Customer Reviews

Hip to Stitch: 20 Contemporary Projects Embellished with Thread (Hip to . . . Series)

5 star:		(3)
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20 innovative projects with a modern flair, using traditional embroidery stitches. Two projects use a sewing machine to layer thread using free motion stitching inside an outline. Nice technique that can be adapted to many ideas.
I enjoy learning new hand embroidery stitches, so I'm happy to report that there are nice diagrams and instructions for 38 different stitches. The first project is a stitch reference and needle storage book. That'll be nice to have once you've given the cute project away and can't remember what you did...

Never thought of making your own thimbles? Their Korean-inspired fabric and leather thimbles are colorfully embroidered, and look like they'd work up pretty quick. Another quick project is the hair ties. Shapes are stitched on a scrap of cotton and put on cover buttons attached to hair elastics.

All of the projects in this book are small items and probably finish quickly, except for the purse and mittens, since those items are handmade. The other projects are embellishments added to pre-made items - A baby bib stitched with tiny insect designs, an apron decorated with kitchen utensil outlines and measurement conversions.

Favorite projects - Happy Birthday stitched velvet ribbons, embroidered map journal cover and the chicken napkin ring. This is a great book for your craft library. Learn lots of stitches while making quick modern designs.

The book is nicely designed, with many color photos, illustrations and interesting info in sidebar sections. The first chapter discusses notions and materials thoroughly. A beginner could learn embroidery with this book, while most any stitcher will enjoy the stitches and projects.

Twenty modern projects use thread embellishments to turn an accessory into something hip and eye-catching, from hair ties and purses to ordinary one-color mittens and picture frames. Geared to the beginning stitcher, chapters in Hip To Stitch: 20 Contemporary Projects Embellished With Thread provide easy steps, many ideas, and clear pictorial examples of stitches to help new embroiderers and sewers get a feel for different techniques.

I bought this book quite a while ago and never really got into it after the initial flick through.... first impression was some cute projects but lots of print. However I recently finally got into embroidery big time, and have found this book to be a wealth of information. I'm more the type to doodle stitch, or use sublime stitching designs, than the more detailed work in this book. BUT it is the most helpful embroidery (and otherwise) book I have.

Besides giving great diagrams of many stitches, she also teaches other stuff - bookbinding (!), beading, hemming, making pockets, and many other useful things I had no idea about. And the designs are gorgeous. The projects are clever. all in all, definitely not a waste of money or shelf space. A big five star.