7 Embroiderers You Need to Follow

Get to know these fascinating contemporary embroiderers and be inspired by their textile art

Crazy for embroidery? These seven women are at the top of their game. Check out their innovative interpretations of this ancient craft - they may even inspire you to pick up a needle and try something different yourself.

Lisa Smirnova

Lisa Smirnova is a master of color and detail. Her threads complement one another and blend together to create her elaborate painterly designs and portraits.

Josefina Allendes

Josefina (@josefinaallendes) was drawn to textiles for as long as she can remember, “Instead of playing with my dolls, I’d make clothes for them.” The sound of the thread relaxes her while the calmness of nature inspires her work. Trees are her greatest inspiration.

Ignacia Jullian

Ignacia Jullián (@ignaciajullian) was taught to embroider by her mother when she was just 15. Since then, she has taught hundreds of women to embroider alongside cousin and fellow artist Ana María Jullian. She has developed her own pixelated style.

Gimena Romero

“Embroidery is drawing and weaving is sculpture,” says Romero (@gimenaromero). Her respect for thread as a fine art can be seen in her delicate, detailed and beautifully crafted pieces.

Hoops and Expectations

Cristina (@hoopsandexpectations) has developed a name for herself stitching patterns into Fjällräven Kånken backpacks, adding a unique touch to an already stylish hipster staple.

Señorita Lylo

Señorita Lylo (@srtalylo) might be one of the most prolific and versatile artists on this list: she’ll embroider anything from slippers to newspapers, maps and, of course, fabrics.

Fiance Knowles

A multi-talented photographer-designer-vj-embroiderer, Danielle Clough (@fiance_knowles) describes herself as “bound to the hyphen”. Her work, just like the hyphen, threads mediums together and her series on tennis rackets even caught the attention of Drew Barrymore.

Like these artists? Then these courses might interest you:

- Theory of Colour for Textile Projects, a course by Karen Barbé
- Basic Embroidery Techniques: Stitches, Compositions and Colour Ranges, a course by Señorita Lylo
- Miniature Embroidery Techniques, a course by Silvia Peligro
- Embroidery Techniques: Illustrating with Needle and Thread, a course by Yolanda Andrés
- Experimental Embroidery Techniques on Paper, a course by Gimena Romero
- Painting with Thread: Textile Illustration Techniques, a course by Gimena Romero