Customer Reviews

Exploring Elizabethan Embroidery (Elizabethan needlework)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book a few years back, so I could reproduce an Elizabethan/Jacobean era coif I saw at the V&A. The instructions are laid out extremely well. There are many useful stitches included in this book that you will be hard-pressed to find in another volume, though I would hesitate to label it "comprehensive" since there were a couple of embroidery stitches from that period that I had to hunt for elsewhere. Needless to say, it was a valuable reference that helped me re-create a period piece, and if you're interested in doing the same, I would recommend this book.

I took this book to a meeting of the Embroiderer's Guild of America (which you should join, BTW) and they loved it. The cover design is gorgeous and each section is explained in sampler style to introduce and explain the techniques with which you recreate it. It inspires you to consider applying these designs on different media such as cross stitch or quilting. It's just a great buy.

Beautiful book, with easy to follow instructions and well illustrated with photos of the projects rather than sketches.

This is a SMALL book of a few crewel stitches. Assume that what you see on the cover is what you get inside. I am distressed that the author shows how to make *some* of the stitches, but does not show the final completed stitch. Many stitches she appears to feel are self-evident, and doesn't even show the steps to complete them. There are a very few patterns for completed pieces. (The Wood Nymph is particularly ... words fail me.) There are some photographs - not close enough to evaluate or understand the stitches involved. It's not a BAD book, but I've paid far less for much more interesting embroidery books. If I'd paid 1/3 what I paid, I'd still think it was a bit pricey, but interesting enough. At this price, look elsewhere! Any of the Royal School of Needlework Essential Stitch Guides will serve you better.