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  • Publisher: Search Press
  • Edition: BE Spiral bound
  • Publication: 03 June 2011
  • ISBN 13/EAN: 9781844485864
  • Carton Qty:
  • Size: 155x215 mm
  • Illustrations: 400
  • Pages: 96
  • RRP: $21.95
  • Series: RSN Essential Stitch Guides
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RSN Essential Stitch Guides: Stumpwork

$21.95

by Kate Sinton


Edelweiss Buy Now
Book Description

A comprehensive, expert guide to stumpwork embroidery, written by a graduate apprentice of the Royal School of Needlework.

The Royal School of Needlework (RSN) teaches hand embroidery to the highest standard and is well respected all over the world. It not only upholds the traditions of English embroidery that go back many hundreds of years, but is constantly taking embroidery forwards in new and innovative ways. This series of Essential Stitch Guides has been produced in close collaboration with the RSN with the aim of providing a set of definitive works on traditional embroidery techniques. All of the authors were chosen by the RSN and all are graduate apprentices of the Royal School. In Stumpwork, Kate Sinton brings together all of the major techniques and stitches associated with stumpwork embroidery to produce a stunning book that reflects both her expertise as an embroiderer and her artistic talent. For both expert advice and innovation, this book is second to none.

1) Compact, spiral-bound, easy-to-use lay-flat format
2) An indispensable resource for both beginners and professional embroiderers
3) Inspirational finished works, traditional and contemporary, to show how the stitches can be used.

Table of Contents

1) Compact, spiral-bound, easy-to-use lay-flat format
2) An indispensable resource for both beginners and professional embroiderers
3) Inspirational finished works, traditional and contemporary, to show how the stitches can be used.

About the Author

About Kate Sinton

After graduating from the Royal School of Needlework in 2002, Kate worked as a freelance embroiderer and artist. As well as continuing to teach a variety of classes at the RSN she set up drop-in summer embroidery classes at the Bermondsey Museum of Fashion and Textiles and worked with visiting textile lecturers at the British Museum. In 2006, Kate was appointed to manage a project that would produce over 200 new vestments for St Paul’s Cathedral. These were first exhibited in 2008 at St Martin’s College of Art and Design. During that time Kate continued to teach and produce artwork, and was part of a three-person show in Shepherd’s Market in Central London. Since 2008, Kate has lived in Wiltshire with her husband Jamie and son Thomas.

Reviews

Mary Corbet's Needle 'n' Thread

So far, the Royal School of Needlework has released four good essential stitch guides in their new series of needlework books on specific topics: blackworkcrewelworksilk shading, and stumpwork. Today, lets look at their new stumpwork essential stitch guide!

 

RSN Stitch Guide for Stumpwork Embroidery

 

The RSNs Essential Stitch Guide: Stumpwork is written by Kate Sinton, and it is presented and formatted like the other books in the series: a board-bound book with a spiral spine, rather small in size (about 6 x 8), which makes it nice for a work table reference book.

 

RSN Stitch Guide for Stumpwork Embroidery

 

Contents-wise, the book is divided into four main parts. The first part is introductory talk, where youll find information on the Royal School of Needlework; a short introduction to stumpwork; a brief history of stumpwork (with some photos of historical examples); a section on materials used in stumpwork (a nice section it covers a wide variety and leaves the imagination open for anything); instruction on how to frame up a project for working; a section on stumpwork design; and a section on appliqué, which is included at the beginning here, instead of in the techniques section that comes a little later in the book.

The next section covers stitches in four categories: flat surface, raised surface, needlelace, and metal thread embroidery.

The section on stitches is followed by a section unfolding various stumpwork techniques: padding, slips, wrapping, and found objects.

And the final section focuses on figures in stumpwork embroidery.

 

RSN Stitch Guide for Stumpwork Embroidery

 

Each instructional section is presented with step-by-step photos of the technique or stitch. There are handy little marginal notes throughout the book, tipping the needleworker on some aspect of the technique.

 

RSN Stitch Guide for Stumpwork Embroidery

 

The book is be-speckled with little examples (and big!) of stumpwork elements or whole project, which help the stitcher see what the technique discussed can look like in a finished form.

 

RSN Stitch Guide for Stumpwork Embroidery

 

Because stumpwork involves a huge variety of embroidery techniques, youll find that the book touches on ribbon embroidery as well (though it is not heavily discussed).

 

RSN Stitch Guide for Stumpwork Embroidery

 

You can see the step-by-step nature of the stitch instructions here reminiscent of Country Bumpkins A-Z series books, when it comes to step-by-step photos. I like this approach.

 

RSN Stitch Guide for Stumpwork Embroidery

 

I like the needlelace section of the book. The step-by-steps are very clear.

 

RSN Stitch Guide for Stumpwork Embroidery

 

And of course, theres a section on basic metal thread work, too, because often stumpwork and goldwork embroidery are combined.

 

RSN Stitch Guide for Stumpwork Embroidery

 

In the techniques section, each technique (such as padding the elements of stumpwork) is also addressed with step-by-step photos, and alternatives to different ways of accomplishing each technique (depending on the element youre embroidering) are given.

 

RSN Stitch Guide for Stumpwork Embroidery

 

But the most thorough and interesting part of the book, I think, is the section on stumpwork figures. Its done very well from sculpting faces to fingers, if youre interested in stumpwork figures, this section makes the book a must-have.

 

RSN Stitch Guide for Stumpwork Embroidery

 

Another thing I like about this whole series, in case I havent mentioned it before, is that each book ends with an index, which makes the book very easy to search.

The RSN Essential Stitch Guide for Stumpwork is a book that grew on me. I went through it several times, and each time, I liked it more. Its definitely a nice, useful resource for embroiderers. Even if stumpwork isnt your thing, there is enough good content in here for various techniques that can be used in other types of embroidery, that the book is worthwhile to have in your reference library.

In comparing it to other books on the topic, I think it is more instructive than Jane Nicholass books (which are project oriented books that assume some knowledge of stumpwork), and Id say its on par with the A-Z of Stumpwork, with the added advantage that its a lot less expensive. It doesnt necessarily cover as much, but what it does cover, it covers well and thoroughly. Its a valuable little book at a great price.

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