1. The Kew Book of Nature Samplers (Library edition)
Author: Trish Burr
Release Date: June 2023
Written by needlework expert Trish Burr in association with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this is a follow-up to the massively successful Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers,
It features a starter project that introduces the reader to the most commonly used stitches, including long-and-short stitch, split stitch, satin stitch, bullions and French knots, then nine full sampler projects. The samplers feature a vast array of fauna and flora, including butterflies, bugs, birds, a rabbit and a hedgehog; lotuses, foxgloves, poppies, toadstools, and numerous wildflowers.
Master all the stitches needed and get expert advice on preparation and choosing fabrics and threads – including a handy thread conversion chart. All the projects are shown step-by-step, with an order of work diagram given where appropriate. The templates are included at full size.
This stunning yet practical book is a must-have for anyone interested in capturing the intricacy of nature in thread.
2. Hand Spinning: Essential Technical and Creative Skills
Author: Pam Austin
Release Date: June 2023
Explore the peaceful and creative world of hand spinning. An easy technique to master which also promotes mindfulness.
This beautiful book explains how to spin unique yarn using natural raw materials such as fleece, flax and silk. It aims to teach, encourage and inspire spinners to extend their skills and uncover the mystique surrounding the long draw, the hallmark skill of accomplishment in hand spinning.
It includes over 200 supporting images and clear step-by-step instructions on spinning methods, fibre preparation, colour skills, dyeing, yarn structure, art and yarn design. It will bring inspiration and pleasure to all spinners, regardless of experience.
3. Stitched Mixed Media
Author: Jessica Grady
Release Date: May 2023
This book is a must have practical guide to exploring the range of possibilities when making and sampling with hand stitch and mixed media.
Packed with colourful ideas and bags of enthusiasm, it looks at the potential of recycled products and explains how to turn them into beautiful embellishments to hand stitch onto samples. Projects include step-by-step sequences to show the exciting process of playing with textiles and mixed media. Plus, it includes ideas for sourcing and organising supplies, making a stitch library of samples and ways to use threads creatively. From paper to recycled plastic, experiment with mixed media in new and exciting ways to create unique pieces and develop your own artistic voice.
4. Kaffe Fassett's Timeless Themes
Author: Kaffe Fassett
Release Date: April 2023
World-renowned artist Kaffe Fassett dives deep into the archives to reinvent his most beloved and classic fabric-based designs through an extraordinary collection of fresh quilt patterns.
Kaffe Fassett needs no introduction. As a master colorist and textile designer, Kaffe is known for legendary designs and fantastic quilts. Kaffe is back with new images, new patterns, and a new look at his most storied designs. Timeless Themes explores the classic, bold patterns that we’ve come to know and love from Kaffe. Each chapter focuses on a pattern theme from the Kaffe Fassett Collective―whether stripes, circles, geometrics, and botanicals, or wild paisleys and retro zig zags.
An archive of Kaffe’s photos, collected over the last 50 years, is presented alongside images of the fabrics they inspired. An exciting addition to any quilter’s library, Timeless Themes blends the best elements of Kaffe’s life and inspiration, resulting in a fresh look at the designer at work―a must-have for readers everywhere.
5. Mosaic Knitting Workshop
Author: Ashleigh Wempe
Release Date: June 2023
Mosaic knitting is a quick-to-learn technique that will enable you to make beautiful, colourful knitted projects in no time. This collection of techniques and knitting patterns for mosaic knitted homewares and accessories, includes everything you need to get started with this exciting technique.
Unlike other knitting colourwork techniques, mosaic knitting is beginner-friendly. If you know basic knitting stitches you can make these projects. The patterns in this collection avoid any complicated shaping and are knitted flat to keep them as accessible and beginner friendly as possible.
This collection includes 15 projects with stunning geometric designs including wraps, shawls and cowls as well as blankets, throws and pillow covers. Create your own colour combinations with ease.
6. Hand-Stitched Quilts
Author: Carolyn Forster
Release Date: June 2023
The fabulous Carolyn Forster teaches us how to patchwork and quilt with this latest release.
In her brand-new book, Carolyn Forster demonstrates all the techniques to hand-piece a variety of blocks and hand-quilt them together. Through a series of ‘bite-size’ lessons, you will be taken through the process of making your quilt chronologically, so you not only understand the order in which to craft your quilt, but you build up your skills as you progress through the book.
Learn how to cut out your fabrics with and without templates, how to sew your patches together, and then get stuck into sewing a gorgeous library of blocks! There are 27 different blocks to make, each with its own piecing instructions, piecing diagrams, and helpful photographs that show the front and back of the block. Templates for every block are included at the back of the book, at full size.
Once your blocks are ready to go, Carolyn shows you how to quilt them, using a combination of hand stitching and big-stitch quilting. Illustrated instructions are also included on how to construct and bind your quilt at the very end.
7. Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New
Author: Christen Brown
Release Date: June 2023
Create unique projects with all types of embellishments ― like lace, linens and hankies, trims and ribbons, buttons, and treasured pieces ― with ideas, techniques, and a 100+ stitch library to inspire.
