This book starts with the basics of free-machine embroidery and leads on to advanced techniques. Heavily illustrated with colour photographs, it includes many of the author's own ideas to make embroidered pictures stand out sculpturally. Building up techniques with textures and applique are explored, together with the use of thick threads, both wrapped and applied, stumpwork and fabric sculpting. The use of painted backgrounds and layers of semi-transparent fabrics add to depth and mood. This book can be a stepping stone to the development of readers' own ideas in this growing art, which is not tied to traditional ways. Two very helpful charts allow you to tell at a glance how the basic stitches are achieved, and how they can be used creatively.

Introduction to the craft of embroidery using a sewing machine, from basic stitches to more advanced techniques. Contains ideas for designs incorporating openwork, overlays, underlays, stumpwork and fabric sculpting. Indexed.

A collection of embroideries focusing on nature, the countryside and sacred places. Each chapter contains an adaptation of a legend or fable.

Explore personal transformation through the stitching of dreams and intentions. Anything but ordinary, Mystical Stitches combines the beloved and accessible craft of embroidery with a spiritual element, introducing a rich treasury of 200 magical symbols you can use to set an intention and create personal icons to wear or embellish items in the home. Christi Johnson offers unique patterns inspired by botanicals, animals, numbers, the cosmos, earth elements, zodiac signs, and mythical beasts, for novice or well-practiced crafters to combine into talismans with personal meaning. Johnson’s folk art style is vibrant and unintimidating and provides a framework for bringing spiritual elements into physical form. This publication conforms to the EPUB Accessibility specification at WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

Blossom into a decorative quilt artist Take advantage of everything your sewing machine has to offer! Decorative quilt artist Deborah Louie teaches how to use the stitch options on your machine and incorporate them into gorgeous appliqué pieces. Follow her step-by-step process of building and adding decorative stitches to individual flowers, then applying them to the background with free-motion decorative stitching. Also, learn how to combine stitches and adjust stitch widths and lengths to create your unique stitch garden. Gain confidence in using your machine while also creating bright and bold floral creations! Make the most of your sewing machine and learn to use decorative stitching Step-by-step instructions for building and applying decorative stitches to individual flowers, leaves, and clamshells Includes 4 projects and patterns for 22 flowers plus leaves and clamshells that can be combined for an endless variety of artwork in bloom

Spend an evening stitching any of the designs in this book and you'll instantly remember what you've always loved about embroidery: it's fun, you can see the design quickly take shape right before your eyes, and in the end you have a delightful piece to brighten your home or office. From beautiful florals to inspirational sayings to whimsical tacos (yes, tacos!), you'll find more than a dozen designs to make you smile. Beverly McCullough of Flamingo Toes provides easy embroidery and finishing instructions so you can display pieces in hoops, on pillows or zip bags, and even on cork and clothing. Beverly's inspiring designs and ideas will make it a pleasure to take each stitch.

Explore the possibilities of freestyle machine embroidery and its applications for quilting and fiber art with this inspirational guidebook for all skill levels. This overview of all the basic methods and stitches for each technique includes step-by-step photographs and illustrations, diagrams, close-ups of sample swatches, troubleshooting tips, and design guidance, altogether elevating crafters' skills to an artistic level. Beginning with an introduction that includes a list of necessary supplies, chapters cover adjusting thread tension, understanding fabric distortion as it relates to stitching direction, and caring for a sewing machine. This comprehensive guide is sure to move crafters beyond the basics of the stitching process to using color and texture creatively in unique designs and professional-grade finishes.