Embroidery A step-by-step guide to more than 200 stitches

DK books believe in illustrations and lots of them, which is great news for any crafter, beginner as well as experienced. In this guide to embroidery stitches (more than 200, as the title indicates), Ganderton supplies a wonderful visual how-to. It starts with her introduction, seguing into an explanation of how each item is presented: stitch example, other names, level, uses, method (a description), materials, technique variation. After her decent overview of materials, tools, and techniques, the gallery begins with its four sections: line, filling, openwork, and needlepoint stitches. It's straightforward, simple, and easy to access, thanks not only to an appended index but also to an upfront visual table of contents. The quintessentially perfect reference.--Jacobs, Barbara Copyright 2015 Booklist

Ganderton's (The Maison Sajou Sewing Book) stitch guide, originally published in 1999 as Stitch Sampler, features DK's standard presentation-factual information with plenty of high-quality photographs. A gallery of stitches shows close-up, full-color photographs of each stitch in the book, along with the page number for easy reference. Individual stitches are grouped by type-line and border stitches, filling stitches, openwork, and needlepoint-allowing stitchers to find quickly the type that best meets their needs. Directions include step-by-step guidance for forming each stitch, with call outs superimposed on a close-up image of each step, as well as appropriate uses, level of difficulty, and other names for the stitch. All of the stitches are shown on even-weave fabric, allowing readers to see easily the insertion and exit point for the needle. VERDICT Hand embroidery is increasingly trendy among crafters, and this user-friendly guide will especially appeal to visual learners. © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.