Sue Hawkins Needlework

Sue Hawkins is a highly respected needlework designer whose career began in a wonderfully traditional way. As an apprentice to an antique dealer specialising in seventeenth-century English embroidery. Under expert guidance, Sue learned how to restore and care for these precious historic textiles, and that early grounding continues to influence her work today. Even as a well-known designer, much of Sue’s inspiration still comes from classic, traditional embroidery.

Sue is also a published author, with a number of much-loved titles to her name. Her first book, Heirlooms in Needlepoint, was published in 1994, followed by 55 Flower Designs (co-written with Jane Greenoff) and A Victorian Floral Alphabet. She later published Crewel Embroidery (Spring 2001), and went on to create several popular design collections including Carpets and Rugs and Embroidered Projects for the dollhouse enthusiast (2003), and Heavenly Handmade Bags (2006). While these titles are now sadly out of print, they remain fondly remembered by stitchers and collectors alike.

Alongside her publishing work, Sue runs her own kit manufacturing company, producing beautifully detailed canvaswork designs. If you’d like to see her finished pieces up close, Sue can often be found exhibiting at many of the UK’s principal embroidery shows, where visitors can browse her work “in the flesh” and discover her latest designs.