Threads: The Basics and Beyond

Go on a journey of thread, stitch, and discovery!

• Step-by-step instructions for dozens of thread techniques, from stitches and laces to thread painting, trapunto, and more
• Use thread as paint, texture, ornamentation, structure, and embellishment
• Designer's gallery of thread projects for inspiration, from quilts and samplers to journals and dolls
• Learn the basics of threads, from tension and piecing to edge finishes
• Create a stitching passport to document your adventures, detours, and misadventures in stitching

Get inspired by the surprising evolution of threads into a creative tool that enhances and beautifies projects with design, color, texture, structure, and ornamentation!

A bit of thread can spice up one's art by a good degree. Threads: The Basics & Beyond: The Complete Visual Guide to Thread Techniques & Creativity discusses thread and how to weave it into the techniques of quilting, painting, and other artistic mediums.

With no shortage of ideas and full color photos throughout, authors Debbie Bates & Liz Kettle teach you how to use thread in many versatile ways, from hand stitching, machine stitching, and faux weaving to free form embroidery, printing on ribbon, shashiko-inspired stitching, thread-painted appliqué, and many more. Follow step-by-step techniques for each design element, then create a world of your own practice passport pages!

Whether expanding your knowledge of traditional techniques or experimenting with thread painting and molding thread structures, you'll experience threads with new creativity and inspiration.

Explore the possibilities of thread techniques:

• Thread in Quilting
• Thread as Paint
• Thread as Texture
• Thread as Ornament
• Thread as Structure
• Thread as Embellishment

Inside this book, the nuts and bolts of threads, supplies, and tools is explored, and the photo-illustrated instructions and expert tips throughout each chapter provide complete guidance so you can discover, play, and experiment with thread. The included Designer's Gallery of thread projects provides inspiration with ideas for quilts, a thread sampler, fabric journal, framed heart, and more.

Record your stitch travels by creating your personal "Passport"—a stitching book of practice pages you make as you experiment and build skills with each new technique. You'll find inspiration on every page, along with the step-by-step instructions you need for success, inside Threads: The Basics and Beyond!

Debbie Bates creates, teaches and designs using fabric, fibers and mixed media. She is an educator for sewing companies and a frequent teacher at local and national conferences in the U. S. and Canada.

Liz Kettle is a fabric and mixed media artist with a passion for teaching the joy of the creative process. Liz is an active teacher, blogger, designer, videographer and is the author, co-author and contributor to several best-selling Landauer books.