8. Complete Guide To Stabilising (2nd edition)
Author: Deborah Wirsu
Release Date: April 2023
This is your essential guide to stabilising fabric for thread sketching, thread painting and free machine embroidery by artist, Deborah Wirsu.
Discover how to prevent puckering and pull-up before it occurs, and make perfect thread paintings every time.
This revised and updated Second Edition of COMPLETE GUIDE TO STABILISING is your one-stop resource for everything you need to know about stabilising fabric for free-motion thread sketching, thread painting, and free machine embroidery.
In this handy guide, Deborah Wirsu covers everything from what stabilisers are and why they’re needed, to preparing projects and problem-solving.
9. Stumpwork Embroidery: Basic Stumpwork Embroidery Patterns To Try
Author: Dawn Dalmon
Release Date: May 2023
This is a fantastic tutorial for absolute beginners wanting to learn Stumpwork embroidery. With easy to follow instructions you’ll be stitching away like a pro in no time. So why not give stumpwork embroidery a try? You won’t regret it!
If you’re looking for a new and exciting way to decorate your fabric, then you should definitely try stumpwork embroidery. This craft is incredibly fun, and it can be used to create a wide variety of designs. Plus, it’s a great way to learn new embroidery stitches and techniques.
10. Sashiko For Absolute Beginners
Author: Julian E Reed
Release Date: June 2023
Discover the ancient Japanese art of Sashiko with this comprehensive guide. Dive into the world of Sashiko stitching and unlock your creativity as you learn the intricate techniques to create stunning patterns and projects.
With detailed step-by-step instructions and helpful resources, this book will take you on a journey through the history, tools, and materials of Sashiko, empowering you to master this timeless craft. Whether you’re a novice looking to explore a new hobby or an experienced stitcher seeking to refine your skills, this book is your ultimate companion.
Get ready to embark on a Sashiko adventure and bring the beauty of this traditional stitching art to life.
Future Releases
Textile Portraits: People and Places in Textile Art
Author: Anne Kelly
Release Date: September 2023
A creative and beautiful book packed with inspiring ideas to help you capture likenesses and explore personalities in stitch, from a well-loved textile artist.
Anne Kelly’s evocative and nostalgic work often incorporates portraits. From friends to historical figures and even pets. Within these pages she shares her approach to textile portraiture, bringing in a wealth of different embroidery techniques. Techniques include hand and machine embroidery, quilting and appliqué, to render in cloth the nuances of facial expressions and the personalities of her subjects.
Chapters include:
- Selfies at Home
- Representation and Culture
- Stylised Imagery
- Place and Time: creating a sense of place with portraiture, sometimes incorporating photographs.
- Story and Text: how to create a fuller narrative by deeply personal ephemera and related imagery.
- Pet Projects.
Beautifully illustrated with stunning examples of her own work and that of intriguing textile artists who specialise in portraiture from around the world, this is the ideal book for embroiderers and textile artists who want to introduce this often tricky subject area into their work.
Kaffe Fassett’s Quilts by the Sea
Author: Kaffe Fassett
Release Date: September 2023
For this landmark 25th book in his highly successful patchwork and quilt series, Kaffe Fassett has chosen the southern coast of England as the inspiration for his new collection of quilts — Kaffe Fassett’s Quilts By the Sea!
The gallery section of the book showcases the 21 new designs, all brilliantly photographed on location by Debbie Patterson. The geometric lines of similarly toned beach huts enhance the deep jewel tones of Kaffe’s Maroon Frames. Kaffe’s Vintage Stars has an old-world quality featuring earthy tones that are brilliantly set against the backdrop of a brick garden wall. The stunning Colour Garden quilt, featured on the cover, feels perfectly at home draped over an old fishing boat overlooking the sea, while his confectionary Fruit Sorbet cushion showcases taffy-inspired pastels sure to inspire a cosy afternoon by the beach.
With Kaffe’s classic fabrics and his forward-thinking new designs, quilters can find an eclectic mix of patterns and colours ranging from Philip Jacobs’ eye-catching large-scale floral prints to Brandon Mably’s smaller-scale quirky patterns.
Mix and Match Modern Crochet Blankets
Author: Esme Crick
Release Date: August 2023
Create one-of-a-kind striped modular blankets with this unique mix-and-match approach.
Featuring 100 crochet stripe patterns for modern striped blankets, this book opens up a world of design possibilities for crochet blankets, as you how you choose to combine the strips is completely up to you!
Making modular blankets is not a new concept, but most books tend to focus on granny squares to do this. By crocheting individual strips instead, you can achieve a much more modern look, with pattern, colour and texture variations tailored to suit your individual style. Working in this modular way makes crocheting blankets achievable, portable and fun, as each strip is worked along the short edge, making long starting chains a thing of the past!
With chapters including Classic Stitches, Tapestry Crochet, Mosaic Crochet, Texture, Cables and Ribs, and Embellishments, this collection offers almost infinite possibilities to create unique striped blankets that are fun to work on as well as beautiful when finished.
As well as the 100 strip patterns, there are 5 example blankets showing different combinations of strips, plus additional ideas for using the strips in other ways, such as scarves, bags and homewares.
