Stitch

Apr/May 12

Stitching is a very practical craft and it can be done in a simplistic way. Sometimes a piece of work relies on the choice of stitches used to work it and sometimes the texture of the threads plays an important role. But the use of colour affects the piece more than anything else. To achieve a painterly shaded effect, long and short stitch is usually the stitch of choice, but elements such as the type of thread and the direction of the stitches contribute to the look of the finished embroidery. The rougher fibres of wool yarns such as crewel wool absorb more light so that little imperfections don't show, while smooth surfaces such as silk reflect the light and are less forgiving. In many ways, this book is as much about art as it is about stitching. The colour exercises are very effective and demonstrate the subtleties that shading can bring, adding light or shadows and sometimes making the highlights shine. Beautifully illustrated with clear photos, there are 12 projects, each of which focuses on a particular colour range, plus a glorious Sacred Kingfisher that uses all of the techniques - and is a challenge for more advanced stitchers... or perhaps for stitchers who have worked their way through the exercises and other projects in the book. This book really puts the 'art' into embroidery and teaches you all you need to know about 'painting' with a needle and thread.