To
learn more about the century's old art of embroidery, visit
your local library or subscribe to a magazine devoted to the
art of embroidery. Your library will generally have good reference
works for all the stitches used in embroidery.
I recommend Therese
de Dillmont's Encyclopedia of Embroidery as
a basic staple; Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Stitches (see
if you can find the 1934 or 1978 edition); Country Bumpkin's A
to Z of Embroidery Stitches; Marion Nichols Dictionary
of Embroidery Stitches including Crewel. There
are several other very good basic stitch dictionaries, including
Coats
& Clark 101 Embroidery Stitches which
can usually be easily found in most craft or fabric stores and
is quite inexpensive.
Two magazines currently
on the market which deal with surface embroidery are Inspirations and Australian
Cross Stitch & Embroidery. If you
can read Italian, Rakam is
a superior magazine of needlework, and Anna (Burda
publication) is in both English and German. The latter two magazines
usually contain some emberoideries which are more difficult,
however not all of the patterns are beyond the reach of beginners.
Heritage Shoppe
will gladly answer any questions you may have, and guide you
on the use of stitches and workmanship. Contact me
for a personal lesson. Above all, don't give up. Spend
an hour or so each evening on the creative art of embroidery. |
