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
Do I have to quilt my quilt?
No you don't - older quilts were often fastened with tying and using buttons is another option ( but don't use buttons if the quilt is for a very young child). Here is a comment from one of our viewers: Thank you for the tying and buttoning for a quilt. I have just tied my Christmas Lap quilt, and found your instructions very helpful.
MK GEMS exhibition
An Exhibition of Embroidered Work by members of MK GEMS was held
on 30th November 2013 at the Summerlin Centre. The exhibition raised £1224.21 for Macmillan Cancer Support. In addition the group made an appliqued quilt earlier this year (it's in Issue 28
of Flair magazine) which was auctioned in October at 'Strictly',
Milton Keynes for a further
£400.
MK Gems was founded 6 years ago by Mary Sayers.
Charity sewing day
Anna and her Mum, Jo, joined the charity sewing day that was held tomake quilts for Momentum and made donations both for their time and for fabric - thanks so much.
Anna went home with a delightful piece of cat fabric and here is the bookmark she turned it into.
Again - nice work Anna.