Hello everyone
Happy New Year! Hope you had a wonderful festive season? We had a great holiday with my family from overseas but must admit it has taken me some time to get my feet back on the ground!
Here is what’s in store for 2025:
How to stitch a portrait in Needlepainting
This year I will be introducing a new series of Masterclasses. These will include detailed instruction on How to stitch different themes such as a landscape, portrait, animal, flower, bird and insect. Each theme requires a slightly different approach to achieve a lifelike effect, and this is what we will tackle in these masterclasses. The first landscape masterclass was released late last year, and I am pleased to let you know that the next two masterclasses on “How to stitch a portrait”, are now ready for purchase.
When I started stitching Frida Kahlo I quickly realized that stitching a person’s face was different to stitching anything else in embroidery, and that the direction of the stitches needed to be carefully considered to make the facial features look right. I have to be honest I unpicked her several times, which is not something I normally do! I realized that this project was not a project for beginners so I decided to add a simpler project to introduce the technique.
Both Masterclasses will show you how to create your own portrait from a photo or image. They demonstrate how to trace the outline from the original, how to stitch the different facial features, eyes, hair, clothing etc, which stitches to use for each area, and how to direct your stitches to fit the different elements of a portrait. Once completed you will be able to stitch your own portrait of a family member or friend using the instructions as a basis.
How to stitch a portrait level ALL. – Falling Leaves
This masterclass teaches you how to stitch a simple portrait and is suitable for All levels. The facial features are uncomplicated and allow you to grasp the basics without getting too complicated.
How to stitch a portrait level Intermediate – Frida Kahlo.
I chose Frida for this project because she is well known to many of us but not in a personal way. This masterclass teaches you how to stitch a more detailed portrait and is suitable for those who have some previous experience of Needlepainting or who have already stitched the simpler portrait – Falling Leaves. This project shows you how to stitch facial features and hair to achieve the most realistic effect. The photo does not do her justice, in the real embroidery the shading across the face just glows!
Needlepainting Stitch Guide
Along with your masterclass instructions you will receive a brand new Needlepainting Stitch guide. This has been updated to include the best instructions for Needlepainting from my books and patterns to date. The Needlepainting stitch guide is also available to purchase independently here.
Iron on transfers
There is an optional pack of iron on transfers available for the portrait masterclasses. This includes two outlines of each, one slightly larger than the other.
New PDF pattern collection
There is a new PDF Needlepainting pattern collection – “From the vault”. These include a selection of some of my most treasured embroidery designs originally published in magazines or other publications. Again there is a pack of iron on transfers available for these designs.
New Book
My new book An Introduction To Whitework Embroidery With Colour is being released in February 2025. Some readers have reported that they have already received their copies. You can order a copy at Amazon, Search Press or any good online bookseller – it will also be available at select High street book stores. You can find more detail here. You can see what’s inside and watch a short video on the Search Press website here – look for the settings wheel at the bottom right hand corner and set the video quality to 1080p for best quality.
As the title indicates this is a beginner book on the art of traditional French Whitework with a modern twist – the addition of colour. Although these projects are aimed at the beginner, they will also be helpful to those who have some previous experience and would like access to some fresh designs. Whitework embroidery with colour includes the use of long and short stitch, so if you want to learn Thread painting this book will also help you to learn the technique.
Till next time, wherever you are in the world, keep smiling and happy stitching!
Trish