Yes we’ve been at it again. We’ve trawled the internet, read reviews and marvelled longingly at the stunning images, to bring you our latest list of the most recent book releases. With this list, we’ve tried to cover every subject we offer here at the School of Stitched Textiles. So, whether you looking to learn something new, searching for a great reference book or just want to fill your shelves with lovely books from your favourite authors, you’re sure to find it right here.
Yarn Substitution Made Easy: Matching the Right Yarn to Any Knitting Pattern
Published May 2019
By Carol J Sulcoski
An in-depth guide to choosing the right yarn for your project–including 10 patterns that explore how different yarns affect the outcome of your final product. When beginning a project, every knitter confronts the question: “What yarn should I use?” The answer can be complicated. Sometimes the recommended brand is unavailable or too expensive–or you’d rather use extra yarn from your stash. But even similar products might yield different results, altering structure, size and texture. Now, trusted knitwear designer and teacher Carol J. Sulcoski provides solutions to this common conundrum, offering a wealth of information. She explains what characteristics to consider when substituting yarn and gives guidance on calculating the quantity of yarn you’ll need and how to evaluate your swatches. Ten projects offer case studies of yarn substitution in action; each finished project shows suitable alternatives and reveals how yarn choice affects every aspect of the item.
The Ultimate Kogin Collection: Projects and patterns for counted sashiko embroidery
Published June 2019
By Susan Briscoe
Discover the beautiful Japanese pattern darning technique Kogin and how it can be used to create stunning stitched and quilted projects. Kogin is a variation of the popular Japanese embroidery technique Sashiko and is rapidly becoming as popular as its ‘big sister’.
Japanese embroidery expert, Susan Briscoe, has compiled a collection of over 230 pattern charts – Kogin is a counted embroidery technique – and 12 accompanying projects to create The Ultimate Kogin Collection, following on from her previous title The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook.
The projects range from small and very accessible items such as simple greetings cards and coasters to larger projects including wall hangings and table runners.
Simply Shetland Lace: 6 Knitted Stitches, 20 Beautiful Projects
Published May 2019
by Brooke Nico
Explore traditional Shetland lace knitting with expert teacher Brooke Nico, who demonstrates how just three simple motifs -Feather and Fan and Old Shale; Acre and Razor; and Horseshoe and Leaf – can yield a variety of lovely items, from fashion, to accessories, to home décor. Step-by-step photos and easy-to-follow instructions help even beginners grasp each stitch, and the projects grow progressively more difficult as knitters become more comfortable with the techniques.
Classic to Contemporary String Quilts – Techniques, Inspiration, and 16 Projects for Strip Quilting.
Published April 2019
by Mary M Hogan
From wall hangings to full-size bed quilts, these 14 fun stash-busting projects take string quilts in a new direction. Mary M. Hogan uses strips and scraps of fabric to re-imagine traditional and beloved quilt blocks as string blocks. Get ready for a stylish, fresh take on a time-honoured quilt making technique string quilts! Strings are strips and scraps of fabric that are usually too small to be useful for most projects, but they’re just right for the fun designs in this complete step-by-step guide.
Knitted Animal Friends: Over 40 knitting patterns for adorable animal dolls, their clothes and accessories
March 2019
by Louise Crowther
Learn to make an adorable collection of knitted animal toys with these new patterns by the author of My Knitted Doll, Louise Crowther. Louise brings her unique style of coordinated knitwear with cute colour-work details to this new collection of toy animal knitting patterns.
There are a total of 13 knitted animals – each with their own unique personality and style. The animals all have the same basic body, with a few colour variations and tail additions, so the clothes can be mixed and matched between them to create endless outfit possibilities.
Choose your favourite animals and outfits and have fun making the perfect gift for friends and family.
Botanica: The three-dimensional embroidery of Julie Kniedl.
