Inspirations

IF THERE WAS A PRIZE for being the most popular subject matter for embroidery it would have to go to flowers. From the geometric form of counted thread petals worked with techniques such as Hardanger and blackwork, through the lavish, stylised blossoms of Jacobean crewelwork to the stunning, lifelike effects achieved with threadpainting and three-dimensional embroidery, the flower reigns supreme. Over the years, our pages have been graced by a spectacular stitched bouquet, including roses, pansies, daisies and poppies, all pretty, well-known blooms. This issue of Inspirations is no exception with all but one of the beautiful projects based on flora and, quite by coincidence, includes two projects that showcase a fascinating little flower, Fritillaria meleagris, you may have never seen, much less stitched. Those of you in the Northern…

Starry-Eve and her twin sister Misty-Dawn Flaherty had a carefree, hippy childhood in a small country village in South Africa. After attending art school, and studying drama and photography, Starry-Eve worked as a chef before her world turned to embroidered furniture. The sisters started CASAMENTO as a small business selling refurbished mid-century furniture in Loop Steet, downtown Cape Town, with a weekend stall at the Neighbourgoods Market. In her former career as a chef, everything she touched was perishable and Starry-Eve was attracted to the durability and beauty of old furniture. It was during the process of learning about, and working with, furniture that the sisters were introduced to American furniture designer Vladimir Kagan and his English-born wife Erica Wilson. Erica was a Royal School of Needlework-trained embroidery designer and…

Sydney-based artist and embroiderer, Liz Payne, believes that no matter what medium she uses in her work, it is her constant pursuit of blending tradition with innovation and using colour in all of its endless combinations, that provokes ideas and explores emotions. A creative childhood inspired by her mother's sewing room filled to the brim with fabrics, buttons, beads, paints, and pencils, inevitably led Liz to a life as an artist and designer. Studies in visual arts and graphic design, followed by a formal career in the publishing industry in Sydney and London, came full circle when Liz returned to a life as a full-time artist in her home studio filled with textiles and paint. “My work incorporates a lot of different materials and ranges from paintings on canvas to…

Researching Lesley's work shows us close to 3000 recorded pieces using almost every embroidery technique, with sizes ranging from large, three-dimensional works to tiny pieces of jewellery and the finest stitchery. Whether metal, thread, silk or beads were used, nearly all are original, stunningly beautiful and executed with breathtaking excellence. What is even more astounding is that this is not a woman who has spent a life in a studio doing nothing but stitch. This enormous body of world-class work has been produced by someone who spent her professional life as a secondary school teacher – 23 years of that as a vice principal or principal, leading a staff of 140. As well she travelled to all corners of the world gathering inspiration. Given the huge amount of time she…

SWEDISH WEAVING PATTERN DIRECTORY Katherine Kennedy Search Press, 2024 Softcover, 144 pg ISBN: 978-1-80092-224-2 RRP $38.99 It's not often that you encounter an embroidery technique as effortless as Swedish weaving. You can embellish a piece of cloth with an appealing, geometric design using nothing more than a single needle and thread while following a clear chart such as those found in Katherine Kennedy's comprehensive pattern directory. Also known as huck weaving or huckaback, this style of embroidery was traditionally worked on a fabric that had distinctive pairs of threads, or floats, raised over the surface on one side. Although this is no longer readily available, all you need is an evenweave fabric that lends itself to Swedish weaving. The designs in Katherine's book are worked on modern huck towels, aida…

Worked using a combination of surface embroidery and stumpwork techniques using silk, cotton, rayon and metallic threads, the rich texture is further enhanced by the use of gleaming kid leather and tiny rainbow beads on the lifelike beetle. TECHNIQUE Stumpwork READY TO STITCH KIT See page 93 THIS DESIGN USES Blanket stitch | Chain stitch | Couching Detached chain | French knot Overcasting | Plaited stitch Satin stitch | Stab stitch | Stem stitch Straight stitch | Wrapping BEFORE YOU BEGIN See the pattern download for the embroidery design and templates We recommend that you read the complete article All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread unless specified requirements FABRIC 28cm (11”) square of ivory polyester duchess satin 30cm x 90cm wide (12” x 36”) piece of quilter's…