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I learned to embroider when I was a kid, when everyone was really into cross stitch (remember the '80s?). Eventually, I migrated to surface embroidery, teaching myself with whatever I could get my hands on...read more

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Folk Embroidered Felt Birds – Book Review

 

Amazon Books

Time for a book review! And today’s book review is all about fun!

Folk Embroidered Felt Birds is a new book coming out at the beginning of April here in the US. It’s packed full of – you guessed it! – folk embroidered felt birds!

And they’re delightful! If you love birds (I love birds) and you like the look of folk embroidery, and you like working with felt to make three dimensional objects, then you need to add this book to your library.

It’s one of those books that just makes me happy when I flip through it. Let me show it to you…

Folk Embroidered Felt Birds by Corinne Lapierre - book review

Folk Embroidered Felt Birds is a project book. The projects are small, three-dimensional birds made from felt, stuffed and embroidered.

And they are cute birds. They can stand on their own, or hang, or sit, or peck and scratch, depending on the type of bird.

The cover is the seller for me. I know, I know! Don’t judge a book by its cover and all that. But really – a flamingo AND a puffin? With those legs? And those feet?

I see this book being perfect for those who like to make. The birds are perfect for whimsical ornaments and delightful gifts. What a great way to pass on a bit of cheer to a friend on a birthday – or out of the blue for no reason at all!

Folk Embroidered Felt Birds by Corinne Lapierre - book review

The book features a fairly vast array of projects…

Folk Embroidered Felt Birds by Corinne Lapierre - book review

…focusing on twenty different types of birds, which are all recognizable. From the humble robin, to the pheasant and flamingo, the parrot, the toucan, the gentle dove and the flamboyant peacock, the gangly stork, the majestic swan, the hen, the goose, the owl, the gull and goldfinch – they’re all there, waiting for you to bring them to life!

Folk Embroidered Felt Birds by Corinne Lapierre - book review

Like any good project book, Folk Embroidered Felt Birds begins with a section on materials. There’s nothing too out of the ordinary here – felt (the author recommends a wool / viscose blend); embroidery floss; wire (for legs), filling, ribbon, sequins, wire tape, and other very regular stuff.

Folk Embroidered Felt Birds by Corinne Lapierre - book review

From materials and tools, we move into techniques: transferring the template designs to felt, to sewing, filling, stuffing, making legs and feet, appliqué, and all the techniques necessary for creating a three dimensional bird.

Folk Embroidered Felt Birds by Corinne Lapierre - book review

Every aspect of instruction is presented in very clear, step-by-step photos with text. The text is succinct quite minimal; it’s very precise and easy to follow.

Folk Embroidered Felt Birds by Corinne Lapierre - book review

And of course, there’s a selection of embroidery stitch instructions with step-by-step photos as well.

Folk Embroidered Felt Birds by Corinne Lapierre - book review

And then – the projects!

Folk Embroidered Felt Birds by Corinne Lapierre - book review

For each project, you’ll find a list of tools and supplies required to make the bird, along with a list of the templates to use from the back of the book. The templates in the back of the book are clean line drawings of the different bird parts, that you trace and cut out for patterns.

Folk Embroidered Felt Birds by Corinne Lapierre - book review

Along with the materials and templates lists, you’ll find a page of instructions that take you through constructing the bird, referring to the techniques covered at the beginning of the book.

The projects in the book are all darling! And the instructions are excellent and very accessible. If you enjoy making things and you like birds, folk art, and felt, this book would be right up your alley! I’m pretty sure it will put a smile on your face!

Where to Find It

You can order Folk Embroidered Felt Birds on Amazon. I’ve got it listed right here on my Amazon Recommendations page.

And you can go straight to the book on Amazon here.

Worldwide with free shipping, you can find it available here through Book Depository.

Coming Up on Needle ‘n Thread

Next week, I’ll continue with Part II of the short series on how to use variegated threads for hand embroidery.

I’m pretty sure I’ll have a finish to share with you as well!

And I’ve been setting up some kits, too, so for those of you waiting for the kits for A Thousand Flowers, you’ll want to keep an eye out next week for the announcement on those!

Hope you have a splendid weekend!

This article contains affiliate links to book sources, which means that Needle ‘n Thread receives a small commission on purchases made through those links with no extra cost to you. Thank you!

 
 

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(5) Comments

  1. Canadian bird lovers can now preorder the book at Indigo/Chapters. It will be available on April 2. I couldn’t resist it! Thank you, Mary!

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  2. Oh Mary this is perfect timing! I’ve recently started making birds but have had a hard time figuring out patterns.
    Now I know which book to buy!

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  3. Dear Mary

    Folk Embroidered Felt Birds looks delightful and I have just ordered a copy as it was within my price range I am delighted and can’t wait for it to be delivered I really like the creative stand up birds so lovely for all sorts of gifts especially children who would adore them. Thanks for reviewing this lovely book and for sharing it with us I am so excited to receive it. Looking forward to part II on how to use variegated threads as I enjoyed part I. Is the dear available in the Thousand flowers I would really like that. I hope you have a great weekend and look forward to next week.

    Regards Anita Simmance

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  4. I love it….the hardest part will be choosing which one to make first. Right now I’m making a wool cardinal pincushion. I bought the kit from Just Another Button Company located right here in Illinois. I collect their pins they make out of polymer clay. The have the prettiest buttons for embellishing and this is my first pincushion kit from them. I have some more wool felt patterns from a lady that are the 12 Days of Christmas but I haven’t started them yet. So, I love felted wool and wool felt and I’ll definitely be getting this book. Thanks for the review.

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  5. Mary

    Thanks for doing this review. I love the texture of embroidery on wool felt, and birds are a great subject with the variety of colors.

    I ordered the book right away, and I look forward to stitching many of these. First the chicken and peacock, or maybe the pheasant. I wish brick and mortar stores in the US would carry wool felt. I’ve found some good online sources, but the colors on my iPad aren’t always the same as the actual product.

    Patti

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