Embroidery: How to bring designs inspired by history into your home

Modern embroiderers are finding their muse from the opulence of the tsars to the intricacy of antique French samplers

Embroidered curtains by Victoria Bain

Embroidery is everywhere. Hot off the catwalks of Anya Hindmarch, Gucci and Clio Peppiatt, celebrities including Alexa Chung and Salma Hayek are working the trend. The craft is also a focus of Art_ Textiles, a new exhibition opening at Manchester's Whitworth gallery tomorrow.

Homeware collections are re-flecting the rise in specialist needlework. Victoria Bain is a leader in embroidered textile design, weaving traditional arts into contemporary projects. Her work can be seen at country retreats including the Great Hall in Berkshire's Cliveden House and London's Grosvenor House Hotel. She seeks inspiration from the glamour and luxury of Russia.

"For my latest collection, I was originally very inspired by the Russian Tsar and Tsarina's opulently embellished clothes," Bain explains. "The Tsarina in particular used a lot of border edges on her dresses and down the front of jackets and coats. This inspired me to use embroidery as an accent in my textiles."

From floral to geometrics, she uses gold, silk and rich colours on a variety of leather, wool, sateen and linen fabrics to make dramatic pieces. Her embroidered leather ottomans are really something (victoriabain.co.uk).

Abigail Edwards' embroidered tapestry wallpaper collection Cross Stitch offers a playful take (from £75 per roll, abigailedwards.com). Influenced by the intricate antique embroidery samples found at Parisian flea markets, Cross Stitch features alphabets in various needlework fonts interspersed with folkloric animal designs. Each cross has been handdrawn before being digitally printed.

Alternatively, Pip Studio has vibrant embroidery wallpaper in a rich red, folk -inspired floral design. Smaller than a standard roll, it makes for a striking wall mural (£213.25, amara.com).

Nursery and children's bedding collection Camomile London is big on embroidered detail. The reversible diamond blockprint throw with handstitched stars works as a play mat and comes with its own travel bag (£85, camomile.london).

Barbara Coupe specialises in hand embroidered fabrics. Her cushions with geometric crosses were sparked by English dogtooth tailoring cloth (£65, barbaracoupe.co.uk). Or for a more colourful option try the turquoise cushion from All Things Brighton Beautiful (£29.95, notonthehighstreet.com).

Loaf 's Lucky chair would make a statement in the living room. Handmade by craftsmen in Long Eaton and embroidered by the artisans of Udaipur, India, it is available at £595 from loaf.com. The beauty in all of these pieces is in the detail.

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