Earlier this season, Wendy Lynn, one of the hosts of EGA’s Counted Thread Special Interest Group and Surface Embroidery Specialty Group, visited a knit studio and met creative textile artist Annie Kordesh. Annie happened to be stitching on a shirt she called her “Threads of the Year” shirt, to which Wendy was immediately drawn. Annie’s simple, classic denim shirt was covered in a careful selection of stitches, motifs, and fabrics, using several different techniques. Wendy was simply blown away, and knew it was something the EGA community needed to see. Annie, who works as shop manager and registrar for Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles, IL, graciously agreed to invite us into her process. We hope these glimpses into her work inspire EGA’s stitchers as we start the new year!
What were your first experiences with embroidery and needlework?
My first memory of stitching was when on vacation at 7 or 8 years old, my mom took us to a shop connected with the resort that seems in my memory to have been like a Ben Franklin’s store with toys and crafts. I picked out an embroidery piece with a prestamped image and some thread. Looking at the myriad of colors of DMC still, to this day, makes me feel joy at all the colors available.
Do you have a favorite embroidery technique or style? Why is it your favorite?
Nowadays I enjoy a freeform approach to stitching as it is playful and unruled by um, rules.
You are the Shop Manager for the Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles, Illinois. How did you get involved with the center? What should needleworkers know about the center?
My connection to the Fine Line began with an internship I undertook while finishing my degree at NIU in Textiles and Apparel Design in 1991. After that, I volunteered in the Supply Shop. Eventually, they offered me a job to run the shop and monitor class registrations. We started a sewing program after COVID and offer clothing construction, pattern design, hardanger, and other embroidery classes. Folks should check us out: www.fineline.org.
You’re stitching a shirt you call the Threads of the Year shirt. How did this project come about?
I proposed a daily stitch project with a friend that started last January. We each chose a denim shirt and at the end of the month, we revealed our work to each other. Both our shirts are very different, as our imagination takes on a theme each month. Some months are obviously themed to correspond with the time, but some are more random. My friend has combined months sometimes with one idea. My shirt will be totally covered front and back with just a little on the sleeves. We’re already planning a similar project for next year as it’s been so meaningful and fun.
How do you choose motifs to include in your Threads of the Year shirt?
For inspiration, I look at Pinterest, coloring books, floral drawings, or just stitch words and phrases I’ve collected.
Where do you find inspiration for your needlework?
I stitched a Protest Shirt by drawing an American flag upside down and for the red stripes used red thread and stitched banned words and phrases from government publications. I included a photo. What’s going on in the world inspires art, and making it made me feel empowered.
Where can interested readers learn more about you and your needlework?
I don’t have any social media connections at this time for myself. I do follow Roxy’s Journal of Stitchery and Kate in the Nest on YouTube. I also took a workshop with Fleur Woods in Australia last March and will be attending stitching workshops in Wales with Jessie Chorley and hopefully learning embroidery from women on a trip to Romania next year.
Traveling now is themed with stitching. As it should be! I also weave, spin, knit, dye, and make junk journals and collage. Life is so good.
