The Stitch Safari Podcast
Episodes
Christmas Gift Guide for Embroiderers and Textile Artists
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is the perfect time to begin ordering and assembling those gift ideas for loved ones, family and friends, well before the Christmas rush sets in....
Khayamiya - The Tentmakers of Cairo
26 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is the fascinating history of Khayamiya - a lavishly decorative textile art that was originally used for tents, palace interiors and ceremonial p...
Idiosyncratic Embroidery - Daring to Differ
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this lively episode of the Stitch Safari Podcast, I'm celebrating the quirky, personal, rule-breaking world of Idisyncratic Embroidery. This i...
Dynamic Embroidery - The Power of Scale
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Embroidery is frequently imagined as something small and delicate, nestled in a hoop or stitched onto clothing, and that's all well and good. B...
Dynamic Embroidery - The Power of Pattern
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether man-made or naturally occurring, pattern suggests rhythm, repetition, and energy that have the power to move our eyes, stir our emotions, and ...
Dynamic Embroidery - The Power of Contrast
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Contrast creates visual interest, emphasis and clarity in a design that can guide the viewer's eye, separate information, and make certain parts ...
Dynamic Embroidery - The Power of Texture
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of the Stitch Safari Podcast is the first in a series entitled 'Dynamic Embroidery'. Embroidery is an art form that adheres to ...
Abstract Embroidery
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a unique space where abstraction encourages us to look beyond what we see, to feel the artist's expression of emotion and imagination for...
The Lehenga - Indian Embroidery At It's Very Best
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I'm travelling to exotic India, where embroidery isn't simply decoration; it's devotion to a long and fascinating heri...
The Subversive Bridal Gown
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when one lets go of convention, yet still retains strong connections with beauty and craftsmanship? We can still utilise symbolism and ...
Embroidered Illusion: Distorting the Senses
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Connective Power of Passion and Curiosity in Embroidery
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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,...
Embroidery and The Preservation of Skills: The Hand & Lock Prize
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The legacy of Hand & Lock is the championing of artists through their annual Prize, reminding us that even the most delicate threads carry powerfu...
The Leaf Motif in Embroidery: From Garden to Gallery
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This inspiring form of embroidery offers a deep dive into how easily obtained natural elements, such as leaves, can be transformed through embroidery....
The Sartorial Embroidered Glove
13 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2025, gloves are emerging as a prominent and versatile medium for artistic expression. More and more artists are using them as repurposed items, ...
2025 Embroidery Trends - Are They Here Or Not?
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Wonderful World of Embroidery Hoops and Frames
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 mass...
Anatomical Embroidery
02 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me on this examination and inspection of anatomic embroidery as I dissect, audit and review the whys and wherefores along with the artistic evalu...
Why Is Embroidery Popular?
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Recently I saw a post on social media questioning whether embroidery was outdated. The resounding answer is, of course, no - but why? The wiser questi...
Turn Your Sewing Room from Drab to Delicious
02 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Embroidery Journalling
19 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What better way to begin 2025 than with something gaining traction as a popular means of documenting life events, happenings, memorable moments or sim...
Embroidered Food
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Embroidered food is an unusual topic offering a surprisingly interesting and complex level of realism that's truly off the charts.But the simple ...
Embroidered Faces and Figures
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
 Stitch Safari listeners, whether faces or figures, embroidery, patchwork or quilting, these artists capture the synergy of humanity through a gestur...
Embroidered Aerial Views
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How often do embroiderers think of perspective? Well, in the case of the following embroidery artists, the answer would have to be, often, because t...
Beetles, Butterflies and Insectes in Embroidery
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This bountiful aspect of the natural world offers such scope for variety, colour, shape, and pattern it's hard to overlook it. Vital to the world...
Embroidered Christmas Treasures
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I dip into some Yuletide bliss offering suggestions to make ourselves a Merry Little Christmas or a Winter Wonderland of creativity a...
Australian Textile Artist Annemieke Mein
12 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode pays tribute to an embroidery artist who, from a very young age, was devoted to capturing and recording the beauty and complexity of natu...
