On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we’re talking about embroidery with my guest, Rebecca Ringquist.
Rebecca is a Brooklyn-based visual artist and designer. Approaching the technique of embroidery as a way of drawing, Rebecca has taught hundreds of people new ways of making marks on fabric with thread. Rebecca has a design company called Dropcloth where she sells hand drawn designs and samplers that are pre-printed as embroidery patterns, ready to hoop and sew. Rebecca earned her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she subsequently taught for seven years. She now teaches, lectures and exhibits internationally.
Rebecca’s first book is coming out this month. It’s called Rebecca Ringquist’s Embroidery Workshops, A Bend the Rules Primer and is published by STC/Melanie Falick Books. This book is unlike almost any other embroidery book I’ve encountered. Rebecca’s embroidery technique involves layers of color and texture. She encourages you to take vintage textiles that have already been embroidered and embroider on top of them. Instead of starting with a white ground, Rebecca often begins with patterned fabrics or ribbons and creates a secondary drawing over top. “More is more. That’s my aesthetic,” she says. The book comes with one of Rebecca’s pre-printed Dropcloth samplers. It’s a new design and it feels like a gift, making this book truly special.
Embroidery by Rebecca Ringquist
In her work Rebecca walks the line between art and craft. She creates fine art for galleries (including a show up now at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles and one going up soon at the Museum Rejswijk in the Netherlands). She also creates samplers and teaches shorter workshops aimed at crafters. I admire the ways she has a foot in both worlds and is totally comfortable with that.
Valentine by Rebecca Ringquist
In our conversation we talk about:
- Rebecca’s efforts to change embroidery’s reputation from uptight to free
- Which is better, Perle cotton or 6-ply embroidery floss?
- How Rebecca prints her Dropcloth samplers and how outsourcing the screenprinting allowed her business to thrive creatively and to become more profitable
- Managing subscription clubs via an Etsy shop (Rebecca has several embroidery sampler subscription clubs and her online shop is on Etsy)
- How to use Instagram hashtags to create a community of customers
- The ways in which Rebecca’s online classes at Creativebug enhance and support the sales of her Dropcloth samplers
The original Dropcloth sampler
And, of course, I ask Rebecca to recommend things she’s enjoying right now. Rebecca recommends:
- Dandelyne Hoops
- Picture files at your local library
We also refer to:
Follow Rebecca on Instagram where she you can get a glimpse of what she’s working on today.
You can listen to the show right here on my blog by clicking on the arrow below, or subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher (great for Android or listening on a Kindle). If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it! Thank you so much.
This was such a beautiful podcast to listen too…. insightful, informative, fun and inspirational. I am doing a little fist pump too as Rebecca mentioned my miniature embroidery hoops SQUEEEEAL ^_^. I’m looking forward to tuning in to more of your Podcasts Abby.
Hi Abby,
Great podcast! (As always). I really, really enjoy all of them. You do a fabulous job, as well as your guests. I am unable to go to workshops as I did for many years so it is wonderful to be able to hear these podcasts.
I have signed up for all of Rebecca’s classes and can’t wait for her book! She is amazing.
Thanks again.
Best to you,
Sondra
Hi Sondra,
Thank you so much for listening to my podcast. That means so much to me! I really enjoyed talking with Rebecca and I’m looking forward to embroidering with her book!
Hi Abby,
I am a faithful listener, and wanted to let you know how very much I enjoy each of your episodes. Rebecca Ringquilt had been introduced to me about a week before I saw that you had interviewed her (I was behind on my podcast listening) and so I was thrilled to listen! What a huge coincidence….or as I’m told, there are no coincidences! Anyway, I’ve purchased her book, several of her samplers, and mounds of Perle Coton in the past couple of weeks. This morning I was dreaming up a design and couldn’t figure out how in the world I was going to get it onto my fabric, and all of a sudden it popped into my head to use the Sticky Solvy that you had mentioned. (Of course I had already purchased some after hearing you mention it.) It worked like a charm!
So, not only am I thanking you for a wonderful podcast, but also for making it so easy for me to transfer my designs to my hand-dyed fabrics.
Looking forward to hearing many, many more podcasts from you!
Thanks,
Judy Carpenter
How wonderful to hear, Judy! I do love Fabri Solvy. It’s kinda miraculous. I’m so glad you enjoyed this interview!
Abby!!!! I am becoming obsessed with your work! I love the way you present it as a business and the line of questioning you pursue with the artist. It’s so thoughtful and makes for a REALLY addicting podcast. Keep up the amazing work!