Hand Embroidery: Timeless Techniques for Beginners and Beyond

Description

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.

Patricia Bage's love of art and needlecraft began at the age of five, when her grandmother taught her how to knit. Her passion for knitting continued into her adult life, when she also became interested in canvas tapestries. She discovered cross stitch in the early 1990s, and in March 2000 she began her own design company, Patricia-Ann Designs. Since then, Patricia has exhibited at trade shows in the UK and the USA, and her designs are now available throughout the world. In 2002, Patricia did what she wished she had done at the age of sixteen - she enrolled at Maidstone College of Art and Design and was awarded a BTEC in Professional Development. Jill Carter is a professional tutor, lecturer and author. She has run her own successful embroidery school, Masterclass, for sixteen years, offering over fifty courses annually in all areas of embroidery. Jill learned Hardanger embroidery while living in Norway in 1967 and continues to return to Oslo for research. Since then she has used her own expertise and creative talents to take this traditional technique in new and exciting directions. Jill is a regular contributor to major exhibitions and needlecraft magazines. She has written two other books and contributed to a third. Ruth Chamberlin studied drawing and dress at Croydon Art School before moving on to the School of Embroidery, London, where she studied ecclesiastical embroidery. After leaving the school Ruth worked at the Warham Guild in London where she embroidered a cope and mitre for the Archbishop of Canterbury. Ruth now works on her own commissions, and has taught in adult education for over thirty years. Kay Dennis is a professional embroiderer and former Chairman of the Guild of Needle Laces. She has been teaching both needlelace and stumpwork for many years and is a member of the Embroiderers' Guild. She has written articles for leading needlecraft magazines and has lectured and demonstrated widely. Michael Dennis, also a former Chairman of the Guild of Needle Laces, now enjoys working in all aspects of woodworking. He assists Kay in all aspects of her work. Kay and Michael live in Northwood, Middlesex, UK. Clare Hanham trained for three years as an apprentice at the Royal School of Needlework. On completing her diploma she set up her own business, Vine Embroidery. She runs embroidery classes in her own studio and for the local education authority, as well as day classes for embroidery shops and guilds. Clare designs and stitches projects for several needlework magazines and has created her own range of kits. She also restores antique embroidery and designs and embroiders ecclesiastical pieces. She has exhibited at the Knitting and Stitching show, Stitch exhibition and various places around the South West of England. Jane Rainbow is a successful professional embroiderer, teacher and consultant. She designs and markets a range of kits, has produced her own crewel embroidery video and runs workshops for students. She exhibits regularly at exhibitions where she demonstrates her skills, showing how to build up beautiful pictures using a range of stitches. Pat Trott was introduced to Armenian needlelace by her mother at a very early age, and this led to her passion for embroidery and stitchery of all kinds. Later, as a skilled embroiderer, she was attracted to Mountmellick because of the numerous different stitches involved, and she went on to become an expert in this unique craft. Pat is a life member of the Embroiderers' Guild and holds regular workshops for many Guild branches, colleges and schools. Pat has had her work featured in Needlework Magazine and New Stitches Magazine. Lesley Wilkins discovered blackwork samplers on a school visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London when she was only ten, and has been hooked ever since. Her fascination with the craft has led her to become not only an embroiderer of extraordinary skill, but also an expert in the history of blackwork. She has collected thousands of patterns from all over the world, and her own work is inspired by historical motifs, patterns and borders. Her designs have appeared in Needlecraft and Needlework magazines, and also edited her own embroidered sampler magazine Antique Samplerstitcher for nine years which contained many blackwork designs. Now that she has retired early from local government, Lesley continues to self-publish a variety of embroidered projects online.

I was drawn to this book initially because of the variety of different needlework styles it covers, some of which I haven't tried. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, especially as they include photographs as well as illustrations. Special tips have been added to each section and samplers and templates have been added throughout. I also loved the addition of a brief history of each style of stitching. After reading this book I feel confident in trying new techniques and I would thoroughly recommend this book to both beginners and more experienced stitchers. This book is a delight to own. -- Faye Mulhern * Customer Review * I am quite a novice with hand embroidery, but this book has it all. Everything you need to know from a beginner to more advanced. It gives you easy steps to get started on your journey. The different areas of embroidery give you materials needed , threads, different needles (didn't know there were so many), other equipment. For the different stitches it gives you pictures alongside written instructions, also tips and tricks to help you on your journey. I will certainly be trying out new stitches. -- Bev Hackleton * Customer Review * Received this wonderful book. I could not put it down. I'm new to embroidery, this book shows you all different stitches etc. The pages full of handy tips which I like. I love the flowers which look so real. I can not wait to try some of these beautiful projects. A well written book for all stages of embroidery. -- Carol Wilson * Customer Review * When I received this book I was amazed by the thickness of it, 272 pages. I soon learned why it needed so many pages as it covers an astonishing amount of techniques. Each stitch is shown in clear detail. At first I thought the sub headings might be to much for a beginner, but as I read through a few sections I was encouraged to see this would not be the case. Crewel, Silk shading, Gold work, just a few of the techniques. It begins with a brief history, as all good books should in my opinion. As well as the materials and techniques for transfering designs. I cant wait to do the stumpwork as it includes a piece on needlelace, which is new to me. It covers in detail all the techniques a beginner and more advanced needs. I don't hesitate in recommending this book from the Search Press range. -- Kathy Campbell * Customer Review * This lovely new book from Search Press is actually a re-working of individual books previously published and contains chapters on silk shading, crewel embroidery, Mountmellick, stump work, Hardanger, blackwork, drawn thread embroidery and goldwork. If you would like to acquaint yourself with these techniques, you will find much to keep you interested. There are very good photographs and instructions with projects, and I suspect even more accomplished needle-workers will find something of interest. It would be a good value book for inclusion in the libraries of sewing groups especially, as it encompasses a wide range of traditional techniques. There is some repetition on materials, inevitably, but all things considered, I would recommend this as a good introduction for those who have taken up stitching lately and want to challenge and hopefully surprise themselves with the results they achieve. -- Helen Raynes * Customer Review * Suitable for stitchers of all abilities this book aims to be a definitive guide to stitching and embroidery. Use the step-by-step guides to get to grips with drawn thread embroidery, hardanger, goldwork, stumpwork, silk shading, crewel embroidery, Mountmellick, blackwork and more. Each section has been put together by experts and features the technique's history, materials and equipment needed and the most popular stitches used. * Cross Stitcher * Absolutely love this book from wonderful step-by-step instructions to beautiful photographs. The book starts with a lovely introduction and a brief history. A section on where to stitch and what to stitch, designing, framing, preparing fabric etc and about mounting your work. Section on materials too. The book is well laid out with each stitch well laid out and beautifully photographed. The projects are amazing and beautiful and some techniques I've never seen before. Each project gives you a recipe of what you will need there are some beautiful patterns to try. You would not be disappointed if you buy this book whether you are a beginner or competent sewer. -- Sue Prince * Amazon * Firstly, I was surprised at the size and weight of this book, but so much is covered. There are techniques in the book that I had not heard of before, Mountmellick for one, but I will definitely be trying it. Mainly, I wanted to improve my Blackwork and Goldwork, but I can see myself getting waylaid with a bit of Stumpwork. The diagrams and photographs in this book are very detailed and each section has so much information and advice to guide you to better stitching. All in all a 'must have' techniques book. I don't think you will be disappointed! -- Lisa Hemstock * Customer Review *