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
40 minute quilt – a variation
Jane contacted us recently after we announced that Valerie had reached 3 million views of the 40 minute quilt. She shared with us her version of the quilt that her son had fallen fell in love with (we can see why) and it now lives with him in Australia. She did say that it took her rather longer than 40 minutes to cut and sew all of the strips together but the finished size, when cut down to the size she wanted, allowed her to use the extra strips for the backing. Isn't it lovely
19 June 2020
New Videos Every Friday No Y Seam Tumbling Blocks with [...]
OMG! 3 million views and rising!
We love reporting on the progress of Valerie's 40 minute quilt video which has taken the internet by storm and this week it has hit 3 million views - this is truly amazing from our very own Queen of Scrap. What an internet sensation she has become.