Not a photograph. Not a painting. Yet, it radiates light.
Photo embroidery is a unique form of expression that uses thread to recreate photographic imagery.
With the theme of “Embroidering Light,” I create each piece by editing photo data, selecting threads, and stitching with an industrial embroidery machine.
The layered threads and color compositions may sometimes resemble a painting, and at other times feel like a photo.
On this page, I will introduce the creative process behind my photo embroidery works.
The Process of Photo Embroidery
Drawing Light with Thread.
- 📸Photograph
- 🖥Embroidery Data Creation
- 🎨Thread Editing & Selection
- 🧵Embroidery
The process may seem simple at a glance:
Choose a photo, create the data, select the threads, and finally embroider.
But the finished work is never quite what I imagined.
What I’m pursuing is the “light” within the photograph.
I adjust each thread, one by one, searching for the moment that light comes to life in the stitches.
That’s why—even for me—the final result remains unknown until the embroidery is complete.
Featured Works
Selected Work
Cherry Blossoms of Sewaritei
This photo embroidery piece depicts the iconic row of cherry blossoms at Sewaritei, a well-known sakura viewing spot in Yawata City, Kyoto Prefecture.
Based on an original photograph, I created the embroidery data and carefully selected each color of thread to express the subtle gradation of light.
Size: 75 cm (H) × 95 cm (W)
Stitch count: 2,743,359
Production period: Approx. 60 days (including data editing)
About the Artist
About the Artist
Dai Higuchi
Photo Embroidery Creator
I create thread-based artworks inspired by photographs, seeking to capture and express the memory of light.
From taking the photograph to editing the embroidery data and selecting each thread, I manage every step myself—
pursuing textures and expressions of light that only thread can reveal.
Until the photo embroidery is complete, I can never be certain of how the final piece will appear.
It is this continuous chain of unforeseen, serendipitous moments that I hold most dear in my creative process.
Gallery of Works
Online Store Information
We’ve launched an online store to make photo embroidery more accessible in everyday life.
From bags to small accessories, each item features detailed photo embroidery designed to accompany you daily.
We invite you to explore the store and find your favorite piece.
