Embroidery for Everyone

by Kelly Fletcher

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Embroidery for Everyone is a nice collection of beginner to intermediate friendly surface embroidery patterns and tutorials by Kelly Fletcher. Released 19th Oct 2021 by Quarto on their becker & mayer! imprint, it's 128 pages and is available in paperback format.

The introductory chapters cover materials, fabric and thread choices, needles, scissors, tensioning devices (hoops) etc etc. as well as stitch diagrams with color photographs showing needle positions and the steps to form each stitch. The step-by-step photos are annotated and accompanied by explanatory text. They're clear and easy to follow.

It should be noted that this book is about surface embroidery, not cross stitch. It's lovely to see tutorials and and upswing in interest for the other fibrearts; it seems like only cross-stitch had any following for a long long time and it's nice to see surface embroidery enjoying a renaissance.

The bulk of the book contains the patterns for the projects in sequential order. The pattern keys contain the flosses by DMC 6 strand floss number. Conversion charts for other brands of floss are not provided in the book, but conversion charts are readily accessible online for readers who prefer another brand of floss, or silk instead of cotton.

The pattern charts are in full color with color keys in a footer bar under the pattern shown with a simplified color line drawing showing the stitch type. The charts also contain color designations for each floss used in the pattern. The patterns are simple and lend themselves well to further embellishment or can used as they are. Full size templates are included in the back of the book for all of the projects.

This would make a nice gift, perhaps bundled with some stitching supplies, for a friend who wants to learn to stitch. It would also make a nice selection for public or school library acquisition, or as a good inspiration source for the home studio.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.