Heavenly Blues by Di Kirchner

Is green your favourite colour?

Perhaps it’s the sense of calm and renewal it brings, or the connection it holds to the natural world.

Does yellow speak to you instead? Bright, warm and optimistic, it’s a colour that’s hard to ignore.

If blue is your favourite colour, you’ll already understand its appeal - strong without being overwhelming, and timeless without feeling traditional.

The appeal of the colour blue is beautifully explored in the project Heavenly Blues by Di Kirchner from Inspirations magazine issue 129, a crewel embroidery cushion worked as a single flowing floral stem in shades of China blue, from the palest pastel through to deep navy.

Crewel embroidery and Jacobean-style motifs are often associated with rich, varied colour palettes, which makes this single-colour interpretation feel unexpectedly modern.

By working entirely within one family of blues, the design relies on the gentle curve of the stem and the rhythm of leaves, buds and blossoms to create interest, with tonal shading doing the work usually carried by colour contrast.

The project incorporates fifteen different stitches, offering a satisfying variety that builds texture across the surface of the design. Trellis couching, satin stitch, coral stitch, fly stitch, long and short shading and more combine to create layers of detail that reward both the stitcher and the eye.

Crewel wool stitched onto linen twill gives the cushion a tactile, durable finish suited to regular use.

Some of our favourite elements in Di’s design include the swirling striped stems that guide the eye through the composition, the beautifully outlined veins that give the smaller leaves structure and character, and the four open circles on the right-hand side that resemble tiny water droplets resting lightly within the design.

Blue proves to be the perfect choice for this approach - strong enough to carry a bold floral composition yet calm enough to remain timeless.

Finished with dark denim piping, the cushion feels equally at home in contemporary and traditional interiors, pairing effortlessly with both neutral and decorative palettes.

For anyone yet to settle on their favourite colour, sometimes all it takes is a project as stunning as this to sway your opinion - and before you know it, blue has become your new best friend.