Stitch June/July 2025

Hello, Stitch readers! Welcome to the vibrant and fun-filled June/July issue of Stitch! As summer blooms and we dive into the season of creativity, we’re thrilled to bring you an exciting array of projects and inspiring interviews that perfectly capture the season’s spirit. Whether you’re stitching in a quiet corner of your home or outdoors under the sun, this issue is packed with projects to inspire and challenge your creativity, all while embracing the warmth of long, sunny days and cheerful energy. In this edition, we’ve curated a delightful range of projects that celebrate nature, innovation, and imagination. From intricate animal designs to whimsical floral patterns, there’s something for every skill level and taste. You’ll be able to explore various techniques, from free-machine embroidery to delicate hand stitching, and even…

One of the finest pleasures of summertime is witnessing the riot of colours in gardens as flowers burst forth in all their glory. The heat of the day is mirrored in the intensely bright colours that typically bloom in the hottest of months. I wanted to create a pattern that pays homage to those captivatingly colourful bouquets with this piece, and I hope you enjoy creating it as much as I have. YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS: • For the background fabric: 2 10in squares of white kona cotton (to create a double fabric layer) • Card stock cut to 3/4inx2in to be used for wrapping the stitches around • DMC Threads: ○ 956 x3 skeins of this shade only ○ 743 ○ 3345 ○ 907 ○ 3849 EQUIPMENT: • 6in…

The Common Blue Damselfly is one of the most widespread damselflies in the UK and a symbol of purity, protection, and equality. This delicate insect invites us to pause and appreciate the intricate beauty of the natural world, calling us to recognise the elegance in nature’s often overlooked corners and celebrate the art that brings this beauty to life. YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS: • Fabric: ○ 56 count light blue hand-dyed linen, or white linen. Cut on thread to 33x38cm if working on a slate frame. If working on stretcher bars or a hoop, cut fabrics to 30x36cm ○ Calico or muslin, cut on thread to the same dimensions as the ground fabric • Water soluble transfer paper, such as Clover’s Charcopy tracing paper • Threads: Cosmo DMC Substitutions 164…

Introduction My name is Pippa, and I’m the creator of Lemon Pepper Studio, an embroidery studio based in Wiltshire. I initially set up the studio when I was living in London but later moved to the countryside to live on a farm with my now-husband. While embroidery is the core of Lemon Pepper Studio, it’s heavily influenced by my love for the outdoors and gardening. We have two dogs, Evie and Olive, and a beautiful little girl who is my absolute world. The Beginning of My Embroidery Journey I picked up embroidery as a way to keep my hands busy during evenings and days off while I was working as a self-employed set designer. I’m not one to sit still, so I always need something to do, and embroidery was…

This piece blends the peaceful calm of the sea with a touch of creativity and fun. The inspiration for this starfish comes from my 2-year-old daughter, who has become captivated by stories of the underwater world and sea creatures. Her excitement is what makes this starfish so sparkly and pink, and I hope it brings as much joy to you as it does to her. YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS: • Fabric: ○ Cotton in sand colour, 28x28cm ○ Silk or cotton in light blue, 25x15cm ○ Lightweight calico, 28x28cm ○ Felt in beige or yellow, 20x20cm ○ Adhesive web/Bondaweb, 30x20cm ○ Backing fabric, cotton (plain or print of your choice), 28x28cm • Thread: ○ Gutermann sewing thread, 416 (yellow), 610 (beige), 800 (white) and 321 (pink) ○ Buttonhole thread, any…

Introduction: The Embroiderers’ Guild Annual Members’ Challenge is open to all Guild members. The Guild offers a creative theme and invites members to submit an original piece of work which fits that brief. Once members have submitted their entries, a selected panel of experienced textile artists assess the work against specific criteria… Theme: The 2025 theme was ‘Colour Rhythms’. Anthea Godfrey, Guild Artistic Director, said ‘We wanted members to dig deep and initially look at the ways famous artists and designers have investigated the broad themes of ‘Colour’ and ‘Rhythm.’ During their exploratory journey, members were likely to find that many artistic outcomes are informed by an in-depth study of nature and the world around them’. Anthea went on to explain that although areas of ‘Colour’ and ‘Rhythms’ have characteristics…