Stitch magazine

There’s something rather special about stitching animals. Whether it’s capturing a familiar face, the texture of a furry coat or the delicate detail of a feathered wing, animals have a wonderful way of finding their way into our hearts – and this issue is packed with them.

As autumn arrives, our October/November issue celebrates the season with a wonderfully varied collection of animal-inspired projects. Hellen Edwards combines free-motion embroidery and needle felting to create a magnificent Highland cow, while Nicola Tapper brings a handsome hare to life with detailed hand embroidery. Oksana Balanovska captures an intricate fox nestled among autumn foliage, and we catch up with Oksana to discover more about her work creating animal portraits through stitch.

Our bird series continues with Tanya Bentham’s striking jackdaw, worked in the exquisite Opus Anglicanum technique. Maree Calese takes us into the countryside with a charming three-dimensional sheep scene, while Georgie Emery brings woodland inspiration to the table with a beautiful set of embroidered napkins.

We also share the heartwarming story of a group of embroiderers who came together to create a collection of stitched songbirds as a gift for a group in South Africa. It’s a wonderful reminder that embroidery can be about so much more than the finished piece – bringing people together and creating meaningful connections across the world.

Our zodiac series continues too, with Sagittarius and its sparkling butterfly details adding a touch of magic.

Alongside these projects, you’ll find plenty more inspiration, features and ideas to enjoy. So settle in, embrace the changing season and let these furry, feathered and four-legged favourites inspire your next stitch.