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Mary Corbet

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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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Stitcher’s Christmas 2019 #6: Best Needlework Books!

 

Amazon Books

I’m a book fanatic, if you didn’t know. I like books – all kinds of books!

But I’m extremely fond of really good needlework books. I especially like the kind that combine the right balance of inspiration, instruction, and work all in a beautiful, well-presented package.

So you can imagine how happy it makes me to present today’s installment of A Stitcher’s Christmas, courtesy of Search Press, which features four themed book collections of past and future books, for your present! That’s right – there are four winners for today’s give-away, and each winner will receive one themed collection of four exquisite needlework books.

Some of the books are not even in the public eye yet! So read on, and I’ll tell you a little about Search Press and a little about the books for today’s give-away. Then I’ll announce the winner of Monday’s give-away featuring needlework goodies galore from Needle in a Haystack.

Stitcher's Christmas: Needlework books from Search Press

This coming year, Search Press will be celebrating 50 years of service to the needlework and crafting community.

A Little History

The company was founded in 1970 by Lotti de la Bedoyere, in an attic room in Kensington, London. Lotti recognized that there was a gap in the publishing market for craft books, so she began single-handedly creating a craft book publishing company.

Her publishing philosophy was to produce reasonably priced books packed with inspiration, information, and clear instructions. With her son Martin at the helm since 1997, Search Press has continued that pursuit well into the 21st century. Search Press publishes beautiful books that both inspire and instruct crafters and artists all over the world, focusing on beginning through advanced techniques in all areas of the art and craft.

In fact, if books are a part of your gift-giving tradition in your family, you might take a good browse through Search Press’s websites. There’s the Search Press main headquarters site in the UK, and there’s also Search Press North America. I always get great ideas there for Christmas and birthday gifts for crafty family members, old and young. Since we definitely have a tradition of giving books as gifts in our family, it’s a great place to track down instructional and project books for just about every artistic interest!

Incidentally, did you know that Search Press produces more practical art and craft books than another other publisher in the world? As the internationally-recognized leaders in their publishing sector, they have over 2,000 books available covering many art and craft mediums. Every year, they bring around 100 new books to the market.

They’ve also enjoyed a long and distinguished collaboration with the Embroiderers’ Guild of the UK and with the Royal School of Needlework. This is great news for those of us who love embroidery! Over they years, they have published some of the finest books in embroidery and the needle arts.

Coming in 2020 – Great News for Embroidery!

Next year, 2020, they will be bringing over 20 new books to the needlework world – books focusing mostly on surface embroidery.

If that doesn’t say that embroidery is alive and thriving, I don’t know what does!

I’m pretty excited about the many embroidery books that are coming out next year. Today’s give-away may be the first you’ve heard of some of them, and I hope you put them on your radar for 2020!

The Collections for the Give Away

Today’s give-away offers four prize packages, one to each of four winners.

Stitcher's Christmas: Needlework books from Search Press

The first package features blockbusters from 2019 – books that were published this year and widely acclaimed and enjoyed by needleworkers around the globe.

The randomly drawn winner will receive the following four titles. (The links will take you to my review of the books listed, if I’ve written a review.)

Embroidered Country Gardens, by Lorna Bateman
The Seasons in Silk Ribbon Embroidery, by Tatiana Popova
The Art of Annemieke Mein, by Annemieke Mein
The Embroidered Art of Chloe Giordano, by Chloe Giordano

Stitcher's Christmas: Needlework books from Search Press

Next up is the 2020 Inspirations Collection – books due out in 2020 (the winner will receive them as they are published) that are sure to inspire plenty of inspiration!

Three of the books are project collections from Inspirations Magazine, focusing on particular techniques: stumpwork, whitework, and crewelwork. The fourth is the newest title in the Embroidered Treasures series from the Embroiderers’ Guild: Animals.

Stitcher's Christmas: Needlework books from Search Press

The third collection is for those who want to learn new skills in the new year! All four books are also due out in 2020, and the winner will receive a copy of each, as it is published.

Here, you’ll find the following four titles:

Blackwork Embroidery: Stitches, Techniques, & 13 Modern Projects, by Bernadette Baldelli
Crewel Embroidery, by Tatiana Popova
Embroidery on Knitting, by Britt-Marie Christoffersson
Embroidered Boxes, by Heather Lewis

Stitcher's Christmas: Needlework books from Search Press

And the final themed collection features embroidery that includes Birds & Flowers. A mix of already published and new for 2020, this collection is bound to delight anyone who loves beautiful embroidery and enjoys challenging, colorful embroidery projects!

The winner of this collection will receive the following titles:

The Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers, by Trish Burr (This is my most-anticipated book in 2020!)
Embroidered Treasures: Birds, by Dr. Annette Collinge
Crewel Twists, by Hazel Blomkamp (this is the republished edition with a new cover)
Crewel Birds, by Hazel Blomkamp

Give-Away Guidelines

This give-away has ended. Thanks to all who participated!

1. Leave a comment on the comment form below. If you’re not sure how to get to the comment form, click on this link – it will take you straight there. Your comment must be left on the website on today’s article, not on any other article. Comments submitted via email are not eligible and I am not able to reply to them due to time constraints. Please do not comment as a reply to another comment. Replies are not counted.

2. Be sure that your comment has a name on it that is recognizable as yours. You might include a last name, nickname, or the place you live.

The reason I particularly mention this one is that it reduces confusion when the winner is announced. It’s always hard to disappoint people if they mistake the name for their own!

3. Make certain your email address on the comment form is entered correctly, so that I can email you if you win. Leave the “website” line of the comment form empty. Please Do Not Put your personal contact information in the comment box itself. In other words, don’t sign your comment with your email address or your mailing address! That’s just an invitation for spam.

4. In your comment, answer the following question:

What needlework book do you reach for and use most often? If you don’t have any needlework books, what needlework book would you like to have, for reference or inspiration?

5. Leave your comment before 5:00 AM central time (Kansas, USA) Wednesday, December 18th. The winners will be randomly drawn that morning and will be announced at the end of that day’s give-away.

So go forth and comment, and in 2020, you’ll be enjoying some of the very best needlework books on the market today!

The give-aways for A Stitcher’s Christmas are open to everyone, but please be aware that, if you are subject to customs or duty fees, they are your responsibility.

Needle in a Haystack Christmas winners

And now, for the winner’s of Monday’s give-away for two collections of needlework goodies, including fabric, needles, and some fun tools, thanks to Needle in a Haystack, where all your needlework dreams come true…

The two winners are Irene Lawrence and Aimee Taylor. I’ll drop you both an email today.

Don’t forget that there’s still a chance for you to win a year’s subscription to Inspirations Magazine – you can enter Wednesday’s installment of A Stitcher’s Christmas here, if you haven’t yet. It’s a beautiful magazine that will delight you each quarter of the New Year!

Have a wonderful weekend!

 
 

(979) Comments

  1. I think my most used embroidery book is “Komm wir Sticken” by Heidi Haupt Battaglia. It’s from the 50s, black and white pictures, but it’s really good and the instructions are excellent.
    Fun fact the book was published by the Swiss publisher Haupt Verlag and the grandson of the author is now the boss of the company(family business) and really happy that his grandmothers book is still used and liked (Was a bestselling book)

    2
    1. My first embroidery book is one I still turn to even Many years later Crewel Embroidery by Erica Wilson. I Love embroidery books to the detriment of my budget.(lol)

  2. I don’t own my favorite inspiration book, as I get it from my library, but it was happening on Hazel Blomkamp’s Crewel Twists that started me into surface embroidery. It was a revelation in thread. I still go to it for ideas.

    3
    1. Great embroidery info, as I am a novice, I admire all types of handwork, and any tips and demos really make it so much easier to master, especially if you can demo in right and left hand. Sometimes it’s very difficult to reverse things in your mind.

  3. I have several needlework books. My favorite and the ones I use the most are Trish Burr books.

    4
  4. I have one goldwork book, so that’s about it for my reference material! All of these books look like so much fun to look through.

    5
  5. I use the royal needlework book, digital version, which covers all the techniques I would love to try if I had the time 🙂

    6
  6. I don’t have a book specific to embroidery, but I have lots of books on knitting and beading. I have recently become interested in needle painting, so I would really like a nicely detailed instructional book for beginners on needle painting.

    8
  7. The needlework technique I do most frequently is counted work so the needlework book I reach for and use most often is Eileen Bennett’s “The Red Book of Sampler Stitches” (2003). It’s a very valuable resource.

    10
  8. The A-Z series are what I reach for
    most often. The top of my new year list includes making an embroidered box.. even if it has basic stitches! I’d live to make each side a different learning pattern! Thanks for this opportunity!

    11
  9. I reach for the Embroidery Stitch Bible whenever I’m in need of inspiration for an embroidery motif, especially for embroidering simple picture outlines or words on my quilts.

    12
  10. I use embroidery stitches for left-handers. It is very comprehensive. It is also good for using a slate frame since it has directions for right handers which is how left handers embroider when using a slate frame since the dominant hand [left] is under the embroidery!

    13
  11. I really don’t have a favorite needlework book; I like them all! I tend to use internet sources a lot, like DMC and Needle-n-Thread. (And, of course, Pinterest!) So, what needlework book would I want? “A to Z Embroidery Stitches,” “A to Z Embroidery Stitches 2, ” and all of NNT’s e-books. A few needlework history books would also be welcome!

    14
  12. I find Blackwork catches my eye the most. The detail that can be achieved from the multitude of stitches and colors is wonderful — especially when the colors are usually limited! I have started a couple of small projects and an quite close to finishing up — this will be accomplished in 2020! Thank you.

    15
  13. As I peruse the bookshelf full of textile related books right beside my desk, I cannot imagine life without any of them, but my current favourite may be Kay and Michael Dennis’s Stumpwork Embroidery for its clear descriptions of needle lace. I’ve been fascinated by this technique since a recent guild class. Hazel Blomkamp’s Needle Lace is another excellent resource.

    18
  14. My most used book is the “Embroidery Stitch Bible” by Betty Barnden to look up all kinds of stitches.

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  15. Although they are not strictly needlework books, I get a lot of inspiration from the “Fashion in Detail” series. There are 17th century, 18th century and 19th century editions that give me inspiration every day. I love to wear my embroidery!

    20
  16. The books I used most often this year were “Basics and Beyond” and “Fundamentals Made Fancy”, both by Janice Love. They are all about Hardanger, and I used them to finally finish a wedding sampler for my nephew and his new bride.

    21
  17. Lately it’s been The Needlepoint Book by Jo Ippolito as I’m working on a canvas project that every 17th square I pick a new stitch (the other 16 squares stitches have been per-determined by the designer).

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  18. thanks for the chance to win such great books. I very often turn to “A Passion for Needlework” by Inspirations – I have done projects both from the original book and from Factoria VII. great projects and excellent instruction

    23
  19. Since my current main focus is crazy quilting, my grabbit book is either Jennifer Clouston’s crazy quilt or Kathy Seaman Shaw’s books on decorating seams.

    24
  20. While I’m stitching, I find myself turning most often to one of my stitch guides. My favorite is a classic, the Readers Digest Guide to Needlework. If I’m just looking for inspiration or don’t feel like stitching but want to do something stitching related, I love to look at more of the picture type books. I have the Chloe Giordano book and some others which I turn to a lot.

    25
  21. I reach for a book that my mother used, long out of print & well used to for “how to” on more complicated stitches.

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  22. I don’t have any books yet. I would like Blackwork Embroidery as my first book.
    Thank you.

    28
  23. I love Needlework books and my library has many techniques represented and so much eye candy to enjoy! While I grew up doing surface embroidery, I am fascinated by stumpwork and treasure all my Jane Nicholas books. I have been fortunate to have taken several classes with her and gotten all my books autographed.
    Her first book, “Stumpwork Embroidery A Collection of Fruits, Flowers and Insects” will always be my favorite ❤️
    Thank you for your generosity.

    29
  24. frequently, i look at either a constance howard book i love, or a book or two of sue spargo.
    constance was so inspira!

    30
  25. I really like Search Press. Their books are beautifully illustrated, their instructions are clear, and they are truly inspiring/

    32
  26. Those needlework books are so beautiful. The cover photos are very inspirational and are truly works of art.

    33
  27. My Mom got me The Royal School of Needlework Book of Embroidery: A Guide To Essential Stitches, Techniques And Projects for my birthday and I always refer to that for ideas and instructions.

    34
  28. I love getting ideas from books. I am very fortunate to live close to the Textile Center in Minneapolis, MN. They gave a large library of all books on needle work, weaving, and yarn crafts. I am trying to slowly build my own resources. I am excited to know of this resource.

    35
  29. I LOVE to do ribbon flowers. That new Ribbons for All Seasons looks GORGEOUS. I would love to add that and the other three 2019 books to my library!
    This Bird is a daily follower. Thanks for all you do.

    36
  30. I have many needlework books but the ones I use most are the picture candy needlework books which I rely on for relaxation browsing. The inspirational factor is a bonus. Namely my precious Annemieke Mein.
    Thanks Mary, and Cheers,
    Kath Grabham.

    37
  31. Needlework books! I love them all, but lately have reached for the A to Z smocking and embroidery books from our friends in Australia that publish Inspirations Magazine. Scarlett

    38
  32. Books, books, books. Who could resist?
    I reach for anything with stitches &/or pretty pictures &/or clear instructions

    MJ in LFHHI

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  33. My go-to book is The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion by Yvette Stanton. It’s out any time I’m trying a new stitch or trying to remember how to start up an old favorite I haven’t used in a while and it’s always out with other inspirational books as a reference because things really are very different for left-handers. Also, I like the way it’s organized. It’s simply alphabetical with very legible headings you can see at a glance when flipping through the pages. There is no grouping by families, which is sometimes nice when you are looking for inspiration, but when you are in a hurry to find a particular stitch there is no need to consult an index or table of contents.

    Kelly Ann D.

    40
  34. I would love the crewel embroidery book in the New Year, New Skill collection. I have always been attracted to crewel embroidery and would like to improve my skills. Thank you!

    41
  35. I have several embroidery books, and it depends on what type of embroidery I’m working on as to which book I reach for. I think the one I reach for the most is my “Hand Embroidery Stitches at a Glance.” I can never remember how to get the blanket stitch started! It’s a great little book to take with me to classes, too, if I need a refresher on a particular stitch.

    42
  36. I love the A-Z library of embroidery books. They are my go to books if I am needing to learn a stitch or gather inspiration. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to win great products.

    43
  37. Good morning from a sunny but chilly Newfoundland! In looking at the covers today I am especially brightened by issue 102. All those vibrant birdies … I like folk art techniques and these are whimsical and carefree and bright on a winter morning. Cheers to you!

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  38. The most frequent book I reach to presently is my A=Z smocking. I am learning to smock and am in a new smocking guild.

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  39. For every project I end up combing through every book I have just for the pleasure of looking at the pictures, so I don’t really have a favorite. But just from seeing the covers of the 2 books on bird embroidery I know they’re the ones I want next. Beautiful!

    47
  40. I would love Chloe Giordan’s book. Her work is so artistic. She obviously loves nature, as do I.
    Kasualkat

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  41. The needlework book I go to, quite often, is the Anchor book of Hardanger (the small-sized version). The instructions, illustrations, and photos are very clear and extremely helpful!

    Pat G. (Theory Doc)

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  42. Fabulous books!! As I have over 45 needlework books in my collection so far, it’s hard to keep track of which I have used most often. However, as I am currently stitching a project from Hazel Blomkamp’s Crewel Intentions, it is the book I have recently turned to most often. My library may be increasing yet again, as I’m drooling over so many of the books you’ve featured here, Mary. Thank you. Merry Christmas!

    50
  43. My favorite books for reference are A to Z Embroidery Stitches, The Royal School of Needlework Book of Embroidery and Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilt. I use them often for inspiration and how to. I love them. Would love to win one of the book collections offered today. Thanks for offering them. I also use the videos on your website pretty often. Very helpful.

    51
  44. I find that I am more and more adventuresome in my stitching so my go-to books are the Stitches for Effect series by Beth Robertson and Suzanne Howren. I use other stitch books as well, and I love reading books on history and techniques of needlework. Just a book junkie!

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  45. I have a problem picking one because I like all my books by Gail Pan and Ms. Soto. For stitch help my go to is Sue Spargo’s book. I do only handwork so love cute things I can embroidery by hand.

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  46. There is always room for books in my home, particularly in the craft room. Jo Ippolito’s book “the Needlepoint Book” is my go to book for canvas work, while the A-Z series cover some of the different techniques, like stumpwork, whitework, crewel and smocking. I especially like the technique books which also include instructions for small patterns guiding the stitcher from beginner to advance with lots of photos.

