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Selvedge: Get to know Emellie Ferris

One of embroidery artist Emillie Ferris’ favourite quotes is a Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” Since teaching herself to embroider with a handful of materials (a hoop, thread, needle and an old pillowcase), Emillie has been passionate about embroidery and passing on […]

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Designer Edge: Georgie Emery

From her home in the United Kingdom to the countryside of southern France and the lush region of Southeast Asia, embroidery artist Georgie Emery has been inspired by butterflies from across the globe. Her embroideries are the result of careful design planning, meticulous stitching and a deep appreciation for these beautiful creatures. “They represent peace […]

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Selvedge: Emily Jo Gibbs

The beauty of making portraits, much like writing profiles, is that it’s a chance to really think about and appreciate the person you are depicting. This is what Emily Jo Gibbs loved about embroidering her first portrait, which was of her son Fred. She then created a portrait of her other son, Bill, which led […]

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Armchair Travels of a Textile Lover: Chris Jurd goes to India

Well-known Australian quilter, regular Quilters Companion contributor and textile lover, Chris Jurd was the guest leader of the 2019 Quilters’ Tour of India. Organised by Quilters Companion and Travelrite Australia, the group set off from Sydney mid November and returned 16 days later – after a trip of a lifetime. We asked Chris to share […]

Needles

Know Your Product: Hand Sewing Needles

There are a large variety of needle types, and quilters tend to use mostly straws, milliners, sharps and betweens. It is widely agreed that the best needles for hand sewing and quilting are between needles and sharps are best for appliqué. The larger the size number, the smaller the needle. As a beginner it is recommended […]

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The spectacular work of Lily Adelaide Upton

Lily Adelaide Upton’s work is a contemporary celebration of Aussie natives. Drawing on her diverse surroundings, she captures the essence of Australia’s spectacular flora and fauna in rich embroidery. While riding her bike to work, she spots rainbow lorikeets, honeyeaters, rosellas, galahs, corellas and many eucalyptus varieties, which fill her head with lots of creative […]

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Hand Embroidery Workshop

  Embroidery uses a needle and thread to make stitches to create a design. You need to learn a number of stitches, which you can find on the Homespun website: www.homespun.net.au/stitch-guide. There are more than 70 stitches in the online stitch guide. The basic stitches most commonly used are backstitch, blanket stitch, satin stitch, French […]

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Selvedge: Meet Louise Newton

“I’ve always loved daisies. I grew up with them as they covered our garden at home. Perhaps they give me a sense of nostalgia, reminding me of making daisy chains with my sister and picking them for my mum when I was younger. She would use an egg cup as a vase to put them […]

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Creative Inspiration: Fusing Machine Embroidery and Quilting

About five years ago I was asked if I would ever try machine embroidery. My answer straight away was “Nope, no, definitely not!” I was not interested in machine embroidery at all; my obsession at the time was free-motion quilting and I couldn’t see a way of combining embroidery without it looking like it had […]

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Selvedge: Fenny Suter

Sometimes it takes long hikes through dense greenery to find the perfect spot for a refreshing swim — a hidden lagoon with crystal-clear water surrounded by lush foliage. Fenny Suter’s vibrant embroideries capture this idyllic scene in thread and fabric. They’re a little piece of paradise, but without the sweat and exhaustion of hiking. Her […]