I first started stitching Malachite by Trish Burr while travelling through Vietnam. It felt like a good travel companion — small, portable, and calming after long days on the road. But as you might imagine, stitching on the go has its risks. The piece got a little travel-worn: smudges, creases, and the general mess that comes from working without a frame and in transit.

Malachite is one of Trish Burr’s needlepainting designs — a detailed study in shades of vibrant blue, yellow-ochre and vairous greens. It is stitched using long and short stitch to blend colours seamlessly. The project uses a mix of stranded cottons and silk threads, including the beautifully smooth Au Ver à Soie silks. I hadn’t used them before, and they quickly became a favourite — their sheen, texture, and the way they glide through the fabric added something truly special to the stitching experience.

Early 2025, I decided to give Malachite a proper second chance. This time I used a proper frame, took my time, and protected it carefully with layers of tissue paper while working. The difference was night and day — not just in the result, but in how it felt to stitch it. Slower, more focused, and a lot more satisfying.

Sometimes starting over is exactly what a piece needs — and maybe what the stitcher needs too.