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
Win a Janome MC9400QCP -Retails for £2,199!
Sorry this competition is now closed.
Sewing Weekend in Cirencester
With Gail Penberthy at the helm, our group of ladies enjoyed two days of sewing in first class surroundings (and the snow didn't bother us a bit!); firstly coming to grips with the Table centre, and then moving on to creating Hedgepigs with folded fabrics. There was shopping too from Gail, from the Justhands-on.tv box of supplies and fabric and other essentials supplied by Creative Quilting.
Win a Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9400QCP Sewing Machine
Retails for £2,199! justhands-on.tv and Janome offer you the chance to win the popular Janome MC9400QCP. The MC9400QCP is the latest longarm model providing both speed ( up to 1,060 spm ) and precision ( 91 needle positions ) for perfect sewing results. It’s also the biggest longarm model Janome has ever produced. Click here for more details. It’s worth £2,199 and could be yours - - for FREE.