Machine Embroidery - Book Reviews
28 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a follow-up to the previous episode of the Stitch Safari Podcast, Masters of Our Machines, and focuses on books offering inspiration, techniqu...
Masters of Our Machines
15 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The sewing machine becomes an extension of ourselves and a means of describing the world around us. It can produce many marks and qualities to express...
Master Embroiderers - Alice Kettle and Salley Mavor
01 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What a privilege to introduce two inspiring embroidery artists. Whether or not you like machine embroidery or small dolls, these two artists are worth...
Steampunk and Textile Art
18 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Emanating vintage vibes the fascinating, exciting, and inspiring genre of Steampunk, an off-shoot of science fiction is the perfect inspiration for a ...
Books Using Stitch, Textile or Fibre Imagery
04 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode covers the vastly underrated and underused area of textiles, embroidery and fibre used to create imagery for children's books. It&...
Videos Recreating Costume and Embroidery
21 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I review three YouTube videos that recreate historical costumes and embroidery, two with input from Hand and Lock and The Royal Schoo...
Stitch and Textiles in Biennale Art - Two Artists
07 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The artworks featured in this episode are exemplars that thread is resilient and unifying, connecting heritage with painful memories and histories tha...
Collaborative Embroidery Projects
23 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Link a worldwide group of collaborative embroiderers to see the true power of stitch to connect and depict. This episode highlights three collaborat...
Book Reviews - From My Library #1
09 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I've chosen three books published at different times - 1980, 1994, and 2013 giving scope to all those ideas just waiting to be released into new ...
Critiquing Your Art
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Constructive feedback for your artwork is hard. Do you self-critique or rely on the opinions of others? It takes strength, discipline and courage to...
What Do You Want From A Workshop?
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a vision? Are you focused? Will you learn a new technique or skill or are you after something far more relaxing, entertaining and fun?...
The Hidden Gems Behind Success
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode delves into how to move forward in our work to exercise all the areas of artistic life that lead to success - the hidden gems many don&ap...
Why Not Start A Blog?
14 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ideas and tips to value-add to your website, promote what you do and the wonderful world of embroidery and textile art - all by writing a regular blog...
Embroidery and Textile Artists Websites
30 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode explores ten textile and embroidery artist websites looking for features that promote and explore their vision, with basic tips on what I...
Gift Suggestions for the Embroidery Enthusiast
16 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ideas on what may appeal to the new embroiderer, the traditional embroiderer, the textile artist or someone who may love collecting sewing-related par...
Vangelis Kyris and Anatoli Georgiev - Poems in Textile Art
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is an expedition into an artistic duo who create magic - two artists had a vision to conceive a world that hovers within and between photography ...
A Dynamic Duo of Embroidery Books Reviewed
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I have two very different, very inspiring new books ready to review - and I chose them for various reasons - but most of all for thei...
Dorset Buttons
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Dorset Button is something very different indeed - something that remains handmade and meant to be decorative not simply utilitarian.
Online Embroidery Courses
20 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Not all online video tutorials are professionally crafted or indeed offer great content - but many do, so buyer beware, do your due diligence, check o...
Embroidered Dolls
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dolls, those miniature human figures so beloved by the young and the young at heart are a worldwide phenomenon - they’re a means of imitation helpin...
Straw Embroidery - Poor Man's Gold
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Straw has been used to decorate and embellish costumes and ecclesiastical garments since the 1600s - some sources believe that straw was used as an im...
Colour in Embroidery
02 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Truly successful embroidery relies on colour to express emotion and mood, focal point, suggest patterns, retain traditions and relate cultural storyte...
Inspiration for Embroidery Process
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’d like to swing the pendulum back a little towards a book that forges inspiration through the study of historical textiles to see...
The Embroiderer - Effie Mitrofanis
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Stitch Safari Podcast is expanding to include live interviews with Australian embroiderers - and this is the first. Introducing Effie Mitrofanis...
Simply Finding Freedom in Embroidery
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For many embroidery is about gaining a certain amount of freedom from a prescribed formula - their design inspiration may form a narrative, or it may ...
