Where Meadows & Gardens Grow – Sublime Stitches

Jo Butcher is a designer who is renowned for her sublime embroidered landscapes. Each of Jo’s projects makes use of a limited range of simple stitches, but by combining them with an exquisitely painted background, she produces something truly spectacular. 

She makes use of different types of fibres and is masterful at selecting just the right colour tones in her pieces, but it is her choice of different stitches to produce such varied textures that really completes each piece.

Jo’s book, Where Meadows & Gardens Grow, has 12 gorgeous designs that showcase her technique. She walks you through creating your own painted backgrounds and she suggests the threads and fibres you should use. 

Jo also provides you with templates so you can place each element in the right place on the fabric to produce a harmonious and balanced effect.

When you look the project Hollyhocks, you’re met with a riot of pinks and greens packed into a window-like space. It is difficult to believe that this stunning piece is created using only two carefully selected stitches. All of the leaves, petals and stalks are created using a straight stitch. All that varies is the length, the direction and the placement – whether over or under surrounding stitches.

It is amazing that Jo can produce a picture that is so beautifully lifelike you can almost catch the scent of the flowers, by using one stitch. Each individual flower is then highlighted with a tiny French knot at the centre, which completes the effect.

Poppies & Cornflowers is a similar project in that it is a little window onto a field just bursting with flowers and grasses. As with Hollyhocks, the majority of the image is worked in straight stitch, however by the inclusion of some detached blanket stitch wheat ears, a completely different texture is achieved. Once again, the selective use of French knots finalises the project resulting in an image that looks for all the world like a photograph.

Finally, Cottage Garden is a glorious demonstration of what can happen when you bring some carefully selected stitches together. This beautiful project captures an entire cottage garden within its frame.

The petals of each flower have been masterfully recreated using simple stitches, such as detached chain, fly stitch and French knots, and the surrounding grasses, worked mainly in straight stitch, form a backdrop with perspective and depth.

You don’t need to use obscure or complicated stitches to produce something exceptional, as all of Jo Butcher’s designs demonstrate. Rather you can settle back and enjoy the process, letting your imagination and creativity fly safe in the knowledge that what will result will be a project like no other – one that is truly exceptional in every way.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Hollyhocks by Jo Butcher features elegant spires, in shades of dusky pink and soft green, stretching towards the sky.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Hollyhocks includes everything* you need to re-create this vibrant scene: Fabric panels (including pre-printed panel), embroidery threads and needles.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Cottage Garden by Jo Butcher melds together swathes of flowers, large and small, in perfect harmony.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Cottage Garden includes everything* you need to re-create this pretty scene: Fabric panels (including pre-printed panel), embroidery threads and needles.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Poppies & Cornflowers by Jo Butcher features papery, pink skirts of poppy flowers twirling amongst the cornflowers.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Poppies & Cornflowers includes everything* you need to re-create this gorgeous scene: Fabric panels (including pre-printed panel), embroidery threads and needles.

*Please Note: To cater for flexibility of purchase, instructions are not included with our kits. For step-by-step directions on how to create these projects, please refer to the book. Kits do not include watercolour paints.