Raised Embroidery by Kelley Aldridge

Textile Art Book Reviews

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.

Introduction

Part of a new series of books, this one is written by an expert teacher who works with The Royal School of Needlework. The blurb tells us:

Raised Embroidery by Kelley Aldridge features an introduction to the RSN and its prestigious heritage. It reveals the history and context of raised embroidery and showcases galleries of inspiring raised embroidery work . This is primarily a practical, instructional guide that offers a complete grounding in the techniques you need for raised embroidery : it contains a comprehensive stitch guide and leads the reader through each technique using clear step-by-step photography and easy-to-follow expert guidance. The book contains three beautiful projects that put these techniques into practice and showcase additional advanced techniques.

Who is it Aimed at?

Raised Embroidery is primarily for the established embroiderer, someone who has already begun their education within the Textile Arts. It is more of a formal instruction manual for those who already have a decent grasp of the terminology and techniques.

About the Artist

Kelley Aldridge is an established teacher.  She herself graduated from the Royal School of Needlework in 2005, and since graduating, began teaching their course programmes.

Content

Raised Embroidery contents
As stated earlier, the book contains three projects, each outlines with large photographs to follow the methods described.

Raised Embroidery contains three projects to apply the technique. There are large photographs throughout as examples and a clearly laid-out contents page. What is special about this publication is that it also gives us insight into who the RSN are and where they have stemmed from. Reading about the school, the history and their teaching programmes is incredibly inspiring.

the history of the RSN
Who are the RSN? We get a little historical info here.
The history of the technique and examples of the historic uses

Photography and what makes this book special…

For those with lesser knowledge of The Royal School of Needlework, reading a book published by one of their teachers may seem daunting or too traditional.  Think again, look at this sweet example!

Raised Embroidery by Kelley Aldridge
Yes the technique may take time to learn, but look at this tasty example; its modern and steps away from the traditional, while not compromising on the quality of the method.
Raised Embroidery by Kelley Aldridge

Within the publication, a lot of thought and care has gone into exploring the planning before a final piece is made.  As seen below, a mood board or inspiration board can be put together in order to plan what you may want to create.

Raised Embroidery by Kelley Aldridge
What can we use as inspiration? How about a pin board like this?

The photography throughout is detailed and is done in a way that we can clearly see all of the 3D elements, this is helpful to inspire our Raised Embroidery journey!

Raised Embroidery by Kelley Aldridge
Close up photography really helps us see the stitches of each piece.

What is wrong with the book?

If you are brand new to embroidery, then this is not completely accessible to you. Why not begin with something a little more ‘beginner friendly?’  This is certainly one to look at though and if you don’t have the technical ability just yet, aim to learn!

Conclusion

Raised Embroidery by Kelley Aldrige is for the experienced embroiderer, maybe those formally trained in the craft looking to build upon their personal toolkit. Aldrige’s experience both as a student and teacher at the Royal School of Needlework, means that the instructions are detailed and easy to follow, with tips on how to collect inspiration together to create unique pieces of Textile Art.

Published under the Royal School of Needlework, with Search Press

Get your copy through our link!

Share The Love

Want More of the good stuff?

Sew Eco by Ruth Singer

Sew Eco by Ruth Singer is a compelling guide to sustainable textile arts, offering innovative projects and insights for eco-friendly creativity.

Read More
Emma Congdon - Cross Stitch with Cattitude

14 Must-Have Cross Stitch Books for a Crafty Christmas 2023

Discover our curated selection of the 14 best cross stitch books for 2023, perfect for gifting or indulging in your passion for needlework this Christmas. From modern classics to subversive samplers, these must-have cross stitch guides offer inspiration and detailed instructions for crafters at every level.

Read More