Table of contents for Issue 117 in Inspirations

World of Embroidery “I always pick something that is meaningful to me and is related to happy memories, but also something that other people would easily connect with. Nature – flowers and animals – relating to family and memories, places we visited together. These memories are always joyful.” – AIMEE – For AIMEE ESTCOURT, primary school teacher and busy mum of two boys, embroidery is her happy place. She finds it therapeutic, and it is where she relaxes and unwinds at the end of the day. Aimee grew up in a creative family and completed a degree in fine art before she changed career paths to become a teacher. “When I was younger, I made teddy bears. As I refined the skill, I started adding small embroidered features to the…

Capture the beauty of these fascinating treasures in stitch with stranded and filament silk over a real hook, enhanced with sparkling metallic threads and enclosed in a glass paperweight. before you begin See the pattern download for the embroidery designs We recommend that you read the complete article All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread unless specified these designs use Encroaching satin stitch | Long and short stitch Overcasting | Satin stitch | Straight stitch TURQUOISE FLY requirements Fabric 15cm (6”) square of ivory silk duchess satin Supplies 10cm (4”) embroidery hoop 7.5cm (3”) diameter round convex glass paperweight 4cm (1½”) silver fishhook Wire cutters 10cm (4”) square of thin wadding Fine sepia permanent pen (optional) Tracing paper Fine black pen Fine heat-soluble fabric marker Needles No. 10…

Used to decorate this stylish cushion, the pomegranate is stitched with crewel wool onto linen twill with the lush colours echoed in the fringe trim. before you begin See the pattern download for the embroidery design We recommend that you read the complete article and instructions in the pattern download All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread requirements Fabric 40 cm (16”) square of ivory linen twill 40cm (16”) square of rust furnishing velvet Supplies Slate or roller frame to fit fabric or 25cm (10”) embroidery hoop with inner ring bound Lacing thread (slate or roller frame) Ivory sewing thread Contrasting sewing thread 1.3m (lyd 15”) multi-colour fringe trim 40cm (16”) cushion insert Ruler Tissue paper Tracing paper Fine black pen Fine heat-soluble fabric marker Needle No. 22…

The heart, source of life and love, is nestled in a basket and from it grow tulips, symbolising both affluence and a modified Tree of Life, and sunflowers, the petals on each one surrounding a circle representing perfection and eternity. before you begin See the pattern download for the embroidery design We recommend that you read the complete article and instructions in the pattern download All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread unless specified this design uses Antique hem stitch Backstitch | Blanket stitch Blanket stitch pinwheel Buttonhole stitch Buttonhole stitch loop Chain stitch | Coral stitch Diagonal cross filling stitch Needlelace | Needleweaving Rose filling stitch | Satin stitch Single faggot stitch Wave filling stitch Wrapped bars requirements Fabric 90cm × 45cm wide (35½” × 18”) piece…

When you are growing up in a household of six children, getting alone time with your mother, a working woman, is no easy feat. As a young girl, Sharon Peoples found that spending time with her mother while she was sewing gave her that special attention. Back then she was the only one of her siblings interested in embroidery. “I just made traditional things like tittle doilies, but I loved it.” Then one day Sharon's older cousins came to visit. They had just returned from a teaching job in Mexico and were dressed in jeans covered in colourful Mexican embroidery. “That was the end of traditional doilies - I was intrigued!” Sharon embraced contemporary stitching and started making embroidered clothing for her sister, an art student. Although Sharon loved contemporary…

IMPROV•EMBROIDERY A place of mindfulness, exploration and creative escape Carol Cooke | Self-published 2021 | Soft cover 122 pgs ISBN 9780646837383 | RRP$50.00 | www.cookeart.com Carol Cooke came to embroidery later in life after a successful business career. First as a hobby, later as fine art. In this book, she shares what she has learned about embroidery and about herself. She discusses stitching as a form of meditation, a form of journalism, and a form of memory exploration. But also as a form of celebrating small things, finding joy, and of letting go. The book is divided into five sections Explore. Here Carol shares her wisdom and advice on both the practical and creative preparation needed to create with needle and thread. She discusses ideas like inspiration, letting go, and…

