Communicate your ideas using line, shape, color, and texture with this reference and how-to exploration in one. Whether your particular interest is pictorial, portraiture, abstract compositions, or actual text, you can "say" almost anything with thread. More than 350 color photographs translate the techniques of drawing, painting, and good composition into the world of stitch, and "Try This!" projects inspire your own individual approaches. Including the role of machine stitching, this design resource, learning tool, and inspirational reference helps practitioners at all levels, whether beginning student, dedicated amateur, or professional. Take a lyrical-but logical-journey of skill building, and begin to stitch intentionally and express your creative vision.

Precise explanations and instructions, clearly illustrated, on how to work chain, back, cross, knotted, woven stitches and many more-178 in all, including Cable Outline, Whipped Satin, Lazy Daisy, and Eyelet Buttonhole. Each stitch illustrated front and back.

From projects like Wicker Man to Black Rabbit to Blood Moon Weeping Willow, Lindsay's signature style lends a touch of macabre to cross-stitch projects that you'll be eager to hang on a wall or give as a gift. The dark, witchy aesthetic is becoming more and more trendy in fashion and art, and cross-stitch is the perfect medium to try it out. Easier and more accessible than embroidery, cross-stitch is growing in popularity and is an easy craft to pick up and dive into. With moody subjects like nocturnal creatures, thistles, ghostberries and graveyards, these incredible designs will turn you into a cross-stitch master in no time! This captivating collection is full of easy-to-follow patterns and all of Lindsay's best tips and techniques for creating bewitching cross-stitch projects. So whether you're a lifelong Halloween enthusiast or a fan of gothic art, adding a little subversive charm to your cross-stitch repertoire couldn't be easier or more fun.

The Royal School of Needlework teaches hand embroidery to the highest standard, developing techniques in new and innovative ways. Written by RSN apprentice and tutor Rachel Doyle, this book contains an extensive guide to canvaswork techniques, and includes complete information on the major stitches while offering stunning new design ideas. Here you will find diagonal stitches, horizontal and vertical stitches, raised, textured and filling stitches. Decorative effects are explored too, making this a fantastic source book and an invaluable reference for canvaswork stitches.

Explore nature through a combination of textiles and embroidery in this new, modernised edition of Gilda Baron's inspirational, innovative, step-by-step work. Using painted and dyed backgrounds, and hand and machine embroidery, this guide presents a wonderful variety of three dimensional landscape and flower embroideries. A number of techniques are employed when applying colour to the fabric including batik, salt discharge and brushing dye into a wet surface. Beautiful pictures are then stitched and built up over the background in easy stages. The feeling of perspective is enhanced by the clever use of scale and colour, and all the techniques are explained clearly and demonstrated in a series of stunning projects. This original book is packed with practical advice and information. Anyone interested in pattern, texture and colour will discover a wealth of inspiration when they work through the projects. These highly individual designs will encourage beginners and more experienced embroiderers to create their own embroidered flower designs.

Embroidery motifs for every hair type and person! Representation matters, and it's finally time for an embroidery book that looks like you! Celebrate diversity with more than 50 embroidery motifs of people in a wide array of skin colors, body shapes, and natural hairstyles. No need for painstaking design alterations--you can simply jump right in and start stitching. Create 10 useful and stylish projects, from accessories to home decor. These inclusive embroidery projects represent every kind of beauty. Expand your embroidery and sewing skills while increasing your appreciation of others! - Celebrate beautiful YOU! Sew 10 fun projects, from wearable art to wall displays - Embroider 50+ motifs in a full range of shapes, skin tones, and hair textures - No alterations needed! See yourself and your loved ones in these designs

This comprehensive guide to embroidery stitches contains all the embroiderer needs to know to work dozens of stitches, and includes full advice on everything from choosing materials, beginning and ending a thread and using hoops to working as a left-handed embroiderer and learning how to paint threads. Step-by-step photography and clear instructions make the techniques achievable for beginners as well as providing an invaluable reference guide for experienced embroiderers.

Crazy quilting with 350 more seams! This new collection adds stitch combinations with more height and width to work in tricky spots! Get perfectly spaced crazy quilt stitches and embroidered perfection every time with templates.

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!

A dazzlingly inventive tale of troubled legacies, desire and unsung power, inspired by The Scarlet Letter. Glasgow, 1829: Isobel, a young seamstress, and her husband Edward set sail for New England, in flight from his mounting debts and addictions. But, arriving in Salem, Massachusetts, Edward soon takes off again, and Isobel finds herself penniless and alone. Then she meets Nathaniel, a fledgling writer, and the two are instantly drawn to each other: he is haunted by his ancestors, who sent innocent women to the gallows during the Salem witch trials - while she is an unusually gifted needleworker, troubled by her own strange talents. Nathaniel and Isobel grow ever closer. Together, they are dark storyteller and muse; enchanter and enchanted. But which is which?

