Embroidery Books {Reviews}

If you have been following my blog for a while, you’ll know that I love embroidery. I have more stitchery designs swimming around in my brain, printed out or saved up than I’ll ever be able to complete.

Butterfly Pincushion 1

I’ve been looking at a few new embroidery books lately and would love to share them with you.
How to Embroider is the new book by Susie Johns, published by GMC Publications.

How to Embroider by Susie Johns
It is the most perfect book for a beginner with little or no embroidery experience. This book will introduce the new stitcher to the basics of this fun, and may I add addictive, craft.


Each new technique is clearly explained with excellent photographs and illustrations. New embroidery stitches are introduced progressively including the running stitch, outlining stitches, filling stitches, couching and cutwork. With each new stitch, a project is included to practise what has been learnt. The projects include a cushion, tea cosy, baby blanket and a super sweet needle case.

If you would like to learn to embroider and don’t have the luxury of having someone to sit and teach you, How to Embroider really is the next best thing.

How to Embroider is available in Australia from Can Do Books and Booktopia or internationally from Amazon - ISBN: 9781861087959

Following on from the embroidery basics, the next book which I’ve been enjoying is called Doodle Stitching (Transfer Pack) by Aimee Ray, published by Lark. It is filled with over 300 embroidery patterns all ready to transfer to your fabric and begin stitching.

Doodle Stitching by Aimee Ray

Doodle Stitching begins with embroidery essentials; needles, embroidery hoops, floss etc… It then covers some basic and more intermediate stitches which are wonderfully illustrated and perfect the next step in the stitching journey.

After these basics, we are then delighted with pages and pages of beautiful embroidery designs catalogued into order of subject (eg celebrations, flowers, Christmas etc). These transfers are ready to iron onto the fabric, or if you’d like to keep the tranfers intact, they can be traced with a marking pen or pencil onto the fabric.

Doodle Stitching 1

One of my favourite things about this book is that it’s a spiral ringed book. It makes transferring the designs so much easier. There is a great big sleeve at the back of the book where you can keep the transferred sheets in one handy place.

Doodle Stitching 2

I had one of those moments of looking through a book and wanting to make something – IMMEDIATELY! I transferred this little butterfly onto some white solid fabric, then coloured and stitched it. I used the little design to create a pincushion… because you can never have too many pincushions, right?

Butterfly Pincushion

If you enjoy embroidery, Doodle Stitching (Transfer Pack) is a wonderful addition to your crafting library. Mix and match the designs to create our own masterpieces - ISBN: 9781454709022

Doodle Stitching (Transfer Pack) by Aimee Ray is available in Australia from Booktopia or Can Do Books or internationally from Amazon.

8 comments

  1. Love your pincushion...so pretty! May I ask what you "colored" the cloth with??? Regular crayons???
    Sweet blessings,
    Laura

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    1. I coloured with Derwent Artist pencils – though any soft pencil will work nicely. I then brushed on a Textile Medium (sort of like a glue) to seal in the colour.
      I learned this technique called Colorque with Helen Stubbings of Hugs and Kisses. She has more information about this technique on her blog/website. It’s such fun and raises an embroidery design to a whole new level.
      Do let me know if you have a go at this colorque technique in your next stitching project.
      Anorina :)

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    2. Thank you so much for sharing this technique, Anorina...I just love the look! I will visit "Hugs and Kisses"...I would love to learn more about this...
      Have a blessed day!
      Laura

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  2. I will also visit the site and read up on this technique...it really is wonderful! Your pincushion is adorable! Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful creative day!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Brenda for your lovely words. Hope your day is fabulous too xx

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  3. Hello Anorina, can I ask what the brand and name of material with the flowers used at each end of the pin cushion please.? Betty

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    1. Hi Betty, the fabric is a print from the Marmalade range by Bonnie & Camille for Moda Fabrics. It's an older range, but soooo pretty x

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  4. I really love it, and most of my old embroidery clothes I have from when I was younger, tends to be things I keep because it always comes back to style. portable sewing machine

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