The Art of Pleated Embroidery or Smocking
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pleated embroidery or smocking, as it’s called now, has always held a sort of mystical allure - it’s a technique that appears complicated and intr...
Embroidery - The Essential Needle
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the main considerations for embroidery is the type of needle you actually need and how to care for it. Needles can either hinder or help duri...
An Australian Trilogy of Creative Embroidery - Books by Effie Mitrofanis, Carol Cooke and Sharon Boggon - A Review
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The three books reviewed for you here in this episode are all written by Australian embroidery artists - showing the depth of innovation and creativit...
Embroidery and the Power of Magic
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Go back far enough through history, and you’ll find that magic and mysticism were at the forefront of everyday living and people's remedy was t...
World Embroidery Day
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
World Embroidery Day celebrated annually on July 30, was set up in Sweden by one of the Swedish Embroiderer’s Guilds, with a Manifesto encompassing ...
Covid 19 and the Connectivity of Stitch
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Covid19, self-isolation, and Lockdowns created a revolution in how we associated and communicated with each other - it was a time of re-shaping and re...
Art Versus Craft
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This topic is murky, leaden, and depressing - and I’d just like to know, who’s making the decisions pertaining to what art actually is, because I ...
Embroidery and the Motivation of Craftivism
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Craftivism is a gentle form of protest, it’s not extreme yet allows makers a platform to voice their concerns and opinions about social justice, pol...
Embroidery and the 2023 Archibald Prize Win
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first time in 110 years that an artwork that includes embroidery and collage has won the prestigious Archibald Prize. This episode looks...
The Invention of the Sewing Machine
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's a tortuous history, the invention of the sewing machine, but surely one of the most important and useful machines ever devised.
King Charles III Coronation Embroidery
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After weeks of speculation, we were able to witness the Coronation of King Charles III - and what a celebration of British designers and British craft...
Intricacy and Simplicity - Five Contemporary Embroidery Artists
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I discuss five contemporary embroidery artists who make use of both simple and intricate embroidery techniques, using hand and machine embr...
Contemporary Canvaswork
20 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A short recap of the history of Canvaswork for context, moving onto the complexity of contemporary Canvaswork, featuring the design work of two highly...
Embroidery and the Making of the Masculine
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
 ‘Queering the Subversive Stitch - Men and the Culture of Needlework’ written by Joseph McBrinn, Published by Bloomsbury in Great Britain in 2021...
The Bloomsbury Set
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Bloomsbury Set were a very important group of influencers of their time - an influence that, surprisingly, continues to this very day. They ques...
Embroidery and Diversity
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’ve touched on men who stitch before, but the combination of the artistic skills and technical ability of the two men I’m going to feature in thi...
Three Book Reviews on Sketchbooks for Textile Artists
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Where would we be without the inspiration and creativity we derived from informative books brimming with crisp, colourful drawings and images? The S...
Sketchbooks for Embroidery and Textile Artists
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sketchbooks are the personalized visual storytelling of an artist’s process that allows us to see behind the scenes, so to speak, to see the success...
Paper and Metal Embroidery
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Using either paper or metal in embroidery work is to add to the offering of infinite creative options available for the modern embroiderer.
Zero Waste in Textiles and Embroidery Featuring Three Amazing Artists
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Zero waste is a philosophy of sustainable upcycling, with the benefit of limiting the impact waste, has on our environment. This episode explores th...
Hawaiian and Tivaevae Quilts
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Aloha ‘Ania - that’s Hawaiin for ‘love of country’ - and that’s exactly what we see here, so plainly and beautifully expressed in the graphi...
Ralli and Amish Quilts
08 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From the Sindh in Pakistan on the Indian subcontinent to the Amish settlements of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana in America, Stitch Safari now travel...
The Rajah and Changi Quilts
24 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of The Stitch Safari Podcast focuses on Quilts of Confinement - quilts made by women who were held captive, namely The Rajah Quilt, and t...
Wholecloth, Medallion and Baltimore Album Quilts
10 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Each of these quilt-making disciplines holds a valued place in that huge quilt-making pie - adding to the depth and complexity of this beautiful, anci...
