Priscilla's contemporary mixed media artworks offer a refreshingly different approach to embroidery, taking stitch to an impressive new level within wire sculpture. Working both two- and three-dimensionally, Priscilla combines colour, stitch, shape and texture, layering to transform surfaces into beautiful, whimsical sculptures full of character, curiosity and charm. With her imaginative use of the needle and her love of retro vintage nostalgia, Priscilla has picked up on an enduring trend, exploring excitingly different ideas and pushing the boundaries with her original ways of working. The book explores a playful mixed media approach to creating 3D textile sculpture, using a variety of media to transform plain papers and fabrics through colour, texture and mark-making; including both free-machine embroidery and hand stitch. Paving the way for the reader to tackle the five projects that follow, which build in complexity.

Machine Embroidery is hugely exciting in terms of its potential as a creative medium and is part of a flourishing creative industry both in design and production. MMU hosts a specialist embroidery department, which has been instrumental in artistic and educational innovations in this area since the 1960s. The lecturers, graduates and students have remarkable expertise in machine embroidery, and MMU is home to a rich and unique archive of machines, samples and artwork, both historical and contemporary. This book will celebrate this archive, as well as providing the only definitive record (and exploring the potential) of the huge number of machines currently in use from the traditional Irish Embroidery machine to the new generation of computerised sewing machines. The book will demonstrate how key machines can be applied to the artistic, industrial and domestic practice, and shows machine embroiderers how to combine techniques and develop their ideas using machine embroidery. Each contributor gives their own individual perspective on machine stitch.

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.

Confirming the old adage that big things come in small packages, the compact volumes of this ongoing series offer crafters an easy outlet for their passions--be they for fiber arts, sugarcraft, polymer clay, glasswork, papercraft, or jewelry. Emphasizing the simple fun of crafts, each concise resource includes 20 fast-to-finish, easy-to-do projects that always focus on a single subject or theme. Highlighting the small charms of the holidays, the 20 step-by-step Christmas projects collected here will add to the warmth of the season. With each project requiring just small scraps of yarn, knitters will enjoy applying their skills to such novelty projects as miniature Christmas stockings, holly leaves, small reindeer, a snowman, an egg cozy, knitted gingerbread cookies, and a wee Christmas sweater. Each finished project is accompanied by a single detailed photograph, allowing for an easy visual reference.

Break the rules--knit outside the lines! AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary takes an unexpected look at stranded colorwork with 200 new motifs. These non-traditional colorwork charts are perfect for the creative knitter looking to break away from the ordinary. Derived from graphic design elements, these fresh motifs include everything from geometric mountains, waves, and spirals to modern bikes, skulls, and sheep. Dive into stranded colorwork with confidence with a section on reading charts, working floats, and choosing colors. Learn how stranded colorwork can be used in design with five accompanying projects including mitts, cowls, and sweaters. Plus, use your imagination to modify, deconstruct, and combine the unique motifs to create your own designs. Be inspired to break the rules and use charts in creative ways with AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary.

Pattern Magic is the cult pattern-cutting book from Japan. Taking inspiration from nature, from geometric shapes and from the street, this book harnesses the sheer joy of making and sculpting clothes. The book takes a creative approach to pattern cutting, with step-by-step projects for fashion designers and dressmakers to enjoy. All the basic information you need to start pattern cutting is included, from the basic block to measurements and scaling. Each project is beautifully illustrated with clear diagrams and photographs showing the stages of construction, the toiles and the finished garments. These easy-to-follow illustrations and detailed instructions make it easy to create stunning, sculptural clothes with a couture look.

More than 300 historic fabric samples from the mid-1920s and 1930s provide a visual textbook of design ideas prevalent during the Art Deco era. These were the everyday fabrics used for housedresses and curtains, adorned with the era's predominate geometric creations and spiced with the exotic inspirations that spurred one of the most popular artistic movements of all times. This book is an invaluable reference guide for costume historians and a treasure trove of inspiration for designers.

The impressive collection of writers here have contributed essays that celebrate knitting and knitters. They share their knitting triumphs and disasters as well as their life triumphs and disasters. . . . These essays will break your heart. They will have you laughing out loud. Ann Hood, from the introduction

Why does knitting occupy a place in the hearts of so many writers? What s so magical and transformative about yarn and needles? How does knitting help us get through life-changing events and inspire joy? In Knitting Yarns, twenty-seven writers tell stories about how knitting healed, challenged, or helped them to grow. Barbara Kingsolver describes sheering a sheep for yarn. Elizabeth Berg writes about her frustration at failing to knit. Ann Patchett traces her life through her knitting, writing about the scarf that knits together the women she s loved and lost. Knitting a Christmas gift for his blind aunt helped Andre Dubus III knit an understanding with his girlfriend. Kaylie Jones finds the woman who used knitting to help raise her in France and heals old wounds. Sue Grafton writes about her passion for knitting. Also included are five original knitting patterns created by Helen Bingham.

