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
Support Alzheimers and buy a quilt
Ann Hill achieved her objective of covering the Hampden Park Football Stadium with quilts - all 5,000 of them - but now they need a home!! Here is what she says: I am now putting my mind to selling some of the Alzheimer Quilts. I would like to run numerous coffee mornings around Scotland on Saturday 21 September which is World Alzheimers Day. How about you running one, or your quilt group. The money raised at the coffee morning could be sent to Alzheimer Scotland or could be kept for your own group funds. I would send you 50 quilts from the project with certificates stating that they were part of a historical event. Lap quilts are £20, Single bed £40 and double or bigger £80. They would be ideal christmas presents!
Rag Quilting on the site
Question from Laura: i signed up as a member to watch the rest of your video on rag quilting - there was a teaser on youtube. I would like to watch that video but cannot find it on your site. In any case, I've made them before out of flannel, I prefer working with cottons and my question is really, can one make rag quilts out of good quality cottons?
What do I do about the seams?
Question: Good Morning
am trying to gather info on patchwork , am a sewer BUT am very confused as to press to the darker side ? press one row one way & the next the other ? or press open ?
If you can help please I would be very gratefull.
Love your website !