Embroidery is popping up all over the place these days- from couching to cross stitch. I love the idea of the repetition, of the process and that thousands of hands have done the same stitch to create a perfectly personal piece. Here’s what I am seeing now:

Claire Cole

Claire designs and produces embroidered wall panels and couture wallpapers for interior designers, architects and private clients. Combining a range of textures and materials with the use of stitch, Claire has developed an innovative textile process.

Leather, silks and vintage papers are collaged and intricately embroidered to create a range of decorative surface patterns inspired by flora and fauna.  Her unique and luxurious embroideries transform walls into works of art not to mention a recent project for Missoni.

At Decorex, Claire launched a new collection of decorative wall panels that are stunning.

Robert Allen Embroidery Collection

Beacon Hill’s new Embroideries + Appliques collection looks to the elegant wrought iron ornamentation found in beaux-arts, art nouveau, and art deco architecture in Paris and New York as inspiration to create this collection of lushly detailed textiles.

Embroideries & Appliques displays an assortment of themes, featuring both the neoclassical, such as Greek Key and Laurel Wreath motifs, and naturalistic, including soft florals. These bespoke fabrics portray the intricate detail and complex shape of wrought iron through embroidery, applique, and a luxurious array of color. The designs are diverse in their individual layouts, with patterns ranging from a bold panel stripe to a full floral motif.

Intricate looping embroidery with 1/4 ” soutache creates this lattice pattern.

Royal School of Needlework

team of 22 embroiderers at the Royal School of Needlework (RSN) recently have added a unique sustainable twist to this year’s Red Carpet Green Dress worn by Skyfall’s Naomi Harris. The dress, designed by this year’s Red Carpet Green Dress Competition winner, Ghanaian fashion student Michael Badger, was constructed by Vivienne Westwood couturiers and embroidered by an RSN team who spent some 680 hours using traditional stitching skills to interpret the designer’s concept in a contemporary way.

Using a selection of vintage gold threads, beads and sequins, the team embroidered a design based on volcanic lava which lent itself perfectly to goldwork embroidery.

The Royal School of Needlework established in 1872 to safeguard traditional craftmanship against the backdrop of emerging mass-production is still going strong today. The RSN Embroidery Studio works on all kinds of commissions including its exquisite work on the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress and even Sir Paul McCartney’s album.

Game of Thrones

I can’t help but think that the Royal School might have been a bit of inspiration to Michele Carragher- Game of Thrones embroiderer- see her fantastical work HERE.