    54
  47. I am a fellow book fanatic and love my not so little collection of needlework books. Never let it be said that the internet will replace the feel and smell and visual experience of a book. Yet when it comes to reference I turn more and more to the internet and in particular to your site, Mary. Thanks for that!! It’s amazing that no matter how many times I use a fly stitch, for example, I still need to see how to start!!

    55
  48. I am making my first crazy quilt and have been honing my embroidery stitches. I don’t really have books on embroidery – I always refer to Needle N Thread – but I would love to learn Silk ribbon embroidery. Thanks.

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  49. Hi Mary, Thanks for the giveaway! The book I use the most and treasure is Crewel Embroidery Old and New by Weldon Needlecraft Editors published in 1963. It was passed to me by my grandmother who was an avid embroiderer and weaver of rugs! The stitches in the book have passed the test of time and I use it often!

    57
  50. Having done counted cross stitching for many years but I have recently rekindled my interest in embroidery, especially needle painting. I would like a book on crewel embroidery to develop my skills with various fibers.

    58
  51. Somehow paging through a book is so much more satisfying than reading an ebook. My Little Book of Tips and Tricks by Alison Cole is one of my go-to’s for stumpwork and threadpainting, which I am working on becoming proficient at. I would also like to learn crewel embroidery and admire the work of Hazel Blomkamp.

    59
  52. Marion Nichols “Encyclopedia of Embroidery Stitches” is the book I find myself reaching for a lot to teach myself new stitches or remind myself of how to do something.

    60
  53. Oh, the bibliophile in me loves this give away! I most often reach for is one of my “A-Z of Embroidery Stitches,” either vol. 1 or 2, from Inspirations Press. Wonderful, clear instructions!

    61
  54. A Visual Guide to Crazy Quilting Design by Sharon Boggon – or – Crazy Quilting the Complete Guide by J. Marsha Michler

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  55. Definitely it’s Yvette Stanton’s Right Handed Guide to Embroidery . It’s getting a bit “loved” looking because I use it so much .

    63
  56. Can’t say I have one favorite book, but the A to Z series does come to mind. I maintain a library for our fiber arts group at the senior center and love looking through the donated books. So many interesting projects!

    64
  57. The “Embroidery Stitch Bible”-any time I need a refresher. Also the “Autopsy of the Montenegrin Stitch” has been frequently used lately.

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  58. What needlework book do you reach for and use most often?

    I usually look for skill type of books so I can try something new. It’s a great way to gain skills to find a new stitch, craft or just something different.

    Susan

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  59. I love books so much, it’s hard to pick one, but one I love to look at over and over is Jane Nicholas’ Stumpwork Embroidery. It’s a beautiful book!

    67
  60. I don’t have any needlework books. I’d love to have one that describes all stitches and types of cloth to use for what projects. I’m a beginner! Thank you!

    68
  61. I don’t have any needlework books. I would LOVE to have Embroidering Country Gardens, Lorna Bateman.

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  62. I generally reach for “Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches”. It is my “go to” book for instruction and inspiration. I find I enjoy looking at good embroidery books almost as much as stitching.

    70
  63. My go to book is Father B’s small book. It is clear and I can easily find inspiration when looking for just the right stitch.

    71
  64. I have loved embroidery for many, many years. My mother taught me to embroider when I was a young girl. One year for her birthday, I bought her Women’s Day Book of American Needlework. A couple of years later she passed away and I inherited all of her sewing stuff. I actually read this book cover to cover and was so inspired. To this day, some 50 years later, it is still one of my most favorite books. It is inspiring and always gives me great ideas. Recently I was in a thrift store and was so astonished and surprised to stumble upon a box of patterns as a companion to this book. I didn’t even know that it had a companion box of patterns – so the book and the patterns have become a very great treasure. I love using the patterns which covers all of the needleworks.

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  65. I have spent hours living inside these marvelous magazines. They are a world I enjoy over and over again. What a lovely gift.

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  66. My go to book is Mary Thomas’s dictionary of Embroidery Stitches. I have a current addition on my tablet which I enjoy using since it is always with me. But, I just found a 1935 edition in excellent shape. One presents the stitches in the kind of stitches. The first section is outline stitches etc. The 1935 edition has them in alphabetical order. Both are great resources. Thank you

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  67. My favorite needlework book right now is ‘The intentional Thread’ by Susan Brandeis.

    It’s beyond the how to perform stitches (the means) and onward to the ‘why’ of stitchery (the end, the purpose, the expression).
    I’m learning so much from it.

    77
  68. My current go to book for help is a well tattered copy of A-Z of Embroidery Stitches! I change technique usually after each project so I’m always having to real learn things. Any of these books would be a great asset to my collection. Several are already on my Wish List!

    79
  69. I have been using the inspiration of The Embroidered Art of Chloe Giordano to capture the fox and dog in the sampler “The Quick Brown Fox Jumps over the Lazy Dog.”

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  70. Hi, Mary,

    I reach for Yvette Stanton’s book, _The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion_, a title that you recommended to all stitchers–but I am also left-handed. The advice she provides is so much more complete than other books.

    Beth

    81
  71. My go-to book is probably Elegant Stitches by Judith Baker Montano. She’s the queen of crazy quilting and her Handbook was the first CQ book I found. Elegant Stitches is a smaller format and includes lots of how-to’s, but more importantly for someone who already knows “how to,” it has drawings of combinations of stitches. Very inspirational!

    82
  72. Have a number of needlework reference books; which one I reach for depends on what type of embroidery I will be doing.

    83
  73. Thank you Mary. Whenever I need clear instructions, I reach for Yvette Stanton’s Embroidery for Left Handed – it’s so helpful to have instructions that make sense for me.

    84
  74. I have many books that I use as resourses depending on the type of needlework I am doing. The book that is the most worn in my library which may be an indication of the amount of use it has received over the years is “Carolyn Ambuter’s Complete Book of Needlepoint.

    Joan A

    85
  75. Hi Mary,
    I absolutely LOVE!!!!!! my Chloe Giordano book. Wonderful,pictures and instruction.
    Happy Holidays, Mary.

    86
  76. To be honest, though I do have several great embroidery books–A ~ Z of Embroidery Stitches, Embroidery & Crazy Quilt Stitch Tool, Joyful Stitching: Transform Fabric with Embroidery, several (all) of Kathy Shaw’s books, Learn to Embroider, and The Embroiderer’s Handbook, and I use them for inspiration–when I need instruction, I go straight to your video library. I really struggle with written instructions or diagrams. I learn SO much better when I can watch it being done and then do it with you. Thanks so much for that!!! ♥ 🙂

    87
  77. I always have close to hand my A-Z of Embroidery Stitches. It refreshes my memory and inspires me to try new things.
    Thanks so much for the opportunity to win one of these collections. They are all fabulous!

    88
  78. My usual go to book for stitches is The Embroidery Stitch Bible. There are others that I would use if I were looking for a specific technique

    90
  79. Wow what a give-away Mary. Thank you so much. I have to keep reorganising to get all my books in. And I keep saying no more well that never works. I think the book that I reach for most is The Embroidery Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden. Such a helpful book when I’m not looking up tutorials on your site.

    91
  80. What a great news, I am always looking for inspiration and new techniques.
    My goto books are the ones to create borders or stitches and small embroideries for crazy quilts. Can’t wait to see these new publications

    92
  81. My go to book is the RSN Book of Embroidery – the big one. This one for practical issues and inspirations. But I also like a variety of other ones including a very old book on goldwork that are great for ideas.

    94
  82. I often to the A~Z of Embroidery Stitches which is published by Search Press. I have been embroidering for about three years now. The book that I would love to own is Crewel Embroidery, by Tatiana Popova. I love her style. Thanks Mary and Search Press for this opportunity to win.

    95
  83. I probably reach for “The Embroidery Stitch Bible” by Betty Barnden the most often because I just need an idea for a stitch or reminder on how to do a stitch. The book selections you shared are amazing!!

    97
  84. I would have to say the book i reach for most often changes based on what im working on. There is usually a book associated with the project and that becomes my go to.
    If im stuck on a particular stitch I alway look at marys wonderful tutorials!

    98
  85. I don’t have a specific book I reference, but would love to add the silk ribbon embroidery book to my library!!!

    99
  86. I love the book English Medieval Embroidery: Opus Anglicanum for its beautiful pictures and inspiring works – however I would love a set of books like the inspirations collection to expand my skills and explore new types of embroidery!

    100
  87. The needlework books I most often refer to are those that teach techniques. Currently I am interested in needle painting and I am trying to learn the techniques used to blend the color threads.

    101
  88. This was hard, because I love actual books, and have a HUGE library! However, the embroidery resource I refer to most often and keep at hand while I stitch is actually online: Mary Corbet’s Needle ‘n Thread site. I find the Tips & Techniques section invaluable, and refer often to the stitch instructions & videos.
    If I had to pick one hardcover book, it would be the RSN Handbook of Embroidery.

    102
  89. For technique I turn to all the A-Z books. For inspiration, inspiration magazine and their books are hard to beat. Also, any books by Jane Nicholas, Hazel Blomkamp, or Trish Burr would fit the bill!

    103
  90. I love embroidery books !!! I have many of these books: embroidery stitch books, flower themes, color scheme, by specific authors …. and I consult them too much !!!! What would an embroiderer be without embroidery books? They are our inspiration, they are our master teaching us stitches and details of embroidery and they stimulate our perception of work colors and contours … I have owned several embroidery books and have known Search Press since many years ago. All the news in embroidery are presented by this reputable company that only brings us happiness and pleasure when buying your books.
    My favorite subjects for embroidery are flowers, gardens, animals, people. Lately I’ve been looking for new themes …
    I am so hopeful to win one of the collections because here in Brazil these books are very expensive …. and these collections are splendid !!!!

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  91. The embroidery book I reach for most is a book of polar-bear-themed cross stitch designs. I stitched a wedding sampler for my niece (who has “Bear” as part of her nickname) and birth samplers for each of the five grand-nieces and -nephews.

    105
  92. Since I am essentially a novice embroiderer (is that a word??) I mostly reach for how to do various embroidery stitches. After getting down basic stitches, I like to also include fancier, harder stitches.

    106
  93. A-Z Embroidery Stitches is my go-to book for different stitches. Plus, to be honest, I go to your YouTube channel when I need help with a new stitch!

    108
  94. Since I am fairly new to hand embroidery my most used book is Embroidery: A Step-by-Step Guide to More than 200 Stitches by Lucinda Ganderton

    109
  95. I love embroidery books !!! I have many of these books: embroidery stitch books, flower themes, color scheme, by specific authors …. and I consult them too much!!!!
    What would an embroiderer be without embroidery books? They are our inspiration, they are our master teaching us stitches and details of embroidery and they stimulate our perception of work colors and contours …
    I have owned several embroidery books and have known Search Press since many years ago. All the news in embroidery are presented by this reputable company that only brings us happiness and pleasure when buying your books.
    My favorite subjects for embroidery are flowers, gardens, animals, people. Lately I’ve been looking for new themes …
    I am so hopeful to win one of the collections because here in Brazil these books are very expensive …. and these collections are splendid !!!!

    110
  96. I used to do crewel embroidery as a teen and young woman. Then life got very busy with children, little girls, and I moved on to English smocking and eventually taught classes for English smocking and French hand sewing by machine at our local community college. Now I am embroidering again for fun and creativity and just smocked a romper for my grandson. But I would love to get back into the lovely wool fibers of crewel work and explore where that art is not going.

    111
  97. I would love to have a copy of Crewel Twists by Hazel Blomkamp. I love Jacobean design and she has presented such interesting and beautiful twists to the art. Great inspiration!

    112
  98. I love all needlework books but the one I use the most often is The Proper Stitch by Darlene O’Steen. I mainly cross stitch but would love to learn other stitching techniques.

    114
  99. The only needlework book I even have is “A Proper Stitch,” but I’ve been dying to get my hands on Hazel Blomkamp’s crewel books!

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  100. Hi Mary,

    The book I most reach for is the A to Z Crewelwork book because I enjoy crewel embroidery—really all things wool and linen/twill! The A to Z Crewelwork book has very detailed step by step instructions and clear photos illustrating various crewel work techniques making it an invaluable resource. I am glad its spiral bound because it can handle use! The projects included at the end are also inspirational and fun to analyze. This book really supports my work– especially since were I live there are no classes I can take or other resources to assist.

    Best,

    Margaret

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  101. The book that I’m reading now is Embroidered Country Gardens by Lorna Bateman. It’s giving me ideas for the project that I’m working on.

    Merry Christmas

    Vickie

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  102. What a wonderful selection of books! I always turn to my Inspirations A-Z of Embroidery Stitches, love their clear instructions.

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  103. These books look amazing! The book I reach for most often, probably Elegant Stitches by Judith Baker Montano. It’s just easy to use, illustrations are clear, and I love that my copy is spiral bound so it lays flat beside me as I work. Thanks for this Give Away!

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  104. The embroidery book I reach for most often, I purchased in the early 70s’ when I first started embroidering…Coat’s and Clark’s 100 Embroidery Stitches. It cost 35 cents at the time. It is 34 pages long and is about 5″x8″. It is divided into sections by stitch type, such as Flat, Looped, Linked, Composite and the like. It’s just a handy little book of stitches with brief “how to” and clear line drawings.

    121
  105. I don’t have a single favorite book, but my favorite are my stitch reference books. I love going through any of the dictionaries or encyclopedias to find a new stitch that would add something to one of my projects. Even my old – very vintage – or antique books still have something that may be illustrated differently so that I understand the stitch. Needless to say, I have a very large library of useful books! Most do not go untouched.

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  106. The books that I use most often are the A to Z of Embroidery books 1 and 2. They are great reference books and help me choose which stitch I want to use as well.

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  107. Well, as a dabbler in embroidery I’m embarrassed to say that the first book I reach for is Judith Montano’s stitch book. I’m left handed and I need the extra assurance that her book gives me in left handed instruction!

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  108. Years ago, in the 1990s, Better Homes and Gardens published annual books of Christmas Cross Stitch patterns. Every year I use one of the 5 I own to find patterns for creating gifts, ornaments or stockings. You collection are a great opportunity to own books that appear to offer some very sophisticated patterns and tips!! Thank you!

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  109. The needlework book I reach for most often is an old one – “the stitches of creative embroidery” by Jacqueline enthoven. That’s for technical stuff. And for inspiration I have any number of new and old books that I treasure. Thanks for another wonderful series of giveaways!

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  110. I go to Donna Kooler’s Encyclopedia of needlework. It has answered almost all of my questions…then I check your website!

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  111. I utilize many books and your website while stitching a project, but the book I use most is the A-Z Embroidery Stitches.

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  112. I have two favorite books I go to for stitch help. Judith Baker Montano’s “Embroidery & Crazy Quilt Stitch Tool” and Sue Spargo’s “Creative Stitching”. I really like both books. Thanks, Mary, for having such nice give aways!

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  113. Oh my! How do I choose from my many needlework books? The book I reach for depends what type of project I’m working on. However, if I have to pick one series (sorry, I can’t stick with just one book) I’d have to choose the A-Z series by Country Bumpkin. I love them because they’re encyclopedias of stitching that I can grab to find out how to stitch or glance at myriad stitch options, whether I’m doing silk ribbon, surface, whitework, wool or any other embroidery. I’m a very visual person, so appreciate the detailed photos of stitches in progress and the lovely inspirational examples.

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  114. My most used book is Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches which I picked up in a national trust second hand bookshop! 🙂

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  115. After stumbling upon your website and spending is: The Embroider’s Handbook, by Margie Bauer. I just getting back into embroidery and it has been a great tool for learning new stitches.

    135
  116. Actually I reach for one of Jane Nicholls’ books on stumpwork. If I am stumped (no pun intended) about what threads to use, what colors would work well together, how to do a flower, or bug, or leaf then her books provide inspiration and help. I would love any of these books but would most like to have Embroidered Treasures Animals, as much of my needlework centers around an animal theme.

    136
  117. I was given a copy of Mary Thomas’s Embroidery Book years ago and used it as my ‘go to’ for information, but for the past several years I’ve used websites and mainly yours, Mary! Thank you for being there!

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  118. I love my books by Trish Burr but I have the Royal School of Needlework Book of Embroidery on my wish list.

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  119. My current favorite book is Sharon Boggan’s “A Visual Guide to Crazy Quilting”. I have several books from Trish Burr. Love her work!

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  120. Like you Mary, I love books…especially books on needlework! The book I most reach for when stitching is Sue Spargo’s ‘Creative Stitching.’ The book is small, but packed with easy to follow diagrams on a variety of stitches in logical groupings. There’s plenty of eye candy from Sue as well, and it’s really helpful that the book has a coiled binding making it easy to keep the pages open and flat when following along.

    Happy Holidays!

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  121. Hi. The needlework books that I reach for most often are those produced by the Royal School of Needlework. I have their 2 big and comprehensive needlework guides, as well as various of their smaller ones. To me, they are the perfect go-to for all needleworkers.

