Silk Shading Dewdrop Ladybird with Victoria Matthewson

Location: Hand & Lock School for Embroidery & Creative Arts, 86 Margaret Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1W 8TE
Duration: 2 Day Workshop (10am - 4:30pm each day)

How do you give flat, surface embroidery the illusion of depth? In this workshop, we will explore how to create a rounded ladybird using fine silk floss thread. You will learn how the direction of your stitching can create the appearance of a curve, and how subtle shading can add depth so your ladybird looks as if it is lifting off the fabric.

Once we have covered the techniques to create the curve of the ladybird’s shell, we will look at how a water droplet reflects light and how this can be translated into thread.

You will work on a design created exclusively for Hand and Lock: a ladybird covered in dewdrops. Using a needlepainting technique, you will put into practice the principles that create flow, movement and depth in silk shading embroidery. The slow nature of needlepainting means the embroidery will not be completed in class, but you will leave with all the guidance and skills you need to finish it at home at your own pace.

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Needlepainting, also known as silk shading or thread painting, is the slow and careful art of creating lifelike images by blending subtle shades of thread. The technique relies on precise stitch placement and variation in length and direction to give flat embroidery the illusion of depth, texture and movement.

Silk shading originated in the Far East, where it was considered a highly skilled art form and received imperial recognition. It was not widely adopted in Europe until the medieval period, when it was used in ecclesiastical embroidery. Early European examples often combined tapestry stitch, silk shading and gold or silver threads, creating rich, intricate designs that highlighted the skill of the embroiderer.

Needlepainting is particularly suited to depicting the natural world. Flowers, insects and small creatures are ideal subjects because the techniques allow for subtle tonal changes and realistic detail. Victoria’s ladybird embroidery has become a celebrated example of this technique—it demonstrates simple stitch direction yet produces a striking, three-dimensional effect. Her work won Needlecrafter of the Year at the Knitting and Stitching Show in 2018, inspiring students and enthusiasts to explore silk shading for themselves.

Today, needlepainting continues to be used by contemporary embroiderers, combining traditional techniques with modern materials and designs. It is a versatile method for creating both realistic and expressive embroidered images, offering endless possibilities for personal interpretation and creativity.

In this workshop with Victoria, you will learn the following techniques:

• Long and short stitch

• Split stitch

• How to plan and follow stitch direction

• How to use a shading guide to blend thread colours
  

You will be given a full course kit with everything you need to take part. All materials and tools are provided, so you only need to bring yourself.

If you would prefer, you are welcome to bring your own mug for refreshments and your own drawing materials. This is entirely optional and not required for the course.

Victoria Matthewson is a self-taught hand embroidery artist specialising in fine silk shading embroidery.

She won ‘Needlecrafter of the Year 2018’ at the Knitting and Stitching Show with her seven-spot ladybird and has since developed her needlepainting skills further, gaining a reputation for detailed, lifelike embroideries of native invertebrates and wild flowers.

Victoria works from her small garden studio in South Wales, where she lives with her husband, two children and Mabel the Pugapoo. Her work is inspired by the nature that surrounds her. She has a particular interest in combining embroidery with education and conservation, which led to the publication of her book, Needlepainted Plants and Pollinators: an insect lover’s guide to silk shading embroidery, in November 2021. The book highlights the decline of pollinators beyond honeybees and encourages a respect for these unsung heroes through the gentle focus that embroidery brings.

Since publishing her book, Victoria has been focused on sharing her knowledge through workshops and embroidery kits, helping others develop their skills and explore the natural world through silk shading embroidery.