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
Subscriber Giveaway for December 2019 – Knitted Animal Nursery by Fiona Goble
Sorry this competition is now closed. The good news is that you can buy the Knitted animal nursery book from the publisher's website at MAKEetc. by clicking on this link: https://makeetc.com/collections/knitting-and-crochet-books/products/knitted-animal-nursery AND: If you enter the code JUSTHANDS before 31 March 2020 at their checkout then you can buy the book for £10 (with free UK P&P) instead of £12.99
Exclusive Prize draw for readers of Regional Guild Magazines
Prize draw is open exclusively to Guild members who read about it their regional Guild magazines.
Quilt Now Readers’ Makes Competition Winner – Issue 70
Quilt Now magazine love to see what their readers have been making. This months Star Make winner for Issue 70 was Sharon. Her version of Naomi Clarke’s Windmill Garden quilt uses Tilda Lazy Days fabric. Great job! Congratulations Sharon.