Cheannie Neep

Dorothy has spent 39 1/2 hours of her last week embroidering the farming lady 'Jeannie Neep' or as in Caithness it is pronounced 'Cheannie'.
It had been agreed that the panel on the left hand side would reflect the farming and land side of Caithness of its time and the panels on the right hand side would be for the sea. Both the sea and the land are both extremely important to the history of Caithness.

Cheannie is harvesting the swedes or 'neeps'. There was discussion about the difference of a swede a turnip and then what can be referred to as a Neep across Scotland. It was and is a very important root crop feeding both humans and the livestock. The group were quite excited to talk and research the colours of a swede which Dorothy has reflected in the field with each swede being stitched and coloured slightly differently. It was felt that Jeannie would be a hardy woman, with big rough hands able to manage the jobs on the crofts but also be happy knitting for her family.

Dorothy used a Double Fly stitch on her blouse in two shades of blue to highlight the stitch.  The stones at the bottom are in satin and split stitch. The skirt was in running stitch and appropriately Sheaf stitch.  Dorothy also requested she didn't want to see another swede until Halloween.
Celia had used a Darning Stitch for Cheannie's hair.

Dorothy had also stitched the Hair on our schoolteacher. She used 3 colours in a laid stitch which gave it depth and texture. Her hair bun is a roll mop herring which was tying in the importance of the herring industry in Caithness.

Catherine had finished outlining Chinad who carries the fish to market and was finishing the background in herringbone and satin stitch.

Work carries on and the group are constantly counting up the time spent and the time left. It was felt that we are just under half way finished but once the figures are completed the scenic parts can be filled quite quickly.