Stumpwork Embroidery

Stumpwork is a highly decorative and imaginative embroidery technique, which typically uses raised and padded stitches that are rich in texture. This practical book explains how to create your own piece of stumpwork embroidery. Beginning with an introduction to the appropriate materials, equipment and tools, it instructs on a wide range of stitches and techniques, and illustrates them with ten delightful projects. It then explains how to design your own piece of stumpwork before advising on finishing, presenting and caring for you work. Written by a leading embroiderer, this beautiful book will inspire and encourage you to try this exciting technique and create your own exquisite designs. Contents include: Practical advice on working with threads, as well as how to stretch and prepare fabrics; Over 900 photographs to guide the reader through a wide range of decorative and raised stitches; Detailed instructions on combining stumpwork with a range of other techniques to create unique designs; Ten projects show how to use the stitches in designs, including stumpwork human figures. This practical guide will be of great interest to embroiderers, designers, theatre designers, interior designers and historians, and is beautifully illustrated with 983 colour photographs.

"How to create stumpwork and needlelace plants, animals and figures, whatever your ability ... clear step-by-step techniques and inventive projects"--Publisher's description.

There are 16 step-by-step projects presented in this book varying both in size and complexity, with inspirational images throughout.

This book offers a modern perspective on the floral motifs that have been a stumpwork mainstay for centuries. It features 19 floral motifs and eight projects, the simplistic design of which showcase the artistry involved in the craft. The well-developed introductory section provides readers with step-by-step photos and illustrations of all the techniques used in the book, making the book suitable for embroiderers of all abilities. This book will encourage readers to take up stumpwork and the fresh, contemporary designs will draw readers in, while the easy-to-follow instructions and small projects will show readers just how accessible this craft really is. The book is composed of three clear sections: an introductory section; a project gallery, featuring beautiful photographs of each project motif; and project instructions.

This embroidered border was inspired by the painted border of a letter written by Lady Anne Clifford to her father in 1598 the time of Elizabeth I and Shakespeare. Worked on ivory silk satin, in stumpwork and surface embroidery, this design features fourteen assorted flowers and fruits popular at the time, including the Apothecary rose, Sweet briar and Heartsease, Barberries, Bellflower, Borage and Periwinkle, Cornflower, Gillyflower and Knapweed, and Grapes, Plums, Redcurrants and Strawberries. As in the original letter, the panel is outlined with pairs of fine red lines these have been worked in back stitch. This border may be used to surround a mirror, or to enclose a special photograph, a monogram, a precious memento, or perhaps a tiny stumpwork figure.

Stumpwork first became popular in the 17th century when it was known as raised embroidery. In this book you will be shown how to make all kinds of figures.

Raised embroidery - a craft form incorporating surface stitchery, needlelace and several other embroidery techniques - was enormously popular in the 17th century and has since enjoyed a revival. Compared with other types of embroidery which lend themselves to geometric patterns or to conveying nature, raised embroidery offers a medium for depicting human life.