At Mr X Stitch we love to review textile art and embroidery books for you. There are so many great books to discover, packed with needlework inspiration and textile techniques, so we dive into each book to find out what’s good, what’s bad and let you know why you should pick it up.
Hi everyone, I’m Deena Beverley and I’m a huge fan of textiles, as well as a freelance wordsmith and I’ve joined the Mr X Stitch family to review some of the many great textile and embroidery books that are out there. I hope that you’ll enjoy them and I hope that I can encourage you to try new techniques and explore the wide world of needlecraft. So without further ado!
Inspirations: A Passion for Needlework
Readers of embroidery quarterly ‘Inspirations’ will know that this publisher has quality woven throughout its output. As practical as it is pretty, full-size pull-out patterns are included along with the detailed instructions and lavish photography for which the magazine is renowned.
Although the book includes 12 brand new projects, this is not ‘just another project book.’ Mouthwateringly enticing styled shots and background text on related subjects make the book a feast of imagery and information whether you are stitching the projects or not. A potted history of pins for example, is accompanied by delicious images of vintage sewing tools as an opener to instructions for working Susan O’Connor’s jewel-like floral ‘Serendipity’ pinwheels.
Handstitch how-to’s are shown with the kind of forensic clarity embroiderers value. If you prefer to design your own work rather than follow existing projects, you’ll find many a creative kickstart here.
Eminently transferrable to whatever design influences float your stitchy boat. Elisabetta Sfroza’s powder pink monogramming on a sachet in sumptuously padded satin stitch, surrounded by exquisitely worked bullion knot flowers and foliage is crying out to be subverted it into something sassy, while David Smyth’s eglantine rose, from a whole garden’s worth of embroidered flora worked as a Tudor style panel, would look equally at home supersized and stitched in splendid isolation, rocking the back of a biker jacket.
Inspirations: A Passion for Needlework is pubished by Inspirations and is available from Amazon and all good retailers. Why not get your copy via our Amazon store?
