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Essential Stitch Guides
Royal School of Needlework Series
Kate Sinton
Search Press
17 June 2010/ ISBN 1844485862
How-To Books/Embroidery
Reviewed
by Rachel A Hyde
AMAZON
UK
Stumpwork
conjures up images of intricately decorated boxes in stately homes,
showing figures in 17th century costumes surrounded by fantastic
beasts and plants. It is one of the more advanced types of needlework
and gets less coverage than many of the simpler styles. If you love
it and would like to enjoy it in your own home then this book will
give you a start with this fascinating hobby.
This is another good basic book from the Royal School of Needlework,
and like the others obligingly opens out flat and stays flat, which
is so useful for a practical book. In common as well with the other
books in this series, I was impressed by the examples shown of both
17th century and modern pieces, and the instructions on both styles.
There is a good list of what you need to do stumpwork (nothing too
unusual) and a guide to using a slate frame and transferring designs.
The stitches are shown using photographic stages, and are clear
and easy to understand. Some are common to many types of needlework,
but others (mostly the raised stitches) are strictly for stumpwork
and require a good introduction. This includes a section on working
with metal threads, plate and padding, which is remarkably concise.
Add to that the excellent chapters on making slips and creating
figures and you have something rather special. I’ve got more
than one book on this subject on my shelves, but this is definitely
the best one for a beginner. This is not a book of projects, but
a primer that lets you get under the skin of what is usually shown
as a tricky subject and denudes it of its mystery. If you want to
really learn how to do stumpwork and have enough knowledge to design
your own projects then I would recommend this book very highly.
Reviews of other titles in the Royal School of Needlework
Series
Blackwork
Silk
Shading
Crewelwork
Stumpwork
Bead Embroidery
Appliqué
Raised
Embroidery
The
RSN Book of Embroidery
UK Reviewer: Rachel Hyde's work can be found in
The Bead Magazine, Making Jewellery and www.craftsuprint.com/rachel-a-hyde/ |