January 2019
by Inspirations Studio
Enter a world where nature is re-created with such incredible realism, one can scarcely tell the art from the original. This is the world of Julie Kniedl and her astonishing three-dimensional embroidery. Discover and learn this innovative, three-dimensional embroidery style and create spectacular botanical pieces, inspired by beautiful garden specimens. Twelve stunning projects are included, using simple stitches and a handful of techniques to create elegant and realistic interpretations of natural subjects. Each piece is captured with stunning photography and detailed instructions are provided for every step.
Mindful Crochet: 35 creative and colourful projects to help you be in the moment, relieve stress and manage pain.
February 2019
by Emma Leith
Anyone who’s ever tried to master a new stitch or work out which granny squares should go where on a blanket will appreciate how crochet can totally engage your attention and harness your creativity. Being “in the moment” is an essential part of following a pattern, keeping your yarn on the hook, counting stitches and remembering which colour to use next. Emma Leith shows how these qualities can become a form of mindfulness practice, bringing you peace, calm and a greater sense of well-being. There are projects you can make for yourself or your home, and others designed to be given as gifts. The satisfaction you’ll get from creating these lovely makes and seeing others appreciate them is another important way in which crochet can encourage a positive outlook and bring happiness.
The Textile Artist: The Seasons in Silk Ribbon Embroidery: 20 beautiful designs, techniques and inspiration.
Published April 2019
by Tatiana Popova
Silk ribbon embroidery enthusiasts all over the world have been discovering the work of renowned Ukrainian embroiderer, Tatiana Popova. Here she teaches all the essential techniques and stitches you need, including traditional ribbon-work and thread embroidery, as well as new ways of working that she has developed herself to make silk ribbon embroidery easier.
The second part of the book is devoted to 20 stunning projects inspired by the seasons, each accompanied by numerous step-by-step photos, diagrams and instructions. These include vibrant floral arrangements as well as romantic and whimsical designs such as hearts, owls and posies, and there are ideas for seasonal gifts such as an Easter wreath, a Wedding Day heart and a Christmas star. Ten of the designs feature full-size images to scan and print on your fabric before embroidering.
Whether you are new to ribbon embroidery or an experienced embroiderer looking for inspiration and expert guidance, Tatiana’s beautiful book is one you will turn to again and again.
Finishing School: A Master Class for Knitters
Published April 2019
by D. Newton
Notable knitter and designer Deborah Newton shares her expertise and love of finishing techniques in an on-the-page master class. Finishing School is THE most trusted resource on finishing techniques for knitting. Compiling her sage wisdom from more than 25 years of experience, Deborah Newton offers a welcoming and straightforward approach that empowers knitters to create professional-looking garments and accessories. She patiently takes her student-readers through every essential finishing technique–blocking, seaming, buttonholes and bands, zippers, edgings, pockets, and other embellishments–and carefully demystifies it with detailed photography, in-depth examples, and helpful sidebars, tips, and tutorials. As a bonus, 15 patterns for sweaters, jackets, and scarves, many with variations, illustrate the newly learned techniques to further cement essential skills.
Farmhouse-Style Quilting.
Published April 2019
by Annie’s Quilting
Create quilts from a time long past, but still very much a part of the quilting experience. These 14 quilt designs revisit a time when quilting was a necessity for most families. A time when every piece of cloth was put to use. The quilters of this era were truly some of the best. This book recreates the designs of a time when simple was beautiful. Farmhouse-Style Quilting is for the quilter who is looking for simple but elegant country quilting at its best.
Beginner’s Guide to Colorwork Knitting: 16 Projects and Techniques to Learn to Knit with Color
Published March 2019
by Ella Austin
If you long to knit stunning Fair Isle jumpers and brightly coloured blankets for your home this is the perfect book. Learn all the techniques for how to start knitting with colour and create really desirable projects as you learn. Choose from brightly coloured stripy socks and work your way up to a patterned beanie hat and even a stunning sweater with a colourwork yoke. Even if you can only knit and purl, with this book you’ll be making gorgeous colourwork accessories before you know it!
Understanding 3D Embroidery: Adding Volume (Haute Couture Embroidery Series)
Published May 2019
by Saskia ter Welle
The second part of the Haute Couture Embroidery Series, focuses on techniques to add volume to your embroidery.
