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
Is a non-stick craft mat the same as an applique mat?
In reply to your question I am not familiar with the craft product that Create & Craft sell; however I can tell you that the Applique mat we sell in the shop is see-through so that you can use it to position your pieces accurately; if the pieces are coated in Heat n Bond (or similar fusing web) they will stil to each other but not the mat -although you may have to let the mat cool a little.
The Knitting & Stitching Show, Alexander Palace, London
Fab day out with my friend Valerie; it is what it say with LOADS of knitting - and if you thought knitting was just for jumpers think again! A real showcase for new young stitching talent and great exhibitions, including one by E.A.S.T. whose exhibition 'Between The Lines; will be going on the road and we are hoping to catch up with then in 2015 in Suffolk: www.easttextile.co.uk Prism had more of their work on display - another talented group as you have seen from our films.
What was the pattern?
Sometimes the quilts hanging in the background of the workshops cause as many questions as the workshop itself. That was certainly the case with my Straight Stitched fused applique tutorial - the quilt in the background was made from a pattern called Flower Power designed by Geralyn Powers and available from www.thankfullysew.com