Free Motion Ebroidery
Location
Hosted by
Lara Speir
About
From an early age, Linda Miller developed a passion for drawing, making and textiles. Learning to use a hand-cranked sewing machine as a young child, she became fascinated by the rhythm of stitching. Growing up in historic Hastings, she was inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry and its storytelling through embroidery.
After studying Printed Textiles at Winchester School of Art, Linda combined her love of drawing and stitch to create distinctive machine embroideries. In 1989, she established her full-time studio practice.
Based at the Sorting Office Studios in Eastleigh, Hampshire, Linda creates colourful, one-off machine embroideries characterised by their naïve style and playful narratives. Her work features people and animals in outdoor settings, each with their own story to tell. Inspiration comes from everyday life, particularly her enjoyment of people-watching and observing the world around her.
Her embroideries have been widely exhibited and are held in public and private collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and Arts Council Southeast.
Alongside her studio practice, Linda is a brilliant and inspiring teacher, generously sharing her knowledge, creativity and enthusiasm through workshops, talks and lectures. Her warm, encouraging approach makes her a wonderful person to learn from, inspiring confidence and creativity in others.
Linda is also the author of two books, Creative Machine Embroidery (2010) and Stitched Pictures: Techniques and Projects (2022). In 2011, she appeared on Kirstie Allsopp’s television series Kirstie’s Handmade Britain, sharing her passion for machine embroidery with a wider audience.