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 do you cut the strips for Log Cabin?
This is the question from Janice: like you I just love the look of the log cabin and am about tho venture down this road. Can you tell me - is the strips cut on the bias or just straight across? Here is our answer:
ALWAYS assume that strips are cut ACROSS your fabric unless you are told otherwise - when you cut down the grain is very unforgiving and when you cut on the bias your quilt will wave!!!
Comments About our Films on Youtube
3 Comments from Youtube July 2013: Comment on How to pull the machine thread up through your work with Valerie Nesbitt From across the pond again, North Carolina, USA, I am thoroughly enjoying AND learning from these tutorials. LOVE the variety of subjects, especially the projects and the techniques incorporated into it. Also enjoy the interviews and off site shows.
What to watch here during August 2013
There are five Fridays in this month – so lots to view – and we start off by continuing to wander round the Textiles in Focus (2013) exhibition where we meet up with Lynda Monk who demonstrates how she used Lutradur and puff paint; and Jean Wright who is also demonstrating – but this time her love is goldwork; we also enjoy more of the Fen Edge Textiles exhibition that was on display.