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  122. The Embroidery Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden: the photos, line drawings and description for each stitch are compact and clear. Plus small chunky books are fun to hold 🙂

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  123. I love books and I have a lot of needlework ones, so it is hard to say which one I reach for most often. If I had to pick just one, I suppose it would be Brenda Hart’s Stitches for the Millennium, a book of needlepoint stitch diagrams that I find inspirational and endlessly fascinating. It’s a great way to look into the mind of a great stitcher. Merry Christmas and many great books to all!
    Jane/Chilly Hollow

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  124. The Needlework book I reach for? Well, I don’t think there is just one. My two loves are Ukrainian folk embroidery (I am Ukrainian) and animals. So I have a collection of embroidery books on both these subjects. But if I had to choose one or the other – I would say animals. I have two animal embroidery books that I really, really like – they are Cat Lady Embroidery: 380 Ways to Stitch a Cat and I Love My Dog: 380 Stitch Motifs for Dog Moms and Dads. They both make me smile!

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  125. Wow! What a great collection of books. So much fun to be had looking through those books. I don’t have many but the book I reach for the most is “Embroidery: A Step-by-Step Guide to More Than 200 Stitches”.

    Thank you for the opportunity,
    Teresa

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  126. Oh my! What lovely, lovely books. I use many of my needlework books, including the ABC series, very old books I have collected, online information and designs (looking at you Mary) and magazines. Right now I am using Tris Burr’s Needle Painting quite a bit, since I am working on my needle painting skills

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  127. I often use Carolyn Ambuter’s The Open Canvas but there are many others too. You can never have too many books. SC

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  128. I reach for the RSN ABC Embroidery book- at least I think that’s the title. It’s in the library of our Guild so during/after a meeting it’s what I look at to understand stitching techniques or untangle a trouble I am having.

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  129. The book I use the most is Stitch Sampler by Lucinda Ganderton. It has the best photos showing how a stitch is made.

    Cheryl F. from Tyler Texas

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  130. I generally grab “The Embroidery Stitch Bible” by Betty Barnden. It has a nice collection of stitches and is a spiral book so is easy to prop open.

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  131. I am just starting to stitch. I would love to have The Embroiderer’s Handbook by Margie Bauer.

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  132. I usually reach for the embroidery book that deals with the project I’m working on. Now I’m doing Schwalmwork and consulting Guido al Ricamo d’Assia by Stefania Bressan.

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  133. I don’t have any books as of yet as I am just starting,but I have wanted to Chloe’s book ever since I first saw it.

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  134. I love to collect books. I have many, many embroidery, ribbon embroidery and stitch diagrams/suggestions type of books. When I am home it’s great to have several to cross reference when trying to master a stitch. However, since I do a lot of stitching “out” at my local shop I often reach for iStitches by Ruth Schmuff. There are five very large sized volumes which I own in print. However, each volume is also available in an app form. That is what I use for reference when I am stitching “out”. It is easy and lessens the burden of what I carry into the shop for an afternoon of stitching. Of course, the shop has lovely books too . . .
    I’m constantly in trouble with my collecting!

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  135. I have my eye on Lorna Bateman’s Embroidered Country Garden. I learned silk ribbon embroidery years ago, but Lorna’s book makes me want to relearn everything I’ve forgotten.

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  136. This was a particularly difficult question. I have so many needlework books! 🙂

    I would say the one I use the most is Dating Fabrics: A Color Guide 1800-1960. I buy antique and vintage quilts from flea markets and spend quite a bit of time trying to date them using this book. As for needlework, I also purchase quilt blocks to incorporate in other needlework projects. I like to know the approximate date of the fabrics to help me place each block into just the right setting.

    Jennifer B. in NEPA

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  137. My first look to learn new stitches is Elegant Stitches by Judith Baker Montano… nice clear illustrations and a lay-flat binding.
    Jeanette Sclar

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  138. Oh, this is a hard question! When I first started learning embroidery, I had the Readers Digest Complete Guide to Embroidery, which is still a book I reach for often for the clear instructions & photos. But for enjoyment and inspiration, I’ve found lately that I’m really loving a newer to me title, Stitch People by Jo Dixey, for its more unusual project ideas and some newer techniques that give great effects. I want to try all the projects!

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  139. When looking at needlework books I tend to go through phases, usually depending on what I am stitching. Recently it has been Lorna Bateman’s new Embroidered Country Gardens. Before that, when working on a monogram it was Mary’s ebook Stitch Sampler Alphabet. You have just added lots of books to my wish list for next year! Thanks for the give-aways!

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  140. I usually reach for crewelwork books or surface embroidery. The embroidered box book is very interesting, but I would just love the Birds and flowers collection. Thank you for keeping embroidery alive and well. I am so thankful to have found your site. You bring joy and happiness to many. God bless you.

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  141. I love books as well! There are several that I use frequently one is Hand Embroidery Stitches at a glance. I keep it in my work basket.

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  142. My most used needlework book is “Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches” because I am always interested in what other stitch I might use when I am doing a project.

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  143. I have several books on crazy quilt embroidery that I reference regularly: The Crazy Quilt Handbook, by Judith Baker Montano, The Visual Guide to Crazy Quilting Design, by Sharon Boggon, Crazy Quilting, by Allie Aller, just to name a few.

    Looking at beautiful books on embroidery is ALMOST as fun as doing the actual embroidery.

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  144. Any of these collections would be wonderful addition to my library! When I want to look up a technique for quick reference, I turn to my trusty Complete Guide to Needlework by Readers Digest. If it isn’t there, it will be in Thérèse de Dillmont’s Encyclopedia of Needlework.

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  145. The book I reach for most is the left-handed embroiderer’s companion. Being a confirmed lefty, This volume has lots of pictures showing the correct way for a lefty to stitch and achieve great results. Beneath the pictures and illustrations, there is a clear concise explanation for completing the stitch. It has saved me many times from frustration and ripping out to make a better stitch pattern.

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  146. I adore stitchery books and spend endless hours paging through deciding which marvellous design I will tackle next. I enjoying choosing my colours whether they are the ones suggested or my own creation. The thrill of seeing it come to life never fails to boost my spirits and feel the glow of accomplishment.
    I would love the pleasure of owning any of the offered books.

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  147. I love collecting and reading needlework books as much (if not more) than actually stitching. So it is impossible to say which ONE gets used most often as it depends on the project or research that I am doing. However, my most recent project included adding a hemstitch to finish it as a bell pull so I reached for my booklet on Hemstitching by Marion Scoular. Looking forward to new books in 2020! Thnaks for the sneek peeks!

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  148. I really like the Mary Thomas Dictionary of Stitches (https://needlenthread.wpengine.com/2006/10/dictionary-of-embroidery-stitches.html) which I found thanks to our Mary C. It’s very clear and I just love having all the different options available (and from different varieties of needlework.) I get inspired to do different projects just looking through it. They are grouped by type of embroidery, and then by function (e.g. “filling stitches.”) Fantastic.

    A very close second would be the RSN Book of Embroidery (https://needlenthread.wpengine.com/2018/06/rsn-book-of-embroidery-huge-in-more-ways-than-one.html). It contains a discussion of a variety of techniques all in one book, and the example work is to die for. It makes me wish I lived in England!

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  149. For patterns I like designs by Kathy Schmitz because I love her simple designs that are open to using any stitches you want to try. For stitch tutorials I really like the Needle n Thread tutorials because I like to see a stitch being worked.

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  150. I love embroidery books….not only for the all the instructions, patterns, but also for the beautiful pictures of finished projects. So much talent! I Have a few favourites but the Inspirations books and the Royal School of Needlework books are special!

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  151. I don’t reach for a book, I reach for your website. But if I were to have a book to reach for, I would like it to be on stumpwork as I really want to learn this type of embroidery.

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  152. My go-to book is The Complete Book of Stumpwork Embroidery by Jane Nicholas. It contains not just basic stitches, but all the information I need to create 3-D items to add to my embroideries to create depth.

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  153. There isn’t one book that I go to when I need help…probably because I am a stitcher and quilter. I have books over 50 years old that I still reference. I love books and looking at all that lovely work!

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  154. What a wonderful collections of assorted books to win. I started my embroidery ventures as a child with JP Coats book of embroidery. It took me through many years of learning stitiches. I always had to turn the pictures upside down as I am left handed. Then found the Left Handed Embroidery book. I have an ancient copy of Encyclopedia of Needlework. My recent book is on Crewel Embroidery. Wonderful color photos and clear instructions.

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  155. If I have to check something, or need help for a stitch, I use a very old book. It was my mothers, she gave it to me. It is from the 1950s, in Dutch, called Handwerken. Haven’t found a technique yet that was not in that book!

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  156. Hi Mary, It just keeps getting better! Oh my gosh, “Crewel Birds”, I love Hazel Blomkamp’s books! Even if you don’t stitch, they are beautiful to look at. I want one.

    Thanks for this years presents.

    Connie Martin

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  157. When working on embroidery projects, usually a crazy quilt project, my most often referenced needlework book is Allie Aller’s “Crazy Quilting”. I would love some new books for reference and skill development.

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  158. Greetings stitchers! My go to is Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches, then the Anchor Complete Embroidery Course. Happy stitching to all!

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  159. The needlework book I use the most is “The Art of Manipulating Fabric” by Colette Wolff. The book covers smocking, ruffles, stuffing, quilting and so much more. Before my last move, I reduced my collection of sewing and embroidery books by half. This book was the only book I missed enough that I had to replace it. I can’t remember why I purchased the book to begin with, but my previous copy was well worn and dog eared. It has provided inspiration for many projects when I wanted something “a little different”.

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  160. Good Morning,

    I have been using several books and it really depends on what I am creating, my EGA Chapter has yearly challenges and I am currently enroll in a EGA Individual Correspondence course so I have been creating designs on my own or modifying a design. Surface Embroidery, I swear by Alison Coles two master class books Stump work Masterclass and Gold work Master class. Her instructions on how to attempt new techniques such as needle lace are superb.

    I also love the A-Z specialty books put out by the RSN.

    Thank you,
    Merry Christmas
    Jamie Cerda

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  161. Still a newbie so I don’t have an embroidery library – YET! I’ve asked for 4 books listed on Mary’s Amazon page and have Mary Thomas’ Dictionary at the top of the list. I’d love to own these books as well since a few of them are on my wish list. Merry Christmas! PS – I know I’ve been too busy this season since I’ve missed most of the prior give a ways. 🙁

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  162. My go to reading for embroidery is actually a subscription to Inspirations magazine. The magazine offers an experience in history, techniques, patterns and ‘valuable inspiration ‘.

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  163. My most used reference book is Encyclopedia of Embroidery Stitches by Marion Nichols. I would love to own any of the collections.
    Diane P from Kennesaw GA

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  164. I have a large needlework book I bought from Readers Digest years ago, and I still use it quite often to prod my memory on how to begin projects, and things like stem stitch properly.

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  165. I have always wanted to be able to go and see the Royal School of Needlework , I am particularly interested in the history of needlework .The article was very interesting as needlework itself has very little published history so I enjoy reading about it whenever I can . I am currently searching for sampler needlework and medieval needlework books at my local flea markets and book stores .

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  166. I usually reach for an embroidery book relating to the project I’m working on at the moment. I’m doing Scwalmwork now and consult Guido al Ricamo d’Assia di Stefania Bressan.

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  167. Choosing my go to book is hard! There are so many excellent ones. I would say recently I grab one of Christen Brown’s books for inspiration and color ideas. They are beautiful. The Embroidery Book: Visual Resource of Color and Design has a visual stitch guide as well.

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  168. In spite of having loads of books on various techniques including a number of Search Press Books…I must admit the one I use the most is Anchor Booklet of 100 stitches. I enjoy browsing the others for inspiration and details but that little booklet is small and handy with my work as a quick reminder of various stitches.

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  169. I tend to do embroidery embellishments with thicker threads so I reach for my two Sue Spargo Creative Stitching books.I would love some other books to inspire me to do other embroidery projects.

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  170. the one i use the most is RSN Book of Embroidery: A Guide to Essential Stitches, Techniques and Projects

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  171. I have a very old book published by Better Homes and Gardens. It has chapters on different crafts. I learned a lot from that but it isn’t as comprehensive as I would like.

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  172. I generally look through my crewel embroidery books. Although I enjoy looking through my other books on needlepoint, gold work and many more.

    202
  173. Oh my, I can’t wait and will head over to the Search Press site. I love books and love to give them. I don’t have any crafty friends or family so I usually give cookbooks.

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  174. My current favorite is “Goldwork” by Hazel Everett. Not that I have had the guts to do any of it – yet, but it’s hard for me to keep the drool off the pages!

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  175. I was lucky to obtain a copy of AnneMeike Mein textile book many years ago when it first came out. It inspired me to learn how to several new techniques. Today I reach for both Trish Burr and Hazel Blomkamp books as they inspire me to improve my use of soft shading and bring crewel into the 21st century. They both challenge me to reach beyond what I have done before. I have made several of the pieces that were published in Inspirations Magazine.

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  176. I have recently discovered enjoyment in hand embroidery and have the Embroidered County Gardens book on my Christmas list.

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  177. As a ‘newbie’, my stitcher’s library is small.
    I love to browse through all embroidery
    books for information and admire and dream about all the lovely projects! When it comes to actually learning a stitch, I always go to
    your needlenthread website and watch the wonderful tutorials…this is the only way I
    seem to be able to understand the process.
    Does anyone else have this problem or is it just me? All the diagrams are difficult for me to follow, but watching someone do the stitch just ‘clicks’ for me.

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  178. I just purchased my first embroidery book, “Embroidered Country Gardens” by Lorna Bateman after having seen a copy of it at my local EGA chapter meeting. I absolutely had to have it and will be referring to it for tips, techniques, and project ideas. Although I’m not a gardener, I love flowers and gardens both embroidered, stitched, and appliquéd. Thanks for giving the history of Search Press.

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  179. I don’t exactly have a favorite needlework book. I use my collection of A to Z books constantly. I smock, do shadow work and surface embroidery so depending on the project/projects I am working on I will have the appropriate A to Z book with me.

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  180. I love the A to Z series. The instructions are very understandable, and the books are so inspirational.
    I love all needlework books, and feel you can never have enough. Thank you Mary, for all you do to keep us all stitching.

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  181. Embroideries from an English Garden by Carol Andrews is one of my favorite go to books for inspiration and guidance. Lovely book!

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  182. I started embroidering at the age of 73 and found free style surface embroidery suits me best. I go to Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery stitches (recommended by Mary Corbet) the most.

    The book I’d like most now is Hazel Blomkamp’s Crewel Birds. I love her designs and integration of beads, weaving and the like. Her designs are challenging, engaging and also do-able.

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  183. It depends on what type of stitchery I am doing. Mostly I reach for a book with clear instructions on how to do a particular stitch, I find that after years and years of stitching, I sometimes develop a habit of doing a stitch incorrectly and it is always a good idea to refresh my memory.

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  184. Greetings, Mary! I would so love to have the book on crewel embroidery that you show. I love the look but know almost nothing about creating it.
    Merry Christmas everyone

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  185. I most frequently reach for a RSN instructional book of stitches. It’s small and spiral bound so it opens easily and lies flat. I stitch intermittently so I need the reference for stitches I don’t quite remember.

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  186. I’ve begun planning for a big wool embroidery project, so lately the books I’ve been using the most are the A-Z of Embroidery Stitches (volumes 1 & 2).

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  187. I have several books that I reach for but it really depends on what I’m working on. If it is a canvas piece, it’s “Stitches for Effect”. If a hardanger piece then any of the books by Janice Love. If I’m hemstitching then it’s Marion Scholar and her wonderful book on hemstitching.

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  188. I don’t own any needlework books; I use designs from the internet or books from the library. I’ve had my eye on Embroidered Country Gardens by Lorna Bateman for a while for all the beautiful intricate details and because of the kits that have been featured in the Inspirations newsletter.

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  189. Most reached for book…? At the moment, the J Carey Elizabethan stitches one – as I can never remember how to do Elizabethan braid stitch whenever I pick up my sweetbag project!

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  190. Like you, I too collect needlework, sewing and quilting books. Several bookcases full of them and am now stacking them on the floor. They are my friends. Generally, if I’m looking for a stitch or how to make it, I will pull out several of the general stitch books to see which one has the clearest diagrams. I am dyslexic and doing things in reverse or whatever can be difficult. One of the books to pull is Doona Kooler’s Encyclopedia of Embroidery Stitches. I also love the Royal needlework book that you wrote the introduction to.

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  191. My favorite “go to” book is, Mary Thomass Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches, by Jan Eaton, Search Press.
    This book has been around for a long time and is still useful today.

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  192. I love The Stumpwork, Goldwork and Surface Embroidery Beetle Collection by Jane Nicholas. So much inspiration and clear instruction.

