Although embroidery has several centuries of development as an art form and hobby, the craft is still evolving today. You can find artists pushing boundaries with their materials in numerous ways, creating everything from natural meadows to inspirational sayings.
3D Embroidery
You can find artists pushing boundaries with their materials in numerous ways, creating everything from natural meadows to inspirational sayings.
One of the artists at the forefront of embroidery’s evolution is Ipnot. This Japanese influencer and textile magician replicates three-dimensional replicas of leaves, household items, food, and more.
You can certainly tell the artist has a passion for her 3D embroidery skills from the moment she picks up the needle and threat. Ipnot says that she felt inspired to take up this medium after watching her grandmother’s techniques when she was young.
It didn’t take long for the artist to find a specific stitch that would eventually become part of her signature style. “I found that the French knot could be done by wrapping thread around the needle,” Ipnot said. “I find that type of stitching to be lots of fun to do, and it is my favorite one.”
The Artist Chooses from a Palette of 500 Colors
When Ipnot starts working on a new embroidery creation, she selects a thread from a palette that includes over 500 hues.
She starts building up the 3D objects within her circle using the French knot stitches she loves a lot. As the work progresses, it would be fair to compare her skills to that of a French Impressionist painter, filling the area with tiny color dots until she achieves the scene she wants to convey to the viewer.
When Ipnot is finished with her work, you’ll find realistic food renderings, an upright cherry tree in full blossom, and other designs that seem to jump right off of the fabric.
After she is finished with the embroidery, the artist uses clever angles and props to accentuate the illusions she creates with each stitch. When you see Ipnot’s work on Instagram, it almost appears real.
In one of her most notable pieces, two autumn leaves seem to be floating in midair. For another, she uses yellow and cream-colored thread to represent the stretchy, melted cheese on a pizza slice.
If you love embroidery, her portfolio might be one of the best viewing experiences you have this year. It takes thousands of French knots to achieve the outcomes Ipnot accomplishes with this work.
What Is the History of Embroidery?
Embroidery could be one of the first skills that humans developed. It is the art of decorating fabric, textiles, or other materials using a needle to apply yarn or thread.
We get the English word “embroidery” from the French word “broderie,” which means to embellish something.
The origins seem to come from the Near East and China, with archeological finds suggesting that it is up to 30,000 years old.
Some of the earliest surviving examples of this technique come from 2,500 years ago during the Warring States era in China. Swedish researchers have found Viking-based work that is more than 1,000 years old.
It was around the 11th century when all Europeans began to embrace this art form, especially when the church threw its support behind the efforts. Tablecloths, tapestries, and royal robes were soon commissioned, but it would be an art form that would eventually become a rite of passage for many girls.
Today’s embroidery looks different, especially when looking at apparel. Computers can stitch faster than humans, which means you have more programming work to do than efforts with a needle and thread. That’s why Ipnot’s work stands out today.
More About the Artist: Ipnot
Although Ipnot doesn’t tell you her real name, she does say that her artistry moniker is a nickname that she’s had since her childhood. She credits all of the crafty and creative people that were in her life while growing up because they’ve served as her inspiration for creating those 3D embroidery masterpieces.
“I was drawn to embroidery because my grandmother used to do it, and she made it look very relaxing and enjoyable,” Ipnot writes. “So, I tried it, and I enjoyed it myself.”
The artist says that when she starts working on a new project, it doesn’t feel like work at all. It’s more of a hobby since she gets to have so much fun doing the work.
Ipnot’s work has been featured in several shows and galleries over the years, with her first displays reaching the public in 2011. One of her most significant accomplishments was getting featured in the 2019 “Discover the One Japanese Art” show in Abu Dhabi.
