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
Superior Threads
Makers of King Tut thread (as well as other brands) Dr.Bob has the title of Chief Threadologist for the company and is a wealth of information. They have various short videos running on their site and well worth a visit and a listen with your cup of coffee: www.superiorthreads.com/videos You'll find lots under 'Education' and videos The one I just watched was about doing the 'snap test' on older threads which is useful to know.
Petals with Jennie Rayment
Take a look at the variation of Petal Play that Jennie created with the new black and white range of fabrics from Makower: if you can't find these fabrics in your local store try www.creativequiting.co.uk
I LOVE my new pins!
Valerie: I am in love with my new pins - how sad is that! They have made all the difference to my accurate piecing of the double irish chain quilt that I've been busy making so that it can be used on our filming day in May. I have previously always used the flower head pins, and they are still great because they lie flat and I can pick them up, but these new Clover Glass Head Fine Pins are even better; they are finer and so don't disturb the fabric hardly at all at the seam junctions: give them a try (not cheap but then how a great patchworker has great tools!).