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  193. What book? Can’t pic just one :). Usual reasons I reach for one is research, or looking for a particular stitch. For research The Pictorial History of Embroidery is always my go-to. It may not have color pics but what is there covers a wide range (some examples were lost during WWII) AND the glossary in the back gives ground, fiber and stitch information. To check on how to do a particular stitch Erika Wilson’s Embroidery Book (also known as ‘the red one’) is usually the first, after that could be The Proper Stitch (D. O’Steen) or Elizabethan Stitches (J. Carey).

    And if I don’t go to a book, I start here on Needle ‘n Thread :).

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  194. What an interesting story about Search Press, I never knew that. Anyway, the books I most reach for are my A-Z books … beautiful, instructive and just fun!

    Merry Christmas!

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  195. I love blackwork (first love hardanger), crewel third. Knitting socks is also a passion and have never embroidered on knitting. Making a box, I know some who do that and makes me envious. So those books really intrigue me. So fingers crossed.

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  196. I wish, I wish, I wish, I wish …. I had the very newest book on my very latest needle passion – whatever that will be in 5 seconds!

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  197. I love any of the books by Trish Burr when I’m looking for inspiration and instruction! I’m currently devouring The Embroidered Art of Chloe Giordano but alas, it’s from the library. What amazing giveaways – Merry Christmas!

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  198. I do mostly counted work and reach for Janice Love’s Hardanger Books, “Basics and Beyond” and “Fundamentals Made Fancy”, quite often for interesting fillings, wonderful information on what went wrong, helpful tips and beautiful inspiration!

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  199. Like you Mary, I have tons of books, but I think the ones I turn to most often are my books from the Royal School of Needlework.

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  200. It’s not so much a book as a button (or more often a mouse); it’s actually your web site. Its easier for me to find what I’m looking for on here than it is to try to find the correct book, which may be anywhere in a cupboard, on a shelf, or even on the table in front of me or in the corner on the floor. I do love a book too, but they do need sorting.

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  201. What delightful collections of Needlework books! Any of them would be a great addition to my library.

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  202. The needlework book I reach for most often is Alison Cole’s Tips and Tricks….so useful. And I always picture Alison’s cheerful face when I get it out

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  203. I don’t really have a book I go to. I was shown how to start by a friend, and 40 years later, I just Lee learning by trying new things. But the books you review on your blog are so inspiring and tempt me to try some. Recently I had the privilege of hearing Terri Bay speak. And I am definitely going to try my hand at some white work. So I would love to wine the collection containing the book on that subject.

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  204. I LOVE embroidery books and have many for inspiration in my ever growing and changing library. It is hard to choose just one favorite book from the ones that I have as each has it’s particular use but one of the books that I have continued to keep and often refer to for stitch inspiration is Jacqualine Enthoven’s THE STITCHES OF CREATIVE EMBROIDERY. It is an old book but I just keep hanging on to it! Having said that I’m looking forward to the next new books for 2020. It continues to be exciting to see what is new and different in the world of embroidery. Thanks for sharing your reviews of new books with the embroidery community!

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  205. I love my silk ribbon books the most. Since I am first a counted person, silk ribbon is a challenge for me and my books give me inspiration when I am stretching myself.

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  206. My latest favourite is Embroidery, a Complete Course in Embroidery and Design, by Pauline Brown. This is a fabulous book, published by William Collins Sons & Co. in 1987 (I have the second edition from 1990.)

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  207. I use various books for embroidery stitching instructions. I have yet to determine which is my favorite because none, so far, has proven to be a “one stop” reference book.

    I’m a bit of a novice and I have been working on simple wool applique projects over the last year. I also have a crazy quilt that I started many years ago and I forgot how to do all of the fancier ribbon work, hand embroidery, etc. (I barely knew how to do them back them … LOL)

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  208. I love Trish Burr’s books. I reach for them often for inspiration and when I just want to look at something beautiful. Her work is exquisite.

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  209. That’s such a difficult question to answer. I love my collection of needlework books. If I need to understand how to do something – then I will use the A to Z stitch books from Inspirations or the giant RSN book. If I’m looking for inspiration, then I love Trish Burr’s books and also Jane Nicholas.
    You can never have too many books!

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  210. The best needlework book in my collection is RSN Book of Embroidery. I love embroidery books! Thanks, Mary, for all you do to keep us informed.

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  211. These are the most beautiful giveaways! I am new to needlenthread this year, and what a joy your emails are. I look forward to the wealth of information you provide. You are inspiring me to expand my talents and explore new crafts. Thank you so much!!

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  212. I love Judith Baker Montano’s Embroidery & Crazy Quilt Stitch Tool – she includes instructions for left handed stitchers! Thanks, Marty

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  213. The book I reach for the most is The Right-handed Embroiderer’s Companion by Yvette Stanton. I find her instructions and clear diagrams the most helpful in figuring out a stitch – after your tutorials, Mary, of course. But since I can’t always get to the computer when stitching puzzles me, I reach for this book. As a consequence, it is a bit tattered, but that shows it is obviously loved.

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  214. I have 2 small pamphlet books that I use constantly, one is Hand Embroidery, Stitches at a glance and Pocket Guide, Embroidery that have oft-used stitches. They are very helpful when searching for a stitch.

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  215. There are two books I would love to have for both inspiration and for reference. The first is Susan O’Connor’s Monograms: The Art of Embroidered Letters because I just cannot get enough of whitework and monograms. The second is A-Z of Goldwork with Silk Embroidery which seems perfect for learning the techniques needed for Ecclesiastical embroidery.

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  216. Like you I am an avid collector of embroidery books and own hundreds. As I like the challenge of trying new stitches my copy of the Stitch Bible is never far from my hand.

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  217. The book I reach for at least once a year is Linen Stitches by Ginnie Thompson. It has great instructions for basic stitches and hemming. You asked for one, but I have two. The second book is Elegant Stitches by Judith Baker Montano. I just love what she has done to combine stitches. These books are the spiral bound versions — yet another thing about these books that I find so helpful.

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  218. How is it possible to choose when there are so many beautiful and inspiring books to choose from? I choose whatever refers to the type of embroidery I’m doing at the time. But I do pick up Trish Burrs White Work with Colour more than any other. I’ve nearly completed them all.

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  219. Currently,when I want to look at needlework books, I go to my public library because they have basic books on embroidery and counted cross stitch; but the projects they offer are mostly outdated and their color schemes are not of much interest to me. At one time, I had a precious embroidery book on fancy scripted calligraphy lettering; but I lost it in a flood a number of years ago. For real inspiration now, I look to my mother-in-law’s beautiful projects, which are mostly gorgeous ribbon embroidery, satin stitch animals and flowers, and three dimensional appliquéd flowers and insects. She has won lots of local awards for her needlework; but she does not teach or share her process. I also greatly enjoy studying the amazing designs you post on your blog! They truly make me look at the melding of design and technique in new and intriguing ways! I look to them again and again to study your techniques, thread, and fabric choices avidly. You have emboldened me to start working with metallic threads for the first time; and now I am totally hooked on them. Thank you! Your snowflake designs overwhelm me in their mixture of simplicity and complexity, sparkle and elegance! I love learning about new threads and notions that are available on the market; and I really appreciate your willingness to share your discoveries and processes so openly! It is so greatly appreciated! I am especially drawn toward complex and multi-platform techniques from nature. A merging of your 2019 collection is very similar to the layered techniques that I would dearly love to learn to do. The three-dimensional batik embroidered butterflies on the cover of “The Art of Annemieke Mein” totally blows my mind with its beauty and inspiration. What a delightful idea to add to a child’s wall quilt to add that extra touch of whimsy found in every child’s heart! It is all so inspiring! God bless, and good luck and best wishes to all.

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  220. There are two books I reach for most often: The Embroiderer’s Handbook by
    Margie Bauer and The Complete Stitch Encyclopedia by Jan Eaton.

    What wonderful collections of books! Thank you!

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  221. My favorite book of embroidery is an old Reader’s Digest compilation. I like it because it shows clear step by step pictures and diagrams of many basic stitches. It also has chapters on many different techniques, including appliqué, black work, and drawn thread work.
    It’s a good basic reference. And it’s the only book I own thus far.

    Diana B in Illinois

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  222. Hi Mary,
    Not having an embroidery book, I would love a book on Crewel work because I love the way the different stitches can produce a unique texture.
    Merry Christmas!

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  223. I have an old “Erica Wilson’s Embroidery Book” that I love. I read it for pleasure, somewhat like I read dessert menus in restaurants, even though I don’t intend to order dessert.

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  224. I have a bookcase full of needlework references — recent, past, European, etc. What I reach for is dependent on what I am stitching and am looking for info (how to, background, colors, etc.). They cover the full spectrum of stitching guides, types of needlework, history, etc. I use them all.

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  225. My go-to Needlework books are the Inspirations books A to Z of Embroidery Stitches 1 and 2. Also whatever technique I’m excited about at the time – Goldwork, crewel, etc. thank you!

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  226. Trish Burr is my favorite and I reach for one of hers first as I attempt to improve my thread painting skills. Lately, I have been reaching for her Whitework with Colour. Thank you, Mary, for warning us that there are so many (more) beautiful needlework books coming out in 2020! I’ll have to make room for more books!

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  227. I am a collector of needlework books-In the past I had a friend with a knit shop and everytime she got in new books she would call me and say, “I think you should come over and have a look.” Right now I would like to see the book ” Embroidered Treasures Birds ” because I have been hand sewing song birds, knitting birds and crocheting birds. Interweave press has been a great inspiration to me as well as books by Susan B Anderson and Lucinda Guy. So, I am happy to know about Search Press. tx SBeer

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  228. “Creative Stitching” by Sue Spargo is my go to book and recommend it everyone! I love your site Mary! I learn so much!

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  229. For inspiration, I want the books that have birds as the project. I want to see the different birds featured so I can try them. I love all birds!

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  230. This year’s giveaways are the best yet, Mary! And today’s is particularly brilliant. I find I don’t often reach for books, exactly, so much as drool over them for inspiration when they first arrive. But one that’s been a constant over a lot of years is Kaffe Fassett’s Glorious Inspiration.

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  231. I reach out to Trishburr books for my needle painting projects. I refer to RSN series of books as well.

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  232. Hi Mary,
    The Embroidery book I rely on and reach for the most is, The Embroidery Stitch Bible, by Betty Barnden.
    Thanks for your embroidery inspirations-my favourite online resource!

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  233. My current favorite book is Trish Burr’s Redoute’s Finest Flowers. I am stitching the magnolia for my grandmother for Christmas. I love the way she creates realistic flowers and I love browsing this book even when not working on a project.

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  234. I reach for what is known as the RSN Green
    Book – the precursor to all the others. Great information on techniques and even better projects for practicing those techniques .
    Darcy

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  235. I always have Judith Baker Montano’s Embroidery and Crazy Quilt Stitch Tool with me. It shows all of the stitches in both left and right handed and sits up making it easy to use.

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  236. I reach for Encyclopedia of Needlework, by Donna Kooler. It may be out of print now but can be found on some used book sites.

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  237. Hello Mary:

    Ohhh I love some of the titles coming for 2020 and am adding them to my wish list! I particularly love the one in collaboration with Kew Gardens. I used to live just down the street from Kew Gardens and had an annual membership for many years. I so miss it now that I am living in Canada. The gift shop at Kew always has amazingly curated titles and no doubt this one will be a good selling one. Anyhow, as to the question, I often turn to Goldwork by Hazel Everett as a reference book but seem to be turning more and more to Fairchild’s Dictionary of Textiles as I get into writing embroidery research.

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  238. I love embroidery books! RSN Book of Embroidery is the best. Thanks, Mary, for all your efforts to keep us informed.

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  239. I’ve been using reader’s digest Complete Guide to Needlework since I was a kid. It’s a great reference whenever I need to refresh my memory on a technique or stitch that I don’t use often.

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  240. Embroidered Country Gardens is the book I most wish for right now. My very small library of embroidery books desperately needs some new life so really . . .any of those collections would be fabulous. Well used and well loved.

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  241. I love books! And I love embroidery books most of all! Thank you Mary and Search Press for this batch of goodies. It makes my heart happy to see how many new books are coming out in 2020, that means needlework is alive, well and thriving!
    The reference book I reach for the most is that classic, “The Complete DMC Needlework of Needlework” – a must for any
    library. Any of the A-Z books are good too!

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  242. When I need inspiration, I reach for my vintage Ondori needlework book collection gifted by my lovely aunt.

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  243. The needlework books I reach for the most often are the stitch dictionaries. I love learning new stitches! 🙂

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  244. I continually return to The Stitches of Creative Embroidery, by Jacqueline Enthoven, I have had it since the 70’s, so I suspect I return to it because it is so familiar.

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  245. Hi Mary,
    I’m like you, addicted to books, and it started early. If I got a book for birthday or Christmas I was so happy but a certain couple always gave me a large Book Token every Christmas throughout my childhood and into my teens and I really loved the almost ritual pleasure of going to the same bookshop every January to choose special books. The books in this giveaway would have been the perfect choice for me or anyone wanting that special gift or treat. To have four or five of them at once is the stuff dreams are made on.

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  246. I would really enjoy the needlework book embroidery on knitting. I now know how 2 knit, want 2 use new skill.

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  247. Lately, I really like referring to A-Z Embroidery Stitches 2 because of the easy to follow directions and pictures,

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  248. I most often turn to A to Z of Embroidery Stitches and A to Z of Embroidery Stitches Volume 2 . They both are wonderful inspirations and help in making stitches properly and deciding which stitches to choose to use creatively in my projects!!

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  249. The A-Z Series of Needlework Books are my go-to source for how to do unfamiliar stitches and also as a refresher for stitches not done very often. Since Search Press is the Publisher, they deserve my thanks!

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  250. I love the book “Willing Hands “ .
    All the projects are so lovely and I’m enjoying dreaming over the gorgeous pictures.

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  251. I am not sure that I have one go-to book for needlework inspiration, but I cherish my entire collection. No matter how many books I have, I still make the crafts/needlework book section my first stop in any bookstore or gift shop.

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  252. If I want to play with surface stitches, I go back to a classic – “Creative Stitches” by Edith John.
    If I want canvas stitches, I first check “A Pageant of Pattern for Needlepoint Canvas” by Sheree Lantz and Maggie Lane or “The Needlepoint Book” by Jo Ippolito Christensen.
    For inspiration in contemporary embroidery, I love to browse through the series of “Double Trouble” booklets by Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn.
    and then of course there are the design books – anything by Jan Messant, and the colour books – Ruth Issett, Richard Box.
    …… and so one’s library grows!!

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  253. It is so hard to narrow down just one book, because I have many I often refer to for inspiration and direction. Since 2019 was my year of learning Goldwork technique, I have two books that were used regularly. Both books are from Search Press. The first is Ruth Chamberlin’s “Beginner’s Guide to Goldwork” and the second is “A-Z of Goldwork with Silk Embroidery.” There are other Goldwork books in my library, but these two have wonderful pictures and explicit directions and instructions.

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  254. Dear Mary, This is such a wonderful give away. Books are such treasures I don’t think i would know how to do my crafting without them. My favorite book is Better Homes and Gardens Heirloom Christmas Stockings in Cross Stitch. Thanks for sharing your knowledge of craftiness with all of us.

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  255. I’m looking over at my wall of books. So many even though I culled off the shelf. This is hard to choose just one book. But here goes….Beryl Dean, Ecclesiastical Embroidery as it has stitch diagrams, design ideas and history. This is a book valuable beyond church work.

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  256. I love looking at reference books that have many techniques or how to stitch stitches. I would love to have Hazel Blomkamp’s book – Crewel Twists. Since, I recently finished a beginner’s course on Crewel Embroidery. Cheers Anna

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  257. I too love embroidery books. I had to buy a separate bookcase to hold them. Reading your article on books I felt like you were in my head. I own or want to own all them featured. The two I reach for most often for guidance and inspiration are: Embroidered Flora and Fauna – three dimensional textured embroidery by Leslie Turpin-Delport & Nikki Delport-Wepener, and Crewel Intentions by Hazel Blomkamp. I love to use weaving techniques in my embroidery. I hope 2020 not only revises embroidery but I do hope a few more brick and mortar stores open for hands on browsing.

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  258. Although I refer to several of my A-Z books, my go to reference is always your website. I love your tutorials and articles. I have referred many friends to your site and collectively we thank you for your devotion to needlework and your hard work and generosity in sharing your expertise!

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  259. My go to book is A-Z of Embroidery Stitches. I love to try new stitches and this is an excellent resource. What wonderful books you are giving away! Thank you for your giveaways and your wonderful website. I reference your site any time I am trying a new stitch and appreciate your videos immensely.

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  260. Mary, I reach for the RSN embroidery book for inspiration.

    But, go to your videos to “ learn” how

    Thanks for having these giveaways and have a Merry Christmas!

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  261. I always reach for Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches. Great compilation of many embroidery stitches with great illustrations.

