Stitching nature into existence with Amanda Cobbett

Interviews

Stitching nature into existence with Amanda Cobbett

In this episode, we sit down with Amanda Cobbett, an award-winning textile artist whose stunning embroidered sculptures bring the intricate textures of nature to life. From delicate fungi to organic bark formations, Amanda’s work blurs the line between scientific observation and creative craft. If you’ve ever felt tempted to try your hand at free-hand embroidery, been mesmerised by the beauty of fungi (or just wondered how someone could embroider a toadstool so convincingly it might start sprouting spores), this episode’s for you.

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Listen or watch on your favourite platform:

Host: Angela Truscott

Show Notes

The sound of the sewing machine is the soundtrack to my life.
My stitching is my timeline.
- Amanda Cobbett

Takeaways from this episode

Look closer: the magic is in the details. Amanda’s textile art proves that the tiniest things - lichen, fungi, textures on bark - can be truly wondrous if we just take the time to notice. What small details have you been overlooking?

There are no rules in creativity. Amanda never formally trained in embroidery, yet she’s honed her own techniques by experimenting, making mistakes, and figuring things out as she goes. You don’t need permission to create - you have everything you need to begin!

Slow down and let inspiration find you. Amanda’s best ideas come from quiet, unhurried walks in nature. Whether it’s walking through the forest, pottering in your backyard, or just gazing out the window, where could you give yourself space to slow down and notice more?

Explore the artwork from this episode below

During the live interview, we shared some images of Amanda’s artwork. Since you’re listening to the podcast version, we’ve made these images available for you below.