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
What are you up to this weekend?
I see that Sarah Soward (of Pauline's Patchwork in Poundbury Dorset) is busy giving a Bargello quilt workshop; Quilts UK is being held at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern and I am off to join Jennie (Rayment) and Wendy (Gardiner) at their Sewing Getaway in Dunford House, Midhurst. I am joining a class with Jenni Stuart-Anderson and she is going to help us all make Raggy Bags and Eco Rugs; I have LOTS of scraps so am hoping she will be able to show me how to make good use of them.
Anna has a new hobby – needlefelting
Anna and her mum, Jo, watched the needlefelting workshop together and then look what Anna made: Brilliant results Anna - well done. If you missed the workshop click here: and to find other children friendly workshops use the Quick Links 'children'