Join Harriet Riddell for a one-day creative boost—perfect for beginners or artists looking for a new sort of paint brush.
You’ll be introduced to the world of free-motion embroidery in a relaxed, encouraging environment. Harriet will help you loosen up and connect with your inner artist, guiding you to work freely and find your own unique style.
You’ll master raw-edge appliqué techniques and learn how to layer fabrics and colours to create striking effects. If you’re not quite ready to dive straight into freehand work, don’t worry—Harriet provides clever dissolvable templates, personalised with an image of your choice, to help you get started.
The day begins with a playful “dance” with your sewing machine, followed by an exploration of appliqué and all the ways it can be used creatively. We’ll then study facial proportions and focus on keeping your lines loose and expressive.
In the afternoon, you’ll dive into stitched portraits, combining appliqué and stitched words to tell a personal story through your artwork. Harriet supports and celebrates each participant’s individual style, and she’s always happy to tailor the workshop to your own ideas and interests.
Harriet Riddell
is a textile performance artist who has traveled around the world with her sewing machine stitching portraits and landscapes from life. Harriet’s love of interacting with people and going on adventures inspires her to create her artwork, sometimes powered by a bicycle. Harriet's stitch drawings appear in a single line of thread, using applique techniques to add colour and words to add a story.
