What Are You Stitching?

Insects are a vital part of the world’s ecosystem. However, as well as being important to all aspects of life, they can also be incredibly beautiful. This is why we so often find insects as the subject of our needlework. From butterflies to bees, there are endless varieties both in life and in thread so this week we’re bringing you a collection of just a few stitched by our community.

‘I stitched this little stumpwork bee for International Day of the Bee but didn’t quite get it finished on time. I was inspired to create her after reading an article about the loss of bees due to the use of chemicals. For all of our technology, it’s amazing how dependent we still are upon this small creature to feed the world.’

Indeed we are, Nina. We love how you’ve represented this little lady as she’s carrying the world – we wouldn’t have life as we know it without h

‘This is the Tiger Swallow Butterfly by Michele Roberts. I completed this piece after taking Michele’s class during the American Needlepoint Guild Seminar in 2019. This is my second goldwork piece. I loved working the butterfly and plan to do more goldwork.’

‘I began stitching as a child, but only became serious in the early ‘90s. I have done needlepoint exclusively until two years ago when I began to branch out into other embroidery forms. I enjoy crewel, threadpainting, and surface embroidery but there are so many other techniques I hope to learn.’

‘I stitch every day – it is one of the great pleasures of my life. I have recently become familiar with flowers, plants and techniques from other parts of the world that I had not encountered here in the USA. It’s wonderful to be part of the world of needlework.’

There is always so much to learn and discover from one another, isn’t there? Your butterfly is beautiful, Jenay, and we’re looking forward to seeing more.

‘This is a photo of my grandson with his book cover that I embroidered for him. It covers his sketch book that he draws all the insects that he finds. It is a great treasure of his.’

‘He helped me choose the insects for the cover from Jane Nicholas’s book on insect embroideries. I loved doing it for him.’

He looks very pleased, Jill. This is a gift which I am sure he will treasure forever – perhaps he’ll still be carrying it when he graduates with a degree in entomology?!

‘This was my first attempt to make a composite design. The iris I copied from a photo on the cover of the ‘Royal School of Needlework Embroidery Techniques’. The butterfly was a blackwork design by Tanja Berlin from Inspirations issue #52 that I did in silver.’

‘I am only now beginning to have the courage to design more from my photographs. There are so many exciting designs available that I feel rather inadequate in that field, but I enjoy it so much anyway!’

You’ve done a marvellous job, Mavis. And enjoyment is 99.9% of the process, that’s why we love stitching so much!

Do you love insects? Have you stitched up a swarm, but continue to hunt for more? Or do insects make you shudder a little, so you prefer other subjects to stitch? Whatever it is you love, we’d love to see it. Send a picture of your work and a little bit of information about the project and your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com