Embroidery Magazine Issue 74

Embroidery Magazine Issue 74

I’m please to announce that Darning Sampler and Bunting Butties and a Brew are included in Embroidery Magazine Issue 74.

Embroidery Magazine Issue 74

The two page spread article showcases the winning entries in the Embroiderers’ Guild Members’ Challenge 2023 plus pieces from the ‘Fit for a King’ exhibition.

Bunting, Butties and a Brew & Darning Sampler are part of Embroidery Magazine Issue 74
Bunting, Butties and a Brew & Darning Sampler are part of Embroidery Magazine Issue 74
Darning Sampler
Darning Sampler
Bunting, Butties and a Brew
Bunting, Butties and a Brew

Please purchase your copies via the Embroidery Magazine website.

Artistic Director’s Award 2023

Darning Sampler - hand stitched red thread into a vintage white child's garment

I’m pleased to announce that ‘Darning Sampler‘ has received a First Award in ‘The Artistic Director’s Category’ in the Members’ Challenge 2023.

Artistic Director's Award

The Members’ Challenge ‘Layer, Layers, Layering’, will be on display on the Embroiderers’ Guild stand at the Knitting and Stitching Shows at Alexandra Palace and Harrogate in 2023.

Darning Sampler - hand stitched red thread into a vintage white child's garment
Darning Sampler

I’m honoured and thrilled to be receiving another award for my hand embroidery.

Darning Sampler

Darning Sampler - hand stitched red thread into a vintage white child's garment

There’s something about working with cloth, it’s thread count and how the cloth is woven that fascinates me. This was the starting point for my latest project Darning Sampler.

The piece started with a vintage child’s garment that’s been in my collection for a number of years and an idea that’s been swirling around my head for even longer.

Darning Sampler - hand stitched red thread into a vintage white child's garment
Work in progress

Next followed extensive research into vintage and antique darning samplers. Given the very fine cloth and the weave of the cotton, only a select number of stitches were chosen. Some patterns were also adapted for this project.

I experimented and sampled with different weights of thread and settled on a very fine thread called Madeira Cotona.

Darning Sampler - hand stitched red thread into a vintage white child's garment
Work in progress
Darning Sampler - hand stitched red thread into a vintage white child's garment
Darning Sampler complete

The piece took nearly two months to create. Hand darned. Size 28 x 28cm.

Darning Sampler - hand stitched red thread into a vintage white child's garment
Darning Sampler – detail

Completed with a tiny vintage Mother of Pearl button on the neck of the garment.

This piece is part of the Embroiderers’ Guild ‘ Layers’ Members Challenge.

You can find one of my previous Members’ Challenge artworks in this post.

Update July 2023:

I’m thrilled that Darning sampler has won a First Award in ‘The Artistic Director’s Category’ in the Members’ Challenge 2023. For more details please follow this link.