Stumpwork Seasons

In this beautiful book, Kay and Michael Dennis combine traditional stumpwork techniques with up-to-date designs and methods to create an exceptional embroidery illustrating the four seasons. It includes a needlelace swan, a blossom bough, sheep, deer and even a log cabin - all explained in clear, step-by-step photographs. Experienced embroiderers will delight in producing the embroidery as a single piece of work in its own right, though beginners may prefer to focus on one season at a time, producing four separate, though equally as evocative, embroideries.

Table of Contents:
· Over 250 step-by-step photographs and instructions show you how to produce a beautiful stumpwork embroidery illustrating the four seasons. · Details of materials, equipment, stitches and needlelace techniques are given at the beginning of the book, making it suitable for embroiderers of all abilities. · Overflowing with information and helpful tips, this exceptional book will prove an invaluable reference for many years to come.

About the Author :
Kay Dennis is a professional embroiderer and former Chairman of the Guild of Needle Laces. She has been teaching both needlelace and stumpwork for many years and is a member of the Embroiderers' Guild. She has written articles for leading needlecraft magazines and has lectured and demonstrated widely. Michael Dennis, also a former Chairman of the Guild of Needle Laces, now enjoys working in all aspects of woodworking. He assists Kay in all aspects of her work. Kay and Michael have been married for 45 years and live in Northwood, Middlesex, UK.

Review :
Merseyside Embroiderers Guild: The 17th Century art of Stumpwork is revived in this modern day take on an ancient technique using 3 dimensional embroidery to tell a story. This circular embroidery shows in detail aspects of the four seasons. All the methods used are beautifully photographed and explained in clear instructions. There are tiny flowers worked in minute stitches, trees, a house and a large array of wildlife illustrating the change of nature throughout the year. A very useful book for anyone wanting to develop skills in this old technique. Myshelf.com: If you already enjoy embroidery, why not give your work extra dimension and try some stumpwork? This form of embroidery flourished in the 17th century and gets its name from the wood that was formerly used to give dimension. In this book, the wood is back in a starring role and this old craft gets a modern update, without losing any of its indubitable charm. The project is on the front of the book, a circular picture showing the seasons all blending into each other with their associated flora and fauna. This is a very user-friendly book for a fairly complex subject, and takes away much of the mystique that always seems to surround it. The staged diagrams show that it is all perfectly possible with a little effort, and the photography of fine details is excellent. I particularly like the way that beside each stitch there are several close-ups of the parts of the picture that use the stitch, so you can see what it looks like. The complex needlelace and raised stitches lose most of their secrets too, with a combination of photographs and diagrams. Each part of the whole is described in detail, showing what stitches and materials to use and there are some interesting ones! This is not a book necessitating a large outlay, and if you embroider you will have much of what you need already. Gloving leather, scraps of wood and even an egg box come into play, and you can see why this was traditionally the final craft mastered by young ladies as it is challenging but fun; a reward after learning all the plainer forms of stitchery. I would not recommend this book for a total beginner, but anybody who is au fait with at least one type of embroidery ought not to have too much trouble attempting this project, or picking out parts of it for their own work. A good book on a difficult subject. New Stitches: With this book you can create a circular design that encompasses all four seasons in one embroidery. The book explains every step with fabric preparation, embroidery stitches and Stumpwork methods which are used to create the scene with three-dimensional flowers, catkins, animals, birds and insects. This is a wonderful project for those who have already tried Stumpwork but it is great for beginners too. Fabrications: This book contains everything you need to produce an exquisite stumpwork embroidery depicting the four seasons. The finished piece measures 41cm across and is achievable for both beginners and the more experienced embroiderers. Although you may not want to create the whole stumpwork scene, there are plenty of smaller pieces such as birds and flowers which could be used to create individual pieces of work to frame or to embellish a quilt project with. There are clear step-by-step photographs, diagrams and instructions to guide you through the embroidery stitches and each part of the stumpwork scene. The Lace Guild: This softback publication achieves its objective in that it sets out, step-by-step, an easily read and understood set of instructions with accompanying diagrams and photographs, to create a particular stumpwork picture. The diagrams and text make this book suitable for both experienced and novice needleworkers. The many useful hints and tips on this particular craft of needlework contained in the book will be of assistance to students in the creation of other stumpwork pictures. At GBP8.99 this is an affordable book which I already have in my own library. Norma C Reay West Country Embroiderers: This book is based on a circular picture divided into the four seasons. Winter is illustrated by a log cabin and snow covered trees, and Sprint by sheep, daffodils, catkins and blossom. Summer shows a pond with rocks and irises, a heron, avocet, swan and toad, and Autumn a tree, deer, squirrel and a stone wall. All the techniques are clearly explained from painting the background to laying the cardonett for the needlelace. With numerous templates, it is a good reference book to keep by you, so you can adapt the flowers, birds or animals to your specific needs. I have bought a copy for my own library! Marjorie Pascoe, Penzance