Wild Yarn

Creating hand-spun yarn from ethnical fibres

Imogen Bright Moon

Looking at the cover of Wild Yarn, I felt underwhelmed, it seemed so alien from my own art practice. On reading though, it is the sense and the meaning behind Imogen’s practice which makes you really want to read further, no matter what your own favoured textile art method is.

The Art of Pressed Leaves

New Ideas in Pressed Leaves and Flowers

Jennie Ashmore

As a child, I was taught to document the passing of time, through foraging for items found on walks within our locality - namely leaves. I fondly remember hand in hand with my mother, coming home to open books to store these treasures.

Improve Quilts

Building Confidence In Color and Technique

Laura Loewen

Search Press

Some of us work well by rules, the rest of us love to rebel. I at heart, hate straight lines, I do not enjoy measuring and calculating. That is why I write about Textiles rather than be a tailor. So the title of this book have my curious nature a nudge

Embroidery Encyclopedia: Stitches and Techniques for Every Embroiderer

Martine Biessy

Schiffer Craft Press

Are you a teacher, someone who needs to guide others in Embroidery techniques? Or are you simply a lone Embroiderer, who wants to reunite with stitches long forgotten. Whoever you are, this look will support you.

Vintage French Needlework

300 Authentic Cross Stitch Patterns

Flowers, Borders, and Alphabets from Antique Textiles

Veronique Mallard

Schiffer Craft

Cross-stitch embroidery is a part of our history. We might ignore it, but we will come across it. Likely, we will even unknowingly be storing it within our very homes.

Textile Travels Paris

Rebecca Devaney & Jo Andrews

As we sit in the dark patchy space between winter and spring, we nest, yet feel comfort derived from a dual sense of a plan - a future adventure, something to “look forward” to. If you are of the arty type as I am, you will feel a need to include this within your list when choosing where you go. Devaney and Andrews have used their own experiences traveling such cities as Paris, New York, London…

Imagine fairytale weddings, instagram worthy floral displays and food to make you want to cook - all the simplistic pleasures in life, which we may sacrifice due to professed need - i.e. other things get in the way and suddenly we lack ourselves joy, be being allowed to be happy. Personally I see this book as a visual and textural life lesson.

Styling Beyond Instagram

Take your Prop styling skills from the Square to the Street

Robin Zachary

Schiffer Publishing

As an artist, I seem to battle so many forks. Those who follow this path with me, know that yes a 9-5 career would have been so much more restful - but fulfilling? No. We cannot hope to be good at everything - we have to be our business start ups, funding, artist, writer, promoter…..do we teach within the arts? Do we write? Something is bound to be neglected.

Marking Time with Fabric and Thread: Calendars, Diaries And Journals Within You Fiber Art

Tommye McClure Scanlin

I opened this book, expecting it to be an easy scan and review - you see, I have a pile of jobs to do and although I love a cover to cover submergence into the finer detail of the text, aesthetics and placement - I just havent the time. Well, I said. That was the plan.

I realise that on doing so, I would actually be being disrespectful to the author and publishing house. Naturally some art books are easier read than others. There are those where we get the expected, yet there will also always be the displacement from this rule. I am please to tell you that this book hits that nail.

Whitework Embroidery with Colour: Ten stunning projects with reusable iron-on transfers

Trish Burr

Search Press

This paperback guide, uses the traditional method of Whitework in a compemporary way.

The usual method of Whitework is of course, seen in white, usually with a coloured background so the thread and pattern stitched takes key view. But this can seem boring, a look best left for the historical or familial samplers of a bye-gone age. Burr here pledges to bring this method up to date.

Sew Your Own Nursery Rhyme Old MacDonald

SARAH SIMI

Search Press

I am always honest within my reviews, yet I hope this never presses on too negative a thought. I said yes to my lovely contact at Search Press to review this title; however inside I had pre-judged it. Already it was twee, stupid and for those who were more “tacky”. I silently apologise to anyone this ever in my mind resembled, because I have well and truly been bitten by the farm bug, one which was inside of me in truth all along.

A Year of Quilting

A Block For Every Week

Debbie Shore and Melissa Nayler

Search Press

As a child, my mother began making me a crochet blanket….thirty years on, the pile of not-enough-yet squares lies in our families wooden chest. I live in hope that one day it will be finished….but when….what for? What will be the push? That is why this title appealed to me.

Cardigans

Twenty Knitting Patterns for Every Season

Maja Karlsson

Batsford

When we think of knitting something, we generally will fixate first on one of two objects, a scarf or a cardigan. They are the objects of desire for anyone who wants comfort, reassurance and yes - warmth.

Explorations with collage

Merging Photographs, Paper, and Fiber

Wen Redmond

Schiffer Publishing

We live in a digital world, which can spoil so much traditionalism. However used correctly, it can flourish our lives and actually bring our art to another level visually.