Poignant, funny, and moving, Knitting Yarns is sure to delight knitting enthusiasts and lovers of literature alike."

The latest book from Carolyn Cullinan McCormick, inventor of the Add-a-Quarter ruler, offers 12 timeless tree patterns that can be made successfully without making thousands of separate half-square triangle units. A gallery of beautiful finished quilts also shows examples of other ways to use the patterns. One look at the beautiful sampler quilt and it is clear that she is gifted at turning timeless patterns into remarkably easy and accurate paper-piecing patterns for today's quilter. She has even included a brilliant, eye-catching sashing to enhance the center.

This is a fantastic new free-hand cutting technique giving quilters the opportunity to let their creativity run wild. Save those scraps! Discover the joy of creating collage-style quilts without rules and measurements with this fantastic new free-hand cutting technique from award-winning quilter Susan Carlson. "Serendipity Quilts" features four beautiful, colour-rich projects that go from beginner to advanced, giving quilters everywhere the confidence to let their imaginations run wild and create the quilts they've always dreamed of.

Looking for a unique baby gift? Here are twenty gorgeous shoes, booties and pumps to crochet in a range of colours and styles, for both boys and girls. Choose from red strawberry-style shoes with flowery toes, smiley car shoes, Christmas booties and even shoes shaped like frogs! Each pair of shoes requires relatively small quantities of yarn and can be crocheted quickly, easily, and on the go using the clear instructions provided. Each project is accompanied by lists of the materials and equipment required and inspiring photographs. As all babies are different, sizes and age suggestions are given for each project, from birth to twelve months, but general advice is also given at the beginning of the book on how to increase or decrease the size of the projects.

Leonie Morgan is back with another wonderful book, showcasing her vibrant colour and stitch combinations. Featuring both block patterns and stitch patterns, there is plenty to please granny-square lovers and row-by-row enthusiasts. Each of the 40 designs comes with a clear written pattern, an easy-to-follow chart, a skill-level indicator and a large photograph. Instructions and yardage are also provided for making afghans in three sizes: baby blankets, lap throws and bedspreads.With advice on picking lovely colour combinations and a selection of edgings to finish their project, and a comprehensive collection of crochet stitches and techniques, readers will have all they need to create their own unique afghan.

Frolic through fields of flowers as you take your embroidery skills to the next level! Lovely Little Embroideries is an inspirational guide to creating 22 stunning, small, and easy embroidery hoops, accessories, ornaments, and more, all featuring every stitcher's favorite subject - flower bouquets! Opening with overviews on basic supplies, transfer methods, and how to finish the back of a hoop, also included is an illustrated stitch guide for both basic stitches to more advanced ones. With step-by-step instructions and photography for stitching floral embroidery hoops, pendant necklaces, holiday ornaments, lavender sachets, and more, this must-have craft book offers fresh and modern embroidery patterns to fine-tune your skills that every passionate stitcher will love! Embroidery artist Beth Stackhouse is the owner of Forest Chorus Studio where she offers embroidery pattern tutorials, fiber art, and embroidered jewelry. Her work has been featured on MarthaStewart.com, MAKERS Magazine, KOEL Magazine, Feeling Stitchy, and other well-known publications within the needlework and crafting industry.

Start with a basic T-shirt; finish with a fun and fashionable garment that a little girl will love This adorable collection of dresses and tops offers more than 25 amazingly easy projects to stitch and quilt, all using "sew-simple" techniques and affordable, machine-washable fabrics. The designs--all for girls ages 2 to 8--range from an empire-waist party dress with a tiered skirt to a drop-waist hoodie tunic with ruffle trim. There are also ideas for using remnants to embellish jeans and sew hats, purses, and other accessories.

These crocheted animals may be wild but they are very well-dressed. The ten adorable crocheted chums have enviable wardrobes to mix and match. The five pairs of animals - pandas, lions, zebras, elephants and monkeys - all have distinctive personalities and gorgeous outfits. All the clothes can fit all of the animals, so there is lots of fun to be had dressing them up. Each project is beautifully photographed and includes clear patterns and guidance. There is also a techniques section that gives clear instructions on all the skills you'll need to make the animals and their outfits.

Over 200 crochet stitches are explained in full, each accompanied by a photographed sample, row-by-row instructions, and easy-to-follow symbol charts. Additional chapters on basic techniques and materials, a stitch selector and a how-to-use section provide clear guidance for beginners and experts alike.

