Artists who use textiles in their work

I have always loved line and a few years ago started drawing in stitch which resulted in a loose free "drawing," which was less controlled than a pencil line. As but has developed, I realise that stitching the text is the best way of keeping everything in theme. A button is stitched and was once attached by thread as the text is.
The substrate has to therefore be something that can be stitched on or to. I have tried working with paper and calico and it has been the ideal solution to ensure the stitch stays and the sewing machine motor doesn't burn out!

Textile designer and illustrator Naomi Ryder uses freehand machine embroidery, print and "drawing with stitch" to produce figurative scenes that reflect every day life.

 

Cat Power, Naomi Ryder

 

Kirsty drinks tea, Naomi Ryder, date not known

In an interview with TextileArtist.UK

"My studio consisted of fabrics, Bernina sewing machine, embroidery hoop, range of threads, pencils, paper. I like to be near a computer to be able to play with colour in Photoshop. I photograph subjects or sketch them depending on the project and sew as close to the sketch as I can recreate. Fabric has a different reaction to paper and takes a lot of control. I would like to say I could work anywhere but I always have my camera phone to snap away. I like to have my stuff around me; fabrics, sewing machine and scissors and pencils and stuff." (Ryder, N. 2013)

Interestingly enough one of her recent projects has been to write a graphic novel, using her embroidered stitch drawings. It is something I have been toying with - not so much the graphic novel but using my stitched drawings as a way of narration for children's stories.


Bibliography

Ryder, N. Different on different days, 2013. Available at
http://www.textileartist.org/naomi-ryder-interview-different-on-different-days/ accessed April 5, 2014