Embroidery is the decoration of material - usually fabric, but it can also involve paper, leather, etc. - with a needle and embellishment (usually thread, but can also include ribbon, beads, yarn, etc.)

A few years ago, I became fascinated with thread drawings.  I would take photos and then try to loosely sketch them in stitches.  My process involved free-motion sewing, a technique usually associated with quilting:  with a stipling foot and lowered feed dogs on my sewing machine, I was able to move the fabric freely in any direction.  Here are a few photos:

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If you have seen the "vive la tarte!" story in our latest issue, you may have also noticed the incredible work of Miyuki Sakai.  She was able to reproduce some beautiful dishes and plates in stitch form.  In her studio, she creates picture-perfect illustrations with over 200 colours of thread.

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Katie Henry is another one of my all-time favourites.  Anthropomorphism is a big theme in her work and her process involves a regular sewing machine set at the smallest stitch length.  As she explains, "I barely use the presser foot, and mostly turn the flywheel by hand.  And the colored/filled in parts are just the same basic straight stitch, back and forth, and back and forth."  I think she tells such lovely stories in her work, no?

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Tags: embroidery, Katie Henry, Miyuki Sakai, thread drawings
Posted by Stephanie Hung on May 19, 2010 in Photo Galleries