Inspirations

Referred to by readers as 'the World's most beautiful embroidery magazine', Inspirations is where you find the best classic hand embroidery by leading embroiderers throughout the world. Complemented with superbly styled photography and captivating stories, each issue brings a diverse collection of timeless projects from home wares and bags to gifts and accessories. A wide variety of embroidery techniques is presented with detailed and easy to follow instructions, step-by-step tutorials and full size patterns, making each issue a valuable resource for people new to embroidery and seasoned needleworkers alike.

FROM THE EDITOR

A Grand Tour

BORDADOS: AN EXHIBITION OF EMBROIDERED TEXTILES FROM MEXICO

CIRCLE OF LIFE • Four hundred years ago, in 1626, King Charles I presented the Royal Charter to The Worshipful Company of Upholders of the City of London. The company represents upholstery craftsmen, known as Upholders, and Funeral Directors.

BETWEEN THE COVERS

Case Study • Combining a clever, symmetrical floral design and a rich palette of antique reds and vibrant greens, this fabulous folding case is the perfect receptacle for your threads, needle packets and scissors.

Japanese Plum Blossom • The elegance and precision of Japanese design are perfectly captured in this superb roundel, inspired by one of the many family crests or mon that feature the plum blossom.

BLANCHE

Bluebell Bonanza • The vibrant blue-violet of dainty nodding bells are a welcome burst of colour at the beginning of spring and the carpets of bluebells that often appear in woodlands are a spectacular sight, surrounded by a sea of green foliage.

ABELARD • In the second chapter of our medieval love story that began in Issue #130, here is the handsome Abelard, smartly dressed in his feathered blue hat and carrying a pretty flower to present to the beautiful Heloise. Worked with silk and metal threads using the same primary techniques of split stitch and underside couching as his sweetheart, the rich reds of his tunic glow against the golden background, the metal thread couched in place to create a diagonal pattern.

TRELLIS • Delicate sprays of tiny leaves and bold needlelace flowers are intrinsic elements of this graceful reticella mat, arranged in a quartered design around a central linen square.

Butterfly Reverie • Gently coloured raspberry, olive and seaspray wool threads are used to stitch this delicate design, the flowers, leaves and stems enhanced with tiny sequins, petite beads and sparkling metallic thread.

JACOBEAN DRAGONFLY • Worked using many of the favoured techniques of Jacobean crewel embroidery, flowers, fruit and nuts encircle a vibrant dragonfly, its wings shimmering with pearl and confetti gold metallic threads.

Inspirations

Fascinating Fashion