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
Quilt Now Readers’ Makes Competition Winner – Issue 65
Quilt Now magazine love to see what their readers have been making. This months Star Make winner for Issue 65, was Alison.She renamed Sarah Ashford’s quilt from issue 61 to Hearts and Kisses and made a colourful wedding gift for her niece. The hearts and kisses are pieced with characterful fabric designed by her friend and designer Amanda Jane Ogden!! Congratulations Alison, and enjoy your year's subscription with justhands-on.tv
Book of the Month September 2019 : Nicki Trench Color Block Knits
This month, our Book of the Month is coming specially from the publishers. This is why you can find the details here in the Blog and not in our usual Shop. This is the new book from Nicki Trench - Colour Block Knits. It is bursting full of 35 beautiful projects with Nicki Trench's vibrant knitting patterns. We have it at a special price of £10 for the book and you will get free P&P in the UK.
Subscriber Giveaway for September 2019 – Rose Trellis cushion pattern from Sylvia Critcher
Sorry the competition is now closed. The pattern is available in the Shop