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
Olympic Weekend sewing
Well we all know you can watch and sew, and while the road cycle race was running I was busy sewing - made this simple quilt as a class sample for beginners with a lovely bundle of 1930's strips and squares: the binding is being checked by Kissy!
The Singing Quilter is coming to town
Cathy Miller, the Singing Quilter is in town and you can join her at the Thamside Quilters meeting on Friday 24th August at the Staines Methodist Church, Thames Street, Stained Middx TW18 4SD. The performance starts at 7.45pm and the door open at 7.15pm - tickets at the door are £5.
Filming our new Block of the Month and meeting Angela Daymond
Jennie and I spent a FULL day filming the new Block of the Month which she has called Superstar! As you can see its a lovely medallion quilt with the Loan Star centre and lots of lovely borders. We were also joined by Angela Daymond who has her own studio and dyes fabric using natural products such as tulip petals and madder root - so something great to watch out for in the autumn.