Embroidery books
Embroidery books to start from. Open one to see books like it, or tell BookSense what you loved for four picks made for you.
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New to the genre? These 5 are the books to read first.
Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches
Mary ThomasA classic stitch reference, arranged as a dictionary of named stitches with diagrams; many later stitch books follow its model.
Crewel Embroidery
Erica WilsonA standard introduction to crewel work, with designs and instructions for wool embroidery on linen.
The Subversive Stitch
Rozsika ParkerA foundational feminist history of embroidery, arguing that the craft was shaped by the way women's work was valued and controlled.
Blackwork Embroidery
Elisabeth GeddesA practical guide to blackwork, the Tudor-era style of geometric patterns worked in black thread on white linen.
Doodle Stitching
Aimee RayA book on freeform, doodle-style stitching, representative of the looser contemporary approach to hand embroidery.
Chosen and described with AI from our notes on the genre.
More embroidery books
- Fun with Crewel Embroidery
Fun with Crewel EmbroideryErica Wilson - The Complete Stitch Encyclopedia
The Complete Stitch EncyclopediaJan Eaton - The Stitches of Creative Embroidery
The Stitches of Creative EmbroideryJacqueline Enthoven - Historic Floral and Animal Designs for Embroiderers and Craf
Historic Floral and Animal Designs for Embroiderers and CraftsmenSuzanne E. Chapman - The Techniques of Japanese Embroidery
The Techniques of Japanese EmbroideryShuji Tamura - English Garden Embroidery
English Garden EmbroideryStafford Whiteaker - Bead Embroidery
Bead EmbroideryValerie Campbell-Harding - Embroidery
EmbroideryKaren Elder - The Sampler Workbook
The Sampler WorkbookJane Greenoff - Metal Thread Embroidery
Metal Thread EmbroideryJane Lemon - Little sew & sew
Little sew & sewChristine Leech2013 - Flowers in design
Flowers in designShirley Marein1977