American Pieced Quilt Blocks
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
American pieced quilt blocks derive from almost every aspect of life and society including nature, household objects, politics, history, the stars, an...
Quilts and Quilting
16 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Quilts and quilting are and have always been, a worldwide phenomenon - a way to connect, communicate, celebrate, acknowledge or simply remember, and e...
Queen Elizabeth II's Wedding Dress
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
 One of the most important gowns the Queen would have worn during her long life was her wedding dress, designed by Norman Hartnel at a time of clothi...
Hidden From View - Embroidered Undergarments
15 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From the sensible to the va-va voom, lingerie is revealing, in more ways than one, be it sex, gender, class, morality, or style - and it’s an amazin...
Sew Bros, Seamsters and Manbroiderers
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Words like Sew Bros, Seamsters and Manbroiderers have now been added to the stitch and embroidery lexicon, but what are the reasons why more men want ...
Flossing - The Embroidered Corset
18 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The corset is a garment of feminity, grace and glamour and is a very cleverly engineered garment, one that perfectly balances function with aesthetics...
Embroidered Shoes
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Shoe obsession is nothing new. From the exquisitely embroidered Chinese Lotus shoe to the stunning Indian Mojaris, societies world-wide have exhibit...
Constance Howard - The Influencer With Green Hair
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Remembered as an innovator and revolutionary, many critical artistic genres owe a great deal to the dedicated work and example of Constance Howard. Sh...
Men's Embroidered Waistcoats - An Overview
07 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Historic images of ornate, over-the-top embroidery tends to make us think it was destined for use by women - but no, fashion in the middle of the 17th...
WWI War and Rehabilitation Embroideries
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
People embroidered war embroideries for many reasons - for some it was a means of income, for others it was a form of therapy and rehabilitation.
Judy Chicago - The Dinner Party
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Judy Chicago, feminist, artist and art educator is best known for her seminal artwork, The Dinner Party 1974-79. This conceptual art installation al...
The Embroidered Costumes of Miss Phryne Fisher
26 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode focuses on some of the embroidered embellishments created for this delightfully charming, thoroughly modern, fictional character, Phryne ...
Embroiderers - Sonia Delaunay and May Morris
12 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I'm honouring two amazingly talented and creative embroidery artists - Sonia Delaunay and May Morris - two very different aesthe...
Embroidered Banners of the Artists' Suffrage League
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From something as simple as a needle, thread and cloth, women created thought-provoking, powerful and inspirational messages - showing us the material...
Tie-On Pockets - A Hidden World
07 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Far from being either small or insignificant, women's tie-on pockets, of which many were embroidered, were a portable and flexible item, forming ...
Maison Lesage - Part 2
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Maison Lesage is a French dynastic embroidery house that now operates under the brand Chanel. Its history dates back as far as Napoleon III. This ...
Maison Lesage - Part 1
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Say hello to the stunningly beautiful, elegantly innovative and seductively alluring world of French Haute Couture embroidery and The House of Lesage ...
Couched, Beaded and Sequinned Embroidey
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A fascinating journey into three extremely simple embroidery techniques that have grown to encompass and embrace modern technology and advances, yet a...
Nature and Embroidery
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is about deep-diving to unearth some of the more unique and unusual tools and materials created by utilising Mother Nature.
Mexican Otomi Embroidery
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mexican Otomi embroidery, or the more simplified Tenangos embroidery, is a vibrant celebration of riotous colour using a mix of both ancient and moder...
Beetle Elytra - Nature's Ornament
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Used for centuries, the exoskeletons or hard outer casings of the Jewel Beetle, have been incorporated into decorative jewellery, objects and stunning...
Indian Shisha Work, Phulkari and Beetle Wing Embroidery
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, the focus is on three very distinctive embroidery techniques easily associated with India - Indian Shisha work, Phulkari embroidery a...
Indian Kantha Embroidery
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
 Indian Kantha embroidery breathes new life into old textiles and is one of India’s most treasured examples of artisanship. The basis of the art ...
Indian Embroidery - An Overview
02 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the kaleidoscope that is Indian textiles - a vividly colourful and unendingly inspiring world where embroidery, design and techniques are a...