Come on a journey with me through the world of ‘Landscape’using thread painting, thread sketching, and free machine embroidery. Explore the myriad ways landscape can be recreated on fabric using free motion stitching.
This is a journey into the world of free machine stitched landscapes.
Explore: Landscape in stitch
Much of my creative time in recent years has seen me focus on ‘landscape’and how this can be interpreted using fabric and stitch. Of course, the popularity of interpreting and representing the landscape in art has endured throughout history.
And today is no different.

Contemporary textile artists employ many exciting techniques, from representational to abstract; and media– fabrics, paint, stitch, mixed media; in the production of their work.
It’s been a natural progression, through the rising popularity of textile art in the last 100 years or so, that textile artists, quilters and thread artists would embrace the exploration of landscape in their work.
Worldwide, classes in creating landscapes with fabric and stitch maintain their popularity. My own class, Fabulous Fabric Landscapes, is one my most popular online workshops.
Technique
In this series, I will share landscapes created in fabric and stitch.
Employing my favourite as well as new thread painting and construction techniques, landscape scenes, both expansive and more detail-focused, will be explored.
These techniques include:
- Free motion straight and zigzag stitch
- Decorative stitches
- Hand stitching
- Layered fabric construction
- Digital imaging

Style
If I asked you “What is your favourite style of art?”, would you find your response easy?
Sometimes I envy people who can focus exclusively on one style, one technique, for a long period of time. Perhaps I am too inclined to love the feeling of serendipity, of making unexpected discoveries and running with that ‘thread’ for a while. It’s so liberating and exciting!
After all, it was a serendipitous event that introduced me, first to art quilting, which later led to the exploration of thread sketching and thread painting. Being in the ‘right place at the right time’can lead to new ideas, new hobbies, new careers!
What led to your discovery of thread painting?
If I had to choose one style or period of art to place at the top of my list, it would undoubtedly be Impressionist art. But I don’t think many people’s interest stops at just one style. There is simply too much wonderful art in the world to enjoy!
What is your favourite artistic style?
Being a somewhat ‘literal’ person, I also love ‘Realism’. Specific stitch techniques are used to represent a realistic interpretation of a scene, ranging in subject matter.
And then there are the periods of:
- Post Impressionism
- Fauvism
- Expressionism
- Cubism
- Futurism
- Dadaism
- Surrealism
- Pop Art …!
And let’s not forget the textile art of Ancient Egypt?
Or tapestries from the great Flemish painters of the 17thcentury?
Or the landscape ideas presented in The Unicorn tapestries(circa 1495 – 1505), from the Netherlands region, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

And by the way—the Met Museum has an interesting video telling the story depicted on these tapestries – it’s old but good!
They all have their fascination.
Stay true to yourself; yet be always open to learn.
Follow the JTL Series Gallery
Nos 1-12 are Archived. Click here to read them.
- JTL #1 — Bridge in Taichung
- JTL #2 — Tuscan Landscape
- JTL #3 — Colosseum Sunset
- JTL #4 — Emerging from the rainforest
- JTL #5 — To the Sabine Hills …
- JTL #6 — Xuanwu Lake
- JTL #7 — Evening stroll in the square
- JTL #8 — By the River Seine
- JTL #9 — Mediterranean Views
- JTL #10 — Nature’s Showtime
- JTL #11 — The Path Less Travelled
- JTL #12 — Hometown
- JTL #13 – The Eiffel Tower
- JTL #14 – Oriental Winter Scene in Blue and Green
- JTL #15 – Night Lights: Hong Kong Harbour
- JTL #16 – Remember when …