Contrast in Crewel Embroidery
Modern Designs on Light and Dark
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Search Press Ltd
Published:7th Feb '25
Should be back in stock very soon
Discover a wealth of innovative and inspiring ideas for using colour in crewelwork, from one of the world's leading embroiderers, Tatiana Popova.
Explore the interplay of light and dark, and experiment with colour and stitch in this stunning, practical guide to crewelwork. Through her innovative stitch designs and inimitable eye for colour, Tatiana explores how the traditional technique of crewel embroidery can be reimagined for stunning, contemporary results. Inside you’ll find:
- A complete guide to the tools and materials needed.
- A guide to planning successful colour, thread and stitch choices – all explained with invaluable personal insights.
- 4 'smart doodles’, which allow you to produce an accomplished finished piece while you practice your stitches.
- 4 paired 'light and night' embroideries: each pair uses one design but varies the colours of the threads, fabric colour and stitches used, to give two distinctly different results. Each project contains a complete thread and stitch list, which corresponds to detailed photography of the finished embroidery, to make it as accessible as possible.
- All templates included.
- A full stitch directory with more than 130 crewelwork stitches explained step by step, from back stitch to woven wheel.
Whether you are new to embroidery or an experienced embroiderer looking for new ideas and expert guidance, this inspiring, practical book is one you will turn to again and again.
Ukrainian author Popova brings a new vision to crewelwork. Rather than using traditional crewel wools, she creates patterns with the varied stitches and techniques of crewelwork but updates them with cotton floss, perle, and specialty threads. This book uses these threads in contrasting color palettes, and both light and dark fabrics as a base, to show how the same pattern can look startlingly different depending on color choices. There are eight patterns included: four simple “doodles” to practice on, and four complete night and day designs, all with stitch guides. From simple to advanced, each pattern shows how to adapt color choices to create the desired effect. The book includes clear photographs of both process and finished products, as well as an illustrated stitch guide for all the crewel stitches used in the projects. The style is conversational and engaging, with the author’s individual voice coming through.
VERDICT: Sharing crewelwork designs with a focus on fresh colorways, and using threads that many stitchers are already familiar with, this book gives an updated look at the potential of traditional patterns. Popova offers practical crewel inspiration and fun ideas for contemporary embroidery.
-- Melanie Kindrachuk * Library JournISBN: 9781800922716
Dimensions: 280mm x 216mm x 19mm
Weight: 1160g
224 pages