Campanula & Butterflies by Di van Niekerk

An increasing trend we’re seeing in embroidery of late is using needle and thread to embellish an existing image.

It’s not a new idea or revolutionary as such, especially when you consider disciplines such as cross stitch and needlepoint are renowned for having complete designs pre-printed on fabric, upon which threads are worked to create stitched artwork.

Perhaps the biggest difference between working a pre-printed panel in cross stitch or needlepoint versus using a broader selection of embroidery techniques, is the artistic freedom.

Di van Niekerk is a progressive and innovative needlework artisan based in South Africa, and it has been our privilege to publish her work dating as far back as issue #51 of Inspirations magazine.

Of late, Di has been creating a masterful series of embroidery designs based on using historical images that are, in and of their own right, captivatingly beautiful.

Campanula & Butterflies from Inspirations magazine issue #123 is Di’s latest offering.

The image Di has chosen for this piece was created by renowned entomologist, naturalist and artist, Maria Sibylla Merian.

Beginning in her teens, Maria produced an extensive collection of beautiful images that did much to reveal the true nature of the life cycle of insects, particularly the spectacular metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly.

Ably demonstrating Maria’s extensive scientific and artistic skill, this 17th century image ‘Meadia Campanula’ has been used by Di with permission from the British Museum.

Printed onto linen, Di then set about bringing each element of this study to life using a raft of silk ribbon and thread embroidery techniques, along with the addition of detached elements created using stumpwork.

The end result, measuring 19.5cm x 14.5cm wide (7 ¾” x 5 ¾”), is a trademark Di van Niekerk showstopper where she has perfectly straddled that delicate line between honouring the original artwork by Maria Sibylla Merian and adding her own artistic flair by elevating the image to a whole new level.

The pre-printed linen is included in the Ready-to-Stitch kit, or for those who wish to choose their own artistic path for embellishment, you can also purchase just the pre-printed panel separately.

Make Your Own Campanula & Butterflies

We have all the materials you need to re-create this project yourself, from easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions to a Ready-to-Stitch kit with everything sourced for you.

*Instructions – As this kit does not include instructions, for step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to Inspirations magazine issue 123 or the Campanula & Butterflies digital pattern, both purchased separately.