Creative Sewing Practice: Stitching Memories

Reasons for sewing are varied but it is often the big occasions in life that prompt us to make something; perhaps a quilt for a special anniversary, a toy for a new baby, and if we’re really ambitious, a Christening gown, or even a wedding dress – although only the truly brave would take on that labour!

- Elizabeth Healey

But what about less significant moments in life? I like to use stitch as a diary to capture ordinary events such as the changing characteristics of flowers grown from seed. I’ve been fascinated by the tall, arching stems and frothy flower heads of Daucus Carota -– or Wild Carrot to give it its common name (incidentally, it is also called Queen Anne’s lace and Bishop’s lace which surely makes this flower an even more suitable candidate for embroidery inspiration?). Wild carrot is a magnet for wildlife and its seed heads add texture to the Winter garden. To suggest the time when it is a tightly packed globe of seeds about to burst into life, and later, when it is partially in bloom, I used a combination of French knots and bullion stitches. These stitches create a texture not unlike that of the actual flower and I hope they will serve as a reminder of those I grew in my garden long after the Summer blooms have faded.

Process

I’ve recently been experimenting with Shibori nui, which is a Japanese technique for dyeing cloth (usually with indigo) where you stitch into a piece of fabric to create a resist. I used waxed thread, some cling film, and a plastic knitting needle to get this flower like effect; the subtle pink colour was achieved by using avocado skins and pips. When dry, I backed the silk with fusible interfacing to make it more substantial to sew into.