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
Is a non-stick craft mat the same as an applique mat?
In reply to your question I am not familiar with the craft product that Create & Craft sell; however I can tell you that the Applique mat we sell in the shop is see-through so that you can use it to position your pieces accurately; if the pieces are coated in Heat n Bond (or similar fusing web) they will stil to each other but not the mat -although you may have to let the mat cool a little.
The Knitting & Stitching Show, Alexander Palace, London
Fab day out with my friend Valerie; it is what it say with LOADS of knitting - and if you thought knitting was just for jumpers think again! A real showcase for new young stitching talent and great exhibitions, including one by E.A.S.T. whose exhibition 'Between The Lines; will be going on the road and we are hoping to catch up with then in 2015 in Suffolk: www.easttextile.co.uk Prism had more of their work on display - another talented group as you have seen from our films.
What was the pattern?
Sometimes the quilts hanging in the background of the workshops cause as many questions as the workshop itself. That was certainly the case with my Straight Stitched fused applique tutorial - the quilt in the background was made from a pattern called Flower Power designed by Geralyn Powers and available from www.thankfullysew.com