Intricate Moss Embroideries Ease Anxiety with Piled Stitches

moss embroidery by emma mattson

Moss might seem like one of the most basic plants, but Emma Mattson shows how beautiful it is with her intricate embroideries. Using a variety of stitches, the artist creates sculptural hoop art that piles high—just the same as its flowerless leaves.

This repetitive embroidery is a therapeutic way for Mattson to cope with anxiety. “When making moss embroideries, it’s about creating and building up a scene from nothing or creating a mini landscape,” she explained. “Felt is layered together for three-dimensionality in round shapes and I go from there in a more abstract sense.”

moss embroidery by emma mattson

moss embroidery by emma mattson

moss embroidery by emma mattson

moss embroidery by emma mattson

moss embroidery by emma mattson

moss embroidery by emma mattson

moss embroidery by emma mattson

moss embroidery by emma mattson

moss embroidery by emma mattson

All images © Emma Mattson.