The Embroidery Stitch Bible Details An essential reference for embroiderers wishing to improve their technique and add new dimensions to their work. Over 200 embroidery stitches are featured, from basic cross stitch and chain stitch to more complicated couching, laid work, and drawn thread work. Stitches are arranged according to their use, making it a simple task to find the one you need, and each is easily explained in full with colour photographs and easy to follow colour diagrams. Hard cover, 256 pages. Price: $36.95 ($33.59) Contents Introduction Stitch Selector Embroidery Essentials The Stitch Collection Stitches for Fabric Line stitches Chain stitches Blanket stitches Crossed stitches Feather stitches Satin stitches Couching stitches Laid filling stitches Detached stitches Raised stitches Woven stitches Insertion stitches Smocking stitches Drawn thread stitches Pulled stitches Stitches for trimmings Stitches for Canvas Diagonal stitches Straight stitches Crossing stitches Composite stitches Loop and pile stitches Working Practice Counted thread techniques Freestyle embroidery techniques Canvaswork techniques Finishing touches Glossary Index and Credits From the Introduction Embroidery is the art of decorating a fabric with stitches to enrich or add to its beauty. Through the centuries, embroiderers have experimented with the materials available to them, adapting and refining their techniques, drawing inspiration from their surroundings or from the art and ornament of other times and other cultures. Embroidery has been used for many purposes: to commemorate public or private events, to express ideas both political and spiritual, to indicate rank, to tell stories or to celebrate the beauty of the natural world. Although fashions in embroidery come and go, many basic stitches remain the same. From simple cross stitch borders to elaborate goldwork, a repertoire of versatile stitches has accumulated overtime. Over two hundred stitches are described in this book, and many can be used in a wide variety of ways, from bold, practical canvaswork and quilting through to the delicate, lace-like effects of cut work or shadow work. This book is intended to enable you to interpret designs in a flexible way, Whether you are adapting an existing design or inventing your own, this book will help you to choose stitches that are appropriate, both visually and practically, then use them to produce finished work that is uniquely yours. The Stitch Selector is a visual index to all the stitches described; browse here to find the exact stitch you want, then refer to the Stitch Collection for a detailed working description. The Stitch Collection is the heart of the book. The photographed samples are shown full-size. Each stitch is fully described and illustrated with numbered figures, and accompanied by a list of its main uses, with helpful notes on the working method. Many stitches have alternative names; these are also listed, and included in the index as a useful reference aid. The Embroidery Essentials chapter will help you choose appropriate materials and equipment for whatever technique you intend to use. Here you will find general information applicable to all types of embroidery. The Working Practice chapter is divided into four sections; Counted Thread Techniques. Freestyle Embroidery Techniques, Canvaswork Techniques and Finishing Touches. Each one of the Techniques sections includes general working guidelines, followed by specific working methods for various types of embroidery: how to choose and use suitable fabrics, threads and stitches for a wide variety of effects, from dramatic blackworkto intricate three-dimensional techniques. The Finishing Touches section shows you various ways of finishing and displaying different types of embroidery for both decorative and practical purposes, so that your work can be enjoyed and appreciated at its best.