Red Columbine by Trish Burr

Trish Burr is well known to stitchers the world over for her exquisite threadpainting, capturing fruit, flowers and birds with such accuracy that it is often difficult to tell whether the finished piece is stitched or painted. 

She has an uncanny knack of recreating the texture and shading of her subject perfectly, and then she provides easy to follow instructions so that anyone can reproduce her design with near perfect accuracy.

Every single one of Trish’s projects is a work of art, but in Inspirations issue #115 she has produced something really special. Red Columbine is the latest of her threadpainted designs, but this one has a wow-factor like no other.

It has been stitched on gossamer-fine silk organza, which results in the stunning red flower appearing to float above its translucent background. The red columbine is a stunningly unique flower that is native to eastern North America.

The distinct, double petalled bloom boasts a central, lighter coloured flower nestled in a brilliant, scarlet red outer flower, giving both shape and contrast that lends itself perfectly to stitch. Set off by the rich green leaves of the plant, the colours and shading of this project are beautiful and striking in equal measure.

Silk organza is a very delicate fabric, so stitching on it requires a slightly different technique to standard linen or cotton. Trish recommends that you don’t wash the fabric before you use it as it is a lot easier to work on when it is stiff. Because of the translucency, it may be difficult to see your design outline, but this can be overcome by placing a white cloth on your lap that will make the lines stand out.

The stitching itself is done in a hoop so that the organza is taut and the stitches sit neatly. It also allows you to manage your tension and ensures that the delicate ground fabric does not pucker.

Because of the transparency, any threads that trail across the back are going to be visible, so it is best not to carry threads from one section to another. By ending off each section of stitching before starting the next, you can ensure that the background of Red Columbine remains pristine. Similarly, loose threads at the back should be secured and any ends should be trimmed.

We know you’re going to love this project as much as every other Trish Burr project we’ve published. It is certainly going to invite cries of amazement and delight when completed ensuring the pleasure of the stitching carries on well beyond the final reveal and the hanging on the wall.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Red Columbine by Trish Burr is a stunning presentation of a single, vibrant flower on translucent fabric.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Red Columbine includes everything* you need to re-create this ethereal study: Fabric (unprinted), felt, embroidery threads, felt and needle.

*Please Note: To cater for flexibility of purchase, instructions are not included with our kits. For step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to the magazine/digital pattern.