This book contains a playground of techniques and materials to realise a specific effect that enhances the design of a garment. It is a play with opposites: colour versus non-colour, radiance versus matte, dark versus light, or volume versus even or flat. As such, a book on ‘adding volume’ will show you only part of the picture. As you read this book and try out some of the embroidery techniques, you will get a more complete understanding of the richness in techniques which are available and used in haute couture embroidery.
Hand-stitched Landscapes and Flowers: 10 charming embroidery projects with templates
Published February 2019
by Katrina Witten
Create beautiful landscapes and flowers using hand-stitching and layered organza.
Hand-stitched Landscapes and Flowers is a beautiful exploration of the potential of embroidery in depicting the natural world.
Katrina Witten, who is a regular on crafts channel Hochanda, uses no more than six simple stitches for each embroidery, plus delicate embellishments and an array of techniques and fabrics to portray pastoral scenes of fields, flowers and creatures with eye-catching three-dimensional effects.
There are ten detailed projects to try, depicting, among others, a hedgerow, a bluebell-emblazoned woodland, sunflowers, a poppy field and a summer scene of buddleia, butterflies and bees.
Crewelwork Embroidery
Published June 2019
by Becky Quine
This book brings Crewelwork right up to date. It mixes contemporary styles with older traditions to give an exciting twist on this enduring and beautiful style of embroidery. Becky Quine, a tutor of the Royal School of Needlework, clearly explains each step to making a piece, from early planning to stitching and finally to presentation. She encourages new ideas and a fresh, creative look at this popular and timeless technique. Advice on design is given along with working with colour and how to plan and stitch a piece of embroidery. This new book includes a guide to framing up and transferring a design onto fabric. There are step-by-step sequences to over forty different stitches ranging from filling to outlining stitches, and from accent stitches to new creative ideas.
Applique Embroidery
Published February 2019
by Florence Daisy Collingwood
Applique is the fascinating and versatile technique of applying one fabric to another. This beautiful book covers the principles within the technique, from the design stage through to padding, edgings and decorative stitches. It explains how to use a great collection of materials and threads, along with a rich array of stitches and textures to give dimension and contrast, thereby creating a unique piece of art. It is lavishly illustrated with 450 colour photographs. Written by a widely respected teacher, the book draws on her extensive examples to illustrate various applications and designs within this specialised and delightful area of embroidery. It is a book to be kept close and treasured.
Folk Embroidered Felt Birds: 20 modern folk art designs to make & embellish
Published March 2019
by Corinne Lapierre
Popular author Corinne Lapierre creates a charming range of 20 exquisite folk embroidered felt birds. Including a swan, a hen, a goose, a partridge, an owl, a dove, a peacock and a flamingo. Beautifully made in lovely, soft colours, the birds are filled with toy stuffing and embellished with folk-style surface embroidery in different-coloured threads. The stitches include chain stitch, feather stitch, fly stitch, running stitch, blanket stitch, French knots and satin stitch. There are also bead and sequin embellishments on some birds.
The book includes lovely, hand-drawn step-by-step illustrations and there are same-size templates at the back of the book for all the designs. The birds all have optional ribbon hangers for display.
WOWbook 04
Published June 2019
by d4daisy with guest editor Lynda Monk
This is the latest instalment of the highly esteemed WOWbooks (Workshop on the Web), founded by textile artist, Maggie Grey. This edition is packed with amazing step-by-step projects by leading artists and includes:
- Sue Brown is ‘Making an Impression’ with gum arabic transfer printing
- Wendy Dolan creates a Gaudi-inspired panel using layered fabrics, paint and stitch
- Anne Hellyer makes an appliquéd and machine embroidered seaside village
- Amanda Hislop creates folding forms for her printed and stitched abstract landscapes
- Anne Kelly transforms a pre-loved sewing box in memory of her grandmother
- Celebrity interview, guest editor Lynda Monk talks to Sandra Meech about her work.
