Melanie Bartheidel

Designer, printmaker and embroiderer

My practice explores the creative intersections between graphic design, printmaking and embroidery. Inspired by the random beauty of digital glitches, I translate abstract screen-based designs into intricate, tactile hand-embroidered pieces. 

I aim to emulate and re-contextualise the principles of graphic design (colour theories, print processes and pattern) using thread. Mixing colours, by layering threads, to create new colours. For example, I stitched a piece creating a green, orange and purple coloured design using CMYK coloured threads only. 

I start by creating each design digitally, then I transpose the design onto a grid that aligns with the fabric and finally create the pattern with different threads. This process means I can recreate the stitched designs exactly to the size they are created on screen. The stitching itself is the most time-consuming as I re-create the pattern, pixel by pixel onto the fabric, but it’s also the most rewarding. 

For each design, I also produce a print. The techniques for creating these vary from wood cut, silk screen to giclee print.