Stumpwork embroidery, also called raised embroidery, takes hand embroidery to another dimension and lifts it off the surface of the fabric with strikingly realistic results. This technique uses all the usual embroidery stitches you would expect and includes padding, wiring and slips to achieve its raised effect. Stumpwork Inspirations highlights the very best stumpwork has to offer in both design and technique. Featuring talented embroidery designers Susan O'Connor, Wendy Innes, Susan Casson, Anna Scott, Lesley Turpin-Delport and Jane Nicholas, this special collection, including lovely framed pictures and a pot lid, have been curated into one publication. With 8 stunning stumpwork projects to make, there are clear step-by-step instructions, pullout patterns, a stitch guide and all the information you need to stitch them. Discover the origins, stitches, techniques and designs that are uniquely stumpwork, and learn how to make your own beautiful works of art.

**SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER** **RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK** **WATERSTONES SCOTTISH BOOK OF THE MONTH** 'An astonishing feat' Christina Patterson, Sunday Times 'An inspiring and moving sideways look at history' Eithne Farry, Sunday Express An eloquent blend of history and memoir, Threads of Life is an evocative and moving book about the need we all have to tell our story. From political propaganda in medieval France to secret treason in Tudor England, from the mothers of the desaparecidos in Argentina to First World War soldiers with PTSD, from a POW camp in Singapore to a family attic in Scotland, Threads of Life is a global chronicle of identity, protest, memory and politics. Banner-maker, community textile artist and textile curator Clare Hunter chronicles the stories of the men and women, over centuries and across continents, who have used the language of sewing to make their voices heard, even in the most desperate of circumstances. 'A beautifully considered book... Clare Hunter has managed to mix the personal with the political with moving results.' TRACY CHEVALIER

With the 100+ motif and border patterns in this book, it's easy to combine them to make your own personal cross-stitch designs. The 21 unique cross-stitch alphabets, made to coordinate with the motifs in a variety of styles-floral, lacy, Christmas and more-allow you to add words to complement your ideas. From flowers to cottages and houses, birds and animals to holiday and sampler-style motifs, there is so much to choose from! Borders add a professional touch to your designs, and a variety of letter styles help you personalize with names or meaningful words. Each motif is presented in chart form with a color key for ease of reference and a finished, worked example to show how the patterns should look when complete. If you are new to cross stitch or new to designing, an introduction to the craft covers all of the tools and equipment needed and demonstrates basic cross-stitch techniques from start to finish, plus gives instructions on how to graph and use your designs. Based on a simple grid and one basic stitch, cross stitch is easy to learn and master, so get started mixing and matching these beautiful designs into your one-of-a-kind creations!

Create stunning 'embroidered' designs with yarns, threads, fabric and more without needing to learn dozens of stitches! Punch needle embroidery is similar to rug hooking, and involves punching threads into fabric using a tool to form raised, decorative loops. It is a technique that is easy to grasp in very little time. A traditional technique that came out of the US in the 19th century, punch needle has been revitalized and is appealing to many textile enthusiasts as it's not only simple to pick up but incredibly fun! With internationally renowned, expert embroiderer Marie Suarez, learn and discover the delights of punch needle embroidery in this gorgeous practical book. Starting with the key materials and equipment you'll need, as well as the basic punch-needle stitches and techniques, go straight into making 20 creative and original projects - including flower-adorned pillows, pretty wall hangings and stylish bags! All the projects are accompanied by beautiful photographs, diagrams to help you work out what to stitch first, and templates for you to trace off for quick-and-easy needle punching.

In this title, the beauty of embroidery is celebrated in inspirational designs and practical projects. It features over 20 beautiful and original ideas illustrated with over 250 step-by-step photographs. There are comprehensive details with expert technical instruction at every stage. It features a gallery of pieces by contemporary artists. It outlines all the materials, equipment and basic techniques you will need to get started. It provides templates; just enlarge to the finished size. It offers clear instructions for superb projects, such as Seashore Slippers, Horse Brooch, Kimono and a Starry Camisole. The versatility of machine embroidery has enabled designers to update and develop a traditional craft with innovative and truly original results, yet even experienced needle workers can be daunted by using the sewing machine in an unconventional way. This volume explores the technique, with stunning examples to create in both traditional and modern styles. It provides comprehensive instruction for newcomers to the craft, and will inspire the more experienced to experiment with the medium. The book contains 25 pieces that represent a complete course in machine embroidery. Free stitch, applique, cut work, shadow work and open work are all clearly explained, enabling readers to create beautiful and desirable item such as decorative adornments, clothing, bed linen and accessories, while at the same time learning new techniques. An inspirational gallery shows the enormously varied styles that can be achieved with this exciting medium.

A pocket-sized book filled with 50 whimsical houseplant illustrations from well-known designer Mara Penny are now available as iron-on transfers. Choose from an assortment of hanging plants, potted flowers, succulents, and cacti - just iron-on!

