Stitch Magic : Ideas and Interpretation

Stitch Magic is an animated celebration of the magic of hand stitching by two internationally renowned embroiderers. Using the wide range of fabrics, threads and materials now available, Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn give aspiring and knowledgeable embroiderers alike the inspiration to experiment with the basic hand stitches to create infinite stitch interpretations. Over 100 sumptuous photographs of stitched pieces introduce a breathtaking range of new work by the authors as well as stitching from different cultures and a selection of other contemporary work. These examples are accompanied by detailed captions explaining the working methods. Complete with stitch diagrams showing the different design applications of the stitches and a comprehensive glossary, this is a colourful sourcebook of ideas for embroiderers wanting to exploit the compelling texture of stitch.

Jan Beaney has been involved in the world of embroidery for over thirty years as a designer, tutor and author. Jan presented the successful BBC TV series Embroidery and has appeared more recently on ITV's This Morning and BBC's Good Morning Anne and Nick. Her previous books include A Complete Guide to Creative Embroidery (co-authored with Jean Littlejohn) and Stitches: New Approaches, also published by Batsford. Jean Littlejohn is a highly experienced embroiderer, teaching widely in the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Having worked with embroidery for over 20 years, she is a verifier for the City and Guilds examination board. She has exhibited her work on both sides of the Atlantic and contributes regularly to embroidery magazines. Her book Fabrics for Embroidery is also published by Batsford.