Complete Guide to Embroidery Stitches

by Reader's Digest Association, Ann-Marie Bakewell

s/t: Photographs, Diagrams and Instructions for Over 260 Stitches
Embroidery is imaginative and individual, and adds grace, elegance, and style to clothes, bedcovers, furnishings, and wall hangings. Now you can use your imagination and make any piece uniquely yours with the 263 stitches presented in this book. A photograph of each stitch, along with a description of its main uses, easy-to-follow instructions, clear diagrams, plus explanations and tips, will help you achieve the best results. This handy guide is divided into five main chapters, "Starting to Embroider" deals with all the basics to get you started: the fabrics, threads, and needles; how to follow a pattern; and techniques, such as beginning and ending your threads. The next three chapters cover the main types of embroidery. "Embroidery on Fabric" covers all surfaces and free-style embroidery, including counted cross-stitch and beadwork. "Smocking" covers the basics and most commonly used smocking stitches. "Embroidery on Canvas" explains how to work on canvas and canvas stitches. The final chapter includes suggestions for displaying your work and caring for it so that it will last for many years. With Complete Guide to Embroidery Stitches beginners can start with the basics, and experienced stitchers can browse through the amazing selection of stitches for pleasure and inspiration. Happy Stitching

Genres: Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference, Art, Sewing

176 pages, Hardcover

First published April 20, 2006

About the author

The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. is a global media and direct marketing company based in Chappaqua, New York, best known for its flagship publication founded in 1922, Reader's Digest. The company's headquarters are in New York City, where it moved from Pleasantville, New York.

The company was founded by DeWitt and Lila Wallace in 1922 with the first publication of Reader's Digest magazine, but has grown to include a diverse range of magazines, books, music, DVDs and online content.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this barely read book as I browsed the shelves at the library. I'm now wishing that I had found it on the for sale shelves because I want a copy for myself! The illustrations and step-by-step directions on the hundreds of embrodery stitches are clear and well written. The stitches are listed by categories and there are sections discussing the differences in the types of threads and yarns used in embroidery. There is also a section explaining all the different sized needles available and what they should be used for. This is a great reference book for a beginner or someone more advanced!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very comprehensive and well presented book on embroidery. I got this book at the library twice. I will purchase this book to have on hand as a tutorial and reference.

[Kristin Jimmy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The types of stitches covered were interesting and diverse. The book lacked additional information about technique and troubleshooting. It was poorly edited and oddly laid out.

[Goldenrod · Rating 3 out of 5]

I may come back to this one for designing collar embellishments on tanks and tees.

[Laurie House · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! I learned some new stitches and am looking forward to implementing them!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOnderful detailed step by step visuals/drawings and high- contrast colored-thread photos of the actual work so you can see what it will look like on your project. Some stitches may have different names than the ones I grew up knowing, but they are quite easily found because the book is organized by degree of difficulty rather than alphabetically by stitch name. There is a good index as well, and there are color-coded families of stitches in the book. At 255 pgs, it is an exhaustive finely done work.

[Alexandrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to see this book on my library shelf and see how amazing it was - it has a lot of stitches I haven't seen online or in other books, and it's got very clear photographs (even if I wish for another direction or two in a couple places). I was NOT so thrilled to see that pretty much to get a copy was going to cost me over $80. I'll be checking it out again, and keeping an eye out for it at used bookstores, and if I don't find something that compares with this, I might end up splurging for this for myself for a Christmas present, I found it so handy.

[Cami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, it's very weird for me to say that any crafting book is amazing, but honestly, as far as emroidery goes, this has it all, including smocking, which I hitherto understood to be something only to be done on a machine.
The variety of stitching styles offered is astounding. The instructions/diagrams are flawless and the grouping of stitches makes this book very functional and helpful.
This is on my Christmas wish list.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have already begun creating beautiful things with the help of this book (not to mention saving $$$ by making things myself!). This is a must have resource. There are so many embroidery stitches that it is impossible for the causal sewer to memorize them all. I find this book to be a perfect refresher!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This hard to find book is the ultimate bible for embroidery. It's even better instructionally than Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches because of it's clarity. The step by step A,B,C,D, stitch instructions ensure quick mastery.

I'm using the library copy and hope to eventually find a copy for my permanent collection.

[Christina Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this from the library to learn new stitches for my projects! One of the best books I've picked up to teach you a variety of embroidery stitches and their uses! I know want a copy for my own library!!!

[Kerfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite of all the stitch guides I've sampled to date--beautiful clear descriptions and illustrations for making each stitch. Unfortunately, it's out of print, although used copies are available online at a premium.

[lk]

good ref book if you already know how to embroider and just want a cheatsheet like book that tells you various stitches in a well organized manner ... but, I think Handsewn by Margaret Rowan is a better overall book.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so easy to understand with step by step instructions and diagrams of every little movement. I had no idea how to do ANYTHING and with this book I was able to learn all by myself!

[Vesper Stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simply great and thorough library of embroidery stitches. Hard to get but worth it!

[Mightyv · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book about stitches. Very difficult to find... keep renewing from my local library!!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. I really need a copy for myself!

[Eldra · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to learn to embroider, this is the book for you.

[Sara Serna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing resource with a very wide array of stitches and great photographs and instructions. I only wish it wouldn't cost me $100+ to get myself a copy. :(

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great encyclopedic reference of embroidery stitches. Think I'll have to buy this one.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this from the library and now I need it on my shelf forever!