Organic Embroidery


Book Description

Renowned textile artist Meredith Woolnough creates replicas of nature using a delicate system of tiny stitches. Her artwork is breathtaking, and now for the first time Woolnough offers crafters and fiberartists a lesson in how to use the "organic embroidery" technique. Look behind the scenes of her art process, from the initialfieldwork sketching and research that inspires her designs, to theproduction of her ethereal embroidered sculptures. She guides you through 12 creativity-prompting activities to help you begin your own mastery of this method. As you learn to find your desired shape or pattern in nature, from sources like leaves, shells, or coral, then use your sewing machine to turn bits into exquisite art. You'll also enjoy dozens of inspirational photos of Woolnough's ownart pieces. Woolnough's instructions offer simple but highlyversatile techniques, and allow you space for your own creative approach




The Embroidery Book


Book Description

“A spectacular encyclopedia of embroidery, sharing valuable techniques passed down through the generations . . . you’ll wonder how you ever worked without it.” —Sew Magazine Enjoy the tranquility of slow stitching with this step-by-step, visual guide to 149 embroidery stitches, motifs, and extras. Go beyond basic color theory–robust color charts take the guesswork out of choosing thread, silk ribbon, buttons, beads, and trims. Then take your embroidery to the next level with luxurious seam treatments and stunning stand-alone designs. Bestselling author Christen Brown’s traditional and contemporary techniques are showcased in a colorful gallery of crazy-quilted projects. “An overview of embroidery stitches and techniques as well as inspiration for embroidery projects . . . She dissects several of her pieces, summarizing the color palette, decorative elements, and stitches used.” —Library Journal




The Organic Painter


Book Description

Bored with the same old paints? The Organic Painter introduces innovative techniques for using non-traditional "paint" derived from materials like coffee, tea, and alcohol, to encourage freedom and expression! Traditional art supplies will only take you so far! Sometimes you need to try something completely new and different. That's where The Organic Painter comes in. With a little guidance, you'll soon be painting with everyday materials you'd never considered as an artistic medium. This inspiring book gives you all the techniques and ideas you'll need to boost your creativity, learn natural paint-making, and be more resourceful with your art materials. Imagine the unique things you'll make when you create natural paints from coffee, tea, embroidery and flame. Each project in this guide book comes with instructions on how to make the paint, and also includes experiments and explorations for you to try. Plus, a simple painting accompanies each featured material and combines it with other materials or techniques, so you'll never lack inspiration.




Zakka Embroidery


Book Description

Embrace a simpler approach to stitching with bold one- and two-color embroidery motifs Zakka Embroidery presents designs that are an elegant blend of Japanese and Scandinavian style. The motifs and patterns are spare and graphic, yet softened with organic shapes and imagery drawn from nature. The result is embroidery that evokes a personal feel and conjures a sense of nostalgia. The task of picking just the right palette for an embroidery project can be overwhelming to beginners and experienced stitchers alike. But when you take away that challenge, a whole world of texture and style becomes available. Here Japanese designer Yumiko Higuchi presents embroidery motifs to be stitched using just one or two colors—creating patterns and designs that are more evocative for their form than for a play of colors. Each embroidery design is paired with a simple craft project, transforming the stitched fabric into a functional object, including pouches, pillows, aprons, and more. With beautiful photographs, clear step-by-step instructions, and detailed diagrams, Zakka Embroidery will be an inspiring guide for those new to embroidery and a delightful experience for those experienced with needle and thread.




Foolproof Flower Embroidery


Book Description

Stitch your very own garden Explore your stitching versatility with this comprehensive guide by learning to use any thread and embroidery stitch you desire! Jennifer Clouston shares how to make the most of the thread you already own by introducing hundreds of stitch and fiber combination options to create your own unique flower garden. From textured stems and leaves to colorful bunches of flowers- your end result will look and feel like a true artistic and organic garden.




