Embroidery book great for novices and experts

If you want to feel like a kid again and recapture what it felt like when you first discovered the fascination of embroidery, take a look at “Kids’ Embroidery” by Kristin Nicholas. Her book shows kids of all ages how to get started doing embroidery – or how to start all over again if you have been plying a needle for lo, these many years.

The book covers the basic things one new to embroidery needs to know, such as tools and fabric, embroidery thread and yarn, needles and other items that are helpful to a budding needleworker.

Nicholas encourages the recycling of fabrics to use for embroidery and includes instructions for felting recycled wool fabrics.

Directions for needlepoint, cross-stitch on gingham and free form embroidery are presented in the book.

The section on needlepoint, which Nicholas describes as the easiest form of embroidery, includes projects for coasters and greeting cards.

The cross-stitch on gingham section includes a project for a pillow.

The free form embroidery section invites one to build on what has already been learned and introduces satin, seed, stem and straight stitches. Projects include felt animals, a needle case and a tote bag. Other sections of the book introduce looped stitches, and fancy stitches such as the bullion knot, French knot, spider web stitch and woven bar stitch.

The book is wonderfully illustrated with photographs of boys and girls stitching, wearing or using the items they have created. Illustrations of how to make the stitches are large enough to see well and directions are clearly written.

The Embroidery Around the World and Samplers pages introduce the beginning embroiderer to needlework designs of other cultures and Early America.

Readers are encouraged, using their own designs, to embroider their own clothing, especially T-shirts and jeans.

The tone of the book promotes the building of confidence in youngsters experimenting with floss and fabric for the first time.

Best of all, Nicholas tells how to plan an embroidery party. She suggests that readers give the party in order to share the skill with friends. She suggests making invitations, picking a project and making a sample of the project to show those who attend the party.

The book includes design templates for those not yet confident enough to draw their own designs, and an index.

“Kids Embroidery” is a perfect book for grandmothers who want to share embroidery skills with grandchildren, or for leaders of youth organizations who want to introduce embroidery to the group. It’s also a book school and public libraries will want to add to their collections.

As for those of us who already stitch, the book lets us see embroidery as a child does – new, intriguing, filled with possibility and bound only by the rules we impose on ourselves.

Kristin Nicholas is the illustrator of “Kids Knitting,” the author of “Knitting Today’s Classics” and “Knitting the New Classics.” She is the co-author of “Knitting for Baby.” Nicholas was the creative director of Classic Elite Yarns for more than a decade. She also has done knitting designs for Vogue Knitting and other magazines.

The cost of “Kids’ Embroidery” is $19.95. Call or visit your local bookstore to find out how to obtain the book.

Snippets

Those who attended the All Souls Church bazaar and quilt show in Bangor on Nov. 13 will be happy to learn that the quilt show realized $400 in donations and drew viewers from as far away as Millinocket. Organizers say they plan to hold another quilt show at the bazaar next year.

Ardeana Hamlin welcomes suggestions. Call 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net.