The Stitch Safari Podcast

This is the episode where fabric and thread meet imagination.  Can a needle and thread truly be used to trick the eye? Is it magic or simply sleight of hand? For centuries, artists and embroiderers have been playing games with our minds to suggest that what we see might just represent something else.  The thing is, these illusions are still in use today.
In today's episode of Embroidery Illusion: Distorting the Senses, I'll explore the fascinating worlds of trompe l'oeil, shading, dimension, shadow work, transparency and perspective as they are used in the art of embroidery.

Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/embroidered-illu…rting-the-senses/

So why do people fall in love with embroidery, and what keeps them hooked?  We know it's a sensory experience that's soothing and engaging, allowing personal creativity free rein.  But embroidery is also a learned skill, one that can be successfully self-taught, providing a sense of accomplishment and confidence-building.  It's continuous learning and curiosity that sparks further innovation, still able to offer a connection with our past and an appreciation of the artistic heritage of embroidery.

In this episode, let's find out more about the connective power of passion and curiosity in embroidery through the stories of five fascinating embroiderers who have followed their own paths to create unique textile art.

The legacy of Hand & Lock is the championing of artists through their annual Prize, reminding us that even the most delicate threads carry powerful and insightful stories across the centuries and cultures.  

Join me as I explore this pillar of excellence, a house where embroidery is not simply a craft but an art, a legacy and a living, breathing story - all recorded in stylish stitching.

Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/embroidery-and-t…-hand-lock-prize/

This inspiring form of embroidery offers a deep dive into how easily obtained natural elements, such as leaves, can be transformed through embroidery.

To help round out this episode, I'll explore how natural design motifs such as leaves have been used in traditional and modern design, and delve into historical practices and the cultural significance of the leaf motif.

Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/the-leaf-motif-f…arden-to-gallery/

In 2025, gloves are emerging as a prominent and versatile medium for artistic expression.  More and more artists are using them as repurposed items, or to explore their symbolism and narrative potential.  Join me as I briefly journey through the history of gloves and their uses, to the modern-day culture of the iconic embroidered glove.

Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/the-sartorial-embroidered-glove/ 

Join me as I explore the predictions from 2024 for embroidery trends in 2025.  Are they correct?  Do they tally with what embroiderers are creating now?  Let's find out together.

Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/2025-embroidery-…they-here-or-not/

Hoops can be used to maintain tension while stitching but also to display the finished work, as I'm doing with my 100 Stitched Circles.  En masse, they make a great installation.  They can be hung from the ceiling or used for 3D embroidery, and they make fantastic wall art incorporating different shapes and sizes.  Join me as I jump through some hoops in today's episode.

Show Notes:  https://stitchsafari.com/the-wonderful-wo…hoops-and-frames/

100 Stitched Circles: https://www.instagram.com/cathyjackcoupland/

Join me on this examination and inspection of anatomic embroidery as I dissect, audit and review the whys and wherefores along with the artistic evaluation and interpretation of this genre of embroidery. It's unique, it's educative, and it may not be for everyone - but it's out there and needs to be explored.  These embroidered artworks will make you marvel at how we are made and function.

Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/anatomical-embroidery/

Recently I saw a post on social media questioning whether embroidery was outdated. The resounding answer is, of course, no - but why? The wiser question would be, why is embroidery enjoying a renaissance?  Hasn't it been around for eons? What's the value of embroidery in the 21st century? Just who is picking up a needle and thread now?  Join me in this fascinating episode to find the answers to these questions.

Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/why-is-embroidery-popular/

We've all been there, haven't we?  In stressful times it's too easy to make the sewing room a dumping ground for works-in-progress and newly acquired items. We're all visual artists, so visually the space we work in has to be pleasing too, but it also has to be efficient, effective and safe.  Listen to this episode to learn how I revamped my sewing room. Show Notes: https://stitchsafari.com/podcast/