About Dionne
Dionne paints with stitches to create dynamic, vibrantly coloured textiles. Her needle becomes her pen and thread her ink. The scale, emotion, and energy of her landscapes are inspirational.
Dionne is a graduate of Goldsmith’s College, London University. She has a Masters in Textiles from UCE. And she has been recognised by the industry for her incredible work, e.g. Shortlisted Finalist in the Fine Art Textiles Award at The Festival of Quilts 2020.
Now based between Yorkshire [UK] and Abruzzo [Italy], she exhibits and tutors internationally.
You can watch Dionne demonstrate how to use free motion embroidery to create a range of patterns, textures, tones, and shades in an episode of The Makers Studio series, brought to you by Janome and justhands-on.tv.
Signature Technique
Painting with stitches
Top Tips
- Use a vibrant mix of thread weights, colours, and styles to build up a more dynamic texture.
- A machine with an extra wide throat makes it easier to manipulate your piece.
- Cover your hoop with fabric to give it more grip. You need the fabric to stay drum like as you manoeuvre it.
- Drawing your subject first, with pencil on paper, can help improve your observation and knowledge of your subject – try not to work from a photograph.
- Practice by stitching your signature to get started. Your muscle memory will help you.
- Think of painting with stitches as an orchestra with the sewing machine, threads, fabric, hoop, and you (!) coming together to work as one.
- Don’t be afraid of the machine. After a few hours of speed sewing it becomes second nature.
- Try not to have a set image of the outcome. You are not stitching an exact replica. The result is where you get to. There is no wrong in there. Enjoy the journey.
Videos
Patterns
Posts
To wash or not to wash your fabric ?
In today's world of pre-cuts pre-washing your fabric is not always possible; Question: Some time ago you had a little talk with Jenny about the pro's and con's of washing or not washing patchwork cotton material.this means I do know that it appears to be an individual choice.---- However, I found that the limpness and the sometimes distorted outcome of the washed material quite a challenge when doing small precision pieces.
Spray starch is also not the answer, as it invariably is not applied equally over the fabric.
I really do not feel like washing any more except where the material has either been from an old garment/article or it is soiled.
Have you got any kind of advise I might have so far overlooked?
The Most Watched for 2014
Top 15 films in 2014 Midsummer Mystery Quilt Miniature Quilts with Julia Gahagan Hexagons with Carolyn Forster Owl Bunting with Jennie Rayment Courthouse Steps Scrap Quilt with Valerie Nesbitt Quick-Strip Childrens Quilt with Valerie Nesbitt Lily Block with Jennie Rayment Wrist Pincushion with Jennie Rayment Chicken Pincushion with Jennie Rayment Strip Pieced Diamond Quilt with Valerie Nesbitt 40 Minute Scrap Quilt with Valerie Nesbitt Hexagon Tree Decorations from Jennie Rayment Tucked Up band with Jennie Rayment How to Make Secret Pillow with Valerie Nesbitt Your First Sampler Quilt with Valerie Nesbitt Did you miss?
9th January 2015
Happy New Year What was your new year’s resolution- to [...]