Customer Reviews

Machine Embroidery and More

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This book continues the trend of little content being present in small (96 pages) books filled with full color photographs of the same idea over and over again.

Rather then being called "Machine Embroidery & More", the title should have been "Embellishing Border stripes with Machine Embroider and Hand Beading." Most of the projects consist of a Jinny Beyer Border Print that has been mitered around a plain center. Built-in decorative stitches are sewn over and beside the printed pattern on the border and then many tiny beads are hand sewn. The result is a lavish border in which the amount of labor invested can not be appreciated unless you are standing very close to it. Oddly enough these elaborate borders become the whole interest of the work, for they are placed around a plain and in some projects, very large, single center squares. The result looks like a very lovely, but empty picture frame.

The technique will only appeal to those who enjoy both machine and hand work. The projects for the most part, look incomplete, since the large center part of the quilt is empty. However, I could see the border treatment being use on a special quilt. I would have enjoyed seeing this technique in a single chapter or magazine article, but as an entire book, it is lacking.

Not Recommended.

I love to cruise through the photographs in this book when I am looking for inspiration. It is filled with photos of beautiful embellishments mostly done on border prints. Dibbs shows step by step how to use decorative machine stitches and beads to create fabric with rich texure and sparkle. Most of the book is devoted to 10 projects which use the same technique which is quick and simple to learn and understand. The bright, bold photos really stir my creativity and make me dream of ways I can make a pretty print dress become a spectacular attention grabber, or convert a simple pair of tab top curtains to a focal point by adding a border print stripe and embellishing with rayon and metallic thread along with some well placed seed beads.

I would not use her technique on a quilt, though, as she has done in some of her projects. I think quilts should be snuggly. I think this technique is best in small patches because it packs quite a punch. It can be labor intensive, especially if using many beads, but like rich dessert, a little goes a long way.

This book has some interesting projects but I found them to be incredibly time consuming and lacking in function. A pillow or a quilt that is weighed down with stiff embroidery and beading is not exactly inviting to snuggle with. Don't get me wrong, these projects are original and interesting but I personally feel that if I am going to invest large amounts of time and energy into something, I want to be able to enjoy it afterwards.