An expert guide to popular surface-stitching techniques, suitable for stitchers of all abilities! Drawing on work previously published in the popular Beginner's Guide to Needlecrafts series, and originally published as The Stitching Book, this definitive guide to stitching provides a must-have reference for anyone interested in stitching and embroidery. Aimed at both beginners and those wishing to explore new areas or to develop their existing skills, this book provides a complete, step-by-step guide to traditional stitching techniques, including drawn thread embroidery, hardanger, goldwork, stumpwork, silk shading, crewel embroidery, Mountmellick and blackwork. Each section is authored by best-selling embroidery experts Patricia Bage, Jill Carter, Ruth Chamberlin, Kay Dennis, Clare Hanham, Jane Rainbow, Pat Trott and Lesley Wilkins, and leads the reader carefully through the history of the technique; the materials and equipment required; and the most popular stitches used. The sections include hands-on projects - 26 projects in all - and are beautifully illustrated with examples of the authors' works as well as step-by-step photographs and diagrams of the methods used. This timely book is the perfect choice for anyone whose interest in stitching has been re-awakened by the current trends in embroidery and sewing, and who wishes to make beautiful, hand-embroidered items for their home.

Blackwork is a traditional type of counted-stitch embroidery. Monochromatic, with superb shadow effects, it has been revisited here in a magnificently graphic, contemporary style highlighted with occasional splashes of colour. The 13 patterns designed by Bernadette Baldelli modernize the technique by adding a touch of red to the traditional black and white, and by including both geometric and more figurative styles. You'll discover a lush, graphic world with embroidery that is simple to do and gives stunning results. You can make a basket, a pouch, wall hangings, place mats, an embroidered shirt, throw blanket and more. Simple diagrams make them easy to do, and there is a wealth of tempting patterns to choose from. Bernadette's creations are known for their excellent finishing touches and these are no exception.

These are beautifully delicate Christmas cross stitch designs to delight the heart and soul! If you love cross stitch, you need this book. Extremely pretty these designs from accomplished embroiderer Helene Le Berre are light and airy, using backstitch to outline and emphasize with great skill. Split into chapters on Advent Foliage, Christmas Animals, Festive Foliage and Amazing Alphabets, there is a lovely range of designs to fit every Christmas situation. You can make beautiful cutlery pockets with fox, bunny or baby deer motifs, a reindeer photo album cover, a pine cone confectionery sachet, personalized gift labels and many more elegant embroidered Christmas items. The charts are beautifully presented, along with a comprehensive techniques section at the back of the book. Suitable for beginners to more advanced stitchers, these designs are achievable and utterly gorgeous.

This sumptuous and inspiring book, written by needlework expert Trish Burr and created in association with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a stunning, contemporary guide to embroidering flowers. All the reusable iron-on transfers needed are kept safely together with the book in an attractive hardback folder. Focusing mainly on long-and-short stitch and Trish's delicate, considered use of silk shading, the book contains all the clearly-illustrated stitches needed, and gives thorough advice on preparation and choosing fabrics and threads - including a handy thread conversion chart. The embroideries are reworkings of botanical artworks from Kew's Art Collection. There is one 'starter' project to encourage readers to try out the techniques, one large sampler containing 18 small elements that can be worked individually or as a group, and nine further projects - including a striking spider chrysanthemum, an elegant waterlily and an opulent magnolia. All the projects are shown step-by-step, with an order of work diagram given where appropriate. The enclosed reusable iron-on transfer papers offer embroiderers a fast and accurate method of transferring the designs - the transfers simply need ironing on to fabric so that the reader can start embroidering straight away. The templates are also included at full size at the back of the book. This stunning yet practical book is a must-have for anyone interested in capturing flowers in thread.

