Tabla de contenidos para Issue 118 en Inspirations

FROM THE EDITOR

FLIGHT OF FANCY One of the most exciting aspects of working at Inspirations is receiving the wonderful packages that arrive in the mail containing the original projects from our contributors. At times we may have had a sneak preview with a drawing or photograph of the finished piece but on many occasions, we are seeing the embroidery for the first time. Tape is carefully cut, boxes painstakingly opened and packaging unwrapped to reveal the precious contents - it's almost better than Christmas! Every piece is a delight, wonderfully designed and beautifully stitched, and is met with joyful exclamations but every now and then we receive a project that has a little something extra - a message. Not a message in the physical sense like a note written on a card,…

1 min.

Inspirations|Issue 118

SNAPSHOT

Inspired by the Needle “I BEGAN TO EMBROIDER PHOTOGRAPHS as I wanted to emphasise the human interventions into an otherwise mechanical and digital process. I think it is important for the viewer to see not just the image on the surface of the paper, but to think more about the structure and physicality of the photograph as an object.” Initially, Diane was interested in combining a traditional, analogue process with the visual language of digital imaging. She realised she could match embroidery thread to the colours in the photograph and create the effect of pixelation. “A long time ago, I was working on a series of landscapes using small squares of carpet remnants that also created a pixelated effect. Although I didn’t realise it at the time, I think the embroidered…

5 min.

Inspirations|Issue 118

SECRET GARDEN

Stitched onto finely striped, black and white linen napkins, construction is a breeze once the stitching is complete, and the pre-finished hems create a thin, flanged edge. Variegated threads provide subtle colour changes and the contrast of fully-stitched elements with skeleton outlines adds interest to these botanical designs. before you begin See the pattern download for the embroidery designs 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 GERANIUM requirements Fabric 50cm (20") square pinstripe linen napkin (2) 50cm (20") square of fine white cotton Supplies 25cm (10") embroidery hoop with inner ring bound White sewing thread Contrasting sewing thread 50cm (20") cushion insert Low-tack tape Tracing paper Fine black pen Fine heat-soluble fabric marker Needles No. 5 crewel No. 7 crewel No. 22 tapestry…

13 min.

Inspirations|Issue 118

SHOW, DON'T TELL

Welcome to Loose Threads. Join Ansie every issue as she shares inspirational stories about all things needle and thread. BEING A VISUAL MEDIUM, embroidery often speaks of many narratives, telling stories of life, love, relationships, culture, and much more without using any words. Even more revealing, multi-layered, and nuanced is the idea of using photographs as an inspiration or a foundation for embroidery. It adds a story to a story. Textile artist Ruth Singer used albums of mugshots she found while researching a project in Stafford, England, to create a series of embroidery and textile projects called Criminal Quilts [page 4]. Apart from the women's names, everything that is known about them, was learned from looking at the images - what they wore, their facial expressions, and the state of…

2 min.

Inspirations|Issue 118

CRIMINAL QUILTS

World of Textiles Ruth's father was a historian who shared his woodworking hobby and took her on excursions to museums and heritage buildings where she fell in love with historical fashion and ornate old dresses. "I was only four or five years old when I had my own little workbench with small, but real and very sharp tools. I think that instilled in me the importance of working with my hands. Both my parents and their partners were creative, and I learned lino printing, drawing, and sewing from all of them." With her first job at the V&A Museum, she worked in the education department and spent many hours researching medieval textiles and techniques. This led to her foray into reproduction work making tassels, braids, and trimmings for places like…

5 min.

Inspirations|Issue 118

BETWEEN THE COVERS

Japanese Motifs in Stumpwork & Goldwork Jane Nicholas | Search Press 2022 | Hardcover 184pg ISBN: 9781782216797 | RRP: $59.99 Japan’s rich heritage of design expressed through all facets of arts and handcrafts is a fascinating source of inspiration for many. For this book, Jane has researched the use for nearly one thousand years of symbols to represent familial identity on textiles and objects, the tradition of mon, or the family crest. These stylised representations of plants and animals are replete with meaning, and their graphic nature means they translate well to depiction with embroidery. Jane has chosen twelve designs from over four thousand recorded mon, and brought them to life with goldwork, stumpwork, or a combination of the two. Each project fits within a 10cm (4") square and has…

3 min.

Inspirations|Issue 118

ELIZABETHAN BUTTERFLY

Designed for use by domestic and professional stitchers, these charming, often stylised, figures have been used to decorate this delightful needlebook and scissor fob. A splendid butterfly is worked onto the front and back of the cover, its wings filled with smaller motifs and surrounded by a golden lattice, while the fob features flowers and thistles. before you begin See pages 44–45 for the embroidery charts and the pattern download for the alphabet and numbers We recommend that you read the complete article and instructions in the pattern download All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread this designs uses Algerian eyelet | Back stitch | Cross stitch Diamond eyelet | Double running stitch French knot | Needlewoven bar requirements Fabric 20cm × 40cm wide (8" × 16") piece of…

6 min.

