Welcome to my Blog. This a place to share and learn all things embroidery. Here I post inspirational stories and free lessons in the form of tutorials and guides. I also share tips, tricks and teach stitches and techniques.
You will also find free patterns and designs for you to unlock your creativity. It is a great place for any creative looking to learn or find inspiration in this art form.
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. . Hi, stitching world, I have some lovely pieces to show you today! By Svetlana Bell from Münster in Germany. Svetlana wrote: “I love different kinds of embroidery, especially silk ribbon embroidery, because it gives a very nice volume effect. When I saw your works at the first time, I was very impressed. They are very gorgeous. Then I bought your book and started to learn a new...
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I learned the hard way that nothing even begins to touch side with Di’s ribbons for superb softly variegated colours, which look so natural, softness and suppleness and absolute consistency in quality. And so, over the years, I have stayed true to Di’s ribbons, producing bowls or baskets of roses, tulips, peonies, and daffodils that can be found in homes in the USA, Ireland, and South Africa.
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Hi, hello, it's a beautiful day here and the 46th Cape Town Cycle Tour, the biggest timed bike race in the world, will be held on Sunday, so there's lots of excitement in the air! 109 km or 67.7 miles, it’s a long way and the very best of luck to all participants! I thought I would show you some lovely works by Annamaria Kelly’s students in Durban. Look at their...
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Turkey stitch and Single-knotted stitch by Di van Niekerk
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How to embroider a picket fence by Di van Niekerk
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Hi, hello! Today I am teaching you about creating dimension and softly raised ribbon embroidery stitches. I am often asked why some stitches are soft and rounded, raised off the surface of the design and why some designs look flat and have less dimension. I will show you why. . . How to Create Pretty Stitches with Silk Ribbon that are nice and rounded, adding texture to your ribbon...
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Hi, Hello from a sunny Cape Town! I wrote a tutorial about how to make an orange tree. If you look at my New Beginnings sampler below, you will see I used fruit and berries here too. . . In the bird panel, I used the technique to make the pink berries... . . and for the Erica in this panel, I used the same technique too... . . For...
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Hello everyone I have a simply divine piece to share with you today. It’s a rendition of our bestseller ‘Tea in the garden’ by Alice Andrus from San Diego, California. Alice has been ordering panels from us for years and has entered her embroidery panels into the San Diego County Fair and won many ribbons. This featured hoop received first prize! . I asked Alice to share with us...
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Happy Friday everyone! 💓I have a gorgeous quilt to show you by Debbie Lee James from Kentucky, USA. . . . I asked Debbie to tell us a bit about herself and her embroidery journey, here’s her reply: “Good day Di!I currently live in Corbin Ky. I love to create texture and dimension in my projects. Your book Ribbon embroidery and stumpwork caught my eye in a fabric...
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Hi, hello! I’m back from hiking amongst the wildflowers on the West Coast not far out of Cape Town and having caught up with the backlog, I want to show you a gorgeous classic piece of artwork, embroidered by the talented Christine Chan from Arcadia in Los Angeles County. Ophelia is a 1894 oil on canvas painting by the English painter John William Waterhouse and the embroidery...
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