There are so many illustrations throughout this book. That is the highlight for me. I am a reader, so I am looking at this from a teaching point of view. I want to read about a method, but I also want to visualise it. This book does both.

Embroidery and stitch can often be viewed as the practical, done for a reason, especially in by-gone times. However what if a stitch was for more than a stitch’s sake? For example, a stitch in time, saves nine….what about altering that well turned phrase to ‘a stitch in time, saves a mind?

I looked at this book and my first emotion was disappointment, yet I came away with the opposite view - Jessie this is wonderful, you have done it, you have managed what artists before you have lacked…you have kept you, no matter the learning, no matter the chances, thank you for not changing and instead giving us a way of having just a little part in your world - because you yourself, have your own as a treasure.

We live in a climate where we openly divulge our lives, our everyday, on such platforms as Instagram, Facebook….a ‘status’ often played with, to give another a reason to contact us - why are we sad? Why are we “feeling grateful”? Yet there are still some of us who may hint at the backstage behind the set of the theatre that is our very lives - there are others who hide it entirely. What am I getting at? Within Soulful Stitch, both authors have carefully chosen how they reveal and conceal the challenges, traumas and what could have been seen as brick walls - not used as excuses to not create; rather creating has been their way forward, a way of making sense.

Passementerie: Handcrafting Contemporary Trimmings, Fringes, Tassels, and More

Elizabeth Ashdown

Schiffer Craft

I cut my teeth as an early artist, working my way through all sorts of embroidery techniques. I remember the sessions at college, where we learned fringing, tassel making….the works - all directly from the tutor herself. I do not remember any “tassel, handwoven adornments” bible. Yes, if it is handwoven, traditional….taken into the contemporary…beautiful adornments you wish to create…..this is unique - there has been nothing like it ever, so its an exciting title to own.

The Essential Embroidery Stitches Card Deck

Choose from 50 versatile stitches

Betty Barden

Search Press

You may wonder why I am reviewing a…lets put it out there - a deck of cards - yes - within my weekly book review column. This one…is different. It forms, basically a book in its form - in that it contains all we would find in a literal book on this subject of embroidery.

Connecting with Nature

Mindful stitching and textile art through the seasons

Tilly Rose

Search Press

Lets begin with the look. It is a soft back, with around 126 pages.

I will use this review to be helpful to those who may consider purchasing it.

There is a helpful stitch diagram located near the back page.

Gel Plate Printing for Mixed-Media Art

Robyn McClendon

Schiffer Craft

As an artist who also practices in mixed-media, this book collided with interests close to my heart. Its a large book, thick and has a traditional hardcover with covering (approx 160 pages)

Nordic Hands: 25 Fiber Craft Projects to Discover Scandinavian Culture

Anita Osterhaug

Schiffer Publishing

This book is as mash up of the cultural historical and education, centred around the theme of all things Nordic. Within my review, I will outline some key points which require your attention on purchase.

Chloe Giordano

Needlepainted Woodland Animals

Exquisite embroidered art

Search Press

This, let me tell you in fine art adapted to thread. This is beauty, the natural world described so kindly, nurtured by the very loving soul of Giordano. I will however tell you now, that this book is a softcover updated version of the hardback 2019 published original.

This book may be mini in size, but in content it is sturdy. Learn simply how to create your own weaving work. Learn what weaving can be, for you personally. As a young art student, I looked at looms as an old persons hobby. Something done in the 1800s, while drowned in ones’ shawl.

Stitched Journeys with Birds

Inspiration to Let Your Creativity take Flight

Martha Sielman

Schiffer Craft

This is a book simply to look at and devour its visuals. In basic terms, it is a hand back collection of a mass of artists who have used birds as fuel to create. There are interviews, quotes and advice throughout from the artists. It is a reveal, to the secrets of the trade.

Mending with Boro

Japanese Running Stitch & Patching Techniques

Harumi Horiuchi

Tuttle Publishing

Boro has become a word known in our creative vocab. Why? More than just a passing phase, this method of repair is care, it is continuing, it is loving.

Kintsugi The Wabi Sabi Art Of Japanese Ceramic Repair

Kaori Mochinaga

Tuttle publishing

Most of us are aware of the now fashion to visibly mend our garments, especially related to wool varieties, the knitted jumper we wore so well, which now has a threadbare vibe.

Color Basics For Makers, Understanding The Rainbow

Lee Chappell Monroe

C + T Publishing

This may look like a small offering, sitting at under 80 pages in length. BUT, think about it - where would we be without colour? This book is ideal for students and those wanting to comprehend all the colour basics, values such as complementary shades, what the differences are between secondary, primary and tertiary colours….the author also unpicks the more complex parts surrounding colour play. Saturation, tone…it is all covered.