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
How to Sew an Heirloom Quilt (by machine)
Just spent 4 days (away from home!) on a workshop with Pauline Ineson; absolutely brilliant - no quilt to show but LOTS of samples, notes and I learnt SOOOOOO much about my machine. (as did everyone else there). If you want to know more about this quilt (and her other award winning quilts) then we interviewed her at the Festival of Quilts back in 2010 and you can watch it by clicking here: You can also purchase her book in the shop AND there is also an Heirloom Starter Kit - so what's stopping you!
7th March 2014
Out & About: You have a real treat in store [...]
Hearty Good Wishes from Janet Clare
We had a great filming day yesterday and were joined by Janet Clare who showed us her wonderful new range of fabrics - inspired by her Hearty Good Wishes book; are't they gorgeous! Distributed by Moda - should be in the shops soon. More to come - so keep watching! Picture taken by Matt Bigwood www.matthewbigwood.co.uk
www.flickr.com/photos/mattbigwood/