Welcome to Gear Threads, where we showcase artists who are elevating machine embroidery to new heights!

Grace Garton is a full-time artist in Pontville, Tasmania, Australia. She works in many media, from painting to plush toys to embroidery, but the spirit of her work shines through in everything that comes out of her Little Black Crow Studio — little characters full of story and personality.

Grace uses freemotion machine embroidery and a hodgepodge of applique to create vivid, sweet images with a tactile dimension you can’t ignore.

These kitty brooches combine painting and stitching on canvas. The expressions on each feline face are just delightful!

She also makes plush dolls and toys, including this primitive kitty — like one of the brooches come to life.

The juxtaposition of Grace’s different types of work is intriguing — similar characters and themes, styled to showcase the unique strengths of each medium.

See more in Grace’s Little Black Crow Etsy shop!

What Technique Is This?

This is free machine embroidery and if you want to find out more about it, check out our dedicated post!
We’ve featured some great free machine artists on the site – here are four you might like!

Gear Threads is brought to you from the offbeat gals at Urban Threads. Created by illustrator Niamh O’Connor, Urban Threads is revolutionizing machine embroidery one edgy, elegant, innovative, and/or offbeat design at a time. Discover the future of digital stitchery at www.urbanthreads.com.