A Bit Patchy

How did the idea for collaborating on embroidered patches come about? What sparked the inspiration for this unique fusion of your art styles? 

A Bit Patchy is a creative collaboration between Alan Goodwin  ( free hand embroiderer) and Rosie Yates ( Illustrator). We became friends after meeting here at Banks Mill where we both have our own individual studios! After much admiration for each others work it sparked up an idea for us…. What could we make together?!  

We wanted to create something that could marry both of our skills, but also be fun and unique for us to make- the idea of an iron on patch was born. These little pieces of wearable art are illustrated by Rosie and stitched by Alan, the name ‘A Bit Patchy’ perfectly sums it up! A friendship turned creative collaboration.  

Can you walk us through the creative process behind designing the patches together? How did you blend your individual mediums into a cohesive collection? 

To begin with we will both come up with ideas for designs, phrases, or patterns that might work well on a patch. Rosie will then get to work drawing these up on her iPad using a software called Procreate. Alan then converts each illustration in to a digital file (this is the tricky and meticulous part!), once the file is perfected the magic begins and each patch is digitally embroidered using a machine. Each colour on the patch has to be threaded separately on the machine, with eagle eyes on the machine to check for any stitching errors! The only criteria for our designs is that they are bright and fun, and totally unique to us. 

What challenges, if any, did you face while merging illustration and embroidery techniques in your designs? How did you overcome them? 

There are technical challenges that we still just have to work through as we go when designing the patches! Sometimes text just won’t show up properly once stitched, or a type of line work just doesn’t look right. We simply just keep trying alternative designs, and adapting the drawings to fit the patch. The hardest challenge of all was deciding on what to call ourselves! We had so many conversations trying to come up with variations of ‘patch’, or trying to merge our names together somehow… In the end ‘A Bit Patchy’ seemed like the perfect way to describe how we are combining our skills and making something that Is a little bit patchy in places! 

How do you think the tactile nature of embroidery enhances or changes the experience of your artwork compared to traditional illustrations or printed designs?

What is so nice about the embroidered patches is that they really elevate the 2D illustrated drawings. It gives the artwork a new purpose and lets people wear a piece of our art! For Rosie this is a completely new way for people to enjoy her illustrations, and for Alan it’s a way of using his technical embroidery skills to create new pieces of wearable art. 

 

What has been the response from your audience so far? Do you think collaborating on this project has brought new perspectives or opportunities for both of your art forms? 

 We have been so shocked at the response so far, and so grateful to everyone who has been enjoying ‘A Bit Patchy’! The beauty of a collaboration is that it brings together both of our individual audiences, and shares our practices in a new way to a new crowd. Fans of embroidery and illustration have found us and we can’t wait to keep making new and exciting designs for them! In our own personal businesses we often work alone, so it’s been really lovely to work on this together and have each other as ‘colleagues’. We absolutely love designing and making these together and can’t wait to share more as we go! 

  Due to the popular response of our patches so far we have now used some of our designs to create embroidered t shirts! We are constantly thinking of new ideas for ‘A Bit Patchy’ so make sure to keep an eye our for some exciting new bits we have coming up. We’re always on the look out for ideas for patch designs, so please feel free to reach out if there’s anything you’d like to see.  

  If you’re interested in our patches we will be selling them at every Banks Mill Makers Market, and you can also find them online here to buy 

Alan will also be taking them to his next various market events, so keep an eye out on his account for the details. 

Thanks for enjoying ‘A Bit Patchy” @a.bit.patchy 

Alan & Rosie 🙂