This is the perfect time to begin ordering and assembling those gift ideas for loved ones, family and friends, well before the Christmas rush sets in. I'll explore thoughtful gifts to delight stitchers from traditional hand embroiderers, through to creative machine embroiderers and experimental textile artists. Fill this festive season with artistry that reminds you of connection, creativity and joy - all centred around the use of a simple needle and thread - one of the oldest tools kn...

This is the fascinating history of Khayamiya - a lavishly decorative textile art that was originally used for tents, palace interiors and ceremonial pavilions and one that continues in the bustling market of Sharia Khayamiya or, as we know it, the 'Street of the Tentmakers', where skilled artisans continue to create dazzlingly intricate and colourful stitched panels, that have evolved into wall hangings and other cherished collector's items now often made for the tourist industry. We need to ...

In this lively episode of the Stitch Safari Podcast, I'm celebrating the quirky, personal, rule-breaking world of Idisyncratic Embroidery. This is the space where individuality thrives, where traditions are bent or broken, and where embroidery becomes a deeply personal language of expression. Rules, patterns and expectations become blurred with stitches finding themselves wandering every which way, where colour choices are meant to surprise or challenge and where compositions tend to make you...

Embroidery is frequently imagined as something small and delicate, nestled in a hoop or stitched onto clothing, and that's all well and good. But by turning embroidery into something monumental or, conversely, something tiny, an artist can help create a sense of dynamism in their work. Join me as I explore the hidden opportunities available to embroidery artists simply by utilising the power of scale. Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/dynamic-embroide…e-power-of-scale/

Whether man-made or naturally occurring, pattern suggests rhythm, repetition, and energy that have the power to move our eyes, stir our emotions, and tell stories that go far beyond the surface. From ancient cultural motifs to bold contemporary designs, pattern can transform embroidery into something alive and dynamic. In this episode, learn how to invest in the aesthetics of patterns to create beauty, harmony, and visual rhythms in your designs, providing a sense of order and structur...

Contrast creates visual interest, emphasis and clarity in a design that can guide the viewer's eye, separate information, and make certain parts of the design stand out from everything else. It can make your work pop, sparkle and sizzle, creating the difference between nice and wow. Join me as I explore ways to add contrast to your embroidery art, offering current embroidery artists for you to research. Contrast can transform your work from the ordinary into the extraordinary. Show Notes:&nbs...

This episode of the Stitch Safari Podcast is the first in a series entitled 'Dynamic Embroidery'. Embroidery is an art form that adheres to the same practices, principles and devices as all other art forms - and that's exactly what I want to demonstrate with this Dynamic Embroidery series. And the first in this amazing series deals with the Power of Texture. Show Notes here: https://stitchsafari.com/dynamic-embroide…power-of-texture/

This is a unique space where abstraction encourages us to look beyond what we see, to feel the artist's expression of emotion and imagination formed by using fabric, techniques involving a needle and thread and a whole bucketload of intuition. What does abstraction in embroidery mean? How do artists use stitches as their expressive tools? Who are some of the artists working in this arena of embroidery, and what ideas are they exploring? Finally, how can you begin to embrace ...

In this episode, I'm travelling to exotic India, where embroidery isn't simply decoration; it's devotion to a long and fascinating heritage, as told through the Lehenga, a tale of elegance and timeless beauty. Whether you're a textile artist, an embroiderer, a lover of fashion or simply curious about the art that clothes us, join me in this episode as I explore the exquisite world of India's embroidered Lehengas. Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/the-lehenga-indi…at-its-very-best/

What happens when one lets go of convention, yet still retains strong connections with beauty and craftsmanship? We can still utilise symbolism and fine work to explore and disrupt norms by using non-traditional materials, aggressive motifs, unusual threads and unconventional imagery, making textile and embroidery art one of the most interesting artistic genres to explore for the up-and-coming while maintaining craftsmanship. Join me as I explore how bridal couture is honouring yet rede...

This is the episode where fabric and thread meet imagination. Can a needle and thread truly be used to trick the eye? Is it magic or simply sleight of hand? For centuries, artists and embroiderers have been playing games with our minds to suggest that what we see might just represent something else. The thing is, these illusions are still in use today. In today's episode of Embroidery Illusion: Distorting the Senses, I'll explore the fascinating worlds of trompe l'oeil, shading, d...

So why do people fall in love with embroidery, and what keeps them hooked? We know it's a sensory experience that's soothing and engaging, allowing personal creativity free rein. But embroidery is also a learned skill, one that can be successfully self-taught, providing a sense of accomplishment and confidence-building. It's continuous learning and curiosity that sparks further innovation, still able to offer a connection with our past and an appreciation of the artistic her...

The legacy of Hand & Lock is the championing of artists through their annual Prize, reminding us that even the most delicate threads carry powerful and insightful stories across the centuries and cultures. Join me as I explore this pillar of excellence, a house where embroidery is not simply a craft but an art, a legacy and a living, breathing story - all recorded in stylish stitching. Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/embroidery-and-t…-hand-lock-prize/

This inspiring form of embroidery offers a deep dive into how easily obtained natural elements, such as leaves, can be transformed through embroidery. To help round out this episode, I'll explore how natural design motifs such as leaves have been used in traditional and modern design, and delve into historical practices and the cultural significance of the leaf motif. Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/the-leaf-motif-f…arden-to-gallery/

In 2025, gloves are emerging as a prominent and versatile medium for artistic expression. More and more artists are using them as repurposed items, or to explore their symbolism and narrative potential. Join me as I briefly journey through the history of gloves and their uses, to the modern-day culture of the iconic embroidered glove. Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/the-sartorial-embroidered-glove/

Join me as I explore the predictions from 2024 for embroidery trends in 2025. Are they correct? Do they tally with what embroiderers are creating now? Let's find out together. Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/2025-embroidery-…they-here-or-not/

Hoops can be used to maintain tension while stitching but also to display the finished work, as I'm doing with my 100 Stitched Circles. En masse, they make a great installation. They can be hung from the ceiling or used for 3D embroidery, and they make fantastic wall art incorporating different shapes and sizes. Join me as I jump through some hoops in today's episode. Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/the-wonderful-wo…hoops-and-frames/ 100 Stitched Circles: https://...

Join me on this examination and inspection of anatomic embroidery as I dissect, audit and review the whys and wherefores along with the artistic evaluation and interpretation of this genre of embroidery. It's unique, it's educative, and it may not be for everyone - but it's out there and needs to be explored. These embroidered artworks will make you marvel at how we are made and function. Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/anatomical-embroidery/

Recently I saw a post on social media questioning whether embroidery was outdated. The resounding answer is, of course, no - but why? The wiser question would be, why is embroidery enjoying a renaissance? Hasn't it been around for eons? What's the value of embroidery in the 21st century? Just who is picking up a needle and thread now? Join me in this fascinating episode to find the answers to these questions. Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/why-is-embroidery-popular/

We've all been there, haven't we? In stressful times it's too easy to make the sewing room a dumping ground for works-in-progress and newly acquired items. We're all visual artists, so visually the space we work in has to be pleasing too, but it also has to be efficient, effective and safe. Listen to this episode to learn how I revamped my sewing room. Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/podcast/