Embroidery: By Hand, Free Motion or Computerised Machine?

Embroidery has never been more popular — and never had so many ways in. You can pick up a needle and thread at your kitchen table, drop the feed dogs on a machine you already own, or invest in a computerised embroidery machine that stitches while you put the kettle on. Three completely different journeys, all leading to the same joyful place: beautiful, personal stitching.
So which one is right for you? Let’s have a proper look — the pluses, the pitfalls, and where each one might take you.

Embroidering our Island at the NIEG Residential

As the sewing residential weekend in Ireland drew to a close at Drumalis, the needles stilled and the machines fell quiet — but the journey continues. A needle and thread has no passport, yet it crosses every border, carrying the spirit of Ireland with it wherever it travels. From the patchwork fields of the Emerald Isle to the homes of the Irish diaspora across America, Canada, Australia and beyond — cloth remembers where we came from. These islands were always meant to be unfinished. Until our last stitch is sewn, we are all still on our own journey.

Exploring Texture and Colour With The NIEG

On Saturday, the cloth spoke and the hands listened. Each of the women reached into her own memory of this island — its coastlines and counties, memories and traditions. Family and friends — with fabric and thread. Each began to embroider her story into being. From a view from a window in County Down to the limestone of the Burren, County Clare. No matter where in the world you call home, or where Ireland lives in your heart — there is a thread that connects us all.

Sewing Residential with NI Embroidery Guild

Ireland has always been stitched together — patchwork fields of emerald and gold, hemmed by coastline, threaded through with story. In May we gathered our threads, needles and fabric and headed to a beautiful location near the Glens of Antrim. As guest tutor for the Northern Ireland Embroidery Guild, I guided the members through a textile experience , emphasising the intelligence of the hands, and the art of leaving things beautifully unfinished. Whether you are rooted here or drawn to Ireland from across the world — this is a blog about heritage, cloth, and the quiet power of making something by hand.