The flexibility of whitework with colour has opened the door to a whole new world of possibilities. There are no limits to the subjects one can stitch, and readers will find nestled among the pages a wide variety of projects which will entice them to stitch. There are seventeen projects in the book, ranging from complete beginner to more advanced. No special skills are required but a little practice will go a long way in helping stitchers to master the technique. Trish believes colour is the key to any successful piece of embroidery so has used quite unusual colour combinations and stitched some of the projects in more than one colourway to show how different the same design can look when stitched in other shades. 'It is impossible to praise this book too much, for any superlatives do not do it justice. It is supreme, beyond compare and in a league of its own. I have often admired Trish Burr's books, but this is a book that dreams are made of.' www.yarnsandfabrics.co.uk 'Get it! You'll love it!' www.needlenthread.com 'Whitework with Colour is a stunning book both in appearance and content. Whether you are new to whitework or a more experienced stitcher this book will inspire you from start to finish.' Embroiderers' Guild Chair

Slip into serenity through your stitches with this collection of 24 beautiful, meditative mandalas by Polka & Bloom's Carina Envoldsen-Harris. In our hurried modern world, we rarely take a moment to rest and spend time with our thoughts. In this book, rekindle lost tranquillity and quickly discover a new obsession with these exquisite mandalas. By following the delicate and repetitive patterns in the motifs, you can finally soothe your mind, slow down and treat yourself to much-needed me-time and peacefulness. The book offers 12 large and 12 smaller mandalas to embroider, which Carina explains how to make through simple, beautiful stitch diagrams and keys. Only 10 stitches have been used to create all the mandalas, and each one is explained and accompanied by clear, step-by-step diagrams at the beginning of the book. In addition, there are notes on what you need in your basic embroidery kit - from fabrics through to needles and thread - which means those new to embroidery can start their journey to mindfulness right away. With Carina's gentle guidance beginners can also learn how to display their creations in embroidery hoops, including the much-loved Dandelyne hoops which the 12 mini mandalas can fit inside perfectly. Any long-forgotten, tired pieces in your wardrobe and home? There is also advice and photos inside on how to use your stunning mandalas to embellish myriad accessories and items, from shoes to tote bags. If readers are less confident about jumping straight into embroidery - or are pressed for time - 24 corresponding black and white motifs can be found on transfer sheets at the back of the book, which you can iron onto your chosen fabric multiple times. There is also a final, mystical mandala template included for you to transfer, allowing you to test your new embroidery skills and develop your new-found creativity. So sit back, pick up your needles and lose yourself in the captivating, calming world of embroidery.

Make incredible personalised gifts for friends and family with this collection of over 100 letter and number charts. All the charts can be used for aida and canvas using embroidery thread and yarn for very different results. Felicity has selected three different fonts for the letters and numbers including the very popular circus font; a woodblock font and a screen print font, which pick up on current trends. As well as the alphabet numbers there are decorative end posts to break up number sequences and handy charts for ampersands, stars and hearts. She has also designed decorative borders for each of the alphabets to finish the designs beautifully. The letters and numbers can be combined to create names, words or initials as well as significant dates and times, to make special gifts for birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. Includes full colour cross stitch charts, colour charts and stitch guide information. Also includes beautiful styled photography and instructions for potential projects to inspire you to create your own very special cross stitched keepsakes.

This practical step-by-step guide to haute couture embroidery covers everything from machine and hand stitching, to tambour beading, goldwork and monogramming.

Whether you are interested in adding monogrammed initials to your favourite bathrobe, stitching a flower on your favourite jacket, adding sparkling beads to a new dress or creating a goldwork embellishment, Fashion Embroidery teaches you how to add a unique touch to your clothes.

In this beautifully illustrated book, Jessica Pile, the Production Director at Hand & Lock embroidery, explores the intricate techniques used in fashion embroidery. With hand-drawn designs, catwalk photographs and step-by-step guides, this book is perfect for beginners looking to personalise their own clothes, as well as more experienced embroiderers who want to apply new techniques to different fabrics.

Beginning with an inspirational overview of the fashion industry, Jessica looks at examples of embroideries and embellishments by a variety of couturiers, including Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Hardy Amies and Burberry. The book then demonstrates the basics of three main techniques – goldwork, tambour beading and embroidery stitches including silk shading, satin and stem stitch. In do-it-yourself projects, Jessica first helpfully explains the basics of materials; she teaches you how to pick the right fabric, what tools to use, where to source materials, what types of wire or beads to use and terminology. Taking influences from existing couture designs, she then shows you how to execute these learned techniques onto your own clothes.

This book is perfect for fashion students, textile artists, and those who want a more unique look to their clothes.

