version that holds materials in place while you stitch — perfect for incorporating fabrics, yarns, and other found materials. When dissolved in water, only the thread and embedded materials remain, creating lace-like, textile surfaces full of texture and depth.
Through free-motion and presser foot machine embroidery, hand embroidery embellishment, and layering techniques, students will develop a series of abstract or botanical embroideries using a limited colour palette. You will learn to translate natural forms into expressive stitched compositions, simplifying complex shapes into designs that balance fragility with structural resilience. Finished samples can be incorporated into quilts, garments, or mixed media projects.
Students will need to bring their own sewing machines with a free-motion foot and should have basic sewing skills for this workshop.
You will also need to bring:
Sewing machine needles — Universal, Sharp, or Machine Embroidery needles; bring extras, as the stabilizers can wear them down.
Extra bobbins — Approximately 5
Embroidery hoop — 6–10 inches; slightly larger or smaller is fine.
Scissors — Fabric and/or embroidery scissors.
Extension cord — Any length; please label with your name.
Old towel — For drying samples after dissolving the stabilizer.
Pins — Helpful for holding materials in place.
Sewing machine oil, tweezers, and lint brush — to keep your machine running smoothly.
A materials kit will be provided for the materials fee that includes: embroidery floss, specialty sewing machine needles, hand sewing needles, polyester machine embroidery thread, 2 yards Sulky Solvy, 2 yards Sulky Fabri Solvy, 1 yard Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy, wool roving, ribbons, and scrap fabrics. If you have special materials you would like to bring like threads, ribbons, or scrap fabrics, that is welcome!
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