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  262. I LOVE NEEDLEWORK BOOKS OF ALL KINDS. MY FAVORITE BOOK FOR STITCHES IS “EMBROIDERY A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO MORE THAN 200 STITCHES”. I CAN CARRY IT WITH ME AND USE IT WHEN I AM UNSURE ABOUT A STITCH. FOR SASHIKO AND MENDING I LOVE “MAKE+MEND” BY JESSICA MARQUEZ. FOR KANTHA STITCHING “INSPIRATION KANTHA” BY ANNA HERGERT.THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT BOOKS.

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  263. Blown away by the books in today’s post; there were several on my wish list already but now there are even more! I use the RSN stitch guides a lot when on the move as they are ring bound and easy to carry around. I tend to reach for specific technique books if I’m working on a particular project. At present I’m using Margaret Dier’s silk shading book a lot.

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  264. Dear Mary

    I use frenquently the Books of the Trish Burr, for embroidery. I am from Brazil.

    Maria Eustáquia

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  265. The book that I have used the most is J. marsha Michler’s book “Motifs for Crazy Quilting”. I used it to do embroidery on a crazy quilt. I would love to make one of the little embroidered boxes that I have been seeing. Would be great to have a book with instructions. I also have one of Tatiana’s designs to embroider. Would be great to have her new book. Also, Inspirations magazine is awesome!
    Thanks.

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  266. Both of the Judith Baker Montano “Stitches” books are my reference for silk ribbon embroidery although I frequently use the original embroidery book by Erica Wilson (that’s how far back my library goes). Would love to win one of the book collections and I realize it’s probably tacky to express a preference but I already have most of the first two collections so would really like one of the last two. Really getting into Trish Burr and Hazel Bloemkamp.

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  267. When I began stitching I turned to Erica Wilson. However my go to books now are Sue Spargo, Kathy Shaw and Sharon Boggon.

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  268. This is such a great set of prizes! I love new embroidery books.

    My most used books are probably either the giant RSN Book of Embroidery or my stumpwork book! A close second would be the Yumiko Higuchi books, since her designs make great easy gifts and towels.

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  269. I do have a few needlework books (hee, hee). The embroidery books I reach for most often are an old, Anchor collection of stitching guides. I would love the “Learn a New Skill” collection. I crochet instead of knitting, and suspect the embroidery on knitting would work for crochet as well. Thank you Mary. Sally

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  270. The book(s) that I reach for most often are the ones that show stitch patterns for crazy quilting. I do this all by hand and love combining stitches for the seams and doing little hand drawn motifs on some of the bigger areas. I also love, love, love stitch dictionaries!!

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  271. I have a few different stitch dictionaries that are my most-used books. But I would love to have one of the crewel books from Search Press, e.g. Crewelwork Inspirations. I worked a crewel kit from the Victoria and Albert Museum years ago and loved it, but the kits are very expensive. One of the Search Press books would allow me to make a “kit” of my own.

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  272. The book I most often reach for is Embroideries from an English Garden by Carol Andrews. I love the variety of flowers and leaves, a variety of projects and clear and complete instructions.

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  273. Hi Mary. I mostly reach for embroidery dictionaries to decide on the stitches I’ll be using but of course I collect all sorts of books – and magazines- to provide me with inspiration.
    Thank you.

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  274. Lately I’ve been working on some samplers in Quaker style (the medallions, the vine-y wreaths surrounding pithy words, the Roman alphabets). Hunting for inspiration has meant searching through historical sampler books with photos of those styles. There are so many: the Goodheart and Feller collection books, Carol Humphry’s “Quaker School Girl Samplers”, the Westown School book “Threads of Useful Learning”, the “Samplings” catalogs from Witney Antiques. (And Pinterest never fails one!) But once I’ve finished these, it’ll be time for something new and Search Press would be the place to go.
    Thanks for the steady flow of inspiration, Mary.

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  275. I love books too, so I have lots. My current go to is “Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts” by Kathy Seaman Shaw. The stitch templates have become a valuable tool, and the 480 stitch combinations are beautiful.

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  276. ooooooh, I have many favorites but the one I use mosst often is Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroiderty Stitches.

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  277. Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches has become my number one. I read your book review and bought it last year. No regrets! Both intructional and inspiring.
    I’m addicted to books and by every second embroidery book that is published in Swedish. Luckily there is a lot more in English to choose between. So I own like 50 embroidery books. Marys Dictionary is the prime one.

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  278. It depends on the work I’m doing but the first book I bought because of you Mary! is always at hand The Embroiderer’s Handbook! But others such as Trish Burr books, some RSN books, Luzine Happel books and so on…
    This giveaway is a treasure Mary thanks to you and Search Press – have many from UK . A big Thank you!

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  279. While I have hundreds of books — and use many of them often — I think the one I probably look at the most is Erica Wilson’s “Crewel Embroidery”. And the one I look at most for inspiration (and amazement) is “Lady Evelyn’s Needlework.” I LOVE BOOKS!!!

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  280. I, also, love perusing needlework books and have begun a nice collection. Currently my most frequently used book is a book of different embroidery stitches so that I can expand my knowledge.

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  281. The Royal School of Needlework Book of Embroidery ~ I like it because it has a large selection of techniques and covers a number of different stitches. There are also projects included, which allows me to practice the information in the book. I believe that I purchased this wonderful book after seeing a review from you, so thank you.

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  282. Hi Mary, Like you the book I use the most often is Erica Wilson’s Embroidery Book. It covers everything – chapters by type of technique (canvaswork, crewel, gold and silver threads, blackwork, whitework and even stumpwork) with clear instructions and diagrams. It is full of wonderful inspirational pictures of her projects including some when she was a student at RSN and many works of art both historical and by other embroiderers. The black and white photos are fine because I can often find the color photo on the internet .
    Have a great weekend.

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  283. I don’t have a particular go to needlework book. It depends on what I think I might want to work on then I go searching for information. I have been consumed with bobbin lacemaking these last 20 years and have slowly come back to needle and canvas work. I have been lurking around looking at a lot of techniques to see what gives me the spark! I must say the Inspiration subscription and this website keeps my mojo juices following.

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  284. I don’t use one particular book, but I go to books with lovely photos that show a lot of details of a project to get ideas about color combinations, unusual combination of techniques, or just something that grabs me. I spot things that are done by a true artist since I lean more to the craft part myself. I love the history and continuity and connection of women through time that needlework provides.

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  285. I’m fortunate to have a library that has a large amount of needlework books. But when it’s a book that I use frequently I buy it. I do, however, have all of Kathy Seaman Shaw’s books on seam treatments. It’s not just for CQ. I use the information for other surface embroidery projectsl

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  286. The books I am drooling over and would like to have are the Four Birds and Flowers Books. The Embroidery book I go to the most is Crewel Creatures by Hazel Blomkamp. I read a review on this website and just had to have the book and I would love to have more. Her other books are on my Christmas Wishlist. I actually browse through just for inspiration and cheer.

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  287. Oh my goodness, I love needlework books! Any kind – not just for projects to make but to look at and admire the work. I would love any of these books. Thank you so much!

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  288. Incredibly beautiful books. Any of them would be a wonderful addition to a stitcher’s library.

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  289. I would treasure any needlework book. However, my go to is Needle n Tread on line tutorials. I’ve learned so much.

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  290. I find books on embroidery and stitching so inspiring. I usually find several things that I would like to try when I read them.
    Carol bu

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  291. The needlework book I would like to have at this time would be a dictionary/encyclopedia of stitches. I want to get back to surface embroidery and like to see stitches used and how to form them.
    Lorri in Renton

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  292. When I can’t embroider or quilt for one reason or other, my second favorite thing to do is to read about both subjects. I would say that I go most often to your site, Mary, to learn new stitches or ways of embroidery. I learn from many artists that I like and I would like to learn stump work as I haven’t tried that. Ribbon embroidery is another art that I would like to learn. Thanks to Search Press for the chance to win such books.
    Happy Holidays!

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  293. I love Helen Stevens books but for practical stitch advice I go to a set of books I bought from Mary Shipp. It is a two volume encyclopedia of stitches. I don’t even know if they are still in print. They are spiral bound so you can lay them flat. Kim R. from Rochester NY

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  294. My favorite needlework book used to be The Art of Embroidery by Mary Gostelow. It was so educational and inspiring. Sadly, I can no longer enjoy it (although I still own it) because the print or binding or something has toxic chemicals in it that make me ill when I open the book. Even after about 40 years. Now I turn to Christen Brown’s The Embroidery Book to refresh my skills. I’ve had the pages separated and put in archival sleeves and the book is now in a 3 ring binder so I can safely use it. Books have long been one of my favorite things to receive for Christmas. 🙂

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  295. This year I have had great success learning new techniques from ‘Hand-stitched Landscapes & Flowers’ by Katrina Witten. It has been my much used, go-to book of the year !!!

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  296. Mary, right now, I am doing a crazy quilt and the book that I am reaching for while sewing this project is a Kathy Seaman Shaw’s book entitled “Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts: 480 Embroidered Seam Designs.” It is totally inspirational! Thanks for the opportunity for me to share my favorite book with others!

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  297. Mary, right now, I am doing a crazy quilt and the book that I am reaching for while sewing this project is a Kathy Seaman Shaw’s book entitled “Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts: 480 Embroidered Seam Designs.” It is totally inspirational! Thanks for the opportunity for me to share my favorite book with others!

    Regards,
    Bonnie

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  298. The first book I reach for is A-Z OF EMBROIDERY STITCHES BY by Inspirations books and second is Crewel Creatures by Hazel Blomkamp.

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  299. As a leftie, I find Yvette Stanton’s Left-Handed Embroidery book invaluable. Until its publication, I struggled to learn new stitches from others’ diagrams. Not only does Yvette give clear instructions with diagrams and pictures, but she also shows how right-handed stitchers would be doing the same stitch. This provides great context for the world of stitches available to embroiders!

    350
  300. I would love to win the 2nd group of books as I am taking a stumpwork class from Susan O’Conner in Jan. and I’m taking a Terry Bay class in March on whitework. Guess my favorite go to books are the A – Z books

    351
  301. Embroidered Christening Gowns is the book I reach for most. Primarily for inspiration but as always with Inspirations publications they have a great step-by-step photo section for the stitches used.

    352
  302. I don’t have any embroidery books, but I have Thérèse de Dillmont Encyclopédie des Ouvrages des Femmes – my stepfather bought it for his first wife; widowed, he met my mother and they married; then he gave me the book. It’s an old volume, from more than a hundres years ago, with B&W pictures, but I’d love to have some modern and colorful embroidery books.

    353
  303. What a gloriously generous package this is! I adore my stitching books, and since I would consider myself an intermediate stitcher, I am constantly reaching for my A to Z of Embroidery Stitches book, I find it to be invaluable. Happy holidays!

    354
  304. The newest book I reach for is Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (New Edition), I also enjoy the A~Z series of books. I have four so far, Embroidery Stitches, Embroidery Stitches 2, Stumwork, Thread Painting and Crewel Embroidery. Enjoy your weekend Mary.

    356
  305. Presently I’m into wool applique so the book I reach for most often is Creative Stitches by Sue Spargo. But I love all my books.

    357
  306. I just recently recieved Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts: 480 Embroidered Seam Designs, and it is my first emboridery-esque book. Just starting out, so that New Year New Skill set sounds perfect!

    359
  307. I use the internet when I want to learn a new technique. What I wish I had was the RSN needlework series.

    360
  308. I would love to have a stumpwork book with instructions for this artform.There are no guilds close, so I learn by reading and doing!

    361
  309. I have so many it is difficult to choose, and it changes according to what I am doing, but I suppose the one I treasure most is The Stumpwork Masterclass by Alison Cole. A most comprehensive book which always solves any problem I have with my raised embroidery.

    362
  310. I’m currently trying to develop my skill set to create stumpwork. I love all of Jane Nichols books and the A-Z of Stumpwork.

    363
  311. I find myself looking at The Needlepoint Book, Jo Ippolito Christiensen. Although my edition is quite old, it still holds up to offer solutions to my needs. I absolutely love books, and of course needlepoint books are my favorites. ~Liz

    364
  312. I love beautiful needlework books. Most often I reach for The Royal School of Needlework Book of Embroidery.

    365
  313. What a wonderful giveaway! Thanks, Mary! The needlework book I reach for most often is The Embroiderer’s Handbook by Margie Bauer. Besides being helpful and informative, it’s beautiful and inspirational (and aspirational!) to look at. Happy holidays to everyone!

    Karen

    366
  314. I’m a newbie. I tend to comb the internet for inspiration and ideas, but most recently I’ve borrowed Katherine Shaughnessy’s books from the library. Lots of helpful tips and ideas.

    367
  315. When looking at my bookshelf, the one book that I have completed the most projects from is “Miniature Needle Painting Embroidery” by Trish Burr.They are challenging and always are impressive when finished.
    Since there are few classes available in my area, books are my main source of education
    Marilyn Verge

    368
  316. What needlework book do you reach for and use most often? – The one I am most likely to reach for is some type of stitch book, usually a small one that I can carry with me and my stitching like Stitches to Go or others like that.

    369
  317. It is so good to see all the wonderful books you mentioned. As I mention when I teach beginners embroidery, I encourage learning certain ‘common’ stitches. These books would certainly show beautiful examples of how to do stitches and the results that can be achieved . Joyce Howell

    370
  318. I use your website for instructions as I’m so new. Would love a copy if Lorna Batemans Embroidered Country Garden. Many thanks.

    371
  319. I have, and love, Embroidered Country Gardens. The book is pure inspiration. I’m fairly new to embroidery but the illustrations and instructions mean I can achieve beautiful results which I’ve used on cards. The book is also amazing as a coffee table book to flick through and drool over.

    372
  320. Lately I have been doing more stump work and gold work. So I like Alison Coles Goldwork Master Class Book and I have a few of Jane Nicholas for stump work. A friend loaned me her A to Z book on flowers that I have been liking a lot.

    373
  321. The Royal School of Needlework’s Book of Embroidery. This book stays on my table where I do my needlework. It is a great reference for stitches and I reach for it often.

    374
  322. Currently, I am most often reaching for Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches. I have reached a point where I want to expand my stitch repertoire and make my projects more visually interesting.

    375
  323. I would love to have a book on Crewel Embroidery. I have several books on stitches, but nothing on Crewel.

    376
  324. I too am a book lover. I like to look at all of the beautiful pictures and patterns. A book with beautiful patterns in it will inspire me on what my next project will be.

    377
  325. I have quite a few books now, but the favourite by far is Book of Embroidery by the Royal School of Needlework. Read/browse in it on most days!

    378
  326. I think I currently reach for my Boho Embroidery book by Nichole Vogelsinger.

    I watched a video on Chloe stitching and it was truly magical. I’d love to have her book!

    379
  327. Merry Christmas Mary!
    I reach for and love the A-Z books published by Inspirations- they are clear and easy to follow with great photos…Thanks for you and all you give to us!
    Blessings!

    380
  328. The needlework book I use most frequently is a stitch dictionary. I like to remind myself of how to work the stitch so that my results look their best. I use both an Erica Wilson crewel book and the classic Mary Thomas stitch dictionary. Can’t wait for the new 2020 books the look so appealing.

    381
  329. I like Free Form embroidery with Judith Baker Montano. All of her books are well written with good illustrations and ideas.

    382
  330. I LOVE needlework books! These that are offered look to be exquisite examples of what’s possible for we needworkers looking to expand our knowledge. Just looking at the covers of these beautiful books inspires me to ‘up my game’ for 2020!

    384
  331. Oh my! I feel faint at the thought! I guess I have to report a category of books–stitch guides. I have a worn little green pamphlet from 1967, titled “100 Embroidery Stitches,” which I purchased as a teenager when I launched myself on my stitching journey. It isn’t fancy, but I am very attached to it and it is a quick and clear reference if I am casting about for a stitch solution. But I also love others in this category–old books from Therese de Dillmont and Grace Christie and also the A-Z books. I have more as well–really a surplus (thus my faintness at the possibility of feeding my bottomless love of embroidery books), but I do love to have options when searching for stitches and diagrams! I will not leave out you, Mary, though online, as your stitch directions are top notch and being able to watch tricky movements for unfamiliar stitches is wonderful! Thanks to you and Search Press for this–and failing winning, for the list of books to check out… :-0
    Linda

    386
  332. I love embroidery books! I think I like reading about embroidery as much as I like doing embroidery! Right now I keep reaching for Pulled Thread Embroidery by Moyra McNeill. It’s a wonderful, comprehensive book with really interesting ideas for designing projects. Thanks Mary!

    387
  333. Wow-wa! Which embroidery book do I go to the most often? That is a tough question, as I have a few that I love to use equally. So, to stick to the question, I must say I use Diana Lampe’s “Embroidery for all Seasons” very often even if only to browse the colors and textures she has created.

