Beginner's Guide to Machine Embroidered Landscapes [Paperback]

Alison Holt (Author)

Book Description

Series: Beginner's Guide to | Publication Date: December 1, 2001

Many people at first mistake Alison Holt's embroideries for paintings or even photographs. Alison's way of working has evolved into a technique of painting with threads on to a canvas of hand-painted silk. She uses two basic stitches - straight stitch in various combinations and zigzag stitch - to make fine and broad brushstrokes on silk, blending both to achieve stunning results. The raised embroidery on the glowing coloredcolorful background produces a beautiful three-dimensional effect. This comprehensive and colourful book covers everything from composing a landscape and setting up the machine to choosing threads and silk dyes and framing up. Alison encourages the reader to experiment with the techniques as they go along, making sure the colorcolorful, length and direction of stitch are right for the effect they are trying to recreate. Step-by-step demonstrations of an autumn river bank and colourful flower border are included as are many examples of Alison's inspiring and original work.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The world of machine embroidery is bewildering. Where do you begin? I would personally reach out for Alison Holt's books (see other reviews for all three and the DVD). Why Alison? Not only does she have a thorough grounding of sewing machines and how to use them for painting with thread, but she also has a love and knowledge of flowers and plants that comes through in her exquisite work. Alison's work is quite detailed and she is an enthusiastic teacher. In this book she gives a basic introduction to equipment for machine embroidery including choosing threads and for silk painting. She also discusses design and using photographs, colour and painting a background fabric. This fabulous book encourages the machine embroiderer to experiment with different stitches to achieve the effect they want. There are three complete step-by-step embroideries to complete. This 80-page book is a tremendous beginner's guide to its subject. With lots of practice, you should be able to complete the projects.-KarenPlatt.co.uk When I saw the works of Alison Holt for the first time, I thought these are beautiful landscape photographs. But as I looked more closely, I could hardly believe it that these were actually embroidered pictures. The light and shade are fantastic, the natural colours and the perspective. In her embroideries not only the colors succeed in representing forms and structures, but she also tries to catch the moment where she meets the light. She is a painter on the sewing machine for me.-Patchwork Professional

About the Author

Alison Holt studied Fine Art, Textiles and Embroidery at Goldsmiths College, London where she experimented with many textile techniques before choosing machine embroidery as a medium. She started to explore her love of gardens and the countryside through embroidery, finding it the perfect vehicle to express the various textures and forms she finds so fascinating. She now teaches machine embroidery, silk painting and surface decoration and runs courses at her studio. She also works to commission, and exhibits her embroideries in Britain and America. Her work is sold to private collectors all over the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Search Press (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0855329173
• ISBN-13: 978-0855329174
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 7.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #544,203 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Technique for an Old Embroider..., August 21, 2003

By 

J Keistler "[e-mail]" (Lake Jackson, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beginner's Guide to Machine Embroidered Landscapes (Paperback)

I've been into freehand machine embroidery and thread painting for 20 years, using ordinary sewing machines. I still don't see the attraction for the new embroidery machines, simply copying stuff off of a computer, but obviously everyone doesn't agree!

It is regrettable, though, that many younger or less-experienced sewers don't realize that there is a long and rich history of machine embroidery dating back into the 19th century, long before even zigzag stitching was available. Expensive and complicated embroidery machines are NOT required to make beautiful and original artworks.

This fact is ably demonstrated in Ms. Holt's book. She has a technique that is apparently more popular in Britain than here. It involves coloring the background fabric-in this case dying silk-with a preliminary rough sketching of the scene. This is followed by the appropriate stitching to make the scene. I am new to this technique and have yet to try it. However, it looks like it should be simple enough even for a non-painter like me to obtain good results.

One of the great attractions of this book, and one of the reasons it's worth its price, are the profuse color illustrations of her work, along with dozens of color photos of the techniques involved in its production.

I am looking forward to trying Ms. Holt's method for producing machine embroidered art. This book should serve as a great illustration and instructional tool for those interested.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Machine Embroidered Landscapes are POSSIBLE., September 29, 2005

By 

Sandra Collins "Sandy" (Sequim, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beginner's Guide to Machine Embroidered Landscapes (Paperback)

While Ms. Holt emphasizes using silk fabric, this is not necessary, so don't let that scare you away from this wonderful book. Her illustrations are many, and the directions are written very clearly. If you have a machine that sews zig zag stitches, you can do this, even if you are a beginner! For those of us who are a bit more seasoned, this will take us to new levels and inspriations.
The day I got my book, I went to my stash and pulled out some cotton fabric with a garden theme. I drew what I wanted to put in the foreground on paper, using Alison Holt's instructions. By using the cotton theme fabric, I avoided the need to use silk, resist and dyes. Her instructions for determining where you want to put more stitching are so very clear, that I could sit right down and create my own masterpiece. I loved using all the different thread colors that I just couldn't resist buying, but never used, too. I made mine pretty big (36x36), and it is lovely.

Ms. Holt has delivered a book that will no doubt be a predicessor to a whole new way of using our machines. Who needs to buy an embroidery machine when you have this book with its clear and easily understood directions??

Get it now.........you won't be disappointed!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So What Is Machine Embroidery?, September 6, 2005

By 

John E. Button "kiwi codger" (Kerikeri New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beginner's Guide to Machine Embroidered Landscapes (Paperback)

This Reference Book is a Classic! The illustrations & instructions are so well presented whether you are a beginner like me or well versed in this little known pastime there really is something for everyone. Get it now before it's too late then drag out your old sewing machine-it's playtime!
PS My husband has written this review-i'm too busy!