Erin Endicott: Tool kit

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Welcome to another edition of Tool kit, a series of articles where we take a look at some of the favourite tools used by professional textile artists. 

Erin Endicott is a contemporary embroidery artist who studied textile design in Scotland, before moving to Philadelphia to complete her fine art training. Erin creates her own unique brand of soft sculpture by stitching and drawing onto found objects. Recurring themes include pain remembered, solace found, hope and feminine patience.

In this article Erin shares with us the secrets of her tool box. We discover how ink, thread and cloth all combine to create her arresting series of work from 2015 entitled Healing Sultra.

Cotton embroidery floss

Item 1 – Cotton Embroidery Floss

Brand: DMC
Model: 321 Red

How do you use this item in your practice?

I use this specific thread for all of the stitching on my Healing Sutra series. I untwist it down to one strand, double it over and knot it. I really think of my work as drawing with thread and this gives me the perfect line weight for my hand stitched marks.

Why do you use this specific item?

This is the truest red I have found.

And where did you buy it from?

Local craft store – I buy huge quantities of it when it’s on sale!

Item 2 – Walnut ink

How do you use this item in your practice?

I purchase powdered walnut ink which allows me to reconstitute it to the desired intensity/consistency. I use the ink on slightly damp fabric as sort of a stain or map from which I can begin my stitching. I love the uncontrollable nature of using ink on fabric and the subtle shades of brown it creates.

Why do you use this specific item?

Not only does the stain give me a starting point for my stitching but it adds a feeling of history to the fabric. Within one small stain there will be an incredible variation in tone and intensity that I have not been able to achieve with any other product.

And where did you buy it from?

Etsy

Antique cloth

Item 3- Antique clothing/ linens (white)

How do you use this item in your practice?

I use antique clothing and linens as the life of my work. I find that their history, the worn and tattered bits, the small stains and tears, inspire a narrative which is as open and varied as the viewer. The clothing/linens are really the base of my work. Inspired by the story I intuit from them, their shape, and the walnut ink stain, I have a beautiful canvas on which to begin my stitching.

Why do you use this specific item?

For many years I explored a variety of ways to represent my inner landscape through my work. I find that the sheer, white fabric of these garments perfectly represents the essence of a human being.

And where did you buy it from?

I am so fortunate to have received all of my textiles as gifts. In the beginning of the Healing Sutras series, I was using pieces that had been handed down through my family; my habit of hoarding fabric has been come by honestly! Stained tablecloths, fine cotton that had been worn threadbare by use became little girl’s dresses.

I soon found that people were eager to share their collections and inheritance of antique clothing and linens with the knowing it would be given a new life. I have received packages from around the world from people I have never met and it adds another layer of meaning to my work. I am very grateful for this spirit of generosity.

Buttonhole Scissors

Item 4 – Buttonhole Scissors

Brand: Merchant & Mills

How do you use this item in your practice?

I always have these gorgeous scissors (who knew that scissors could be so gorgeous?!) nearby while stitching. I’ve attached a loop of linen to hang them on the arm of my “stitching chair” so they are always near at hand.

Why do you use this specific item?

They are exquisitely crafted and super sharp! The weight of them feels perfect in my hand and I find the size to be perfect for snipping threads and cutting into small areas.

And where did you buy it from?

Merchant and Mills

Entomology Pins

Item 5 – Entomology Pins

Brand: Merchant and Mills

How do you use this item in your practice?

My newest pieces in the Healing Sutras series are folded and layered and the length of these pins is perfect for getting cleanly through all the layers of fabric.

Why do you use this specific item?

As with the scissors, these pins are beautifully crafted. I love the flexibility of the pin and how beautifully they glide through my delicate fabrics. I also love the aesthetic of the fine, black pin against the sheer white fabric.

And where did you buy it from?

Merchant and Mills

For more information visit www.erinendicott.com and @healingsutras on Instagram.