    388
  334. I don’t own any embroidery books but would to have an all encompassing book on the subject! Thanks!

    389
  335. OH!!! I am SO excited about all the new books coming out in 2020!! I love my little collection of books. Although I do have to say as a left-handed embroiderer, I reach for Yvette Stanton’s The Left Handed Embroiderer’s Companion the most. It’s been so key in helping me decipher how to properly flip many stitches and the techniques used specifically for left-handed embroiderers. I’d say it’s an absolute must for anyone left-handed looking to do embroidery.

    390
  336. I love, love, love needlework books and have a fairly large library of them. Depending on my mood I reach for different books. The stitch dictionaries are always in use. But if I’m after inspiration I love books with lots of photos of finished pieces. I’ll never have time in my single lifetime to do everything that appeals to me but I can dream about the possibilities. I love dimensional embroidery and bright colours, but whitework has a huge appeal as well. I think I’m a hopeless case!

    391
  337. My favourite needlework book has to be Yvette Stanton’s THE LEFT HANDED EMBROIDERER’S COMPANION.
    I would be lost without it.

    392
  338. Currently, I’ve been spending time referencing ‘The Embroidery’ Bible by Betty Barnden, but I also enjoy and use Jane Greenoff’s ‘Cross Stitch Antique Style Samplers’, and Trish Burr’s Introduction to Needlepainting:)

    393
  339. If I’m looking for reference information, my FIRST stop is needlenthread.com, but I think you want paper books. The one that gets pulled most often from my shelves is The right-handed embroiderer’s companion by Yvette Stanton. She has nearly every stitch I’ve looked for and she has some good foundational information in the front (and a left hand version as well). If you really meant books related to a particular technique, then Jenny Adin-Christie’s Fundamentals of Whitework.

    394
  340. What a difficult question…..I adore books!
    I especially love the Inspirations magazines (which are like books) and have been a subscriber since day one. I often find myself searching through these for either instructions, which are fabulous, or inspiration

    395
  341. The older I get and the more lessons I get to enjoy, the more types of embroidery I do. Now I design some of my own as well, and that means different books for different projects. But I find myself pulling out Betty Barnden’s The Embroidery Stitch Bible on a regular basis. It’s small but full of stitches with good diagrams and even a general division for stitches for fabrics vs canvas, although many are useful on either. There are over 200 in this small book. It’s a goldmine.

    396
  342. The book I reach for the most is the A to Z book on embroidery stitches. I use many books frequently, it just depends on the project I am working on.

    397
  343. I love all needlework books!! But the one I have been reaching for recently are the Jane Nicholas’ gold and stumpwork books. Full of information and clear instructions.

    398
  344. The book I reach for is Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches for the beautiful close-ups of stitches in the chapter heading page spreads.

    I would like to enter the drawing for the Birds and Flowers collection.

    Thanks to Search Press and Mary for sponsoring this giveaway!

    I’m in River Forest, Illinois.

    399
  345. Don’t really have a needlework book but would love to have that gives really clear instructions on a lot of different embroidery stitch and when to use them

    400
  346. The needlework book I reach for most often is Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts by Kathy Seaman Shaw. It is also my newest book. I use it for ideas for combination stitches on the seam lines. She has been creating seam line combinations for years now.

    401
  347. How to choose a favourite go-to book, leaves me feeling disloyal to my other fabulous books – who can resist anything by Trish Burr? However the range of books which have saved my bacon on many occasions, are probably Country Bumpkins brilliant A to Z publications, with their clear instructions, photographs, and inspiration.

    402
  348. Love your giveaways..only try for the ones I am interested in or on my level of work. But love to learn new techniques, then move them into a compatible craft..ie stump work to making Christmas ornaments or pixel cartoons into counted cross stitch. Working on embroidering a temari motif as a starburst ornament on aida.
    A home without books is like body without a soul. Pat Q

    403
  349. Unfortunately I don’t currently have any embroidery books, but I have seen a book that looks really interesting! How to embroider almost anything by Wendi Gratz.

    404
  350. I always seem to be reaching for Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of stitches. That being said, If I am using ribbons, I reach for Di van Niekerk’s Silk ribbon embroidery book. Alison Cole’s Stumpwork Masterclass book is another that I cant do without. All these books have clear instructions with good diagrams or photos so the stitch is easy to figure out. The place I go most often for stitch help is your stitch videos. They are easier to understand than most printed instructions.

    405
  351. Before I discovered Mary Corbett’s superb instructional videos, I would pull out my copy of The Embroidery Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden when I encountered a stitch I didn’t know how to do–rarely these days as I find the videos much easier to follow. The one book I need (well, ONE of the books I WANT), is a good book on crewel embroidery as I have done very little of that (being allergic to wool doesn’t help) and would like to try that technique.

    406
  352. Good day Mary, yes another superbe one! The book I go to most often is my right hand companion from Yvette Stanton. Other than that these days I am looking for inspiration in my Inspirations magazines! Thanks for the drawing once again!

    408
  353. What a beautiful array of books with so much inspiration! The book I reach for most right now is Sue Spargo’s book of stitches for wool applique because her instructions are clear and there are easy to follow photographs.
    thanks!

    409
  354. Whatever type of needlework I’m currently caught up in. I embroider felt dolls I make. I knit cloths for myself and my husband, crochet doll clothes, and so on. I love learning new techniques and looking for inspiration.

    410
  355. I don’t have many needlework book, yet, however when I want information that I can follow I go to your web site. I am about to begin a crazy quilt that I want the needle work to be done by hand and so I will need all of the help that I can get. Yes I qulit , do needle work, knit, crochet and anything else I can get my hands on. Sleep, who needs sleep? Coffee is my friend.

    411
  356. I always reach for both the A to Z of Embroidery Stitches by Inspirations Magazines. I find both very handy and I love the step by step guidelines for each embroidery stitch in the books. They are always on hand. They also give me ideas of what stitches would go where in any of my embroidery that I embark on. I can then tackle any form of embroidery from any instructional book I buy – I am a sucker for good instructional embroidery books on any technique as I like to experiment when I embroider and learn new techniques.

    412
  357. I have actually just bought my first book waiting for delivery. It’s Royal School of Needlework Book of Embroidery. Think 2020 could be my year of getting a collection of needlework books going. Love the look of Chloe Giordanos book as well.

    413
  358. I have a nice collection of embroidery books, and the book I reach for depends on the type of embroidery I’m doing. (Today I’m using A-Z of Embroidery Stitches!). But I probably actually use The Proper Stitch the most.

    414
  359. I love the Mary Thomas dictionary of embroidery stitches, and Hazel Everett’s Goldwork book!

    415
  360. Issue 90 of Inspirations Magazine really caught my eye. The ear of corn DID look good enough to eat! I looked through all the covers several times Trying to identify my favorite, when the oddity of a vegetable on the cover of a needlework magazine struck me. I had to take a closer look and laughed when I realized it was embroidery. Good work!

    416
  361. There are actually several books: the series Anchor put out, many years ago, small format, Counted Thread, Canvas Work, Free Form, and others. Perfect size to carry in a project bag. .. But sometimes a slightly different view or approach is really useful..

    417
  362. I do so many different kinds of needlework that I am always reaching for a different book, depending on what technique I want to find out more about. And I have lots to choose from: I inherited over 600 needlework books from my mother! I haven’t been able to get rid of them, because I know as soon as I do get rid of any, I’ll decide to try that technique and regret getting rid of anything!

    418
  363. Like you, Mary, I love books and these look wonderful. I’d think there was an early goft from Santa if my name were drawn.

    Thanks,
    Jo

    419
  364. Oh dear, I’m a sucker for books. Recently downsized so I promised myself that when one a new one comes in, another must go. Does not apply to needlework books, of course!

    420
  365. There are a couple of books I often go to, first The Color Confidence and next The Left-handed Embroider s Companion. I always enjoy reading your book recommendations and reviews. Thank you for keeping us informed!

    421
  366. I do not have any embrodiery books yet, If I had a choice out of the list of books for this giveaway, I think I would choice the county Garden One since I enjoy stitching flowers.

    422
  367. I like ‘The Proper Stitch’ by Darlene O’Steen. It is a wonderful resource book. I would love a stitch guide that shows the different ethnic variations of commonly used stitches in the US.

    423
  368. Truth be told, I use a lot of old Search Press titles, because every time I attempt a new technique for my growing collection of Technique Sampler Banner pennants, I end up using a technique book once or twice, before moving on to another technique. I use needlenthread.com the rest of the time if I’m running across a particularly tricky stitch I’m unfamiliar with. Your tutorials are the best! So, no one time favorite, but lots of favorites.

    I would love to see a book using examples of the really interesting materials coming out of Access Commodities and Thistle Threads right now (the chenille, cartisane, and crinkled gimps). Also a book about matching different kinds of ground fabrics to materials.

    The embroidered boxes book looks REALLY interesting! 🙂

    424
  369. Man Oh Man, I’m like you, I love books about stitching of some sort. Some of them I don’t even do that particular technique, but I just love to sit and read the book and study the pictures and instructions. I have done some Japanese stitchery and the instructions were in Japanese, but the pictures were clear and easy. I love to look at the books and would love to add another Hazel Blomkamp book to my library – or another Trish Burr or any of those that are listed. Would really make my 2020 sewing projects more special. I have on my To Do list one of the ‘creatures’ from Hazel Blomkamp book and am just now finishing a Trish Burr design from a past Inspirations magazine. Have another in the hoop for when I finish this, but there’s always room to dream when looking through a great needlework book. Dream with me in 2020.

    426
  370. I really love “Whitework With Colour” by Trish Burr. Lots of inspiration in that book! Thanks for the giveaway.

    427
  371. What needlework book do you reach for and use most often?

    I generally rely on the instructions that come with the project I’m working on, but if I get stuck on how to do a specific stitch and the instructions aren’t quite clear, I’ll see if I have something useful on my bookshelf. For Hardanger, that’s usually one of Janice Love’s books: “Basics and Beyond” or “Fundamentals Made Fancy”. Her stitch diagrams are very clear and helpful!

    Mary in MN

    428
  372. My favorite counted cross stitch book is “Sweeter than the Rose” by Leisure Arts. The projects are beautifully illustrated with photos, color charts and finishing instructions that I can comprehend! I have made or adapted several of the projects and always go back to this book when I am looking for something special and classic to give as a gift.

    429
  373. When I need a specific stitch, I go to a stitch reference book. If it is a technique, say Blackwork, then I reach for a technique book.
    Gail in GA

    431
  374. I pick up the book Creative Needlecraft from Lynette de Denne to look for a stitch to complete the needlework or just to find some inspiration

    432
  375. The book(s) I’ve found most helpful, ver many years, is Inspirations Magazine. I have learnt so much from the excellent series and found great delight in the beautifully illustrated articles. Thanks so much, Mary, for your emails, which are also immensely instructive.
    Christine McCarthy

    433
  376. Only have “Trish Burr Needle painting” and refer to it often for tips and inspiration!

    434
  377. I would love a needlework book that clearly shows both basic and more intricate stitches as well as useful tips and tricks. I am new to needlework and still very much learning.
    Thanks
    Sharon GreenawaY

    Merry Christmas!

    435
  378. I just started my book collection and haven`t a chance to discover them deeply, but I love to have books for both reasons: for inspiration and reference. I would love to learn more about whitework and blackwork!

    436
  379. I don’t have any reference books yet, but I would love to own The Embroidered Art by Chloe Giordano. Thank you for the opportunity!

    437
  380. What wonderful books being given away to some very lucky stitchers. I find it so difficult to find quality embroidery books in any local book shops these days, although, through your book reviews, I have been able to search for and obtain some terrific books. Some of my favorites and “go to” books are:
    Trish Burr’s Whitework With Color
    Janice Love’s Hardanger Basics and Beyond and also
    Hardanger Fundamentals Made Fancy
    Ruth Chanberlain’s Beginner’s Guide to Goldwork

    438
  381. The book I most reach for is a very old book that I had in teachers college Written by Mary Thomas

    440
  382. My “go-to” embroidery book is A-Z of Embroidery Stitches. I like to browse through it for inspiration, or I like to use it to refresh my memory on how to do any number of stitches, or if I can’t remember the name of a stitch, but remember what it looks like, I can usually find it in there.

    442
  383. The book I turn to about needlework is Marianne Ellis’ book “Embroidery and samplers from Islamic Egypt”, ISBN10 185444154X. Being a medieval re-creationist I have found it to be one of the best books around that covers the time period & area. I have even made my own charts & done a few embroideries from it!

    443
  384. The first ‘book’ I go to is to grab my laptop and click to Needle ‘n Thread! You have great advice, instructions, and videos.
    And for ‘real’ books (which I have few), I most frequently use The Embroiderer’s Handbook by Margie Bauer.
    My wishlist is topped by Trish Burr’s Colour Confidence in Embroidery.

    445
  385. I have numerous copies of the Inspiration Magazine that I constantly browse for ideas and techniques. Often combining and adapting various suggestions.

    446
  386. I am often referring to Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches.
    Valerie Scotland.

    449
  387. I have many quilting books, but even though I’ve embroidered since age 7 I have no books. I’ve enjoyed reading Needle ‘n Thread for several years and that has provided inspiration. Your videos showing the correct way to create embroidery stitches have been very useful and are much appreciated.

    450
  388. I keep several good stitch reference books in a basket close to my stitching chair, which I reach for when I need a refresher on stitches I don’t use often. Indispensable!

    451
  389. The book I go to the most is Encyclopedia of Embroidery Stitches, including Crewel by Marion Nichols. I like to see the variations on stitches and refresh my memory of how to do the many stitches on the book.

    452
  390. My passion for books exceeds my talents whicch is why I have a rook full of some of the most amazing embroidery books and am always hopefully of getting more

    453
  391. The book that I use the most is Yvette Stanton’s Right handed embroiderer’s companion. This has really good explanations of a wide variety of stitches and I carry it with me with my embroidery at all times.

    454
  392. The book I go to the most is Encyclopedia of Embroidery Stitches, including Crewel by Marion Nichols. It has great illustrations on steps to stitching a stitch.

    455
  393. I would love to own all of the A-Z needlecraft books. I know I would research them every time for stitches and ideas. They look fabulous. I always check them out from the local library.

    457
  394. Exploring Embroidery compiler by Pru Georgeson. There are 10 projects by leading New Zealand embroiderers. I’ve used it as a basis for other projects.

    458
  395. I have a fairly large library of needlework books. I tend to go to the book that will help me in whatever project I am working on. I am about to begin a Bargello project and will be using BARGELLO Florentine Canvas Work by Elsa Williams for the pattern I will be working.

    460
  396. The craft book I quite often use is Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches. It’s a wealth of knowledge on all the different stitches. Sandra Moffitt Australia

    462
  397. I don’t own any books on embroidery, but find most my information on your web sight or books from the library.

    463
  398. I always reach for my copy of RSN’s Essential Stitch Guides: Crewelwork by Jacqui McDonald when I can’t remember how to do a particular stitch or need a new one to change things up a bit.

    465
  399. i love any book dealing with crewel embroidery. i have several trish burr and hazel bloomkamp’s books. my favorite ones are crewel twists and color confidence. marysue c

    466
  400. A stitch dictionary for whatever project I’m on – Crochet, embroidery, knitting, etc. I love seeing the basic stitches laid out without extraneous things added.
    Carrie G Plane Nut

    468
  401. My go to book is Embroidery & Crazy Quilt Stitch Tool by Judith Baker Montano. This book provides good step-by-step directions and diagrams. It is also compact enough to fit in a project bag when I need to take something with me to do while travelling.

    469
  402. What needlework book do you reach for and use most often? If you don’t have any needlework books, what needlework book would you like to have, for reference or inspiration?

    I really want “The Seasons in Silk Ribbon Embroidery” IT looks like such a beautiful book and I have been wanting to try silk ribbon embroidery for a long time!

    471
  403. My favourite book is
    The Stitches of Creative Embroidery by Jacqueline Enhoven
    …not the prettiest but the BEST!

    472
  404. I don’t tend to use reference book much – as I have you and your site, but I do have sue Spargo’s creative stitching and my own sample books close at hand

    473
  405. Another wonderful bundle of goodies, wow! What a series of delights on offer….

    My favourite, and frequently used go-to needlework book, is Yvette Stanton’s Right-Handed Embroiderers Book. It’s a necessary resource as it’s well written, beautifully photographed and produced, and the step-by-step explanations are easily understood.
    Again, thank you for these wonderful opportunities to participate in the goodie-giveaways.

    475
  406. I have the whole set of A-Z books by Country Bumpkin and I reach for one of those first.

    476
  407. The Embroidery Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden is the one I use the most for reference, but I also love sampler books for the eye candy!

