This is a photo of the Hardanger sampler that I will be teaching at the classes in January. It's a pretty sampler using all the stitches that you need to feel confident tackling any other Hardanger based pattern that you come across. I won't be using black fabric in class as that's making life too difficult. In a few days I will post another version of it that has been sewn by a complete beginner during private classes.

Hardanger classes

The Hardanger classes are back on. I shall be running them in Curves Gym, Kenilworth from January. It will still be a 6 week course 2hrs per week. Probably running 10-12 on a Saturday morning. The cost of the course will be £8 per week plus a fabric and threads pack (should you need one) for £5.50. As Curves is a Women only Gym I have been asked to restrict the classes to women however if any men are interested please contact me and I will arrange another class, given sufficient interest. Please let me know if you would be interested so that I can start compiling a list.

New design onsale

Matilda is now available for sale via the website. I think that this is a lovely warm piece with just a hint of sparkle about it.

Twitter and an update

I have given in and decided to join Twitter with the business. It's on as IndiaGraceDsgns as they wouldn't let me have enough letters for the whole of Designs. I have absolutely no idea what I am doing yet but if anyone wants to follow I'd appreciate it.

In the meantime I am just finishing the 2nd in a series of 7 designs using Gentle Arts Sampler threads. These are part of a big challenge that I have set myself. I want to get all 7 designs published in Magazines and I am trying to find magazines in 7 different countries. If anyone has any suggestions I'd be really grateful. I can't post any photos yet but I am thrilled with the 2 that are complete and looking forward to sewing the other 5.

New US Distributor

Those of my customers stateside might be interested to know that 6 of my designs can now be purchased through Nordic Needle and their outlets. They are currently stocking Rosa, Marguerite, Madeleine, Grace, Aurora and Elfie. If those sell well they may be interested in expanding the range so please do check them out at http://www.nordicneedle.com/CTGY/000-00-00.html"

Latest New Release

Introducing Crystal. I have been working on this one for 2 years and am very pleased with it. The photo doesn't do it justice as it is a very sparkly piece in shades of peach and copper.

I am also putting Rosa onsale through my website as I was informed by the magazine editor yesterday that that particular issue of the magazine is already sold out.

Mackintosh Inspired Rose and Thistle Armorial

Not a new release as it has been on sale for several years but, as I designed it as a commission, I never sewed a model for it. I've been working on it as my 'in between projects' piece ever since so it deserves an outing!!

2 New Designs released

2 New Designs are now on the website, Seraphina and Elfie. Seraphina was designed with the idea of 'gift for a man' in mind and so is a subtle design in black and silver with smokey crystals. Elfie uses some gorgeous finca aqua colours with a hint of light effects threads and beads and crystals.

I have also released Flora and Hestia's Flame for sale. These two designs were originally published in Australian Magazines.

Counted Wishes Festival

I am going to be premiering 2 new designs, Seraphina and Elphie at the online counted wishes festival http://countedwishes.com from Feb 1st -7th. Please pop by and have a look. There are lots of fabulous designs by new and established designers as well as first chance to see these two.

New Year Update

I've realised that I have been neglecting this blog lately which is very remiss of me so I guess I had better update things.


The magazine has been out since the end of November and you can still get it in the shops for a couple more weeks. The response has been fantastic, people really do seem to like the design. I still have kits available through the website if anyone wants one.















I have released 2 new designs lately, Julie and Ylva (the latter kindly model stitched for me by Ylva Saleem) They are both now available for sale on my website.


I shall be taking part in the Counted Wishes Festival at the Start of February. There will be another 2 designs released especially for the show so hopefully you'll pop by and take a look.

Exciting News

This is my first UK magazine publication. It is called Rosa and can be found in the next issue of 'Stitch' The Embroiderer's Guild Magazine. It is issue 68 published on November 25th and available in larger Newsagents.

I am very excited about this as this is one of my favourite designs and the magazine is lovely and full of fabulous ideas. I will also be selling kits to accompany it through my website once it is released.

I have redesigned the front page of my website to show my latest designs and I am also going to create a gallery page as I know a lot of people have sewn designs using different colours and threads and it would be great to see them. If you have one you'd like displayed please email me a high quality jpg photo. I have also added a new guestmap as the old one had expired so please pop by and put yourself on as it's looking a little lonely right now. There is also a link for the India Grace Designs Facebook page.