Discover the creative satisfaction and stress-relieving benefits of embroidery while stitching fun, modern, vibrant designs such as flowers, plants, animals, landscapes, and celestial scenes. Beginning a new creative pursuit can be intimidating, but Satisfying Stitches takes all the guesswork and fear out of getting started with techniques designed to boost confidence and provide relaxation. This easy-to-follow, photo-illustrated guide includes a review of the basic and inexpensive supplies needed to get started, foundational techniques, and step-by-step instructions for creating a variety of stitches. As your skills and confidence grow, you will find that stitches that may look advanced are quite simple, and you'll be able to easily add dimension and texture to your designs. The exclusive embroidery designs include a wide variety of motifs and patterns, such as houseplants, florals, mushrooms, butterflies, fish, landscapes, and sunsets, in a variety of color palettes. The projects are divided into three levels to match your confidence, skill level, and time. While most beginner books don't go beyond a couple of easy stitches, Satisfying Stitches takes the opposite approach, incorporating stitches that pack a big "wow" factor but are quite easy, such as fern stitch, wheatear stitch, thistle flowers, and woven wheel roses. Author Hope Brasfield offers tons of encouragement to beginners and beyond. You'll learn to embrace imperfection, slow down, and enjoy the process. You will also discover, as Hope did, that embroidery offers much more than a creative outlet. Focusing on something that requires imagination, handwork, and concentration can help reduce stress and promote relaxation. Satisfying Stitches features: A wide range of attractive embroidery stitches that can be used to create any embroidery designs 18 original embroidery designs for popular motifs Detailed step-by-step instructions with clear photographs Troubleshooting tips and tricks throughout the book So much more than pretty patterns, Satisfying Stitches offers an exciting opportunity to gain new skills, become a more confident creative, ditch the smart phone, and de-stress.

A new, larger format edition of the classic reference work on goldwork embroidery by the Royal School of Needlework (RSN). The Essential Stitch Guides provide a set of definitive works on traditional embroidery techniques. Written by Helen McCook, Graduate Apprentice, Tutor and renowned embroiderer, this book begins with an historical account of goldwork, then moves on to the materials and equipment required; framing up, how to transfer a design on to fabric and how to start and finish a thread. The main section of the book then covers all of the essential stitches and techniques through clear, step-by-step diagrams and photographs, coupled with beautiful, close-up photographs showing how then can be used in a finished piece. All the key traditional techniques are included: couching, bricking, basketweave, cutwork, spangles, s-ing, pearl purl, plate and kid. The book ends with beautiful and exquisitely-worked examples of how the techniques can be combined in finished pieces. The RSN teaches hand embroidery to the highest standard and is well respected all over the world. It not only upholds the traditions of English embroidery that go back many hundreds of years, but is constantly taking embroidery forward in new and innovative ways.

Embroidery: A Maker's Guide contains 15 beautiful step-by-step projects for crafters at all levels. Each one takes its cue from a different historical tradition - from English goldwork to Indian beetle-wing embellishment, from Japanese kogin to Irish whitework. Projects include a bargello purse; blackwork moth and dragonfly motifs on napkins; a William Morris artichoke motif on a small cushion; Chinese-inspired motifs for adorning a denim jacket; Mountmellick whitework on a decorative necklace-collar; Indian shisha mirrorwork on a clutch bag; and machine-embroidered lilies on lingerie. Designed by teachers and practitioners at the leading edge of today's craft revival, the projects are both functional and fashionable, and include tips on how to take next steps towards developing your own designs. This modern maker's guide will inspire all readers with the confidence to express their creativity through the age-old craft of decorative stitching.

Jane Nicholas is one of the world's leading embroiderers, specializing in stumpwork. Her exquisite embroideries in goldwork and stumpwork are inspired by Japanese family crests, a subject that has fascinated her for many years. In this book, Jane has selected 12 designs and interpreted them in a variety of ways using combinations of goldwork, and raised and surface stitching. The projects feature a charming array of motifs including butterflies and other insects, Japanese plants and flowers. Measuring just 10cm (4in) square, each is worked on an assortment of silk Japanese kimono fabrics, and is accompanied by detailed instructions, a stitch diagram and the outline for the design. At the start of the book there is a fascinating history of Japanese family crests, followed by a stitch directory and a techniques section covering how to prepare your background fabric, how to transfer the design and how to work with wire. Illustrated throughout with sumptuous photography and informative diagrams, this is a treasure trove of ideas and inspiration for embroiderers and lovers of Japanese culture alike.

