The Complete Book of Stumpwork Embroidery (Milner Craft Series) [Hardcover]

Jane Nicholas (Author)

Book Description

Series: Milner Craft Series | Publication Date: August 28, 2005

In bygone times, the style of raised embroidery called stumpwork was the culmination of a young woman's education. Jane Nicholas, a leading modern embroiderer, has researched stumpwork for more than 20 years to create this dazzling compendium of its intricate techniques and colorful 3-dimensional effects. Beginning with detailed instructions on different ways of creating raised padded shapes, she goes on to offer a virtual cornucopia of nature-based designs--flowers, fruits, birds, animals, and insects--arranged in delightfully realistic patterns and interspersed with charming quotations. Elegant, useful, and inspiring, her book is a must-have for all dedicated embroiderers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

From Australia, Jane Nicholas is one of the world's foremost stumpwork embroiderers. She is also an acclaimed embroiderer in gold work, crewel and ethnic embroidery. She has been researching stumpwork for nearly twenty years, has authored four books on raised embroidery, and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to further her studies in the U.K. in 1999. She teaches regularly in Australia and New Zealand, and has taught for the Embroiderers' Guilds of the U.S.A. and Canada. Jane has a passion for books and is an avid collector of old textiles, needlework tools and insect specimens - to embroider in stumpwork

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Sally Milner Publishing (August 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1863513418
• ISBN-13: 978-1863513418
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #688,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jane Nicholas has been researching and working in the field of embroidery for over twenty years. Specialising in stumpwork and goldwork embroidery, she has written seven books and has contributed widely to journals and magazines on the subject. In 1999 Jane was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to further her studies in stumpwork in the United Kingdom and in 2005 was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for her services to hand embroidery as an artist, teacher, and author.

She teaches widely for Embroiderers' Guilds and businesses in Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America, and continues to research and develop new techniques - particularly in stumpwork. She is recognised internationally as being at the forefront of modern designers interpreting this form of raised embroidery. Jane's interests include old textiles, oriental porcelain, insect specimens, and film, music and books. Jane and her husband John live in Bowral, NSW and have three grown-up children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Caution, August 11, 2005

By 

S. A. Fennell (NY, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Book of Stumpwork Embroidery (Milner Craft Series) (Hardcover)

Gorgeous book, vintage Nicholas - HOWEVER, please be advised that this is merely a combination of her Stumpwork Embroidery Designs & Projects and Stumpwork Embroidery Fruits Flowers & Insects. There are no new projects. No review that I have read bothers to mention this.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, but not for beginners, February 13, 2006

By 

Metanoia (Adelaide, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Book of Stumpwork Embroidery (Milner Craft Series) (Hardcover)

If you don't have a lot of stumpwork or embroidery experience then I suggest this is not the book for you. While the designs are lovely and there are step by step instructions (and it is great value as it is two books combined in one), as a beginner myself I am now looking for something a little easier before tackling projects from this book again.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A labor of love and stitches, March 25, 2008

By 

A. Ryan "Merribelle" (Westminster, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Book of Stumpwork Embroidery (Milner Craft Series) (Hardcover)

If you enjoy a more classical feel to your embroidery and you have been looking to add another dimension to your needlework, The Complete Book of Stumpwork Embroidery will literally do just that. Stumpwork is a traditional, three-dimensional embroidery that has its origins in the 1500s, which was of course the Renaissance, and in keeping with those times it is rich and detailed with all sorts of natural and botanical themes. Author Jane Nicholas keeps to a somewhat modernized version of this style and warm, earth toned color palette in the designs that she features in the Complete Book of Stumpwork Embroidery.

I have enormous respect for all the time and research that went into the project pictured at the beginning of this book. Ms. Nicholas decided that the best way to learn stumpwork was to make a sampler, so she started on a design that would take her 5 years to complete as she learned -- and the result is the lavish, detailed masterpiece that decorates the endpapers. It is a wonderful study in Stuart-style raised embroidery, both in theme, composition and technique. It is the perfect hint of what is to come further into CBOSE.

The author is systematic in explaining the tools and basic methods for beginners in the Introduction. Chapter One lists general materials and equipment (which, by the way, are common and easy to obtain in the USA). DMC floss is called for in most projects, and somebody who has the needles and hoops etc. for needle working would probably have all the equipment beforehand. Chapter Two gives general instructions. From there one simply looks up individual elements for embroidering, which are listed alphabetically (Starting at Acorn and ending with Tulip, then other chapters on Field Flowers and Wildlife). In theory, you could re-create the sampler if you pay careful attention and follow the instructions; or, you could combine the elements into your own designs and projects.

Then there comes the second half, which was originally another book published separately . This half is a series of smaller projects: roundels, brooches, a mirror frame, a chatelaine, a pendant. . The photos of the projects are clear but mostly clumped toward the center. You look up the instructions for each element from the first half of the book, then follow her diagrams and Order of Work. I think of this half as the more beginner-friendly half, as it is easy to find something small (unintimidating) to get started with. On the other hand, it is an awkward system because of the constant flipping through the pages for each part of the design. Then, if you need a refresher or more instruction on some of the embroidery stitches, you look them up at the back of the book. So you can see how it would be much less frustrating for somebody with basic embroidering experience to come to stumpwork through this book than it would be for an absolute novice.

Yes, this is a complete book on stumpwork embroidery as the title promises., at least as complete as possible in one book. I recommend having some general embroidery experience before you use this book to learn stump work, but you don't have to be proficient to get started. Happy stitching!
-Andrea, aka Merribelle