Fifteen all-new embroidery projects await your needle and thread, each inspired by the warm colors and welcoming textures of autumn. Stitch jaunty squirrels, whimsical birds, and a bevy of fall fruit and leaves to bedeck elegant little projects, including a pillow, tote bag, table runner, needle book, pincushion, and more. Clear instructions, helpful tips, and beautiful original artwork make Stitches from the Harvest a source of inspiration you'll turn to again and again.

Frame it, wear it, look awesome. Stitch a multitude of embroidery designs - all within a cute and tiny mini hoop! Following the simple instructions inside, learn how to create over 60 tiny masterpieces in a wide range of styles by original mini embroidery hoop creator Sonia Lyne, founder of Dandelyne (TM). Using these little hoops as your canvas learn to stitch it all, from classic embroidered flowers and applique animals through to abstract stitch 'n' paint shapes and tasselled creatures. Then, proudly frame and decorate your stitched art and turn them into eye-catching jewellery pieces, or display them in your home for ultimate hoopy gorgeousness. Beginner embroiderers and experienced stitchers short on time will love the small size of these hoops, and almost all the designs can be made in a weekend. Throughout the book, Sonia gives you tips on colour and stitch variations, as well as alternative hoop shapes you could use from her mini hoop packs, inspiring you to make these little designs truly your own! Whatever your style, there's a treasure trove of stunning designs and motifs to stitch and adapt, encouraging you to grow confident in building (and feeling proud of) your own artistic juices. So get ready to be motivated, excited and inspired to stitch up a sea of mini masterpieces that you'll love to show off and gift to a loved one (or make for yours truly...).

In sew + quilt, Susan Beal provides clear, step-by-step instructions for 4 fundamental hand-stitching techniques and 4 foundational quilt blocks as the foundation for learning how to use hand-stitching as an embellishment to add texture and color to quilt projects. Each fundamental technique includes a small project as a learning tool, followed by 12 more-generous yet accessible patchwork projects that build on the basics. A mix of traditional and modern patterns for both smaller, faster quilts and larger quilts. Step-by-step instruction, with lots of illustrations and photos, plus tips and advice on everything a quilter needs to experience the joy of making something beautiful and personal.

Combine zodiac signs with beautiful patterns to create embroidery artwork that people will cherish! Create a beautiful piece of art to hang on a wall, or a personalized gift for a friend. The traditional art of embroidery is easy to learn with this fun kit. It includes everything you need for two projects: 10 skeins of embroidery floss, 2 needles, 2 pieces of fabric, a 6-inch embroidery hoop, 24 seed beads, and water-soluble transfers to put the patterns on practically anything you want to embellish! Mix and match zodiac signs and names with the design patterns to create something unique and special! The instruction book contains step-by-step directions and beautiful photos so you can create your own work of art that can be enjoyed for generations to come.

Fast-forward to the fun part of machine embroidery with this gallery of ornaments, wreaths, Santas, trees, and other holiday motifs. Eliminate the time-consuming efforts of finding and copying patterns from elsewhere with the 100 motifs in this CD-ROM and book set, which are optimized for embroidery digitizing software. Use your creativity to personalize each design by selecting size, colors, stitch types, and other elements. The book offers a visual index of the designs, showing each one in black-and-white and in different color combinations. Each design is offered on the CD-ROM in both JPG and EPS formats.
Compatible with all major brands of embroidery software, these meticulously processed digital files assure accurate, self-contained stitch patterns. The suggested motif colorways are specified for threads made by Isacord; color conversion tables for other manufacturers are on the inside covers. The files can also be used in print and web projects.

Whether you are a beginner or more experienced, any stitching project, no matter how simple, can be enhanced by a well-chosen colour palette, however, many people are nervous or even scared of colour. Textile designer Karen Barbe regularly teaches embroidery workshops and knows first-hand the fears and frustrations of beginners - as well as accomplished crafters - when starting a new project. Karen makes choosing and creating colour palettes a fun and enjoyable part of the design process. Colour Confident Stitching is divided into three parts: Understanding Colour; Feeling Colour and Stitching with Colour. The first two sections guide the reader through colour theory as well as choosing and using colour more instinctively. Stitching with Colour includes five stiching projects that will encourage the reader to explore colour and build confidence through exercise and experiment. All colours are referenced to DMC floss colours. Inspirational photographs are accompanied by stitching illustrations and step-by-step photographs for the colour choosing process as well as stitching projects.

Learn how to create beautiful flowers using silk ribbon embroidery techniques, including foxgloves, roses, hydrangeas, delphiniums, primroses, geraniums, irises, poppies and much more. Only a few stitches are needed to create exquisite designs. All the techniques are explained using step by step photography and instructions, and there are clear diagrams with every project. There are also full instructions on how to paint and stencil fabric backgrounds. Suitable for beginners and experienced embroiderers. This timeless best-seller has been redesigned to appeal to the modern embroiderer.