Redwork embroidery is a form of classic embroidery in which red thread is used to create patterns on a white or cream background. Here is a complete collection of creative redwork designs with whimsical flair. Blizzard Buddies has 10 unique redwork quilting projects with 17 embroidered interchangeable motifs to personalise your snow village. Includes detailed stitching art with finishing instructions for each project.

Masako Wakayama shares 12 feel-good projects in the American design aesthetic. Sample techniques feature sewing, wool applique, punch needle, quilting, and embroidery!

Fat quarters aren't just for quilters! Sewers LOVE these inexpensive little pieces of fabric, which are often sold bundled together in pretty packages to make them even more appealing. This unique collection of quick-and-easy sewing projects includes contemporary ideas for DIY home decor, accessories, gifts and more - all made using fat quarters. Projects range from instant fixes needing just one fat quarter, to those using a small handful to create quick patchwork presents, to those that need up to ten fat quarters to really bust that fabric stash! Fat quarters are extremely versatile, are great value and are widely available in fabric stores as well as craft fairs and markets, and they are so pretty that they are hard to resist. This collection of projects offers the perfect solution to sewers with a bundle of fat quarters at home just waiting to be stitched into something lovely.

A comprehensive guide to more than 30 circular weaving techniques perfect for crafting unique and modern home decor. Artist and educator Emily Nicolaides demonstrates the wonderful possibilities of contemporary circular weaving in this one-of-a-kind guide for beginners and beyond! Before jumping into the projects and patterns, Emily gives a thorough overview of the basics, including detailed instructions on how to select materials and what tools you will need. She even includes instructions on fashioning and using DIY cardboard looms and shuttles. The projects are broken down into two parts: functional circular home goods and decorative circular wall hangings. In the introductions for each project, any necessary specifications like the number of warps or style of loom are noted. Budding weavers have the option to either follow projects exactly as they are laid out or to put their own unique twist on the concepts presented to craft something truly unique. Projects are marked beginner, intermediate, or advanced, making it easy for the everyone to progress through the book as they become more familiar with circular weaving.

Knitting finally takes its rightful place on the spectrum of personal obsessions, alongside golfing, fishing, and gardening. The tangled life of the knitter is the subject of inspired nuttiness in these 300 tongue-in-cheek meditations from the self-proclaimed yarn harlot, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.
As any knitter can attest to, this is an activity fraught with guilt, frustration, over-optimism, sly deception, and compulsion, along with passionate moments of creative enlightenment. To soothe the unraveled knitter's soul, Pearl- McPhee has selected some of her favorite quotes to cast off from, and then, like the standup comic of the knitting world, she rants, raves, and reflects on common experiences that are sure to leave avid knitters in stitches.
At Knit's End captures the wicked b" and wickedly funny b" musings of someone who doesn't really believe it's possible to knit too much, and who willingly sacrifices sleep, family, work, and her sanity on a regular basis in order to keep doing it. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee has seen it all b" from the deadly bsecond sock syndrome, b to a house so full of yarn she can't find her washing machine, to desperate all-nighters spent feverishly finishing gifts.
This hilarious collection of short, pithy readings offers plenty of reassurance for anyone who has ever wondered, bAm I alone in my mania?b

For those who have struggled in the past to knit with needles, loom knitting is an easy craft to master which children and adults alike can learn in a few hours. Loom knitting is a revolutionary way of knitting that uses a circular or rectangular loom, or knitting board, consisting of a frame with pegs. Looms are easy and fun to use, even without conventional knitting experience. An individual can create almost anything, from knitted tubes for hats or socks to flat panels for scarves, shawls and sweaters. This new and updated book is designed as an essential reference and a hands-on project resource for the loom knitter. The first part of the book provides loom-knitting techniques for both round and rectangular looms, and knitting boards. An inspiring design section presents more than 35 patterns to get the new loom-knitter started. Also included are a handy stitch pattern section and a glossary of techniques.

Create stunning quilts in no time at all with this book packed with 14 beautiful quick-and-easy projects, most of which can be made in a day! Enjoy patterns for every skill level and taste. Craft charming chains and make a dazzling quilt using precuts. Ideal for stash-busting, this book is chock-full of projects to help clean out your scraps.

The unicorn tapestries are one of the most popular attractions at The Cloisters, the medieval branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Traditionally known as "The Hunt of the Unicorn," " "this set of seven exquisite and enigmatic tapestries was likely completed between 1495 and 1505. The imaginatively conceived scenes--displaying individualized faces of the hunters and naturalistically depicting the flora and fauna of the landscape--are beautifully captured in silk, wool, and metal yarns.

Written by one of the world's leading authorities on medieval textiles and illustrated with many lovely color reproductions, "The Unicorn Tapestries "traces the origins of the tapestries as well as possible interpretations of their symbolic meaning. This is an essential book for any lover of medieval art and textiles.