What Are You Stitching?

Whilst the work of stitching and details usually go hand in hand, there are some pieces that take detail to a whole new level! This week, we’re sharing the work of needle and thread that are incredibly rich in detail…

Jacquie Harvey

‘During the quieter moments of the past year, I have kept my mind and my hands busy designing this hand quilted wall-hanging, which grew from just the small central square to the 42 square inches it is today.  It is called ‘Bits and Pieces’ after the four traditional appliqué blocks in the middle and all the bits and pieces I have stored around my room, which needed using up.’

‘The wall-hanging is made of silk dupion with Liberty print fabric appliqué. The quilting is completely hand sewn, using running stitch, back stitch and chain stitch with Mettler and DMC embroidery threads.’

Jacquie, to think that each of those individual stitches have been laid by hand! What an incredible labour of love that grew from an original block and made amazing use of your existing stitching stash.

Natalia Frank

‘The design for this OOAK miniature petit point carpet is adopted from an antique Kirman Vase carpet, mid-17th century, that was woven in Kerman, Iran, a major weaving center in the south-eastern part of the country, and sold at Christie’s, London on April 15, 2010 for $9,599,535.’

‘The petit point carpet measures 11 1/4” x 13 1/4” (28.5cm x 33.5cm) and is stitched on 48 count silk gauze with Gloriana overdyed silk floss.

There are a total of 291,156 tiny stitches which took 771 hours to stitch!’

‘I had a lot of fun and enjoyed each minute of stitching this carpet!’

Natalia, what an incredible amount of detail you’ve stitched into such a small space! Each one of your 291,156 stitches have added a complexity to the result that has captured the essence of the original carpet picture-perfectly.

Sue Osborne

‘I first enjoyed embroidery when I was probably about 10 years old. We had one lesson a week at school doing embroidery and listening to a radio play. Then we had to go up one by one to say our times tables to the teacher. This was the best lesson of the week for me and I still have a tablecloth I stitched at that time. I knit, crochet and quilt but embroidery is still my favourite. I have just enrolled in a City and Guilds Embroidery Course.’

‘Last year I made Carolyn Peace’s Home Sweet Home Cottage and loved making it so much, plus I won the best exhibit in craft at our local flower show!’

‘So, this year I wanted to make her Embroidered Village Bag. I was lucky enough to win the cup again. I live in a small village in the Forest of Dean in the UK, and the cup is called Auntie Mabel’s Cup.’

‘I already plan to make Carolyn Pearce’s Embroidered Patchwork Bear for the show next year – I love all her embroidery!’

Sue, if there’s one thing Carolyn Pearce’s work is renowned for is detail! Your pieces were well deserving winners and we look to seeing your Embroidered Patchwork Bear when it’s complete.

Have your needles and threads stitched something rich in detail? We’d love to see it! Email photos of what you’ve stitched along with a few details about your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com