Meet the Londoner: Katy from Seductive Stitch

Last Updated on 7. November 2023

In today’s episode of Meet the Londoner we meet Katy Horwood, an artist from North London who offers unique art. What’s behind her label „Seductive Stitch“ and how it all started, you will find out in this interview.

Meet the Londoner – Katy from Seductive Stitch

Hi Katy, please introduce yourself to my readers

Hi, my name is Katy Horwood and I am an embroidery artist from London.

Where in London do you live?

I live in Kentish Town in North London. I’ve born and bred in the area and am lucky in that is a particularly creative part of town known for its artists, actors and creative types. It’s also a short tube ride into town and a short walk from the Heath so i feel I get the best of both worlds!

When and why did you come up with the idea for “The Seductive Stitch”?

It was during lockdown that I refound my passion for stitch. I was furloughed from my job in marketting so had time on my hands and picked up a needle and thread after many years since my degree in textiles and not having done it for a long time! I started with a cross stitch kit before soon realising that it wasn’t right for me – and that the process of embroidery suited me way better in that I felt I could draw with thread, so it called out to my background in fine art.

I started to post my work on social media and had lots of friends interested in the pieces so I gave them away, after a while I realised that they were increasingly popular so built it up to an Etsy shop so I could spread the seductive stitch love a bit! I have experience in marketing and branding so enjoyed creating a brand around embroidery and have continued it ever since!

What exactly do you offer?

I offer finished embroidery pieces and embroidery kits. recently I have also developed PDFs for people to download and I take commissions for bespoke embroidered pieces.

Your motives certainly look different to classical designs, what made you do your first seductive design?

Yes, it wasn’t intentional to via off the traditional embroidery path! but my background in drawing was focused very much on figurative drawing and life drawing so I guess this spilled over into my embroidery. I was surprised actually that it wasn’t more common, but seems I have a bit of a corner of the embroidery world to myself in that respect!

How do you come up with new designs?

It varies, sometimes I’ll see a photo that inspires me or someone I come across on social media, a lot of the time it’s from commissions, I’ve had some amazing photos sent to me to embroider and it’s always an honour to create something so personal for someone, especially when people share back stories or when it is a gift for a loved one.

How much knowledge about stitching do people have when buying one of your designs?

Very little to be honest! All my kits are suitable for beginners/intermediate so I say that if you can sew on a button you’d be able to do one of the kits! they all come with a thorough stitch guide and instruction booklet so pretty easy to follow too.

How long does it normally take you to finish a seductive stitch?

For me that very much depends on the size and complexity of the piece I am working on – but for the kits I would say on average around 5 hours at an intermediate level.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I’d love to grow Seductive Stitch and really break into the craft world. I find it frustrating that craft is still seen as the poor relative of ‘art’ so I’d really like to help change that and show people the craft and embroidery can be a beautiful art too.

What was the best advice you were ever given?

Minutes are worth more than money, spend them wisely!

Where can we buy your work?

In meinem Etsy Shop (https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheSeductiveStitch)

Katy about London

What’s a must-see sight in London?

You can’t beat the River thames to feel right in the heart of it! London is pretty much a collection of lots of little villages but a walk along the Thames really reminds you of the magnificence of the city. I’d recommend starting from Limehouse area if you have plenty of time on your hands as there are some stunning little streets and so much history there

3 words to describe London

magnificent, chaotic, addictive

Where do you go for a good breakfast?

Dishoom in Kings Cross – when I first was told about it I couldn’t quite imagine what breakfast at an indian restaurant would taste like – but it is well worth the visit and absolutely delicious!

The craziest food you ever had in London is?

Sketch always delivers for something a bit off the wall, the tasting menu in the library there is unforgettable (albeit pricey!!)

The best museum in London is…?

I love the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy as I love the concept that it is open to everyone  and the London Dungeons for some good old fashioned spooky London fun (not sure that constitutes a museum but is great fun nevertheless!)

And the coolest bar is…?

I love a good London pub! So I’d say Ye Old Mitre in Farringdon, The Lamb & Flag in Covent Garden or the Viaduct in St Pauls. All are incredible pubs with so much history. In fact if someone were in London for one weekend I’d say they’d get a better taste of London in any one of those pubs than any museum/site in town!

Favourite part of London?

Oh tricky, I love different parts of London for different reasons – I love the glamour of Mayfair, the history of the city of London and the energy of Soho. And of course Kentish Town, the best place to live in the capital!

Fun stuff about Katy

Which is your favourite ice-cream flavour?

mint choc chip

Gin and Tonic or Pimm’s?

G&T definitely!

Favourite Tube line?

Northern

Seductive Stitch on Social Media

Follow Katy on Facebook (@theseductivestich) and Instagram (@the_seductive_stitch). If you are interested in getting one of her designs, check out her Etsy shop.

Dear Katy, thanks so much for this lovely interview and a continued success with your wonderful artworks.