    477
  408. The needlework book I reach for and use most often is Judith Baker Montano’s “Embroidery & Crazy Quilt Stitch Tool”. I am left-handed and this book has both left and right handed instructions which I find very helpful. I also have a very old book by Carole Robbins Myers published in 1974 called “A Primer of Left-handed Embroidery” that I found in a 2nd hand bool store that I like a lot. These are really the only 2 books I own and I would find it fantastic to suddenly own some more!

    478
  409. Embroidery & Crazy Quilt Stitch Tool (Judith Baker Montano) is my fav go to book. And it’s small enough to go with me wherever I am stitching – even stands up for easy reference!

    479
  410. Oh my goodness!! I love all these books and love needlework books. The one I reach for most often is The Proper Stitch and many of the A-Z Embroidery Stitch series of books. I really hope I win one of these books!!!

    480
  411. I DON’T HAVE any books for needlework. I have lots of patterns & the computer to help me, but I do love books & all of these in the giveaways look like ones I could use & stare at & ooooo over. I sure would love them.

    481
  412. I love books. I especially love books about lace and needlework. At the moment the ones I keep close at hand are “Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches,” and “A-Z of Crewel Embroidery,” both by Search Press.

    482
  413. I’ve only ever really had stitch dictionaries, so I guess that’s my answer. I would like more project-oriented books (and have taken a few out of the library), but it’s not quite the same thing.

    483
  414. BOOK ? Singular? Really?
    Ok! Though I flit through the garden of gorgeous needlework books with delight at each new flower, when I have classic questions, I seek Encyclopedia of Needlework. Thérèse de Dillmont. 1846.

    484
  415. My inspiration comes from any book that shows needlework from or inspired by the Jacobean Era. Any time I feel lost and uninspired, I can look at the beautiful needlework from the 17th century, and I come up with a thousand projects I want to work on!

    485
  416. I love all of my needlework books, but I would most reach for a stitch dictionary, and the one I’ve come to love in the last couple of years is my Yvette Stanton Right Handed Embroiderer’s Companion. Great, clear, step by step instructions of most stitches. Very handy to have close by.

    486
  417. The book that I go to for help, and inspiration is the Encyclopedia of Needlework written Therese de Dillmont. The edition I own is from 1987. It has everything in it, the images are in black and white. It’s a great source.
    Tanya Heidi from Greenville SC

    487
  418. Like the greedy little red-haired boy in Polar Express I say, “Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!” My all-time favorite embroidery book is Erica Wilson’s Embroidery Book, both for inspiration and for information. However, there are others that I just love to read and marinate my brain in, like the books of Barbara and Roy Hirst for contemporary stumpwork, and anything by Thomasina Beck. The ones you have chosen all look like winners.

    488
  419. The needlework book I reach for the most is Sue Spargo’s Creative Stitching 2nd ed. The book not only shows how to do the stitches, it includes lots of inspirational photos with examples of how to use the stitches in a variety of colors, with beads, and in different weights and types of threads.

    489
  420. I don’t have any books but I’d love one that shows a lot of different stitches and techniques and skills

    490
  421. I most often use Stitches A-Z, both number 1 and number 2. Not only do they help with questions on a stitch I’m doing, they also provide inspiration to try stitches I haven’t done.

    491
  422. The book I reach for most frequently is The Embroidery Stitch Bible – it has all the basics in several techniques, lots of images making it easy to understand how to do the stitches.

    492
  423. What needlework book do you reach for and use most often?

    A book I have on embroidery, illustrating completed works and excellent how-to for learning embroidery stitches. The book is both inspirational and instructive.

    [Apologize I can’t give the name of the book; I recently moved and it’s still boxed.]

    494
  424. My embroidery bookshelf hasn’t much on it yet, so the book I reach for most often is the RSN Book of Embroidery. But I splurged recently and have spent a lot of time with the Embroidered Art of Chloe Giordanno. My wish list is full of Trish Burr.

    495
  425. I love and do buy many of the new books that are released but my ‘go to ‘ book for stitch information is Jo Bucher’s ‘The Complete Guide to Embroidery Stitches and Crewel.” I have owned it since the 70’s and for good stitch information it’s great. Although it is out of print, it is available in second hand book stores.

    497
  426. The book I most often reach for is The Needlepoint Book by Jo Ippolito Christensen.

    Solveig W.

    498
  427. I use many books depending on what I’m stitching. I don’t really have a favorite. I like all my books and anything new would be appreciated.

    499
  428. I do quilting, crochet & embroidery. The needlework book I reach for depends a lot on the project I am working on, but I love the right-handed embroiderer’s companion & find it a good guide.

    500
  429. I, like you, love all books and magazines related to embroidery and needle work. My friends and I take breaks to share books, coffee and of course cake! Since I am not a color expert I am able to use all my resources to help me in my projects.

    501
  430. I would like to have embroidery books on crewelwork, I have embroidered one piece from an article in the insparations magazine. Enjoyed it immensely, the book with the colourful crewelwork bird looks so alive and modern
    Cheers Di

    502
  431. My ‘go to’ and most used embroidery book is Yvette Stanton’s, The Left Handed Embroiderer’s Companion. I always have by my side when working on projects and it has helped me enormously when I am trying new Stitches &/or techniques.

    504
  432. I’m glad the question isn’t which of these book collections I would most like to have, because I couldn’t pick. The book I’m currently using most is Home Sweet Home by Carolyn Pearce, because I’m trying to stitch the workbox designs, but also as a reference for stitches and finishing on other projects.

    505
  433. The books I go to most often for technical help are the A-Z series published by Country Bumpkin (now Search Press) and Alison Cole’s hints and tips book. The books I go to for sheer pleasure and inspiration are too numerous to list!

    506
  434. The books I refer to the most are ones by Trish Burr for surface embroidery, and Jane Nicholas for Stumpwork. That Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers looks very interesting.

    507
  435. Yvette Stanton’s “ The Right Handed Embroiderer’s Companion”
    To help me master various stitches and to choose stitches for projects.

    508
  436. Hmmm I guess it would be the big RSN book that covers all their main techniques. But I also have my mother’s old copy of Erica Wilson’s big embroidery book which I still use for the stitch instructions sometimes.

    Can’t wait for Trish Burr’s new book to come out – the cover is so beautiful!

    Thank you –

    510
  437. The most reached for book is an almost impossible question to answer. I love books on embroidery. They make up most of my Christmas wish list. I have a “favorite” in every technique I embroider. I often begin with Erica Wilson’s embroidery book. Her stitch diagrams are large and easy to follow. And she offers a limited number of well-chosen stitches so one isn’t overwhelmed trying to choose an appropriate stitch.

    511
  438. I would love to have the Whitework book that was featured. Whitework is my favorite needlework technique.

    512
  439. I have the Inspirations A-Z of embroidery stitches always at hand. But my inspiration started with a second hand copy of Therese De Dillmont’s encyclopedia of needlework that I bought in the 70s and has followed me around the world !

    513
  440. I recently bought Embroiderer’s Year by Helen M Stevens. I love it. It has beautiful illustrations and tips for each month of the year. The Crewel Birds book looks very interesting. It may be my next one.

    514
  441. Jane Nicholas stumpwork books are my go to books for inspiration and the A to Z technique books along with your tutorials are my how to bibles.

    515
  442. So often I need to reach for a book to consolidate my embroidery knowledge, and I have quite a library now on the subject. Perhaps the most often used is a very old copy of Mary Thomas “Embroidery”. This book, first published 1938 (my copy printed 1965), is a simple little book, but contains a wealth of information. Other than that, I turn to online resources, in particular Mary Corbet.

    516
  443. Books on my favorite hobby, so many and so varied how could I possibly pick one. The books I rely on most are those with great stitch diagrams and charts; the Twisted Stitches series introduces fantastic new stitches for more advanced canvas worker, but the charts and diagrams are clear enough to temp any stitchers any level. I hope this entry will win.
    Johanna

    517
  444. WOW! What amazing collections 🙂 I love your book reviews, I always consult them before buying. My favourite and most used stitch book to date is Mary Thomas’ Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches which I bought on your recommendation – and you were exactly right, it’s the reference I keep reaching for! I recommend it in turn to beginning embroiderers too, so your reviews help in more ways than you know 😉 Merry Christmas!

    518
  445. My absolute first book is ‘A – Z of Embroidery Stitches’ a Country Bumpkin publication. Then if I need more inspiration or information I go on to ‘Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches’. I love good books. Thank you this is a great prize. Maryann in Ontario

    519
  446. Lorna Bateman’s Embroidered Country Gardens book is the only embroidery book I’ve used recently – I am very close to finishing the glasses case project in it to give to my mother for Christmas!

    520
  447. I love all embroidery I am afraid that sometimes I get a bit carried away & find myself with my sewing in my lap & another embroidery book in my hands.I am definately what you would call a Bookaholic!!
    I am also a fanatical fan of the Inspirations books and wonderful magazines.

    521
  448. I don’t have many needlework books, but have heard great things about Erica Wilson’s books.

    522
  449. My most often used book is Sue Spargo Book of stitches. I would be thrilled to win any of these.

    523
  450. The book I most often reach for is one from Alison Cole and her Stumpwork techniques to assist me working on my 17th Century stitching projects – a technique I have been enjoying for the last 6-7 years inspired by Caskets, Floral gloves and Sweete Bags. The Inspirations collection of books, particularly the Stumpwork and the EG Animals would further assist my stitching abilities and ideas.

    524
  451. The Needlepoint Book, Hardanger Fundamentals Made Fancy by Janice Love. Not really books I guess, but I use all my patterns from Jean Hilton for reference and the same by Roz Watnemo for hardanger help, including Save The Stitches from the old Nordic Needle. Would sure enjoy any of the books listed. Thank you for wonderful give-aways!

    525
  452. I love my old copy of Judith Monsanto silk embroidery- and would love to take a peek at and own wither the Animal or Bird books in these collections!

    526
  453. The only embroidery reference book I own is a stitch reference book. In order to do specialty stitches, it is a big help. The embroidery books that are the prizes would be a nice addition to my bare library.

    527
  454. I don’t have a lot of needlework books, but the Proper Stitch is my go-to guide for stitches when I am not familiar with the stitch.

    528
  455. I am currently doing a lot of needlepoint, so I am using Stitches to Go a bit. I love all my needlework books and own a wide variety of books on surface embroidery, stumpwork, needlepoint, ribbon embroidery, beading, fiber art and quilting. Since I am a bibliophile and and avid needleworker, I would love to own any of the books mentioned.

    529
  456. I don’t have any needlebooks, but I would like one that has great step by step pictures. I tend to be a visual learner and usually go to your website when I’m learning a new stitch. Or when I forget! Those darn senior moments! I sometimes go to You Tube as well.

    530
  457. Probably “Creative Stitching” Volume 2, by Sue Spargo as I do a lot of wool appliqué.
    Pam- Gig Harbor

    533
  458. I’m quite proud of my library, I’m a bit of a collector where books are concerned. For stitch technique I reach for my Mary Thomas, for specific embroidery techniques I have a few favourites Trish Burr -Thread Painting, Yvette Stanton -Whitework, the Inspiration Guides, the RSN Guides. There are many beautiful educational books available. Thank you for this opportunity.

    534
  459. I do not have any books currently. Would love to get A-Z of Embroidery Stitches. Thanks for the drawing.

    535
  460. My most reached for needlework book is Judy Brittain’s Step-by-step encyclopaedia. It has many different types of crafts.

    536
  461. The book I use over and over is A-Z of Silk Ribbon Embroidery. The directions are clear and useful.

    Peg in Woodland Hills

    538
  462. I do love needlework books, and have a large collection. The ones I use most often are the A to Z series, both the embroidery stitches books and the threadpainting one. The instructions and pictures are very easy to follow, and the projects are fun to do. Some of my books I just enjoy drooling over, because the embroidery is so beautiful.

    539
  463. The needlework book I reach for most is A-Z of Crewel Embroidery, Search Press Classics.

    I am fairly new to Crewel Work, and doing any type of needlework. This is the book that finally motivated me to begin my first project.

    541
  464. I love really good embroidery books both for inspiration,new techniques and as references for my work as I often do my own version.

    Mary R

    542
  465. I constantly refer to Alison Cole’s stumpwork masterclass book. I love the clear photos and variety of techniques.

    543
  466. Whenever I need a refresh on a particular skill, I always reach for an issue of Inspirations Magazine. They always have step by step instructions on any embroidery stitch you might need.

    544
  467. Dear Mary,
    What needlework book would I like to have, for reference and inspiration? That would be an all encompassing encyclopaedic volume of Hand Embroidery by Mary Corbet with the right balance of inspiration, information, instruction, and work projects all in a beautiful, well-presented package (you said it Mary!). What an extremely good book that would be!
    Thank you for the wonderful give-aways!

    545
  468. I have a number of books I refer to. One old time favorite is the Reader Digest Complete Guide to Needlework– very detail instruction to stitches, Another is The Embroiderer’s Handbook, this one has so many stitches and I refer to help decide what stitches I want to use.

    548
  469. Just the old Reader’s Digest complete guide to needlework when I need to figure out how to do a particular stitch – not good for inspiration but great when you need to look up something.

    549
  470. Currently my favorite needlework bool is Sue Spargo’s Creative Stitching book. The illustrations and instructions are very clear and easy to follow.

    550
  471. I have Jan Vaine’s book The Art of Elegant Hand Embroidery that is my first stop if I am looking up something

    551
  472. Embroidery Stitcher’s Bible. And Judith Baker Montano’s Elegant Stitches. Thank you for the chance.

    552
  473. The embroidery book I reach for most is a stitch guide I was given as a teenager. I love to flick through the pages to find the stitch needed and them adjust and embellish them to suit what looks best.
    Roxy D.

    553
  474. The stitch guides are the most used books in my library. My current preference is a series by Suzanne Howren and Beth Robertson, “Stitches for Effect” and “More Stitches for Effect” as they number each component of complex stitches so you know where you start and finish.

    556
  475. As my embroidery skills grow I have one book that I refer to occasionally but aspire to often. Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches, new edition, has outstanding instructions and diagrams for many, many stitches. I have used a few, but there are many more to try!

    558
  476. I embroider mostly on quilts, the books I go to most are the Complete Guide to Embroidery by Readers Digest and the Essential Stitch Guide by Judith Baker Montano.

    559
  477. Ahhhhhh, all the glorious needle art books I have. Historical, inspirations, technical…but the one I reach for repeatedly is one that I bought on a whim from my local needlepoint store, A – Z of Embroidered Stitches!

    561
  478. Jacqueline Enthoven- The Book of Creative Stitches. This has been my go to book since the 60’s when I first started stitching. I have learned so many stitches from that book and I continue doing so to this day.

    562
  479. Books I use most are the A to Z books for reference. I love just looking thru embroidery books even if I don’t stitch a project. I’d love to win these books!

    563
  480. Such very generous gifts! I love needlework books (and also mysteries with a needlework theme!). My favorite go-to reference book on stitches is: Elegant Stitches by Judith Baker Montano. My favorite go to reference on anything related to stitching….is you! Merry Christmas!

    564
  481. I find my inspiration everywhere, I love to stitch flowers and would love to have the kew book of embroidered flowers, thanks you, Colleen

    565
  482. My most used books are rather specific and helpful for a leftie such as I am ! Judith Baker Montano’s “Embroidery & Crazy Quilt Stitch Tool” and Yvette Stanton’s “the left-handed embroiderer’s companion.” Several others are pulled out often, and everyone of my 100+ needlework books are very near and dear to me.

    566
  483. I do not have just one book that I use often, but multiple depending on what technique I am working on. My favorite books are those from RSN so am looking forward to new ones coming out. Thank you for this opportunity.
    Gay Sommerfeld

    567
  484. I can’t pick a favorite. My collection is not that big, yet. But I love looking through Kathy Seaman Shaw’s Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts. I cannot wait to try out the templates!

    568
  485. I have a lot of books on different types of embroidery but the book I probably reach for most often in an old 100 Embroidery Stitches published by Coats and Clark.

    570
  486. Only have a couple of needlepoint books, but I find them so inspiring. I’d love to try blackwork, whitework and hardanger, and I hope to add books on those topics to my library soon. Thank you for the profile of Search Press! And thank you for the giveaway!

    573
  487. I can’t really choose just one favorite book. I like to refer to a book that specializes in whichever technique I am currently using/learning. The 2020 Inspirations Collection looks like a group I will need to add to my library!

    575
  488. Favorite book definitely is “Stitches for Effect” by Suzanne Howren and Beth Robertson. Helps me put texture and stitch interest in projects. Love it!!

    Claudia CT in Newtown

    576
  489. THE PROPER STITCH is the single most critical book I own. I really like samplers and the specialty sampler stitches used on historic samplers. This book is critical to my ability to execute these stitches. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that it has the charts for three of my favorite of Darlene’s samplers!

    These 4 book bundles look just marvelous. Especially because I own only ONE of these books. Woo hoo!