Picture-perfect embroidery projects! Looking to add some inspiration to your embroidery? Look to Pen to Thread! Illustrator and fabric designer Sarah Watson has hand drawn more than 750 whimsical, imaginative motifs in one place--sheer delight for anyone who wields a needle! From every day objects like birdcages and backpacks to sophisticated poodles, playful mermaids, and punchy pinatas, each pattern is more charming than the next. Sarah has also included embroidery and stitching basics in case you're new to this fun and addictive hobby. She offers tips on choosing color as well as a CD containing individual PDFs of all motifs and alphabets for easy resizing. Any motif can be made distinctly yours with Sarah's easy-to-follow instructions. Your finished projects will make perfect gifts--but you won't want to give them away. With pattern chapters like School Days, In the Kitchen, The Great Outdoors, and By the Sea, there's no limit to where Pen to Thread can take you!

Discover the art of kogin, a style of traditional Japanese sashiko embroidery with modern appeal. Historically, kogin was used as a pattern darning technique to reinforce threadbare fabric and add warmth to the clothing worn by farmers in the villages of northern Japan. With dozens of beautiful and simple geometric patterns, kogin embroidery offers fresh inspiration and authentic technique to proponents of the decorative mending movement. Colourful photos offer step-by-step instruction for learning this simple counted thread embroidery technique. Beginners will discover how to prepare the thread and fabric, how to read kogin charts, and how to make the basic straight stitches that comprise kogin motifs. Once you've mastered the basics, try your hand at one of the 25 adorable and easy projects included in the book. Featuring bright and modern colour schemes, these accessories are designed for contemporary life. You'll find an assortment of pretty brooches, barrettes and hair ties, pouches and coin purses, framed samplers, pincushions, and ornaments, plus potholders, coasters, and place mats for the home. Once you start stitching, we guarantee you won't be able to stop!

This classic book, now completely revised and expanded, has long been a favorite of both teachers and students of tapestry weaving. Learn to weave tapestry on any kind of loom, vertical or horizontal. Take an intriguing journey to make an elaborate, but logical, tapestry sampler. The process is explained step-by-step and illustrated with over 300 beautiful color photographs and diagrams of tapestry techniques. Along the way, color theories applicable to tapestry are explained. You will be inspired by the ancient art form explored on these colorful pages. Treasures from museums and prominent contemporary artists relate the historic significance of tapestries and their limitless range of visual power. Learn how archival finishing and mounting your handwoven textile completes the project. A chapter on designing for tapestry provides tools for translating future concepts into compositions. Be a part of this ancient, yet completely modern, weaving tradition.

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.

Stitch your very own garden.

Explore your stitching versatility with this comprehensive guide by learning to use any thread and embroidery stitch you desire! Jennifer Clouston shares how to make the most of the thread you already own by introducing hundreds of stitch and fiber combination options to create your own unique flower garden.

From textured stems and leaves to colorful bunches of flowers- your end result will look and feel like a true artistic and organic garden.

• Includes step-by-step illustrated instructions for over 80 embroidery stitches and 400 stitch combinations
• Embroider beautiful flowers, stems, leaves, twigs, and more
• Learn to use different fibers to create a striking, textured organic garden

Over 20 different contemporary embroideries to transfer and stitch, plus 11 extra transfer designs to get your creative juices flowing! In Carina's latest book, discover how to 'doodle' embroider and create over 20 different designs full of colour and personality Kickstart your journey to original, personal doodle work with a variety of designs, ranging from formal patterns - such as geometrics, mandalas, labyrinths and knots gardens - to more experimental, free-form shapes that will encourage you to explore your skills and creativity. Then, be taken step by step through Carina's 'Garden' sampler, so you can see how to forge a unique embroidery yourself with no design to follow. The 22 designs can fit either in a 3- or 6-inch hoop, which are easy to source instore or online. Each of Carina's designs will include photographs of the finished embroidery, a thread key, a stitch diagram and suggestions of how to work the design. In addition, Carina will give advice on how to rework her embroidery, to encourage your own creativity. At the back of the book, a corresponding transfer can be found so that you can easily draw the design outline onto your own fabric. Essential materials and easy-to-follow techniques chapters can be found at the beginning of the book, along with step-by-step stitch diagrams for the 15 embroidery stitches used to make all the designs in the book - providing you with a fuss-free, colourful crash-course. Finally, there are 11 extra transfers at the back of the book, offering variations and ideas for you to dive into and work up your own unique stitcheries!

