Lincolnshire Textiles are having an exhibition in the Chapter House at Lincoln Cathedral at the end of August, and the banner they have used needed updating to say “Lincolnshire Textiles” rather than “Lincoln Embroiderers Guild”. To go alongside this, the newer members have been asked to do a 6-inch square with something that represents some aspect of the county of Lincolnshire. The obvious landmarks have already been done.

What struck me as missing was Lincolnshire Poacher cheese. I’ve had a few ideas, but have finally got to roughing things out when I was on library duty this week. I started with trying to use Publisher on the computer, which I found extremely frustrating, because it has changed so much since I used it years ago. In the end I managed to get the lettering going round in two semi-circles, which at least gave me an idea of placing the letters. I did a couple of quick sketches of wedges of cheese. I’d cut the one out before I photographed the rough sheet (see below, toward the end).

I ended up drawing a couple of circles and hand-sketching the letters, then I altered the placing slightly when I went over them in permanent marker.

I could then trace them through on to the fabric with water soluble pen. It was then hooped up and the Quaker Stitch started, a cross between backstitch and stem stitch that is ideal for lettering, I was told.

I used a blue perlé 8 to give a fairly bold line. It is also a relatively quick stitch to do.

I used the soldering iron to cut out from organza some “lettuce leaves” to serve with my cheese.

The rest of the letters were stitched.

The paper pattern was cut down to scale for the wedge of cheese, and flipped to face the other way.

I’ve found fabric for the cheese, and one the perfect texture for the rind.

I also had a recollection of doing grapes for a travelling book several years ago, no idea whose it was or what the theme was! Does it look familiar to anyone? I thought it might give me some ideas how to tackle a few grapes.

I’ve also found some potential grape-coloured fabric. This is as far as I’ve got so far, but there’s another week before it needs to be handed in.