A new, larger format edition of the classic reference work on silk shading by the Royal School of Needlework (RSN). The Essential Stitch Guides provide a set of definitive works on traditional embroidery techniques. Graduate Apprentice Sarah Homfray throws light onto the beautiful craft of silk shading, also known as painting with a needle, long and short stitch embroidery or thread painting. This book reveals the history of the craft then moves on to the materials and equipment required. Next, Sarah covers design and using colour, simplifying and demystifying this often neglected area of embroidery. The main part of the book then covers all of the essential stitches and techniques through clear, step-by-step diagrams, coupled with beautiful, close-up photographs showing how they can be used in a finished piece. Key traditional techniques are included: the fundamental stab, split and long and short stitches; along with couching, padding, adding beads and sequins, and knots. The book ends with beautiful and exquisitely-worked examples and covers working with different fabrics, threads and incorporating painted backgrounds. The RSN teaches hand embroidery to the highest standard and is respected all over the world. It not only upholds the traditions of English embroidery that go back many hundreds of years, but is constantly taking embroidery forward in new and innovative ways. This series of Essential Stitch Guides has been produced in close collaboration with the RSN with the aim of providing a set of definitive works on traditional embroidery techniques.

Ribbon embroidery is a simple, beautiful and versatile technique that dates back to the seventeenth century. This book brings it up to date with fresh instruction on floral classics, as well as stunning contemporary designs. With over 400 colour step-by-step photographs to guide the reader through each stitch, Ribbonwork Embroidery demonstrates the speed and simplicity of ribbonwork, and explains how it can be combined with other techniques to add detail and depth to a piece of embroidery.

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.

Sustainability meets DIY in this instructive guide to garment embroidery from designer and fiber artist Alexandra StratkotterCombining comprehensive instruction with photography and illustrations, The Embroidered Closet guides novice and experienced stitchers through the process of adorning and upcycling garments. Now more than ever, we are all pitching in to help the planet: This book offers a fun and satisfying avenue to do just that by refreshing the wardrobe you have and making your clothes seem new again. The Embroidered Closet presents the inexpensive craft of embroidery and uses it to show readers just how fun embellishing your own clothing can be. Expect to learn not just about tools, techniques, stitches, and project designs, but also how to pick fabrics that work best for you and your wardrobe, how to source and thrift your clothing, and how to mend and prevent wear and tear. Stratkotter will inspire you to expand your options and test out your own embroidered creations. Whether you're interested in personalizing your clothing, upgrading wardrobe staples, or seeking to enhance your skill set, Stratkotter's stylish and classic designs offer something for everyone.

This book contains lots of little cross stitch motifs which are quick and easy to stitch. It was inspired by the trend for making very small cross stitch items which can be used to adorn jewellery, such as pendants, bracelets and earrings. You could also make them into little pictures by mounting them into a small hoop or a tiny picture frame. There are designs which can be used to decorate mobile phone cases too. The designs cover a variety of themes, including flowers and cacti, gardens, birds and butterflies, seaside motifs, tropical motifs, and animals. The designs are colourful and pretty and will take crafters no time at all to stitch!

These embroidery-ready transfers make it super-simple to stitch beautiful, meditative mandalas for any craft. Just iron the transfers on and go! Use the transfers to create embroidery-hoop pieces, or embellish favourite bags, shirts or pillows. Once the pattern is transferred, just take your needle and floss and stitch along the lines to colour the designs any way you'd like. The process is easy and relaxing, and the results are gorgeous. The book includes 25 iron-on mandalas and 16 pages of basic embroidery instruction for crafters of all levels.

This book is about the processes and techniques of designing, stitching and completing realistic interpretations of Landscapes. The processes described in this book will enable any embroiderer from any country in the world to adapt and produce hand-embroidered landscapes portraying their own regions. The techniques are the combination and adaption of different art genre, textiles, traditional stitch's and hand embroidery techniques. It is the result of over 25 years of experiment, refinement and tutoring by author, Judy Wilford. The book is divided into 2 parts. Part 1 covers the materials and equipment needed to design and embroider a landscape: a simple landscape is adapted, designed, drawn up and used throughout demonstrating the layering techniques used for the background. Surface stitchery completes the foreground and covers the stitches used and adapted for the work required to produce surface elements such as grass, tress and flora that combine to make up the landscape. Part 1 contains the Project "Of the Tablelands", this project can result in 2 completed works, - one depicting grasses as the main foreground feature and the other depicting the verge side flora of the region. Part 2 contains projects based on different land forms -The coastlines, The Escarpments, The Plains and The Deserts, each further develop and extend techniques. They describe the landscape types and elements and the use of fabric and stitch to achieve specific effects. These effects could be sand patterns on beaches, the water ways of lakes and dams, vertical tree trunks and their textures, the wide expanse of deserts flowering or the crops and grasses of the plains and the closed secret canopies of the forests. As in Part 1, each of the land forms will have stitch samplers of specific elements and the flora of the region giving a total of 8 projects.