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Thursday, May 1, 2014

Modern Hand Stitching and a Giveaway



 

Landauer Publishing has released a new booklet of quilting patterns that I'm delighted to be able to share insights with you today:  "Modern Hand Stitching: Dozens of Stitches With Creative Free-Form Variations", written by Ruth Chandler.


Press Release:

Modern Hand Stitching
Dozens of Sitches with Creative Free-Form Variations
by Ruth Chandler

Let your stitching spirit enjoy the confidence of knowing basic hand stitches - then freely play to your heart's content with pattern and form.  Stitching is fun and artistic, exhilarating and relaxing.  Ruth Chandler's new book, Modern Hand Stitching, is 112 pages of stitches and inspiration for practice, playing and creating.

Modern Hand Stitching includes six stitch chapters with dozens of variations.  Step-by-step photos guide readers through learning straight stitches, building stitches, cross stitches, chain stitches, knots, and couching.  Ruth also teaches readers how to make a stitch sampler book, handy for future reference, and her "No Boundaries" sections encourage readers to stitch creatively with tips and suggestions for taking each stitch further.

Modern Hand Stitching includes a gallery of stitching inspirations to light a creative fire under any stitcher, whether new to handwork or experienced in more traditional embroidery.  Step-by-step instructions and full-color illustrations for 39 stitches with clearly photographed techniques make Modern Hand Stitching a useful tool for any looking to stitch outside the lines.

Author, quilter and mixed media artist Ruth Chandler grew up in Japan where the vibrant color and texture of Japanese fabric, combined with the simplicity of Japanese design, caught Ruth's attention.  She made her first quilt in 1990, a queen size, hand-appliqued and hand-quited Hawaiian pine-apple quilt, and she has never looked back.  Ruth teaches locally from her home studio and Blue Twig Studio, and nationally at Art and Soul Retreats.  She can also be seen at Open Studios at International Quilt Market and teaches for Make It University.  Ruth has written several articles for Quilting Arts magazine and blog posts for Havels' Sewing.  Her work has been published in several books including A Fiber Artisst's Guide to Color and Design, First-time Beading on Fabric, and Fabric Color Magic  Ruth is one of the co-authors of the best-selling book, "Fabric Embellishment The Basics and Beyond.  She lives in Colorado Springs, Co.

Modern Hand Stitching (978-1-935726-48-7) contains 112 pages, comes in softcover binding, retails for $24.95 U.S. and is available through your favorite distributor, bookseller or quilt shop, or direct from Landauer Publishing:  800-557-2144 or on the web at www.landauerpub.com.  Publication date:  April 2014

Enjoy the confidence of knowing basic stitches, then let your stitching spirit play to its heart’s content with pattern and form. Stitching is fun, exhilarating and artistic. For several years, stitch artist Ruth Chandler has looked for just the right stitch reference. Tired of looking, she decided to create the stitch handbook herself and here it is!

128 pages of stitches and inspiration for practice, playing and creating
6 stitch chapters with dozens of variations
Straight Stitches
Cross Stitches
Chain Stitches
Knots
Making a Stitch Sampler
Gallery of Stitching Inspirations


My Review:

Modern Hand Stitching is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning hand stitching, or wanting to improve their hand stitching skills.

One of the things I love about this book is that it shows how to make lots of embroidery stitches with easy and clear instructions and photos. But besides the basics, Ruth give you lots of tips and ideas for making free-form variations on these stitches to make your own personal expression. Making a sampler book of stitches is so useful and not only that, it is quite beautiful when finished. There are also lots of inspirational photos of stitched works in full size and detail shots. I have a library of embroidery books on my shelf but this one is moving to the top spot!




You can find this book online at Landauer Publishing, as well as  Amazon

Did I Mention a Giveaway?

Landauer Publishing is giving a copy of this book to one lucky follower of SewCalGal.  As SewCalGal will be shipping this prize directly to the winner, due to my limited funds this giveaway is open to US Only Residents.  Please use the Rafflecopter form below if you wish to enter this giveaway.


I will send an email to the winner to notify them and also update this post to announce the winner, on May 9th. 


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55 comments:

Brenda said...

This looks like a wonderful book, full of lots of inspiration and guidance. I really like the fact that it appears to focus on both embellishment stitching on other fabric work as well as pictorial stitching that stands along. Don't know that I've ever been the first commentor before; that seems like a position that doesn't win, so best of luck to all commentors and a special thanks to SewCalGal and to Landauer for making this giveaway possible. And thanks to Ruth Chandler for sharing her expertise with us.

Catskill Quilter said...

I have recently started trying to add hand embroidery to my quilts. This book sounds like a good way to become more skilled, and learn about improvising!

Betsy said...

Hand stitching is my favorite technique and I am always looking for new sources of inspiration

Anita in Florida said...

Wow, looks like a great book! Thanks for the chance at it.

Marty Mason said...

What a delight it would be to win this wonderful stitchery resource. Thanks for the opportunity to have it here in my sewing room as a handy reference.

suemac said...

I have all of this Perle cotton and have only used a little of it to highlight some blocks. I would love to learn some new techniques.

kay said...

I've recently become interested in learning all sorts of handwork (quilting, embroidery, etc.), and this book looks like a wonderful guide. Thanks for reviewing it and for offering the giveaway!

Emily C said...

I love hand stitching. I hand quilt right now, and love to embellish with embroidery thread. I'm not quite at crazy quilt, just a little here and there.

WoolenSails said...

That looks like a wonderful book to have and i love doing hand stitching. I can do basic stitches but would love to learn more about using stitches as embellishments and part of the design.

Debbie

Kathryn said...

I like to do both cross-stitch and embroidery. They make such nice gifts.

carla said...

