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
Exciting new needlework kits
Val: We are very excited to announce three wonderful kits that have been designed by Heather Harrison, a graduate of the Royal School of Needlework, that we are being allowed to sell here on the site. There is blackwork, crewel work and stumpwork - all three kits are Heather's own unique design and come complete with everything you need to make the project and, of course, excellent instructions.
Royal School of Needlework
Jennie: An amazing day on Wednesday - Valerie and I went to the Royal School of Needlework. This is hidden away in a dark part of Hampton Court Palace behind a secret door - all very special. We were allowed to enter these hallowed walls and film the studio and classrooms - a real treat. And and and ............ then we went to the Sunbury Millenium Embroidery - an enormous embroidered wall-hanging made by approx 120 local ladies - a truly superb piece of work plus we got to see Hapticart - more about that later.
How to Layer your Quilt
A quilt is made up of three layers, backing, wadding and patchwork top (or a piece of fabric) and this video takes you through the various stages of the process to make a quilt sandwich: https://www.justhands-on.tv/videos The video also includes a brief discussion about the variety of waddings available plus the various products you can use for holding the three layers together prior to quilting.