Utilising fine wires, fabric, stranded cotton threads and a good sprinkling of embroidery magic, each petal, centre, bud, leaf and stem has been carefully worked then assembled to create a perfect and permanent replica of a beautiful living plant. before you begin See the pattern download for the templates We recommend that you read the complete article All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread unless specified these designs use Blanket stitch / French knot / Ghiordes knot Long and short blanket stitch / Long and short stitch Overcasting / Split stitch / Straight stitch / Wrapping ROSE requirements Fabric 30cm (12’) square of ivory quitter’s muslin Supplies 3cm (l ¼”) square of green wool felt 10cm (4”) embroidery hoop 35cm (14”) lengths of 33 gauge white paper-covered wire…

Employing a variety of stitch techniques provides contrast and interest as is demonstrated by the combination of pulled thread stitches that open up the base fabric and self-padded stitches that build up the thread surface on this delightful mat. Stitched with ecru perlé and stranded cotton onto cream linen, the graceful flower and trellis design is finished with a sinuous, blanket stitch edge. before you begin See the chart on page 61 for the design We recommend that you read the complete article All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread unless specified this design uses Blanket stitch / Cable stitch Cable stitch variation Cross stitch / Detached chain Open trellis stitch Rhodes stitch variation Whipped back stitch requirements Fabric 35cm (14”) square of cream 28-count linen Supplies 25cm…

The smooth surface of satin stitch berries and petal centres contrasts beautifully with the texture of the weaving and trellis, and needlelace adds intricate detail to the lobed leaves and flower centre. this design uses Back stitch | Beaded Palestrina stitch / Blanket stitch Chain stitch | Colonial knot | Detached chain Eyelet variation | French knot | Long and short stitch | Needlelace Outline stitch | Satin stitch | Sheaf stitch | Single raised chain stitch Single weaving filling stitch | Split stitch | Split stitch variation Split stitch-chain stitch combination | Stem stitch Trellis with cross stitch couching | Trellis couching | Whipped back stitch before you begin See the pattern download for the embroidery design We recommend that you read the complete article All embroidery is worked…

SHARON PEOPLES AND CAROL COOKE asked a selection of Australian embroidery artists to create work exploring their interpretation and relationship with the colour wheel. “We only approached Australian artists as we wanted to focus on local colour and how the environment shapes and influences an artist’s perception of colour.” The project kicked off in 2021 when people stiLL felt grey in the throes and aftermath of COVID and Sharon and Carol felt the need for something more colourful, more exuberant to lift the collective spirit. Not everybody they approached was enthusiastic. As accomplished artists, some felt that the colour wheel was a throwback to their student days, that they were past that point in their artistic development. Others enjoyed the opportunity to play and experiment, some even discovered new opportunities…

Inspired by the Needle “I prefer to wander where the needle takes me.” When carol COOKE embroiders she concentrates on the process rather than the outcome, taking note of the small things around her and placing her stitches with mindfulness and contemplation. Carol’s wandering has taken her on many different paths before it led her to embroidery and her life as an artist. She started her career as a nurse before she transitioned to being a sales rep for a pharmaceutical company. This eventually led to becoming a sales and marketing manager for a company she coowned and operated with her husband. It was only when they sold the business that she decided to do the next thing on her life list - go to university. As a mature student,…

Perlé cottons and natural linen are used to work this pretty, sampler sachet, alternating withdrawn thread techniques that increase in complexity, and panels of surface embroidery. Smyrna cross stitch forms a delicate border and the sachet is finished with ladder hem stitch. before you begin We recommend that you read the complete article and instructions in the pattern download All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread this design uses Antique hem stitch / Coral stitch / Four-sided stitch Herringbone stitch / Ladder hem stitch / Satin stitch Serpentine hem stitch / Smyrna cross stitch Straight stitch / Twisted hem stitch requirements Fabric 25cm × 45cm wide (10” × 18”) piece of natural 28-count linen 13cm × 26cm wide (5⅛” × 10¼”) piece of cream silk Supplies 20cm (8”)…

The reverse is worked with a Bargello design in matching colours, offering a choice of sides to keep your pins and needles safe. Worked with crewel wool onto a rayon and linen blend fabric, the cushion edge is finished with rows of stem stitch and dotted with large round beads wrapped with stranded cotton. before you begin See the pattern download for the embroidery design We recommend that you read the complete article All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread unless specified this design uses Bargello | Long and short stitch Outline stitch | Satin stitch Split stitch | Stem stitch Trellis couching | Wrapping requirements Fabric 25cm × 5Ocm wide (10” × 20”) piece of 25-count natural Floba rayon/linen blend 15cm × 30cm wide (6” × 12”)…