Inspirations|Issue 118

GRAND TOUR

Stitched onto linen with two weights of perlé cotton thread, the design utilises techniques that can be found in Punto antico from Italy, Schwalm embroidery from Germany and Lefkaritiko from Cyprus. Based on a grid of three by seven squares, the delicacy of the fleur de lis hemstitch and diagonal pulled foursided stitch diamonds contrasts beautifully with the lustrous satin stitch petals of the flowers. before you begin See the pattern download for the embroidery chart We recommend that you read the complete article All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread requirements Fabric 35cm × 70cm wide (14" × 27 ½") piece of winter white 30-count linen Supplies 15cm (6") embroidery hoop, inner ring bound Contrasting sewing thread Fine sharp embroidery scissors Needles No. 9 crewel No. 24 tapestry…

11 min.

Inspirations|Issue 118

BURST OF COLOUR

A glorious flower band is bordered on one side by a kaleidoscope of butterflies and the other by a swarm of dragonflies, creating a sea of stunning shades. Worked with lustrous silk threads onto a background of natural linen, this dainty pillow is finished with co-ordinating turquoise piping. 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 Blanket stitch | Back stitch Chain stitch | Detached chain French knot Long and short blanket stitch Long and short stitch Satin stitch | Split back stitch Stem stitch | Straight stitch Whipped spider web requirements Fabric 30cm x 70cm wide (12" x 27…

16 min.

Inspirations|Issue 118

IN TRANSLATION

In Profile Ger arrived in Wisconsin, as a baby in 1993, when his family was settled in the US as part of the third wave of Hmong refugees after the Vietnam War. He is part of the '1.5 immigrant generation' - born in a refugee camp in Thailand, but with all his conscious memories and experiences formed in America. Although Ger grew up in an area with an established Hmong community, as a child he assimilated into the American culture and only started discovering his traditional heritage when he decided to study art focused on metals and jewellery. "I studied and researched Hmong craft; what it is, what it represents, and it really helped me find my own identity. I also love the idea of carrying narratives and stories through…

5 min.

Inspirations|Issue 118

STURT'S DESERT PEA

Depicted here using surface embroidery and stumpwork, each growth stage; bud, flower and seed pod, is meticulously re-created with thread and wire in this fabulous plant study. 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 this design uses Back stitch | Beading | Blanket stitch | Chain stitch | Couching Fly stitch | Long and short stitch | Needleweaving Raised stem stitch over padding | Satin stitch | Split stitch Straight stitch | Whipping requirements Fabric 40cm (16") square of ivory polyester duchess satin 40cm (16") square of calico (muslin) 20cm m=x 40cm wide (8" × 16") piece of quilter’s muslin Supplies Slate frame to fit fabric or…

19 min.

Inspirations|Issue 118

Buttercup & THICK-LEGGED Flower Beetle

Displaying the swollen femora and bright green colouring of the male beetle, this magnificent specimen, with its rich metallic covering, is exquisitely stitched with fine, filament silk threads onto ivory silk dupion, making a splendid companion to its favourite food source. 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 Fly stitch | French knot Long and short stitch Satin stitch | Split stitch Straight stitch requirements Fabric 35cm (14") square of ivory silk 35cm (14") square of fine ivory cotton Supplies Slate frame or stretcher bars to fit fabric or 25cm (10") embroidery hoop Lacing thread (slate frame) Thumbtacks (stretcher bars) Tracing paper Fine black pen Fine heat-soluble fabric marker Needle…

5 min.

Inspirations|Issue 118

GOLDEN LILIES

The luxurious gleam of gold thread emphasises the strong shapes and gentle contours of this elegant flower and the variety of thread types and techniques add texture and interest to the stitched surface. Contrasting beautifully with the inky blue silk background, the rich gold of the embroidery glows with an irresistible warmth and richness. this design uses Chipping | Couching | Purl cutwork | Stab stitch 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 40cm × 30cm wide (16" × 12") piece of dark blue silk dupion 40cm × 30cm wide (16" × 12") piece of calico (muslin) Supplies 25cm × 20cm wide (10"…

13 min.

Inspirations|Issue 118

ELYSIUM

Gently stylised flowers and leaves are worked using a variety of classic techniques, including eyelets, blanket stitch, satin and seed stitch, revealing the subtle play of light and shade that makes this style of embroidery so appealing. Lines of ladder hem stitching border the design and the bag is lined and cushion backed with a print cotton. 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 TWO strands of thread unless specified this design uses Back stitch | Blanket stitch Blanket stitch pinwheel Chain stitch | Coral stitch Detached chain | Eyelet Fly stitch | French knot Ladder hem stitch variation Long and short stitch Outline stitch | Pistil stitch Satin dot stitch | Satin stitch Seed stitch…

9 min.