Earlier this year, The Creative Thread – the new magazine for members of the Embroiderers’ Guild – approached me to write a contribution. I was delighted to say yes. The result appears in Summer 2026 Issue 2, themed around Savouring Summer.
The Common Thread section brings together an experienced embroiderer and an emerging talent. Together, they explore how heritage, skills, support and ideas are shared. In this issue, I joined Lottie Mayland – a contemporary embroiderer whose beautiful hand-stitched napkins, aprons and personalised textiles draw inspiration from nature, vintage French linens and her parents’ kitchen garden.
Lottie looked at my work and I looked at hers. What followed was a genuinely generous exchange. She particularly loved the Lancashire Courting Cake and the Lancashire Rich Jam Cake. She noted the restrained colour palette and the quiet sense of a more unhurried time. Simple at first glance, but revealing layers of skill and storytelling on closer inspection. That means a great deal coming from a fellow maker.
In turn, Lottie’s work gave me much to think about. Her pieces carry an exquisite attention to detail. A wonderful balance exists between decoration and function. Her motifs feel both timeless and modern. As a result, I found myself thinking about how her practice could grow an even stronger personal narrative. Smaller bodies of work rooted in memory and place, alongside her existing commercial collections.
The exchange also gave me the opportunity to talk about my own process. Specifically, how I approach a set of napkins. How a sampling and experimenting book has become one of the most valuable things in my workroom. And why I always encourage makers to keep asking: what if?
Finally, if you are a member of the Embroiderers’ Guild, do look out for Summer 2026 Issue 2 of The Creative Thread. And if you are not yet a member – it might just be the nudge you need.
