Table of contents for Issue 127 in Inspirations

BRENDA SORTWELL'S enduring love of embroidery started when she first picked up a needle as a child, learning the basics of crewel embroidery from her primary school teacher, Miss Melmoth. “I still have that first piece of embroidery today.” An accomplished embroiderer and a regular contributor to Inspirations, Brenda has no formal training in embroidery, relying on patience, practise and many happy mistakes. “Sometimes life gets in the way with no opportunities to create but allowing myself the space to sit back and stitch has been a wonderful therapy over the years.” Brenda finds joy in the limitless possibilities embroidery provides. “Even now I couldn’t say which form I like best. Sometimes it is just about the mood I am in or the situation, or occasionally it is driven by a…

Characterised by the buff tip at the end of each green back feather, creating a spotted effect, and intense blue patches on the head, the male bird is depicted here, resting on a wooden stump, using more than fifty shades of stranded cotton thread. TECHNIQUE Threadpainting THIS DESIGN USES Bullion knot | Colonial knot Couching | Long and short stitch Split stitch | Straight stitch Wrapping 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 requirements FABRIC 35cm × 31cm wide (14" × 12 ¼") piece of pearl grey powerloom silk dupion 35cm × 31cm wide (14" × 12 ¼") piece of white cotton SUPPLIES Stretcher bars to fit…

Worked in six, individual segments using four, lacy blackwork patterns, the variegated stitching is enhanced with tiny seed beads, echoing the colours of the thread. Gleaming green metallic couching thread is used to stitch the leaf and the stalk is formed from felt. TECHNIQUE Blackwork THIS DESIGN USES Back stitch | Beading Couching Long and short blanket stitch Running stitch | Whipping 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 READY TO STITCH KIT See page 93 The honeycrisp apple completes Christine’s trio of blackwork fruit FIG: The Design Collective–Pincushions, LIMONERA PEAR: A Passion for Needlework | Blakiston Creamery requirements FABRIC 35cm (14") square of waterlily green 32-count linen 35cm (14")…

Worked as a companion piece to Campanula and Butterflies in issue #123 of Inspirations, The Moth is based on a second image by the renowned entomologist and artist, Maria Sibylla Merian. Capturing the life-cycle of the moth from caterpillar to pupa and adult, the embroidery is worked with stranded cotton, silk ribbon and beads over a print on linen of the original artwork. The large leaves and moth are worked as detached elements, adding dimension to this gentle scene. TECHNIQUE Silk ribbon and stumpwork embroidery READY TO STITCH KIT See page 93 The finished design measures 19.5cm × 14.5cm wide (7 ¾" × 5 ¾"). THIS DESIGN USES Back stitch | Blanket stitch | Bullion knot | Couching Detached blanket stitch | Detached chain | French knot Ghiordes knot |…

KANTHA Ekta Kaul Herbert Press, Bloomsbury Publishing 2024 Hardcover, 190 pg ISBN: 978-1-7899-4043-5 RRP $39.90 Kantha, refers to both the style of running stitch and the finished cloth, a quilted textile made from layers of cast-off fabric, traditionally embroidered with threads pulled from the borders of old saris and dhotis, made by the women in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent. The book starts by giving context to the craft of kantha – where it comes from, who makes it, and what is it used for. It then further explores the different styles, motifs, colours, and taxonomy. The next section looks in-depth at the variety of stitches used in creating the different styles of Kantha. Interestingly, kanthas consist of many variations of the well-known running stitch, including darning stitch,…

Developed in the late nineteenth century in Italy in an attempt to revive the traditional needlearts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, it is worked onto a thread framework over card using cordonnet thread. This delicate, repetitive border design is attached to a square of soft ecru linen, making it the ideal starting point to discover this superb technique. TECHNIQUE Aemilia Ars THIS DESIGN USES Antwerp stitch | Blanket stitch Corded detached blanket stitch Detached blanket stitch Venetian picot | Whipping BEFORE YOU BEGIN See the pattern download for the needlelace template We recommend that you read the complete article All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread READY TO STITCH KIT See page 93 requirements FABRIC 20cm (8") square of lambswool 32-count linen 22cm × 60cm wide (8…

Worked as slips, the detached elements are stitched separately onto quilter’s muslin then cut out and applied to the painted silk. Fibre-fill is used to pad the plump bodies and the tails are supported with a wire outline stitched to the wrong side of the work, then attached to the fabric only at the base. A length of cleverly made miniature barbed wire and real feathers complete this endearing image. TECHNIQUE Stumpwork The finished design measures 11cm × 19cm wide (4 ¼" × 7 ½"). 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 THIS DESIGN USES Back stitch | Chain stitch | Detached chain French knot | Ghiordes…

EKTA KAUL’S interest in textiles is part of her heritage, her Indian heritage in general and her maternal lineage in particular. Her childhood interest turned into a deep love and appreciation as she emerged into adulthood, leading her to pursue a degree in Apparel and Textile Design at the National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad. Armed with technical knowledge and a formal education, Ekta moved to the UK to pursue a master’s degree. “This decision stemmed from a desire to broaden my horizons and deepen my understanding of textiles. I was deeply curious about how different cultures approach textiles. I applied to several art schools in the UK and the US, but as fate would have it, I received two full scholarships, which made studying in the UK an…

She wore her yellow sun-bonnet She wore her greenest gown; She turned to the south wind And curtsied up and down. She turned to the sunlight And shook her yellow head, And whispered to her neighbour: “Winter is dead.” A.A. MILNE (1882-1956) Stitched with crewel wool onto linen union, butterflies flit amongst the flowers and a sprinkle of metallic thread and glass beads adds a little sparkle. TECHNIQUE Crewel embroidery THIS DESIGN USES Blanket stitch | Bullion knot Chain stitch | Couching Corded detached blanket stitch Cross stitch | Detached blanket stitch Detached chain | Feather stitch | Fly stitch French knot | Long and short stitch Padded satin stitch | Pistil stitch Satin stitch | Seed stitch | Split stitch Stem stitch | Straight stitch Trellis couching | Whipped…

Uniting the two, this magnificent goldwork knot garden is the first in a series of three beautiful designs, combining the irresistible allure of metal threads, glowing pearls and lustrous silk threads, all worked onto a background of ivory silk. TECHNIQUE Goldwork & surface embroidery THIS DESIGN USES Beading | Chipping | Couching | Detached chain | Fly stitch Long and short stitch | Split back stitch | Stab stitch Surface satin 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 requirements FABRIC 30cm (12") square of ivory silk habutai 40cm (16") square of ivory cotton SUPPLIES Slate frame to fit fabric or 23cm (9") embroidery hoop with stand,…