Stitch exquisite embroidery projects with original fauna and flora designs in a variety of threads to create a 3D effect. The book is filled with novel concepts in mixed-media embroidery and offers many interpretations and techniques, with striking examples of textured finishes. Lavishly illustrated with beautiful, commissioned photographs, it offers 12 colour themes to help embroiderers understand and play colour, along with inspiring projects to encourage them to produce their own creative work. Also included are an extensive stitch glossary and templates for the designs. Previously published as Embroidered Flora & Fauna.

Techniques and projects for using shibori dyeing in textile art. Shibori is one of the world's richest textile traditions. Commonly associated with Japan, it is in fact a technique long used in Africa, India and South America. In this practical guide, textile artist Janice Gunner shows how to combine traditional Japanese, African and Indian shibori methods with contemporary techniques to create stunning textiles that are bursting with rich, intricate patterns and bold colour. Various techniques are covered - from tied and stitched designs to ideas for wrapping, folding, clamping, pleating and binding. Simple and safe instructions for a range of dyeing techniques are also included. Practical information is accompanied by clear instructions and diagrams, aimed at quilters, embroiderers and textile artists of all abilities. Stunning quilts and embroideries throughout demonstrate the full potential of the technique, alongside practical advice on turning your shibori textiles into beautiful quilts, hangings and textile art.

In this fourth title in Hazel Blomkamp's series on crewel embroidery with a twist, the focus is on farm and game birds. The birds give a nod to current trends, most notably the Zentangle look with crewel-style filling-in stitches and techniques. Crewel Birds is a celebration of Hazel's signature techniques: a wide variety of surface/crewel stitches, some of which are brand new and many with a different take or different ways of combining stitches to make them more interesting. Also included are needle lace techniques used as embroidery stitches, loom weaving techniques modified for embroidery, and unique combinations of both of these. The incorporation of beads and crystals adds even more dazzle to the intricate designs. There are six projects, each explained with detailed step-by-step instructions and clear photographs, with design templates and a full stitch gallery providing everything readers need to recreate them with ease. The projects comprise a phoenix, rooster, common pheasant, mallard duck, flamingo and golden pheasant. In addition to these sumptuous embroideries, Hazel explains how to hand quilt the backgrounds and finish the edges with binding to put them together in a 'rag book', as an alternative to framing. For embroiderers looking for something different and new to stitch, and for those keen to challenge themselves with more complex embroidery techniques, this book is a must-have.

Alysn Midgelow-Marsden shows how to use both textile-based and mixed media techniques to create beautiful artworks using metal in the form of shim, foil and woven fabric alongside many other materials. She shares her expertise in an inspiring variety of techniques from free machine stitching to gilding, embossing, needle felting, beading, printing, applique, making stitched foil fabric and using dry decal transfer images. There are seven beautiful projects to inspire and instruct textile artists everywhere, including a lampshade, bauble pods, decorative panels and a tablet cover. Artists can take inspiration from the individual surfaces that make up the pieces, the completed projects, and from the developments from each project, which have full, instructive captions. This is an invaluable resource for textile artists looking for new and beautiful ideas. This book was previously published as part of the Textile Artist series.

This is not your grandma's embroidery book. Featuring a die-cut case with actual stitching on the front cover, Embroidered Life shows that illustrations created with needle and thread can be strikingly contemporary. From beautiful botanicals to bold affirmations, the work of self-taught fiber artist Sarah K. Benning gives any embroidery enthusiast, art lover, or plant fanatic a new appreciation for the craft of needlework. In this eye-catching art book, popular blogger Sara Barnes guides readers through Benning's innovative embroidery process and successful business model, offering behind-the-scenes insights to inspire makers and creative entrepreneurs.

This is a must-have instructional and inspirational book for anyone interested in free-motion embroidery. Drawing on new material, as well as that previously published as The Beginner's Guide to Machine Embroidered Flowers, The Beginner's Guide to Machine Embroidered Landscapes, Machine Embroidered Seascapes and Machine Embroidered Woodlands, this book provides a showcase of Alison Holt's exquisite machine embroideries. Learn how to create beautiful machine-embroidered pictures of all aspects of the landscape, from formal gardens and flowers to romantic seascapes, landscapes and woodlands using various combinations of just two simple machine stitches. Information on silk painting and colour mixing is also included. All the techniques are broken down into clear, step-by-step instructions, with numerous helpful photographs and a great range of inspirational pieces. Alison 'paints' her threads on to hand-coloured backgrounds, blending her stitches and achieving stunning results. This book covers everything, including the materials required; how to compose a picture from photographs that have inspired you; achieving perspective; light and shade; painting backgrounds; and all the basic stitch techniques you need to know. There are stunning step-by-step projects so that the reader can put into practise his or her newly-acquired skills.