Embroidery is embellishing a white linen handkerchief with a flower. It's needle-pointing a case for your favourite sunglasses. It's cross-stitching an ironic sampler, appliqueing a patch on a favourite pair of jeans, adding decorative beadwork to a dress, or monogramming canvas trainers. Embroidery is also inexpensive, portable, easy to learn, infinitely adaptable, steeped in history - and the personal passion of Ms Rupp. Combining attitude and instruction, projects and inspiration - plus iron-on transfer pattern sheets and a perforated practice stitch card - "Embroider Everything Workshop" is a complete how-to. In clear, illustrated, step-by-step instructions, it covers all the major embroidery stitching techniques: freehand embroidery, applique, smocking, needlepoint, openwork, beadwork, and counted thread.

Popular author Corinne Lapierre creates a charming range of 20 exquisite folk embroidered felt birds, including a swan, a hen, a goose, a partridge, an owl, a dove, a peacock and a flamingo. Beautifully made in lovely, soft colours, the birds are filled with toy stuffing and embellished with folk-style surface embroidery in different-coloured threads. The stitches include chain, feather, fly running, blanket, French knots and satin stitch. There are also bead and sequin embellishments on some birds. The book includes pretty hand-drawn step-by-step illustrations and there are same-size templates at the back of the book for all the designs. The birds all have optional ribbon hangers for display.

Whitework embroidery traditionally features beautifully intricate designs using white thread on white background fabric, examples of which can be found in many cultures across the world. Without the addition of colour, the fabric surface is ornamented with high-relief stitching, cutting, pulling or withdrawing threads with some styles utilizing all these techniques. Whitework Inspirations highlights the very best whitework has to offer in both design and technique. Featuring talented embroidery designers Kim Beamish, Deborah Love, Judy Stephenson, Christine P Bishop, Susan O'Connor, Patricia Girolami and Luzine Happel, this special collection - including a tablecloth, table mats and sachets - has been curated into one publication. With 8 stunning whitework projects to make, there are clear step-by-step instructions, pullout patterns, a stitch guide and all the information you need to create them. Discover the origins, stitches, techniques and designs that are uniquely whitework, and learn how to make your own beautiful works of art.

Bargello stitching is a form of needlepoint and making a comeback. There is a project for everyone, whether you are new to bargello, or are an original bargello fan. Tina Francis shows you how to combine bold, bright colours in attractive, almost psychedelic patterns to create the illusion of 3-D. Use her easy-to-follow charts and approachable instructions to create 15 projects including cushions, wall art, pincushions, bangles and a brooch. Bargello is easy to master, quick to achieve and very addictive. The stitches take on a rhythm of their own which makes it extremely relaxing and before long you'll be measuring your days in centimetres not hours. With only a handful of materials required - canvas, tapestry wool, tapestry needle and instructions - bargello is certain to become your craft of choice.

Popular author and crazy-quilting and embroidery expert Christen Brown has put together this collection of 4 easy-to-use stitch templates. Just position the stencil where desired and mark your designs with a quilter's pencil to get your embroidery off to an accurate start! The expert instructions and tips in the complete how-to booklet give you confidence in where and how to make your stitches, while the decorative and inventive designs add an unexpected creative element. Laser-cut durable, translucent, medium-weight plastic, the stencils are easy to handle and create perfect markings every time.

Part of bargello's appeal lies in the simplicity of using a single stitch in a repeating pattern that is only ever worked vertically or horizontally. The technique lends itself to dramatic, wavelike designs in exciting, gradated colourways (think Missoni) that can be used for pillows, bags, belts and purses. This new pattern collection brings bargello stitch designs bang up to date offering fresh contemporary colour stories: brights and clashes, muted fades, contrasts, complementary colours, zesty neons and metallic rainbows. Includes 40 design samples graded from easy to advanced, easy-to-read charts, patterns for edges and borders for smart finishes, ideas for bringing texture using fancy flosses, and a freestyling collection that mixes several techniques on one canvas.

Globally recognised needlework expert Judith Baker Montano shares 180 stitches and 70 combinations in this improved and updated second edition. Featuring even more traditional embroidery stitches, silk ribbon stitches, and crazy quilting combinations, this beautiful handbook has an updated section of free-form inspiration for improvisational work. With full-colour illustrations and advice for lefties, the essential reference goes far beyond the basics!