Book Review: Sew & Stitch Embroidery

Disclosure: I was sent the PDF version of this book to review : I really like it! Read on to find out why!

I am a bit excited to tell you about a book by one of my favourite bloggers! Alyssa from Penguin and Fish has released her second book: Sew and Stitch Embroidery and I think you will like it a lot! Alyssa has been part of the online craft community since 2007 so you know that means she’s totes legit! I’ve been following her work since way back then, so I was really excited to hear about this book, especially because it’s embroidery focused!

You might not know, if you have come to my blog recently, that I am a bit of a fan of stitchy fun.  The craft group I started with my friend Kirsty (Brown Owls!) developed from the Stitching Nights I used to throw at my old shop in Richmond. I actually MET Kirst at one of those Stitching Nights, truth be told. Anyway, the Stitching Nights were heaps of fun.

I bought a huge boardroom table from the Salvation Army and lots of cheap stools from the dollar shop.  We all sat in the middle of the shop and learned to embroider sipping champagne and eating delicious cupcakes made by my pal Cass. I spent ages making all the stitchers little presents (like these pears) and when everyone arrived I manned the ironing board, ironing people’s designs onto fabric so they could stitch the night away. We lived upstairs at the time, so crafty types had to go upstairs to use the bathroom and would sometimes sight one of the kids peeking around the doorway into the hall. It was all a bit cute really. Super fun.

Since then I’ve stitched lots of things (and Brown Owls has taken on a life of its own.) When people ask me the best craft for beginners, I always say embroidery because I think it’s really fun, creative, customisable and meditative.  You can embroider all kinds of designs, drawing your own or printing off outlines from storybooks or motifs and designs from crafty tomes. You can execute most ideas if you have the patience and time.

And that’s why I think this book is really wonderful. It’s perfect for adults and for younger crafters too because it has a guide to different stitches and techniques tucked inside. Apart from the stitch guides and other useful bits there are lots of adorable projects with templates to accompany them. Everything has a joyful, illustrated quality just perfect for cute (and possibly a tiny bit imperfect) stitchers of all ages.

This might be JUST the book for your favourite stitchy type (or stitcher-to-be!)  Find out more here.

x Pip

:: More stops on Alyssa’s book tour ::

[third]  Tuesday, Oct 8
Mr. X Stitch
Wednesday, Oct 9
Pellon 
Thursday, Oct 10
While She Naps 
Friday, Oct 11
The Last Piece 
Saturday, Oct 12
Feeling Stitchy 
Monday, Oct 14
Wild Olive
Tuesday, Oct 15
Bad Ass Quilters Society
Wednesday, Oct 16
Spoonflower
[/third]

[third]Thursday, Oct 17
 Sew Mama Sew 
Friday, Oct 18
Skunkboy 
Saturday, Oct 19
Meet Me at Mikes
Monday, Oct 21
Quilt Dad 
Tuesday, Oct 22
Follow the White Bunny 
Wednesday, Oct 23
Sarah Jane Studios  [/third]

Are you a bit of a stitcher too?

x Pip