They Shall Grow Not Old

They Shall Grow Not Old - part of the Repair Restore Recreate

They Shall Grow Not Old is a new piece of work featuring darning and repair, and my red hand embroidered text.

They Shall Grow Not Old
They Shall Grow Not Old

The artwork is based around my love of poetry and features the poem For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon. born in Lancashire, England 1869.

For the Fallen

For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon, was first published in The Times, London, September 21, 1914.

They Shall Grow Not Old

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres, There is music in the midst of desolation And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted; They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; They sit no more at familiar tables of home; They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; They sleep beyond england’s foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound, Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, To the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain; As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, To the end, to the end, they remain.

Darning and Repair

A used and well worn table runner became the starting point for the artwork. The cloth was thread bear in places and the embroidery was starting to disintegrate.

They Shall Grow Not Old - Darn and repair
They Shall Grow Not Old – Darn and repair

My first task was to repair the fragile cloth and for this I chose a vintage Coats crochet thread.

Vintage Coats crochet thread
Vintage Coats crochet thread

Larger holes were backed with scraps of silk, linen and cotton cloth, before stitches were woven through to strengthen the cloth.

They Shall Grow Not Old - Darn and repair
They Shall Grow Not Old – Darn and repair

The final stage was hand embroidering the text with red Aurifil thread and adding a tab top and bottom made from an old pillowcase.

Reverse of the artwork
They Shall Grow Not Old
They Shall Grow Not Old

The piece is 114 x 38cm and will be on exhibition this November, the month we commemorate our lost and fallen servicemen.

Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn – Meet the Artists

Textile artists and authors, Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn, have worked together for over 45 years. Their Rhythms & Reflections exhibition builds on their love of detailed hand and machine embroidered surfaces.

Join Jan and Jean, as they share the stitches and techniques that created the work.

Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn:  https://doubletrouble-ent.com/ 

Books by Jan and Jean: https://amzn.to/4bN0G3N 

Jan’s work is inspired by the ever-changing landscape of the Wetlands of Lefkada in Greece.

“The colours and organic growth patterns provided the initial fascination. Excitement followed by observations of the lush, overgrown variety of grasses, which offered layers of glorious textures yet still maintain the rhythms and constrictions of the tidal waterways. Intriguing light and atmospheric changes in early evening and after sundown have led to developing new focal points.” 

Work from the Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn exhibition
Work from the Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn exhibition

Jean’s work centres on the rhythms and cycles of the moon, and she reflects on how our ancestors viewed these phenomena as evidenced in cultural myths and legends.

“During lockdown, the phases of the moon embodied continuity and reassurance in an uncertain world and became the focus of her work. Moon mythology informed pieces such as ‘Wolf Moon’ and ‘Sturgeon Moon’, whereas other works were responses to night-time observations of atmospheric cloud framed moons.“

Work from the Jan and Jean's exhibition
Work from the Jan and Jean’s exhibition

Filmed at the Knitting & Stitching Show, London 2023.

For a more inspiration, please browse the ‘Meet the Artist’ collection on my YouTube Channel.

Beryl Dean Award for Hand Embroidery

I’m delighted to share that ‘Good Grub‘ had been awarded ‘Winner of the Beryl Dean Award for Hand Embroidery’ in the Embroiderers’ Guild 2024 Members’ Challenge ‘Opposites Attract’.

Good Grub, awarded the Beryl Dean Award for Hand Embroidery
Good Grub, awarded the Beryl Dean Award for Hand Embroidery

An ‘Opposites Attract’ E-Book is available on the Guild website, featuring all the pieces in the challenge. Below are a few extracts from the book.

Embroiderers Guild Book - Opposites Attract Members' Challenge
Embroiderers Guild Book – Opposites Attract Members’ Challenge
Extract from the Embroiderers Guild Book - Opposites Attract Members' Challenge. Beryl Dean award fro hand embroidery
Extract from the Embroiderers Guild Book – Opposites Attract Members’ Challenge
Extract from the Embroiderers Guild Book - Opposites Attract Members' Challenge. Beryl Dean award fro hand embroidery
Extract from the Embroiderers Guild Book – Opposites Attract Members’ Challenge

Thank you to the Embroiderers’ Guild from producing such a brilliant and inspiring challnge. Congratulations to the all winners and participants.

All the pieces taking part in the challenge will be on display at the Knitting and Stitching Shows 2024.