A Good Review - thanks Margaret!

This was posted on one of the boards that I am a member of and I was so touched that I asked if it would be ok for me to add it to my websites.

I just have to tell you about the wonderful job Vicki from India Gtace designs has done for me . My friend is getting married next year and i wanted a wedding sampler for her. All the ones I could find were a bit too flowery for someone of our age. As she is Egypt craazy I asked Vicki if she could design an egyptian wedding sampler and she certainly has come up trumps. I received it today and am delighted with it. I cant wait to start. She has done a lot of research and every symbol has a special meaning. She did it in wonderful time and her prices are very reasonable.

This is not the first design she has done for me and i would recommend her to anyone. So if you are looking for something special or just cant find what you want, I recommed you give Vicki a try.

Thank-you so much to Margaret this is very very kind of you.

A new release and an update on classes.

This is my newest release 'Michelle'. I've been playing with trying a quite 'modern' colour scheme. The piece uses Finca, Caron and DMC threads and Mill Hill beads. It should be available on my website by the end of the week.

I am hoping to start classes mid/late September. Saturday mornings probably 10.30-12.30. Classes would be £6 per session with 6 sessions in total. I need a minimum of 5 people to make it worthwhile running the class so if anyone is interested please let me know asap. I will also be providing a fabric and threads pack to accompany the class (if you have your own this is not compulsory) this will be priced at £6.50 and will provide all you need to complete the class project. You would need to bring your own scissors and frame.

Quick update

Just popping in with a quick update as I haven't posted much here lately. There's been a lot of work going on behind the scenes but not a lot that I can show you. The classes didn't go ahead unfortunately due to lack of interest. I am still keen to run these and feel that if I can find a cheaper venue that there will be more interest. If anyone local is interested please let me know and I'll keep you updated.
I'm working on a couple of pieces that I hope will be picked up by magazines. It's such a shame for the speciality stitch section of the industry that we have lost Classic Stitches in the UK as there's nothing else quite like it in this country and I really would like to break into the UK market. I have a beautiful (and quite different) piece that I am offering at the moment but responses are slow. Creative Embroidery and Cross Stitch from Australia is fabulous and I hope to continue working with them, I have a piece on the go that I hope they will like.
There are a few other projects on the go but at the moment they have to remain under wraps. Hopefully I will have something new to show you soon.

Hardanger Classes Update

The classes are now going to be on Thursdays and Saturdays to allow people who work during the week to attend. They will be starting on Thursday 18th and Saturday 20th March. Both sessions will be 10am -12pm and will run for 6 weeks. Classes are £12 per session. Places are limited so please book early. Contact Linda Harper's to book.

I am keen to expand these classes into other areas so if anyone reasonably local has a venue to suggest then I would be keen to hear about it.

Hardanger Classes

I am going to be teaching classes in Hardanger at Linda Harper's Haberdashery shop in Kenilworth for 6 weeks from March (date TBC) Thursday mornings 10-12. If anyone is interested let me know and I'll put your name down.

The final part

Here it is, December, the final picture from the Calendar Partwork. It has been great fun designing and sewing this piece and I really hope that everyone who has taken part has enjoyed it too. I'm seeing a few different uses for the patterns, one person has decided to make them into a pair of bellpulls which will be lovely I'm sure and Julie has been sewing individual patterns as gifts as well as the calendar itself. I look forward to seeing some photos.

The partwork will be taken offsale on the 1st Jan because I am working on putting it together in a single 'book' format. It will be back.

November's Partwork

Everyone taking part in the Partwork now has their last set of instructions so the time has come to show everyone else November's part.

I'll unveil December at the end of the month.

Guinevere now onsale

I am glad to say that Guinevere is finally onsale. I would like to give belated thanks to Catherine of www.silkenstrands.co.uk without whom I would not have been able to identify the Madeira thread and I would like to encourage everyone to check out her fabulous range of stock that I would love to have a day browsing through for ideas!!!

October's Partwork

It's a little late this month but finally available for your viewing pleasure is October. Hope you like it.