Based in the English Lake District, designer, tutor, and owner of ‘The Crewel Work Company’, Phillipa Turnbull is a British crewel work specialist.
Phillipa’s crewel work combines the designs, colours, stitches, materials and techniques from historic British crewel work. Only the finest materials make up her kits and she goes to great lengths so ensure that the quality of her materials faithfully replicates that seen in the best crewel work pieces from the 17th and 18th centuries: ‘Z’ twist linen twill is woven exclusively for Phillipa’s kits from flax grown in the Scottish highlands far enough away from pollution to produce the natural ‘oatmeal and honey’ colour, providing the perfect medium for Phillipa’s gold-plated crewel needles, which glide effortlessly through the linen, preserving both the material and wool and producing a satisfying ‘popping’ sound as the eye draws the thick wool through. Finally Appleton’s wool rounds off the experience. Only Appleton’s wools can provide the quality of thread to withstand multiple stitches through the heavy linen and the richness of colour to create the truest representation of the historic pieces that inspire Phillipa’s designs. All this combines to ensure that the final piece will become an heirloom itself in generations to come.
Phillipa’s kits can be purchased through her website below, where you can also find information about her luxury embroidery retreats in castles and country houses in the UK.
Website: www.crewelwork.com