Hi!!! Sounds like a wonderful book to have!!!! Thanks for the fun give away!!!

Anya said...

I've done a bit of hand stitching. Thanks for the chance!

Jacqueline said...

I love all kinds of hand work so this book sounds perfect for me. Thanks for a chance.

Lisa said...

I love to do hand stitching but have found lately that I am behind the times and I would love to have this book to learn some new stitches! Thanks for the opportunity to win, I appreciate it!

Cindy said...

Both my husband and I love to so hand stitching. It's a pleasant way to spend the evening when we're watching TV. Thanks for the giveaway.

glassbylindi.blogspot.com said...

I love handwork! I don't usually get to do it very often because I'm busy but this book looks like it has a lot of great ideas! D.G. L

barbara woods said...

I want to learn, thanks for the chance

JillB said...

I would love to expand my skills with hand stitching... I always use the same 3or 4 styles. Thank you for the chance

Denise Bongiovanni~ said...

I love hand stitching on fabric. I didn't consider myself a hand sewer until I saw how nice a lil row of embroidered flowers looks on a quilt label!! Now I find relaxation in hand sewing as I learn the basics. What a great book!

Nini~

Missy Shay said...

I only do basic hand stitching and am a beginner at that. This book would be great for expanding that.
missysaprons@gmail.com

Joyce Carter said...

This book sounds wonderful. I love to do hand stitching-whether it is quilting, applique or embrodiery. My embrodiery could use a lot more work. I tend to do my own thing. Thank you so much for the giveaway.

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

I do some hand stitching.

Pamela said...

I love the look of embroidery on quilts. And it's such a relaxing activity when I'm tired of sitting at the sewing machine and want to sit in front of the tv instead. (Hmmm . . . sounds like I am doing too much sitting). This book looks awesome! Thanks for the chance to win!

KatieQ said...

I follow you on Bloglovin.
I do some basic embroidery stitches. After seeing some of the great stitchery projects online, I would like to learn more variety of stitches.

Karen said...

Love to hand sew

The Quilted Dog said...

I love hand stitching but don't do it often. This book looks. Like a real treasure!

Unknown said...

Good Friday morning SewCal Gal.....I can tell you I love to see hand stitching and am so glad that it is moving into a modern look....this book seems to be a wonderful way to start learning how to and would love to be a winner. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Diann said...

I'm an email follower. I like to do handwork and am currently doing a Blackwork project.

Annmarie said...

I do a little embroidery but have a hand stitched crazy quilt on my list of wanna dos. This great reference book would be a welcome addition. Thanks for the chance.

Maree in NC ☺ said...

Thank you for the chance to win this awesome giveaway! I do enjoy hand stitching, but I've never hand quilted and would like to give that a try "someday". Thanks, again! ☺

my nana maree @ yahoo . com

Vivian Helena said...

Hand embroidery is so peaceful and dream like, look forward to learning some new designs and applications. vivianhelena@sti.net

Josie McRazie said...

Beautiful book. As summer comes I look more for portable projects to take camping!

SIMPLESEW said...

I love hand stitching, I cross stitch everyday and I am loving EPP.. I am not a fan of embroidery but am learning to use it like in quilting so show off shapes. I love the mini scenic post cards I am a big fan of http://www.mysweetprairie.ca/.. I would love to make postcards especially now that I have more friends internationally since I have been blogging. Especially to depict my Texas lands..

Debbie P said...

Looks like a great book!!

Anonymous said...

I like to hand stitch. I often have problems with the beginning and ending knots.

Sowing Stitches said...

I love hand stitching! I have more ideas than time...One day maybe I shall get caught up! I do enjoy the portability of hand stitching, and plan to take a bundle along on vacation this summer.

Brenda said...

This looks like a great book to have! I would love to hand stich some things but need some help with it.

lauraluvsloons said...

I love to do surface embroidery and would enjoy applying hand work to some new designs.

Patty S said...

I would love to have Modern Hand Stitching as a reference guide in my quilt book library. Thanks for the opportunity!

Patty S said...

I would love to have Modern Hand Stitching as a reference guide in my quilt book library. Thanks for the opportunity!

Karen in Breezy Point said...

Looks like a fun book!

Jetza said...

I remember doing hand stitching with my mom when I was little, frankly now I don't remember much so I have to start learning it again.

Joan H. said...

I haven't done any embroidery for several years and would like to start again. This sounds like a good refresher.

Sarah said...

I love handstitching, but I'm not very experienced. Thanks for the giveaway! sarah@forrussia.org

DebraKay Neiman said...

I love the look of embroidery in quilted projects. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

Unknown said...

Wonderful chance to start doing more hand stitching. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
akk_nana@yahoo.com

Jess Burns said...

Looks like a nice book. I've been wanting to learn embroidery (I only know a few really basic stitches)

jhunsberger (at) gmail (dot) com

Donna W said...

I love hand embroidery. Currently working on hand embroidered blocks of flowers for a quilt.

Unknown said...

This would be a great book to have!

Sharon said...

I was taught by my paternal grandmother to embroider & have loved it ever since. There is such a peace in handwork & I encourage everyone to give it a try. This sounds like a great book!

Anonymous said...

I enjoy handwork (Why is it called work?) very much! This book looks like a beautiful and useful reference for any stitcher's personal library!

Linda Fleming said...

I'd love to see this book. I need to refresh my hand sewing skills!

Shar said...

I have started teaching myself to hand embroidery. It has been fun and very exciting.

Michele said...

I can do a few basic stitches (lasy daisy and stem) but I'd like to learn how to do more. And I'd like to find lots of extra time too!
Thanks for a chance to win.

auschick said...

I'd love this book! Reminds me of another book on my wish list - the new crewel.