Stitching Notes: A Story of a Small Label

Monday, 21 April 2025

A Story of a Small Label

If you have followed my work over the years, you will know how much I adore making small labels from linen scraps with an addition of delicate stitches. There is something deeply satisfying about creating these "miniature signatures" - those small but meaningful touches that add soul to a handmade piece and make it unmistakably yours.

Some might dismiss such details as unnecessary. Others might even say, "Why bother with something so small?" But I think focusing on these tiny elements teaches us to balance proportions, choose harmonious colours, and refine details that elevate our work. For me, miniature work is where creativity truly blooms.

Pink Bee Embroidery Video

Take this pouch’s label, for example. At first, I envisioned a miniature meadow motif to mirror the fabric’s floral design. I settled on one large flower and a bit of greenery. As I stitched, I felt confident it would work - but once I attached the finished label to the pouch, doubts crept in.

Against the busy blooms of the fabric, the label suddenly felt too bold, too loud. The more I looked, the more it seemed to add visual noise rather than charm. So I reconsidered. A single pink bee, stitched in fine thread, came to mind - a subtler touch that would soften the label’s appearance.

Whenever I create small details like this, I try to use the tiniest scraps - some no larger than the label itself. Cutting into bigger pieces of fabric would only add to my pile of scraps.

To make the perfect label, I always start with its size. Too large, and it overwhelms. Too small, and it disappears entirely (unless that is the intention).

Once the proportions feel right, I design the motif, drawing inspiration from the project’s fabrics - selecting one small element and colours already present in the piece or somehow connected to the fabric.

Sometimes, the creative path surprises me. I began with a meadow and ended with a solitary bee. A small design that evokes curiosity and invites you to take a closer look at it.

A few helpful tips when creating your own labels:

Start small and let the piece guide you.
Embrace "mistakes" as a path to better ideas.
Trust your eye. If something feels off, it probably is - adjust it with confidence and without regrets.

In a world that often prioritises speed and volume, my dedication to miniature work is a reminder of the power of slowness, precision, and care. The labels I stitch are more than details - they are my love notes to the lovely slowness of handmade.