Inspirations Issue 113

“Unexpected things happen when you mix coloured threads with metal threads in embroidery–the metals cast their reflections onto the threads, changing the perception of the colours to the viewer. The expectation is for the metal to reflect the light. The excitement lies in the unpredictable nature of how the reflections affect the perception of the surrounding colours and how these perceived colours change as the metals age.” Unexpected things did indeed happen when Katherine decided to mix her love of stitching and design development with her studies of fine art. Casting her own reflection onto the threads, she changed the perception of embroidery, colour and art to those who observe her and are taught by her. “I can’t explain it other than I just loved everything about stitching, costume, and fashion -…

After completing a degree in design in Mexico City, Victoria moved to London where she worked as a florist and as a designer in the fashion industry. “I wanted to be inspired by the architecture, the fashion, the history, the people, the diversity. I had a genuine curiosity to learn. I just wanted to absorb, and London seemed like the right place to do it.” Although Victoria dreamed about making a living from art, she practised her creativity as a hobby only while working on her day job. Short courses in painting, jewellery making, and sculpture allowed her to experiment with different mediums, culminating in her playing with collages. This experimentation progressed to the point where she was making 3D collages by taking photos of photos, adding threads, and sewing pictures…

“MAKING ART IS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN ME AND THE MATERIALS. Having too many factors, whether materials, threads, techniques or ideas on the go at once, is like trying to hold simultaneous, noisy conversations. It soon gets too loud and overwhelming to focus. I want to be able to hear what each has to say and give them my full attention. I can do this better when I strip everything back and focus on one thing. It gives me space to think. The more permission I give myself to explore one thing at a time, the deeper I can go.” It was a conversation with a friend that led Hanny Newton to discover embroidery as an art form and as a career. After dropping out of university, working as an au pair…

50 Essential Blackwork Patterns: BOOK 1 Chrissie Juno Mann | Self-published 2021 | Soft Cover 108 pg | RRP $35.00 Blackwork is an engrossing style of embroidery, particularly when combining patterns and weights of thread to create shading in a design. With myriad options for turning a group of straight stitches into a blackwork pattern, having a reference book of patterns, or multiple books, is a boon. This book of fifty blackwork patterns, the first to be compiled by Chrissie Juno Mann, is an excellent resource from browsing for inspiration to following a pattern when stitching. Chrissie has included a wide variety of fillings for blackwork. Choose from patterns with densely-worked stitches, ideal for creating areas of deep shading, to those with a lighter, lace-like touch with stitches spaced more widely over the…

Worked with a variety of silk and metallic threads onto delustred satin, stumpwork wings, petals and leaves add life and dimension. Golden honeysuckle, an eglantine rose, a purple thistle and a copper-toned pansy bloom on gently curving stems and a ruby ladybird hovers nearby. before you begin We recommend that you read the complete article See the pattern download for the embroidery design and templates All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread unless specified this design uses Blanket stitch | Chipping | Couching | Feather stitch | Fly stitch Long and short blanket stitch | Long and short stitch | Overcasting Pistil stitch | Satin stitch | Split back stitch | Straight stitch Whipped chain stitch requirements Fabric 33cm (13") square of black delustred satin 33cm x 80cm wide (13" x 32") piece of calico (muslin) 28cm…

A variety of embroidery stitches, wool and perlé silks are used to work this graceful design that would be equally at home on a cushion or as a framed piece. The bag is self-lined with natural linen and finished with a long, single strap. before you begin We recommend that you read the complete article See the pattern download for the embroidery design All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread unless specified requirements Fabric 45cm x 136cm wide (18" x 54") piece of natural linen Supplies 30cm x 60cm wide (12" x 24") piece of thin fusible wadding 10cm x 106cm wide (4" x 42") strip of lightweight fusible interfacing 25cm (10") embroidery hoop Natural sewing thread Contrasting sewing thread Long glass-head pin Tracing paper Fine black pen Fine heat-soluble fabric marker Needles No. 3 crewel No. 8 crewel No. 24 tapestry Threads Gumnut Yarns Blossoms crewel…