First, the facts:
Title: Pen to Thread
Author: Sarah Watson
Published by: Interweave Press, 2015
Pages: 159, plus a CD
Type: Embroidery
Chapters:
Introduction
Getting Started: The Essentials
Embroidery Basics
Basic Stitches
Creative Ideas
The Patterns
Resources
About the CD
The In-Depth Look:
Another non-knitting book to help you wile away your long, winter hours.
Now, it’s been years since I’ve done any embroidery, but I often wonder why. The fact that the sharp-needle crafts tailed off when I got a puppy probably has something to do with it, but still. There’s something so satisfying about drawing pictures with thread. And while I’ve enjoyed counted cross-stitch, my favorite embroidery has always been using a variety of different stitches and techniques to fill in a space with texture as well as color.
It’s all too easy, though, to get stuck … there are only so many pictures you can sew to hang on your wall, right? What else can you do?
Well, who says you’re limited to picture frames and pillow cases?
The author writes, “For this book, I have selected my absolute favorite motifs from the many I have drawn. As I hope you’ll agree, they are imaginative and full of personality and range from tiny, superquick embroideries to large, intricate designs that may take a day or so to embroider.”
This book gives detail about how to embroider–basic stuff, like how to choose fabrics and the kind of embroidery thread that suits it best. There are basic techniques explored, basic stitches explained, all very useful.
The bulk of the book, though, are the author’s hand-drawn motifs, waiting for you to fill in. There are tips for transferring a hand-drawn design to your fabric, and then lots and lots (over 750) designs to pick from.
Not only that, there is a CD included, with PDF images of each design to make it easier for you to get exactly the design you want at exactly the size you need.
You can get this book at your local book store or buy it from Amazon.com.
Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.
This review copy was kindly donated by . Thank you!