The Embroidered Garden


Book Description

Whimsical, beautiful embroidery motifs created by an avid gardener—stitch roses, bees, or whole garden scenes. Kazuko Aoki has a unique talent for translating the beauty of the garden with needle and thread. By offering forty motifs, Aoki invites us to explore her gardens through embroidery. The forty motifs explore the roses and wildflowers that appear season to season, as well as the bees and butterflies that enjoy their nectar. The designs here are exquisite, detailed, and artfullly rendered. Beyond the motifs themselves, Aoki also presents projects that feature the embroidery: brooches, notebook covers, pin cushions, and pouches. For those new to embroidery, detailed how-to illustrations are included.




Free-Form Embroidery with Judith Baker Montano


Book Description

The fiber artist and author of Crazy Quilting Odyssey shares her secrets for creating embroidered landscapes and seascapes in this illustrated guide. Beloved fiber artist and teacher Judith Baker Montano demonstrates how to beyond traditional embroidery in this new and comprehensive to free-form embroidery. In this book full of stunningly photographed examples and watercolor illustrations, she shows you how to apply the principles of fine art to various projects using fabrics, threads, and fibers. Judith explains how to use these materials with other embellishments to convey lifelike trees, flowers, ocean corals, and more with 60 stitches and 67 stitch combinations. She also demonstrates artistic embroidery techniques for building layers, creating dimension and perspective, and blending shapes. With techniques of free-form embroidery, you’ll be able to translate your favorite landscape or seascape photo into fiber art.




The Geometry of Hand-Sewing


Book Description

This sewing guide reveals a breakthrough method to simplify learning stitches of all kinds, with more than 100 stitches from the simple to the fanciful. As makers, we tend to learn different stitches over time without thinking much about how they relate to one another. But when Natalie Chanin and her teams at Alabama Chanin and The School of Making began to look at needlework closely, they realized all stitches are based on geometric grid systems. They also discovered that learning new stitches—even elaborate ones—became simple and easy when using grids as guides. In The Geometry of Hand-Sewing Chanin presents their breakthrough method, featuring illustrated instructions (for both right- and left-handed stitchers) for more than 100 stitches—from the basic straight and chain to complex feather and herringbone. Photos of both right and wrong sides are included, as well as guidelines for modifying stitches to increase one’s repertoire further. The book also offers downloads for two stitching cards with the grids on which every stitch in the book is based. These printable cards can be used as stencils for transferring grids to fabric.




Organic Appliqué


Book Description

Practice taking color and design risks with an inside look at the process of Australia’s renowned quilting designer and owner of Material Obsession. Explore the use of symbols, pattern, colors, and techniques to make textile creations that reflect your perspective. With its organic lines, hand appliqué is the perfect medium for artistic expression. Come into the studio with Kathy Doughty as she shares her passion for quilt design, needle-turn appliqué, and fabric selection. Create quilt magic with eight distinctive projects and full-size patterns to inspire your imagination. Build your skill set with easy, step-by-step instructions for Broderie Perse, Boro-style appliqué, paper piecing, and hand quilting. Take control of the creative process, experiment with color, and achieve your creative goals! Everything you need to appliqué quilts in Kathy’s style or your own! Choose fabric, make bias vines, master needle-turn, and much more Add to your skills with intermediate and advanced techniques you haven’t seen before, with simple instructions that beginners can easily follow “Any aspiring quiltmaker should count themselves fortunate to have such an inspiring soul to guide and encourage them as Kathy Doughty.” —Kaffe Fassett




Modern Crewel Embroidery


Book Description

Stitch a modern crewelwork sampler Rediscover crewel embroidery with colorful wool and cheerful designs sure to brighten any home. Jo Avery invites stitchers of all levels to take on this traditional heritage art and make projects that pop! Create texture and dimension using wool thread and felt appliqué. Stitch up flowers, honeycombs, fish, and so much more. Embroiderers, cross-stitchers, and curious crafters looking to expand their skill set will enjoy the range of hand stitches and instructional illustrations accompanying each design. Relax and unwind with this hands-on art form! 15 fresh designs breathe new life into traditional crewelwork embroidery Beginner friendly! Basic and more advanced embroidery stitches with complete illustrations Create pincushions, pillows, wallhangings, hoops, and more