Having an expert on hand when learning a new skill always helps.

Dionne Swift discusses with Jayne Brogan and Valerie Nesbitt the importance of practicing a new skill. no one can try something new and be an expert first time.

Machine embroidery takes practice. Setting the machine to the rig...

Dionne Swift shows how machine embroidery becomes second nature as you practice. The sound of the machine and the speed sewing are part of the pleasure of the piece. There is no wrong and no set outcome so blips don't matter.

Watch how she enjoys the journey and the process of Free Motion Embr...

Dionne's drawings guide the colour combinations for her machine embroidery. But do not dictate the finished colours.

Mixing several thread tones together she builds up the thread picture.  Combining different threads in the bobbin and top thread can lead to endless colour combinations. And if ...

Sashiko stitching is a very traditional stitch and is a form of Japanese quilting; traditional made with Indigo (dark blue) fabric and white Sashiko thread, which is approx the same thickness as a Perle 8 non-standed thread.
Modern quilters have chosen to use other colours, and Lynette shows us a...

Dionne Swift discusses how she creates her Orchestra of threads, colours and machine.

Explicitly mentioning the importance of the quality of threads.

As the elements come together, these guide her work seeing the machine embroidery as a voyage of discovery.

Additionally more tips are ava...

In this episode of The Makers Studio, we meet Dionne Swift. She is an artist, tutor, and author who exhibits internationally. She creates dynamic stitched textiles using a vibrant mix of threads, colours, and textures.  Discover more about Dionne, her motivations and her approach to projects.
In ...

Lorna’s book, Embroidered Country Garden, is available in the justhands-on.tv shop. It has many wonderful ideas and patterns to inspire you to create beautiful hand-stitched floral designs inspired by nature.
In this video, Lorna demonstrates the turkey work stitch, or tufting, which creates a de...

A comprehensive workshop from Kathleen where she introduces the goldwork series.

Kathleen shows you how to create a delightful Bumblebee with texture in the body created from the purl and check wires, which she admits is a little fiddly, but very straightforward and worth taking a little time ...

Dionne talks about how to use shinny threads in your free motion embroidery. Basically using two different coloured threads together to produce a contrast to matt threads.

She demonstrates treading the machine using two thread posts so the colours run through the machine together. Consequently...

Kate loves to use pre-printed fabric designs as her inspiration for her embroidery skills and left over threads.

This is a great idea for those just beginning embroidery. Indeed, some of the fabrics have a cross stitch design printed.

In this lovely workshop Kate shares how you can enhance ...

This stitch is created in a sort of zig-zag fashion and Niamh says it is one that doesn't look like much, until you get going with it. She really likes to use it to create leaves in her embroidery.

Niamh also has other stitching workshops from the same sampler.
Click here to learn about Satin...

Freya, Felicity, Fion and their little dog Fred (who have already been the subject of books with Janet) are the best of friends and now have a delightful house that they can share.  There are sections of the house that you can embellish – such as the rug;  there are curtains on the windows and th...

Do you need a separate embroidery machine?
In this video, Jayne and Valerie demonstrate how to make the beautiful Sashiko style stitch on a Janome embroidery machine.
Hoop it up, sort the design, press the button and away you go. The machine embroiders on its own so you can carry on working at yo...

Kate has worked this element of whitework on 32count linen, using cotton a broder or perle threads. Kate creates the hole using a stylo, this means that no threads are cut, thus keeping your work really strong.

These eyelet designs were often used on garments where both sides of the work would...