Stitch People: A 20 Project Guide To Modern Embroidery Techniques

Description

Sure - colouring books are enjoyable and great for stress relief, but what if you want more? More creativity, more mindfulness and more fun? There are myriad crafts that can give you all of these and embroidery, or stitching, is one of them. Tap into your creative side and make one-off pieces of art, embellish clothing with images and symbols unique to you, or make beautiful gifts for your friends.

Professional embroiderer Jo Dixey has designed this book to inspire and challenge both those new to embroidery and those with some knowledge of stitch who want to take their ideas further.

Each project introduces new embroidery stitches and techniques. As you work through the ideas, you expand your skills and gain confidence in using stitches and ideas in your own work.

The projects range from small embroidered cards to more complex pictures to hang on your wall; simple applique for a scarf to an embroidered jacket - all based on the theme of people. Templates of the images to stitch are provided for photocopying and there is a photo gallery of all the stitches covered in the book, along with step-by-step photographs of key techniques, such as transferring patterns onto fabric or using batting to create 3D effects.

Author description

Jo Dixey's love of embroidery and stitching began in early childhood and progressed from her main leisure activity to her job, when in 1991 she attended England's Royal School of Needlework. Here she trained to be a professional embroiderer. Since her graduation, she has seen the enjoyment others have found from learning to stitch and has taught embroidery workshops for more than 20 years. The number of beginners wanting to learn to stitch continues to grow, and Jo combines her experience of how best to teach embroidery with a professional's attention to technique and finishing.

Table of contents

Foreword 7 Introduction 8 Equipment 10 PROJECTS BEGINNER `Hands Off' scarf - fusible web applique, couched edge 14 `Cartwheel and Splits' skirt - back stitch on ready-made skirt 18 `Waiting for Life to Happen' t-shirt - fusible web applique, buttonhole stitch edge on a ready-made t-shirt 22 `Family Love' child's dress - simple dress making, chain stitch 26 Shopping bag - bag construction, stitched applique, back stitch 32 `Wireless' needle case - working with layers of fabric, running stitch and back stitch 36 `Street Style' drawstring bag - bag construction, back stitch 40 `Windows to the Soul' stitched mini panel - simple long and short, no shading 62 `Moving but Still' metal thread picture - couching with metal thread 68 Seeding face picture - transferring a design using tissue paper, seeding stitch 72 `Watch your Back' jacket - chain stitch, fusible web applique, buttonhole stitch on ready-made jacket 76 ADVANCED `Shades of Green' book cover - construction of a book cover, stem stitch, long and short stitch 80 `Talk Talk Talk' phone case - satin stitch, long and short stitch, simple construction 86 `Ouch' pin cushion - 2 colour long and short stitch, couched lettering. 90 `Bus Queue' stitch sampler - surface stitch sampler 96 ADVANCED + `Man in the Moon' brooch - Or Nue couching 104 `Stoney Faced' long and short picture - shaded long and short stitch 110 Stitch gallery 116