Sewing Broderie Anglaise on Clothing
A Little Detour: Revisiting Broderie Anglaise in a New Way
I’ve taken a diversion from my usual art experiments and textile artworks. Who said we can’t go off in another direction? Sometimes, a little detour can bring fresh perspectives—even if we don’t know where it will lead. Besides, who cast the rule that artistic exploration had to be one straight line?
Recently, I’ve been revisiting and practicing broderie anglaise, a technique I’ve used before in my coral artworks. Usually I would work on fabric scraps and stitch a few stitches a day as part of my daily practice—there is no objective but just to make sure I don’t get rusty or forget the processes that I have learnt and developed. But after a few days of stitching, I thought, why not sew and make something I would use? I decided to apply the stitches to something much more personal: one of the items in my wardrobe. I had upcycled this old blouse some time ago with some very basic printing and a few embroidery stitches, but it never truly felt like me. In fact I had worn it only twice and it sat in my wardrobe thereafter. So I thought, why not give it a second chance with the broderie anglaise? Why not upcycle it again?
Using Infinite Painter to create the broderie anglaise design
Testing out the broderie anglaise design by sampling
Learning a new skill - Infinite Painter
I love the undulating waves and how they ebb and flow against the shore—organic, flowing, and unpredictable. I am also fascinated by how the shape of kelp is similar to these patterns too. So, I set off with drawing these shapes. Initially, I was drawing the shapes with pencil and paper, but I did not like how they were turning out, especially when I wanted to eventually transfer the designs to the fabric. Eventually, I discovered (I am late to the party!) I could have my designs drawn digitally and then print or trace them onto the fabric. Since I only had a Xiaomi Pad (the Apple iPad is way out of my budget) I ended up buying the Infinite Painter app - it’s a one-time payment rather than subscription. The initial learning phase was difficult, as I knew what I wanted to create but had no idea which tools of the Infinite Painter app I had to use to create it. What made it more difficult is that the majority of the online tutorials are for Procreate, but I eventually found Joel Designs, and I slowly started with his lessons.
Transferring Design to Stitch - Sampling and Tweaking
After about 2 weeks, I had an idea of which tools of the app I could use to realise the design. Once the design was completed, it was very important to sample. This involved:
test out the design - will the design hold up on the fabric?
sample for sizing - are the designs too small, do the number of stitches need to be changed?
testing threads for use on the clothing
This took about a week, but once this was settled, I transferred the design onto the fabric using DMC magic paper, and started stitching. The sewing took me the whole of February to complete - I was stitching about 2-3 hours a day!
Sewing the design
Removing DMC Magic Paper from design
The Outcome
I shared what I was doing with a friend, and she replied, “But this isn’t who you are!” I don't see this as a new artistic direction, even though it may not be my typical work as an artist. Instead, I see it as a reminder that art isn't always about following a set path. In some ways, a little diversion to me is like adding a new spice or herb to a familiar dish you’ve cooked the same way for many years. It can bring unexpected depth and richness; taking diversions in our art practice can infuse our work with fresh perspectives, textures, and ideas. Even if we don’t fully embrace a new direction, the experience of exploring it can subtly influence our creative process, making our work more layered and dynamic.
This experience made me think: as artists, we sometimes box ourselves into categories—painter, sculptor, textile artist. But creativity doesn’t always fit neatly into labels. Sometimes, these little “side trips” can add to the overall flavour of our artistic journey, whether they sometimes result in surprising discoveries or are just a refreshing break! Who knows? Maybe this small act of embroidery will spark something new down the line. Or maybe it’s simply a moment of creative play, and that’s enough.
Have you ever revisited an old project or skill, only to see it in a completely different light? I’d love to hear about your own creative detours.
Post note - after I finished this post, I stumbled upon an episode by The Gentle Rebel on Wintering by Katherine May. I have yet to read the book, but just listening to the ideas behind it made me feel at peace. The concept of resting and not constantly producing is not a new idea, as our ancestors did this, but it’s definitely something that has been forgotten. Instead, we are working 40 hour weeks, or even more! We really need to get in tune with our natural rhythms!
My upcycled top with Broderie Anglaise - eyelets, stems and bars
Do you want to learn how Broderie Anglaise is done? Take my online classes!
𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲! Discover techniques for small and large 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘀, and reinforcing and 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝘀 across various shapes. Learn to create 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗽𝘀. Plus, enjoy a bonus tutorial on stem stitches to seamlessly connect your designs. Wrap up your journey with 2 final projects that bring all these elements together, showcasing your newfound skills.
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