Books to Borrow Williamsburg Public Library Recommends

If ever you’ve heard the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” this is one time that the adage does not apply. The beautiful photo on the front doesn’t do this book justice, and more photos inside will have you wanting for more, even if you’ve never thought about picking up the new hobby of embroidering.

Author Emillie Ferris writes with obvious passion for her art form, sharing her craft with the reader as though speaking to an old friend or a “kindred spirit.” Her goal is to teach embroidery of realistic images and to share her hobby with as many as she can, encouraging crafters of all skill levels.

This book is for seasoned sewers and beginners alike. Even if you’ve never stitched one stitch, Ferris will guide you through the process from start to finish, step-by-step, with confidence.

Along with her book, she teaches through digital tutorials and can be found on Instagram. Ferris provides ideas on how to get started, as well as what tools and materials you will need. She is very thorough when discussing materials, from what types and colors to choose to which sizes of needles may work best for your needs. She describes and illustrates the different types of stitches.

Needle-painting gives a piece of work the illusion of being painted, but with a much more limited palette. Thread is great for creating the textured look of animal fur or the body and wings of moths.

Ferris is from Warwickshire, England. She loves nature, and her favorite way to show that is through her embroidery. Each season of the year is highlighted with a specific wonder of nature, designed by Ferris herself. Her works of art include sunflowers, bees, mushrooms, and more. For the winter season, she selected the robin. For each season’s selection, she includes a short passage describing her choice and why it’s fitting for the season. The patterns she has created for this book are simple yet magnificent. They are not overwhelming in their color selections or skill level required, but the finished product is beautiful just the same. It would also be easy to add a spot more color to the patterns if one wanted to add a personal touch.

Ferris offers ideas for finishing the frame and hanging it, or even sewing your creation onto something else such as a pillow. She includes a list of suppliers at the end of the books as well as transfers for the patterns. Ferris’s artwork is featured in several magazines including Town & Country. Find out more about her in the author section at the end of the book or at her website, http://www.emillie-ferris.co.uk.