Postcard Reviews
This is a fabulous series of books that enables us enjoy embroidering using a simple method of transfer.
74 flowers designs which are just stunning, can be beautifully stitched and the finished results are amazing.
For every lover of embroidery, the projects include cushions, book covers and many more.
The full page glossy photographs show off each design beautifully. The 32 pages of transfers can be re-used several times and there is an amazing choice of flower, so everyone's favourite will be available.
I love this book. It is very inspiring, and each design can be decorated however you wish to do so. I love the idea of adding sequins and beads, and even fabric pens to colour them in would look just perfect.
An amazing book for anyone.
Stitch
April 2015
Embroiderers who learned their first stitches working from the iron-on=transferred designs so popular in the past will still enjoy stitching from these today and this lovely book includes reusable iron-on transfers for all of the designs. Iron-on transfers are such an easy way to transfer a design onto fabric and these simple designs are a perfect introduction to embroidery for novices of all ages. A motif can easily be completed in an afternoon, making it perfect for cards, sachets or garments. The pretty and practical projects in the book include bags, cushions and book covers. A tea towel is elegantly upgraded with a border of back stitched flowers, accented with small satin stitched circles. French knots would be even speedier. Helpfully, explicit directions include not only the name of the stitch, but also the number of strands and colour/type of thread used, leaving you free either to experiment or to relax and follow the instructions precisely.
Workshop on the Web/Quilt WOB
July 2015
These books are part of the Ready to Stitch series and focus on hand-stitching techniques. They use the same ten simple embroidery stitches as a basis for all the patterns and projects included. Utilised in slightly different ways, both books follow the same format an introduction to the stitches, preparations for stitch, step-by-step instructions on how to tackle the 32 designs (in each book) and a number of projects. In each, there is a colour pattern with details of the threads used.
These will appeal to more traditional stitchers, particularly the Flowers book, which has a needlework feel to it. The Borders and Motifs book seems more modern, which might be due to bolder colour choices in the palettes. Further, the designs are not as restricted as the Flower book with funky heart designs, butterflies, fish and trees to name a few, so you will find more variety in Borders and Motifs. What is very appealing in both books is the addition of reusable iron-on transfers. You can detach the pages (a handy sleeve is incorporated into the cover so you can keep them safe) and use them up to ten times. This gives great opportunities for mixing and matching the patterns. I have used one of the Borders and Motifs patterns in the Product reviews in this issue. Even if you are not a dedicated hand-stitcher, there is much in these books for you to take further and experiment with.
Craft Ideas
September 2014
Using 10 stitches explained in ths book, you can create 74 different floral combinations! 32 floral sampler designs range from daffodils to tulips to orchids and roses and whimsical blooms on the vine. Helpful sections on materials, tools, stitches, transferring designs onto fabrics, and using an embroidery hoop are all included, too. Full-size patterns, featured on detachable sheets in the book, are printed on sturdy cardstock so you can reuse again. We loved the notebook cover, but don't miss out on the Child's Sun Hat or gorgeous Roses Cushion.
Young Embroiderers
September 2014
A beautiful book both for the beginner or an experienced embroiderer. It takes 10 simple embroidery stitches and uses them in different ways to embroider 74 different designs. In full colour it is a feast for the eyes. Detailed photography from the DMC threads used to where to use each colour. Transfers for all the designs are at the back of the book and can be reused. There is also a project section giving lots of ideas where the embroidered flowers can be used from cards to book covers and much more. For those who love to stitch this is the book for you.
East Kent Embroiderer's Guild
July 14
In this recent title in the Ready to Stitch Series, Lesley presents a sampler of 74 different flower designs, using just 10 simple stitches. Stunning colour photography and detailed step by step instructions inspire and encourage the stitcher to try different colour combinations. Colour notes are included, together with suggestions for using the flowers to decorate and transform clothing, accessories and gifts. All the designs are provided as transfers. An excellent, good value, book for all embroiderers.
Hot Brands, Cool Places
June 14
This is a delightful book with 32 stitched samplers containing 74 floral motifs in a range of sizes and styles plus corresponding iron-on transfer sheets to transfer the designs on to fabric. The content includes: Introduction,How to use this book, What you need, Stitches used,Transferring the designs,Using an embroidery hoop,The samplers, and The projects. There are full instructions on the materials, techniques and embroidery stitches used as well as project ideas to excite and inspire you. We loved it! Highly Recommended!
Myshelf.com
May 14
I learned embroidery at my mothers knee when I was seven, and backed up what I knew with the aid of an old sewing book and a stack of vintage transfers. This book is the first in a new series and rather like that it contains information about embroidery, diagrams of stitches, samples of finished work, ideas for projects and a wealth of embroidery transfers. All you need in fact to start freestyle embroidery apart from thread, fabric and tools. The samples even provide the DMC numbers for the threads used, and for a beginner knowing what stitches can be used to effect is more helpful than a bald transfer. In just a few pages you can discover what you need to buy and why, learn all the basic freestyle stitches you are going to need and useful things like using a hoop and working with a transfer. There are thirty-two transfer sheets containing seventy designs. All are floral, but vary from large page-sized motifs to quite small ones and feature both fairly naturalistic blooms to the realms of folk art, art nouveau and other styles. If the motifs look a bit familiar then you are right; they have previously been featured in Search Press long running Design Library series. Selected from seven different titles, there is a variety of floral art here and some attractive projects shown using it. No instructions are given for these, but this publisher has many books with instructions on making cushions, bags, greetings cards, teacozies and garments. Modern transfers can be used more than once so beginners can practice their new skills first from the sampler of designs shown worked before tackling an embroidered project. To prove that this publisher really does go the whole nine yards there is even a pocket to store your used and cutout transfers for another time. I hope this proves to be a long series embroiders of all levels will rejoice when they see this book.
