Embroidery

Colorful Fish Float on Fabric, Transforming the Embroidery Hoop into a Fish Bowl

Fish embroidery on tulle

Embroidering on tulle seems like a challenge. It’s more delicate than your traditional cotton—making it less forgiving than other fabrics. But when done well, the effect is mesmerizing. We’ve seen how tulle and flowers can frame the world in beautiful bouquets. And with work of Katerina Marchenko, the hoop is like an aquarium; her colorful fish embroidery seemingly floats on the gauzy surface. Confined to their circular frame, it’s like an old fashioned fish bowl. Katerina stitches more than fish, however, bringing whales into the mix. But don’t worry about them—they are later freed from the hoop and adorn her stylish clothing.

Katerina sells her work online, and she shares her work in progress on Instagram.

Stitched on tulle, Katerina Marchenko’s fish embroidery imagines the hoop as an aquarium.

Fish embroidery on tulle

Fish embroidery on tulle

Fish embroidery on tulle

Fish embroidery on tulle

Fish embroidery on tulle

Fish embroidery on tulle

In a similar effect, Katerina embroiders birds that look like they’re flapping their wings in midair.

Bird embroidery on tulle

Bird embroidery on tulle

Fish embroidery on tulle

Fish embroidery on tulle

Fish embroidery on tulle

Fish embroidery on tulle

Bird embroidery on tulle

Fish embroidery on tulle

Fish embroidery on tulle