Love Embroidery

New shoots, new life, new stitches! That’s our motto at this time of the year. Maybe it’s the hint of warmer weather to come, the thought of switching our boring winter coats for hand-stitched spring sweaters (yep we have one of those on p32 for you to try), or simply the chance to embroider fun decorations for Easter (p54). But there is definitely something putting a spring in our step. Including this delightful needle-painted nest hoop by the brilliant Beth Hoyes on p35. Her gift is being able to recreate the beauty of nature with thread, and now you can do the same by following her beginner-friendly guide……

Here at Love Embroidery HQ, we love nothing better than collaborating with our fellow makers to come up with exclusive designs for our lovely readers to stitch… and that’s what makes this issue’s fabulous mini bunny hoop so special. Created in cahoots with the wonderful peeps at Cotton Clara, this fun, beginner-friendly rabbit pattern is quick-to-sew and just the right size to pop in your bag for stitching on the go – I embroidered mine in a train on the way to work! It’s the perfect make to get you in the mood for spring and it doubles as the cutest little Easter gift too. Oh, and if happy bunnies aren't really your style, don't worry. Chloe Hardisty (the founder of the Cotton Clara brand), has also provided a few…

Designed in Tamar Nahir Yanai’s unmistakable illustrative style, this beautifully seasonal embroidery pattern features a lady enjoying a snuggle with a gorgeous brown bunny. Available to purchase as a full kit, My Easter Bunny is like a cuddle in a hoop, featuring oodles of dainty details to work in a soothing palette of luscious greens, lilacs, cornflower blues and pretty pinks. It’s top of our to-stitch list! www.etsy.co/uk/shop/TamarNahirYanai Freshly picked Pack in your five a day and a few more to boot, when you stitch up this chic veggies-themed tote bag from Chasing Threads. Sold as a complete kit, you’ll sew an assortment of hand-drawn vegetable motifs like leeks, cabbages, carrots and courgettes onto a sturdy cotton canvas bag using the vibrant threads included. Once stitched, it makes a stylish…

MATERIALS Cotton fabric from your kit: or 10x10cm, light pink Stranded cotton from your kit or: 1 skein each of charcoal, pink, white Embroidery hoop: 8cm diameter Mini wooden bunny frame from your kit: 3.5cm diameter (for displaying) Strong craft glue Clips or pegs Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Backstitch, Granitos Stitch, Satin Stitch 01 Transfer the bunny face from the template onto fabric using your preferred method. We used a heat-erasable pen and a light box, but you could use a brightly lit window as a light source. Then, mount the fabric into an 8cm diameter hoop with the design central and the fabric taut like a drum. 02 Begin by working the mouth using Backstitch in three strands of charcoal. Keep all the Backstitches a consistent length to…

MATERIALS Linen fabric: 35x30cm, dusky blue Cotton fabric: 30x20cm, cream Appletons crewel wool: 1 skein each of 101 (lilac), 103 (purple), 471 (lemon yellow), 474 (mustard yellow), 477 (burnt orange), 544 (light green), 546 (dark green) Embroidery hoop: 15cm diameter Fusible fleece: 30x20cm Rectangular kiss clasp frame: 8.5cm Machine thread: cream String Awl Smooth end pliers Strong multi purpose glue Sewing machine with standard foot Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Backstitch, French Knot, Lazy Daisy Stitch, Long and Short Stitch, Stem Stitch, Straight Stitch Get ready to stow trinkets and loose change in style this spring with Jenni Davis’ chic little accessory. Featuring a kiss clasp frame and repeated florals, her spring-inspired coin purse is a big nod to vintage style, featuring delicate crocus flowers and fresh green leaf sprig…

Artificial Intelligence (or AI as many of us have come to know it) has never been as sophisticated as it is right now. Technology has heaps of useful applications, of course, but generating deceptive embroidery images is one that is starting to cause harm to the handmade community. It’s playing on the minds of makers and designers alike. “AI is infiltrating the embroidery world not in a drip, but a flood,” warns designer Anne Oliver of Lolli & Grace (lolliandgrace.com). “I’ve seen its presence increase even in just the last 30-60 days, compared to all of last year.” Craft lovers need to be vigilant. It’s easy to become bamboozled by the splashy, computer-generated designs. And while using technology as a creative tool sounds great, it turns out AI content flies…