A note from the Editor.

If you’re wondering what 2025 holds for you, wonder no more. Embroidery magazine’s Jan/Feb issue includes a full rundown of compelling exhibitions and events throughout the year and across the UK.

Meet our cover star King Eadwig whose short life story would not have been out of place in the ruthless world of HBO’s Game of Thrones drama. Inside, we bring you the story of seven Saxon kings and Jacky Puzey’s incredible eight-year project to portray them in stitch.

Elsewhere, we delve into garden delights with the work of Janet Haigh and Hannah Louise Egan. Janet’s work looks at ‘Tulip Mania’ and the gardens of National Trust property Hidcote. Hannah tells us how, after tragic family loss, she changed her career to the healing practice of textiles, with pieces incorporating her love of houseplants (she currently has 60).

A retrospective on feminist stalwart Su Richardson looks at 50 years of her work, which often uses humour to grab people’s attention, such as in her Boob Licious series.

‘Offbeat Artist’ profiles Leah Doeland from Australia whose Covid Couture collection is remarkable in rescuing items from the bin that would seem impossible to recycle. She uses them to create jackets – the ultimate in junk couture.

Meanwhile, from New Zealand, Alison Leauanae tells us about her vivid abstract works, partly inspired by her Samoan heritage.

We also meet the new CEO of the Royal School of Needlework and discover her plans to revisit the spirit of the Arts and Crafts Movement; and catch up with Jessie Chorley whose major solo exhibition is set to delight. Plus, we’ve got the latest from David Morrish, who has just published a book on digital embroidery and is working on a new style of ‘darker’ pieces.

Finally, we take a peek inside The Sewing Room of award-winning artist Beth Somerville, who is settling into her new studio at New Brewery Arts, Cirencester.

We hope you enjoy the issue!

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Digital

Amanda Cobbett began life as a designer but is now wowing a whole new audience with her hyperreal take on the natural world, in particular her machine embroidered 3D sculptures of fungi. This feature was written by Deena Beverley and published in the November/December 2019 issue

Ann Goddard was announced as winner of the inaugural Vlieseline Fine Art Textiles Award in 2019 and was interviewed by Jo Hall for the January/February 2020 issue.

Rozanne Hawksley found her métier whilst teaching at Goldsmiths in the 1970s. She developed a singular art practice that reflected upon the subjects of war, loss and the abuse of power. June Hill spoke to Hawksley as part of Embroidery’s ‘pioneer’ series, which examined the careers of leading embroiderers of the late 20th century.