Recently, I got to go to the Schiaparelli exhibition at the Victoria and Albert museum in London. I love the V&A’s fashion and textile exhibitions and this blockbuster exhibition didn’t disappoint. I was especially taken with the amazing selection of Schiaparelli’s embroidered jackets. Read on for plenty of photos of this delightful pieces! Suits Schiaparelli […]
Before getting too caught up in what I’d like to focus on in 2026, I find it can be useful to look back on the previous year. So I’ve been thinking about my 2025 stitching and embroidery highlights. What did I particularly enjoy? What do I want more of? What do I want to avoid!?
Would you jump at the chance to get involved in a project combining two of your childhood passions? Back in 2019 I had the opportunity to do just that when I heard the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) were looking for volunteers to help stitch a quilt to celebrate their upcoming bicentenary… The RAS quilt plan
I recently paid a visit to the Sargent and Fashion exhibition at the Tate Britain in London. The exhibition focuses on how artist John Singer Sargent maximised the impact of clothes and fashion in his portraits. And it even has some of the outfits on display alongside their portraits. Singer Sargent was painting portraits in
Last month I managed to get in a visit to the ‘Treasures of Gold and Silver Wire’ exhibition just before it closed. There were so many beautiful examples of goldwork embroidery that I wanted to share some of my favourites with you! About the goldwork exhibition The exhibition was put on to mark the 400th
I recently had a delightful week in Paris on a fashion and textile tour. The tour was designed for sewists who make their own patterns for the clothes they’re going to sew (or who want to start doing that). So I was expecting plenty of delightful dressmaking inspiration. What I wasn’t expecting was to also
A World War Two prisoner of war camp is probably not the first place you think of for an inspiring story about the power of stitch. However, that’s just what I found when I came across Major Alexis Casdagli’s story. For me, this story is packed with examples of the power of patience, persistence and
I’ve recently been delighted to discover some embroidery and textile delights while out and about on day trips in Hampshire and West Sussex. So I thought I’d document some of the ones that stood out for me. It would be great to discover other places where embroidery treasure can be found, so if you know
For a birthday treat last year I was lucky enough to join one of the Royal School of Needlework’s special Bacton altar cloth classes. Our day began with a private view of the cloth and its exhibition. Then we spent the rest of the day stitching a motif inspired by the altar cloth. Check out
Have you heard about the Bacton altar cloth? Also known as the lost dress of Elizabeth I? It’s a pretty exciting discovery in the worlds of both history and textiles that was on display at Hampton Court Palace until 23rd February 2020. Since my Royal School of Needlework (RSN) studies are at Hampton Court, I’ve
