Table of contents for Issue 113 in Inspirations

Five, gently shaded petals of softest pink surround a centre cluster of golden stamens and the flowers sit at the top of slender stems. Stranded and filament silks plus gleaming gold and silver threads have been used to artfully recreate this delicate spray, complete with ripening buds and soft green leaves. this design uses Brick stitch | Couching French knot Padded satin stitch Satin stitch | Split stitch Stem stitch | Straight stitch Trellis couching 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 The finished design measures 14cm x 10cm wide (5 ½" x 4"). requirements Fabric 35cm x 30cm wide (14" x 12") piece of ivory silk duchess…

50 Essential Blackwork Patterns: BOOK 1 Chrissie Juno Mann | Self-published 2021 | Soft Cover 108 pg | RRP $35.00 Blackwork is an engrossing style of embroidery, particularly when combining patterns and weights of thread to create shading in a design. With myriad options for turning a group of straight stitches into a blackwork pattern, having a reference book of patterns, or multiple books, is a boon. This book of fifty blackwork patterns, the first to be compiled by Chrissie Juno Mann, is an excellent resource from browsing for inspiration to following a pattern when stitching. Chrissie has included a wide variety of fillings for blackwork. Choose from patterns with densely-worked stitches, ideal for creating areas of deep shading, to those with a lighter, lace-like touch with stitches spaced more…

Embroidered onto a background fabric coloured with watercolour washes in blue and green, layers of stitches are worked with various thread weights to produce a natural effect. Stitched with stranded cotton, five well-known stitches are utilised to capture this charming piece of countryside forever. this design uses Detached chain | French knot Pistil stitch | Straight stitch Whipped back stitch before you begin We recommend that you read the complete article See the pattern download for the placement diagram and circle templates requirements Fabric 25cm (10") square of ivory linen union Supplies Slate frame or stretcher bars to fit fabric or 20cm (8") embroidery hoop Lacing thread (slate frame) Thumb tacks (stretcher bars) 10cm (4") square of tear-away fabric stabiliser Cobalt blue watercolour Cadmium yellow watercolour Palette or white plate Large…

A square border of repeating motifs decorates the front of the drawstring bag and a single motif is repeated on the weighted scissor fob. Narrow lines of satin stitch and four-sided stitch outline the centre of the pincushion, edged with delicate picot arches, and each piece is finished with a twisted cord. this design uses Antique hem stitch Detached blanket stitch Four-sided stitch Needleweaving | Satin stitch Venetian picot | Wrapping 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 requirements Fabric 20cm x 70cm wide (8" x 27 ½") piece of silver-blue 28-count linen Supplies 15cm (6") embroidery hoop Fine sharp embroidery scissors Fibre-fill (pincushion) 28mm (1 ⅛") coin, metal washer or…

Lustrous silk ribbons combine with stranded cotton threads to create a dainty posy on a background of blush pink silk. A snowy white ox-eye daisy and yellow trefoil complement the rich purples of garden vetch while the candy pink of the musk mallow harmonises beautifully with the wisteria, lavender and royal blue of the field scabious. 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 Back stitch | Detached chain Double ribbon stitch | Fly stitch Folded straight stitch | French knot Padded ribbon stitch | Pistil stitch Ribbon stitch | Single knot stitch Split stitch | Stem stitch | Straight stitch Twisted straight stitch | Whipped…

Worked onto 28-count linen with stranded cotton thread, the central block of three, repeated motifs is surrounded by a narrow border echoing elements of the centre designs. The pincushion is backed with black silk, edged with black and white check piping and finished with a tassel at each corner. before you begin See the page 85 for the embroidery chart 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 Back stitch | Detached blanket stitch Double running stitch | Running stitch requirements Fabric 20cm (8") square of white 28-count linen 12cm (4 ¾") square of black silk dupion Supplies 15cm (6") embroidery hoop Light-coloured sewing thread White sewing thread 50cm (20") length of black…

After completing a degree in design in Mexico City, Victoria moved to London where she worked as a florist and as a designer in the fashion industry. “I wanted to be inspired by the architecture, the fashion, the history, the people, the diversity. I had a genuine curiosity to learn. I just wanted to absorb, and London seemed like the right place to do it.” Although Victoria dreamed about making a living from art, she practised her creativity as a hobby only while working on her day job. Short courses in painting, jewellery making, and sculpture allowed her to experiment with different mediums, culminating in her playing with collages. This experimentation progressed to the point where she was making 3D collages by taking photos of photos, adding threads, and sewing…

Worked with a variety of silk and metallic threads onto delustred satin, stumpwork wings, petals and leaves add life and dimension. Golden honeysuckle, an eglantine rose, a purple thistle and a copper-toned pansy bloom on gently curving stems and a ruby ladybird hovers nearby. before you begin We recommend that you read the complete article See the pattern download for the embroidery design and templates All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread unless specified this design uses Blanket stitch | Chipping | Couching | Feather stitch | Fly stitch Long and short blanket stitch | Long and short stitch | Overcasting Pistil stitch | Satin stitch | Split back stitch | Straight stitch Whipped chain stitch requirements Fabric 33cm (13") square of black delustred satin 33cm x 80cm wide…

Borrowing from this heritage but using fresher, more contemporary colours, this stunning cushion features a Tree of Life, complete with fanciful leaves and fruit, emerging from a series of patterned hillocks and, replacing the conventional noble stag, a hungry goat gazes wistfully at the ripening berries. Worked onto linen twill with crewel wool, the cushion is edged with a blanket stitch flange and finished at each corner with a colourful tassel. before you begin We recommend that you read the complete article and information in the pattern download See the pattern download for the embroidery design All embroidery is worked with ONE strand of thread this design uses Battlement couching | Blanket stitch | Blanket stitch filling | Blanket stitch pinwheel | Block shading Bullion knot | Burden stitch | Chain…

WRAPPING BARS When wrapping a bar, take care not to push up the foundation threads from beneath with your fingers. This will cause the wrapped bar to be distorted. LONG WRAPPED BAR – NEW THREAD If you can see that you will run out of thread while wrapping a long bar, take the thread to one satin stitch edge halfway along a square section. Bring in a new thread from halfway along the opposite satin stitch edge. This will form one length of the foundation for a short, wrapped bar (fig 5). PIERCING A WRAPPED BAR To pierce a wrapped bar for the first time, begin with the crewel needle held vertically to the bar. Push the needle tip into the top of the bar, then rotate the needle until…

BEFORE STITCHING AND WRITING WAS A PART OF MY LIFE, I studied architecture and worked as an architectural technician for many years. One of the main design principals I learned was Mies van der Rohe’s concept of Less is More. It can be true in a design aesthetic way, but I soon learned it is also true in other ways. Smaller land, a tighter budget, limited materials, and restrictive building regulations may seem like parameters that leave little room for creativity, but quite the opposite is true. The less you have to work with, the more you are forced to be creative, and innovative, and pioneering. Next time you watch an episode of Grand Designs, note how the most creative designs are the ones that had to overcome the most…