Customer Reviews

The Threads & Crafts book of Ribbon Embroidery and Stumpwork (Threads & Crafts)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Not your traditional stumpwork book and not for the beginner. It is a wonderful combination of two of my favourite forms. The cover details the entire book. It's one project - which can be ordered seperately as a kit from South Africa or use the diagrams contained in the back of the book. There are great instructions and different methods on how to reproduce the picture and transfer it to fabric. The photos and colours are very clear and they even give you photos of the threads used so you can match them to colours you can get although I understand that her hand painted threads and ribbons are marketed worldwide.

The techniques detailed are different from ones I have been taught before and so it offers a new aspect to learning stumpwork. I just love the marriage of these two forms in this book. I would definitely recommend this for someone who wants a challenging new project that will take them a while!

This book has plenty of full colour photos (and some coloured drawings) of surface embroidery stitching for floral sprays and designs.

There is a up-to-date introductory section on methods and available materials: colour transfer techniques, fabrics, ribbons, threads, needles,etc. This is followed by a pictoral section on stitch glossary (for ribbon embroidery stitches) and a more detailed section on stumpwork stitching techniques, with text explanation and close-up photos.

The main content of the book presents the stitching of the 12 panels of floral design by the author (shown partly on the book cover), and depicted in both water colour painting and black & white line drawing at the end of the book. For each of the panel, the recommended material list (including colour scheme) and stitching techniques are given, illustrated side by side with close-up photos.

Overall, this is a neat stitchery book, and a feast to the eye for those reading the book for floral design and stitching ideas.

This book was "hot" on the silk ribbon embroidery list I subscribe to. Individual directions, with explicit color pictures, give instructions for each design. These designs can be used exactly as the author has pictured them or for more experienced stitchers, incorporated into one's own design. Beautiful book for beginner or experienced ribbon embroiderer.

This book is a wonderful guide for the beginner such as myself to ribbon embroidery and stumpwork. Along with lovely ideas for ribbon embroidery, it taught me the stumpwork basics such as making wired stems, that are raised and attached to the design, and it shows how to make stumpwork leaves and petals, such as Fuchsia leaves and the Pansy petals. Little insect wings like the butterfly and dragonfly have detached wired wings that are made separately and then stitched to the design. Other stumpwork techniques are shown, such as how to work over beads, and how to make padded shapes (the little basket for the orange tree for instance). The stumpwork slips for the hydrangeas are super for forming round, raised flowers. This book teaches one how to combine easy stumpwork techniques with beautiful ribbon embroidered flowers and I recommend it for the beginner to both ribbon embroidery and stumpwork.

It has been quite some time since I was last so inspired by a book of this nature.

I loved every page!

After spending time in Cape Town, and visiting the Crafters' Market at the V&A Waterfront, where this talented artist has a storefront, I could not believe the absolutely beautiful pieces of "art work", that one could create using ribbon embroidery and stumpwork! Upon my arrival back home, I obtained a copy of this wonderful book, and began my "adventure" into the world of ribbon embroidery! As a beginnner embroiderer, I was doubtful of my ability to produce such "masterpieces", but after sitting down with Ms. Van Niekerk's book, my worries were cast aside! Not only has this talented artist provided a wonderful pictorial "Stitch Glossary" for the crafter, but she has also given the reader very clear and exact instructions to create these beautiful stitches!!
After reading some of the reviews left by other readers, I have to admit to being "puzzled" by the review left by "Anonymous". Apparently this reader did not go further than the "Stitch Gossary", and must have missed the explanations of "how-to" create the stitches, because I had absolutely no problem following the written instructions provided by Ms. Van Niekerk for the completion of the various stitches.
In conclusion, RUN, DON'T WALK, to purchase your own copy of "Ribbon Embroidery and Stumpwork"! You will not be disappointed, and you will be creating your own visual masterpiece!!

This is a good resource for the beginner in silk ribbon embroidery. There is not much of value for the experienced stitcher. And there is very little stumpwork. I think it is misleading to give stumpwork equal weight in the title.

Many of the previous reviews complained that you needed to buy the kit from South Africa, in order to perform the work. Or that there wasn't enough detail and how to.
I have never done this kind of work before and I found it easy as pie! And fun!
The biggest point that might need to be stressed are that the image, which you transfer on to your cloth, needs a transfer. Simply buy transfer sheets (like you would for a T-shirt), then use the "mirror" image on your copy machine; poof! It's ready to go on your cloth and when you iron it on, the words will be facing the right direction instead of accidently inverted.
But talk about opening up a wide, wide world of three dimensional work 3-D. We always think people from the previous centuries just weren't as smart as us, but they were AMAZING to come up with something that is so much fun!
Try it once and enjoy it for years!

I received the book quickly and in wonderful condition. Thank you Amazon.com. I love the book, and am already working on a section of the pattern. The details of instruction and pictures are great for someone new to stumpwork and ribbon embroidery. Di van Niekerk has some wonderful books!

This book is an incredible tool. I loved it. It is perfect for beginners as well as more advanced stitchers. There are lots of new techniques that you will learn about in Perfect World. Especially the embroiderers that want to learn new ideas that have never been done before. One of the best components of this book is the VERY clear diagrams showing how each stitch is done. The book is very well organized and easy to follow, including instructions concerning which needle to use with each type of thread or ribbon. I recommend it HIGHLY!
Daphne Goodyear
Sarasota, Florida

In addition to beautiful color illustrations, the instructions were comprehensive and easy to follow.