About Niamh
Niamh Wimperis is one of the most colourful and dynamic embroidery artists currently practicing.
According to Niamh, she’s “all about feminism and plants”, and finds a lot of her inspiration from her vast collection of house plants, and childhood memories of her grandparents house, Selsley Herb and Goat Farm. Her work has evolved from ultra political – – with her feminist pieces featured in Ms Magazine, Buzzfeed and The Huff Post – – to this more calming botanical style.
Niamh achieved a Masters Degree in Contemporary Craft in 2017 from Plymouth College of Art. Her final piece, an interactive installation titled ‘A Feeling Of Safety, Perhaps’ was exhibited in the MA show and as part of Dwell, a two woman collaboration for Plymouth Art Weekend at Plymouth Art Centre.
In 2018 Niamh was chosen to be on the BBC2 programme, The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts. This was a “living history” reality show in which Niamh and 5 other talented crafts people lived in a William Morris-esque arts and crafts commune for a month, complete with wearing Victorian clothes, eating Victorian food and using Victorian tools. The 4 part BBC2 show aired in January 2019. You can read more about her experience here, and watch the series here.
Niamh now lives in Camden Town with her partner Alex, a watch maker. She is currently writing her first book, continues to make work (including commissions), and has launched her #WEStitchKit – a monthly embroidery kit subscription box. You can find about more about her kit subscription here.
Signature Technique
Botanical Embroidery
Top Tips
- Use the Satin Stitch for a shimmer and shine effect.
- Stitch on two layers to avoid warp and seeing stitches on the back.
- Keep your fabric tight as a drum in your hoop or your piece will pucker.
- Nothing in nature is perfect, so don’t be afraid if a stitch appears strange or off the centre line. That’s how it appears in real life.
- The Fly Stitch is wonderfully versatile; use it for pine branches, flowers and leaves.
- If you find your thread is suddenly shorter, you probably have a knot. Use your needle to pull the knot apart.
Videos
Books and Patterns
Posts
Dragonheart range of fabrics from Makower
This range of fabrics has heroic knights and firebreathing dragons in fun bright designs and colours. Valerie made a very simple little quilt using the Bright Hope style block (which is easy to cut but has a partial seam technique to create the twist) . Makower have a free downloadable pattern which takes the fabrics to create an easy sew-tidy whose central motive is a very majestic castle (made with fused applique).
19 October 2018
New Videos Every Friday Dream quilt with Valerie [...]
October Sewing retreat with Sarah, and Pauline (and Valerie was there too)
The weekend of 13-14 October these three joined forces to teach at the Justhands-on.tv retreat at Denham Grove. 30 ladies spent two days sewing - jelly rolls with Sarah; Layer cake quilts with Pauline and Valerie's class worked on projects of their own choosing; They all had so much fun that a repeat event has been planned for 2019! There is a choice of sewing one of these two wonderful jelly roll quilts with Sarah - skill level challenging or one of these two with Pauline - skill level beginner - again from jelly rolls.