    577
  490. Right now the book I have been using is Lorna Bateman’s “Embroidered Country Gardens”. The EGA had her as a teacher for this year’s seminar and she was able to have workshops at some chapters before and after the Seminar. We hosted a three day workshop with her and I have been really referring to her book. It is so full of amazing projects and her work is just stunning. I have been following and purchasing from her for about two decades. her book is as wonderful as she is!

    I also just love Trish Burr’s books. So amazing and inspirational. I am trying to master thread painting and her books are invaluable.

    These two are my inspirations and motivators to keep learning and I fall in love with embroidery all over again each time I look at their pieces and books.

    I can Always use more books. Someday I hope to eventually try my hand at all the techniques. Or at least as many as I can in my lifetime!

    Jean Lima-Keyte >^..^<

    578
  491. Any of these collections would be a treasured addition to one’s reference library. As an embroiderer of medium ability I probably reach most often for my How to books on individual stitches. And of course the wonderful videos and demos that are posted on this site!

    579
  492. Any book by Yumiko Higuchi is my favorite needlework book. I can look through her books over and over again.

    580
  493. Wow, which book. It changes all the time depending on where my interest is at the time. Lately its been books on Brazilian embroidery, I love the 3D look. And I love learning about all needle work.

    581
  494. The first books that I think of are: The Art & Embroidery of Jane Hall, Celtic, Viking and Anglo-Saxon Embroidery by Jan Messent, Elegant Stitches by Judith Baker Montano, Stumpwork and Goldwork Inspired by Turkish, Syrian and Persian Tiles by Jane Nicholas and Goldwork by Hazel Everett.

    582
  495. I do not own a needlework book but I just bought A-Z of embroidery stitches to reference! Normally I just google/youtube what I need to know.

    583
  496. The book I reach for is The Stitches of Creative Embroidery by Jacqueline Enthoven. I have had it for years.

    584
  497. Any of Trish Burrs books are the ones I go to but it is really a tie with Jane Nicholas ‘s books.

    585
  498. One of my favorites is the A to Z of Smocking as I do plenty of that. And I love to embroider on top of the smocking.

    587
  499. The book I most go to for different stitches is “The Embroiderer’s Handbook “ by Margie Bauer although I really hit Pinterest more or your site for stitch videos but I also have a lot of books so it’s hard to choose one.

    588
  500. I reach for the A-Z to Embroidery Stitches most often. I find it a good reference book with clear instructions and photos.

    589
  501. It’s hard to choose just one book. The one book I always have nearby is Encyclopedia of Needlework by Th. De Dillmont by DMC. It’s just got everything.

    590
  502. I love a good stitch Dictionary. At the moment I’m enjoying the Hand Embroidery Stitches At a Glance by Janice Vaine. It’s a great, portable, reference.

    591
  503. I would love to win any of the book collections and add them to my library.
    Thank you for running and organizing this amazing give-away every year. I so enjoy your daily email!

    592
  504. I love books too so it is difficult to say which one. But I do like to use books with Alphabets, like Les belles lettres d’Alexandre by Veronique Maillard when I am looking for different size alphabets for projects.

    593
  505. Mary – How delightful it would be to receive any of these intriguing needlework books. Please enter me for the drawing.

    Cheers,

    Suzanne Manning

    594
  506. What Needlework Book! Well, it depends on what type of Needlework I’m doing. Alison Cole’s The Embroiderer’s Little Book of Hints & Tips stays on my workstation all the time. I do all kinds of Needlework…

    595
  507. OMG! Books. There can’t be enough books on the shelves – and to be perfectly honest, there are not enough shelves!

    I didn’t realise how many of my books are from Search Press. What a wonderful company to feed our needs so well.

    I go through seasons of crafts. At the moment it is embroidery so my most referenced book is “Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches” – what do you know? It is a Search Press book. 🙂

    596
  508. I don’t have one particular embroidery book that I use regularly. I’m always looking for something new and pull out all the relevant books from my shelves for a full evening of dreaming and planning.

    597
  509. I love to have embroidery books available where I can pick one up and muse my way through it. I use the series by Julia Snyder frequently.

    598
  510. I reach for any book that might help with the current project. I try every kind of needlework that I can. The books are lovely.

    600
  511. The needlework book I reach for most often is from Judith Baker Montano’s Elegant Stitches that I use for embroidery and crazy quilt stitches. So many beautiful stitches to use in Crazy Quilting, embroidery projects and more. I have all her books and refer to them often.

    601
  512. If I am unsure of a particular stitch I grab my a book from my Inspirations series. I have used all of them at one time or another.

    602
  513. All of the books look wonderful. I would love to learn how to do silk ribbon embroidery and 2020 is the year I am committed to try. Thanks for this opportunity.

    603
  514. What book do I reach for and use most often? Well, it depends what I’m doing at the time. If it’s Crewel embroidery, I will be following someone’s pattern – usually Trish Burr or Hazel Blomkamp. I love their websites, and their books. If it’s blackwork – about which I know not nearly enough – it is more likely to start with a search on the internet.
    For general “how to” do specific stitches – it will be Yvette Stanton’s “Right Handed Embroidery” – or Mary Corbet’s website.
    I love looking at books – goldwork, little animals and birds, flowers, William Morris, Inspirations…… I could go on and on.

    604
  515. It depends on my current project, but I often reach for Erica Wilson’s “Embroidery Book,” or one of Helen Stevens’s books for the eye-candy and inspiration. Lately, since I’ve started wool felt embroidery, I like Sue Spargo’s books.

    605
  516. At the moment I am spending a lot of time looking at Hazel Blomkamp’s Crewel Intensions book. Her work is amazing and I love the way she layers stitches.

    Karin Hulme, New Zealand.

    606
  517. The embroidery book I refer to most is the A to Z of Embroidery Stitches, because it’s useful to remind myself of how to do a stitch that I may not have used for a while.

    607
  518. I reach for any of Sue Spargo books. If I can’t find what I need there I head to the internet to a web site called Needle’n Thread. There’s a wonderful stitch dictionary I use a lot!

    608
  519. Complete DMC encyclopedia of needlework is one(of many!) I use, I also like the Royal school of needlework books, but honestly Mary, if I have a question I check your website first! Books tend to be eye candy, I love just looking at them.

    609
  520. Hardanger Basics and Beyond + Hardanger Made Fancy by Janice Love – I use these so much I ended up buying a second set and putting it in a binder to help not wear them out so much

    610
  521. My embroidery “book” of reference is a homemade book put together with brads of so many wonderful stitches. It belonged to my Mom and she bought it years ago at a bazaar.

    612
  522. Oh my goodness, those books are AMAZING. I love Search Press books. My very favorite of the Search Press books is Jan Messent’s Celtic, Viking, and Anglo-Saxon Embroidery. But what book do I reach for most often?? Probably one of the Country Bumpkin A-Z books, which I also love. When I was learning to smock, I read the two smocking books a lot!

    614
  523. I reach for the new and wonderful new RSN book. It loaded with inspiration & “how to”. I wouldn’t want to ever be without this book.

    615
  524. I’d love to have a stitch reference book by the Royal School of Needlework – they look so well illustrated and useful.

    616
  525. My knees are bothering me, I have been decorating my house for Christmas all day, I should be in bed by now because I have another big day tomorrow, so I cannot bring myself to go upstairs and see the name of the needlework book I most reach for when I need a reference. But I would take any beautifully illustrated embroidery book that is a comprehensive guide to the vast array of stitches, especially the more unusual ones.

    617
  526. The book I use most often, at least recently, is the RSN Book of Embroidery. (Their recent compilation of individual technique volumes.) I’ve been starting to venture into more advanced techniques such as goldwork and stumpwork and that book is full of fabulous information.

    618
  527. The book I most reach for is my New Edition Mary Thomas stitch dictionary.
    Full of wonderful references.

    619
  528. The book I reach for mist is the RSN Book of Embroidery which reproduces several of their smaller guides. I .find it great for those moments when you can’t quite recall which way to start a stitch or what order to work the elements if a design.

    620
  529. Embroidered Country Garden by Lorna Bateman would be my go to book if I had it as l love embroidering flowers.

    621
  530. Yvette Stanton, “the right-handed embroiderer’s companion” and Rachel Doyle, “Canvaswork” are the most often used needlework books here.

    622
  531. Joyful Daily Stitching… seam by seam by Valerie Bothwell. It never fails to inspire, whatever my project!
    Sarabar

    623
  532. Right now my go to book is Alison Cole’s Goldwork Masterclass. Amazing reference, so many beautiful photos and clear instructions.

    624
  533. The book I use all the time is A-Z of Embroidery Sitches. I am a not very confident stitcher but with this book by my side I can attempt all sorts of designs. My next goal is to try crewl work!

    626
  534. I only have a couple of counted thread embroidery stitches books. One by Anchor and one by Coates. I do love looking at Trish Burr’s books in the library and have asked for one of them on my Christmas list.

    627
  535. My favorite (and only!) embroidery book is Stumpwork & Goldwork Embroidery by Jane Nicholas. I love the colors and designs on the charts

    628
  536. My most reached-for embroidery book is ‘The Stitches of Creative Embroidery’ by Jacqueline Enthoven – a wonderful stitches resource and plenty of ideas for extending those stitches.

    629
  537. I don’t have any embroidery books, but I collect and treasure issues of Inspirations magazine. They are costly but so beautiful I can’t resist them! Thank goodness for the internet, because there are no shops anywhere near me that carry it. Thank you for the chance to win some books, and for making your blog such a valuable resource!

    630
  538. For inspiration: Book of Needlework and Embroidery, 1986, published by Colins in 1986 on behalf of the RSN. It’s not a how-to book, but historical. I love to imagine I am participating in a craft that is 100’s of years old, and can relate nearly any modern project to one of the textiles studied in this tome.

    632
  539. I am a huge book fan too and I own a few needlework books including some very good RSN books which I would use for a specific type of needlework but for more general stitch instruction for something I haven’t tried yet I use my stitch dictionary by Lucinda Ganderton, loads of stitches in lovely clear pictures.

    633
  540. The book I reach for first when I’m starting or thinking about a project is the latest edition of Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches. It’s easy to find what I’m researching via the pictures and instructions are detailed and easy to follow.
    The book I’d like to try next is The Art of Annemieke Mien as I want to continue learning and improving. Thanks to Mary Corbett, I’m on a lifetime mission to enjoy embroidery as often as I can. ❤️

    634
  541. Mary Thomas’ Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches because I regularly forget how to do particular stitches and need a reminder. Also it is a very useful reference when searching for new stitches to try.

    635
  542. I have many books, but refer often to my book Embroidery Stitch bible. So much to read and do………..Thanks again Mary

    636
  543. What an awesome gift to give away books, love the idea so much! Thank you to you and Search Press and all fingers crossed.
    We love and own a lot of books and I’m proud of my little crafts books collection as little treasures too, but I have only one of embroidery. It is called “Bleu : Motifs de broderie traditionnelle et au point de croix ” written by Agnès Delage-Calvet, Anne Sohier-Fournel. Do you know it?
    Have a nice weekend Mary

    637
  544. My go to embroidery book is more a small paperback put out by J & P Coats Ltd in 1967. “100 Embroidery Stitches” goes everywhere with me in my project bag. It’s a handy quick reference guide to the structure of many of the most popular stitches. I found my copy in a charity shop for less than $1.00. My lucky day.

    638
  545. I no longer each for books. Not because I don’t want to , but 10 years ago, I had to fit my life into 7 suitcases as I was moving to a new country. My remaining treasured items were placed in storage and unfortunately lost due to flooding. I would love to have resources books again. But if not, I know a good webpage where I can usually find what I am searching ;).

    639
  546. I love to Embroider and I love to learn more and more stitches. I belong to 2 guilds, SAGA and EGA. I learned when I was 4 and now I am about to enter my 70’s. I am NOT ready to quit yet.

    I reference all my books, keep simple ones at my side for simple stitch reminders. I am ready to delve into thread painting, stump work and pulled stitches. So would love additions to my library.

    640
  547. The book I reach for most often is crewel intentions, I don’t have the skill to make the projects yet but they seem more and more approachable the more I practice!

    641
  548. These collections are amazing, Mary! I love all the books; I also particularly enjoy Hazel Blomkamp! Even if I don’t win, thank you for these wonderful opportunities — I’m sure I’m not the only one whose imagination has been sparked for 2020!!

    642
  549. Wow!What a FABULOUS giveaway! My fingers and toes are all crossed!

    The book I reach for most often is probably the Left-Handed Embroider’s Companion. Being a dyslexic left-handed needleworker with left-right confusion makes this book an absolute Godsend.

    Thank you for these amazing giveaways! Even if I never win one I am really enjoying reading all of the comments.
    All the very best,
    Renata

    643
  550. I have an Erica Wilson book that I get out a lot, as well as and Embroidered Flowers book and Jane Nicholas’ Stumpwork. Plus Embroidery magazine which has such a variety of styles and inspiration! (Not a book I realise, but still inspirational)

    644
  551. The book I reach for the most is The Stitches of Creative Embroidery by Jacqueline Enthoven. My copy is very old and falling apart and was a lucky find in a library clear out.

    645
  552. There are so many books I love but I probably pick up Judith Baker Montano’s Embroidery and Crazy Quilt Stitch Tool, a compact little book that can sit up for ease while referencing.

    646
  553. Dear Mary,
    I’ve been reading your articles regularly for a while. I learned many new techniques through your website and rediscovered the fun of embroidery. The regular visits to your website helped me through a difficult time this year after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

    Through your great book launches, I discovered Hazel Blomkamp for me. I’m currently embroidering the turtle from Hazel Blomkamp’s book Crewel Creatures. This is currently my favorite and most used book on embroidery.

    Greetings from Berlin,
    Laura

    P.S.: Hopefully my english is understandable and not to bad, as i didn‘t wrote in english for a while.

    647
    1. I agree about visiting Mary’s website being a welcome respite! My husband had what we thought was a stroke (too young!) almost a year ago and it turns out it is Multiple Sclerosis. My heart goes out to you and I am thrilled you are able to stitch! I’ll remember you in prayer whenever I get the chance to have a needle in my hand.

  554. Have made some covered boxes with embroidery but always looking for
    the next idea. Also have not thought about embroidery on knitted items. Interesting idea.

    648
  555. I am a bookalcoholic. I like The Royal School of Needlework and the A toZ series.

    650
  556. Hi Mary! I don’t have any stitching book, but thanks to you I had the opportunity to look at The embroidery art of Chloe Giordano, what a beautiful book! I think I’m going to start my little collection of embroidery books! Have a nice day!
    Diana

    651
  557. I reach for Sue Spargo’s Creative Stitching whenever I start a new wool applique or other embroidered project. The illustrations are clear and her examples are so colorful and pretty.

    Donna R NC

    652
  558. I have a lot of books, and yet no particular one “go-to” book. I think I’ll name Yvette Stanton’s Sardinian Knotted Embroidery as I will have it out for my New Year project and I love it.

    653
  559. My local library has a Royal School of Needlework book that I’ve taken out a few times as it has a great range of ideas and gorgeous pictures.

    655
  560. I cant begin to count the number of accomplishments I can attribute to a good book, especially needlework. My great grandmother taught me the basics, but books allowed me to build on this passion and expand into so many other disciplines.

    656
  561. I have a couple of reference books. I like The Encyclopedia of Embroidery Stitches.
    You are sharing some interesting choices coming in 2020!
    Merry Christmas
    Carol

    657
  562. Winters in Erie, Pa can be long and snowy. I do a lot of cross stitch but am getting into needle painting so I reach for books by Trish Burr.

    658
  563. As soon as I saw Blackwork Embroidery: Stitches, Techniques, & 13 Modern Projects, by Bernadette Baldelli, I said that’s one I want! I’ve wanted to try blackwork and this would be the perfect opportunity! But I would be happy with any of the books! I’m still learning (only my second Christmas of embroidering) and any of these books would be wonderful! I had seen Embroidered Boxes, by Heather Lewis while browsing books before and thought that would be great to try. But any of the books would be inspirational to me!

    659
  564. I am quite new to embroidery, but have enjoyed watching my mother’s skill develop over many years. She has always found embroidery to be a relaxing past-time and I am finding that quality to be evident as well. I don’t have any particular embroidery books that I draw upon, but I do love books in general. I would love to read the English Country Garden book and also the Silk Ribbon embroidery one, as these are the styles I would most like to try next.

    660
  565. I have many, many books that I use for inspiration and instruction but the one I use the most, after looking through the others, is The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion. I use it to translate the other right-handed books into a language that I can follow; it is so much easier than turning a book upside down, using mirrors or just trying to imagine right-handed instructions written differently. Following Mary’s advice, I had it spiral bound at a local print shop so that it stay open and lays flat. Every time I use it I thank her for that.

    661
  566. I’m a novice with all manner of needlework, so the book I reach for the most is a beginner’s stitch guide that my very talented sister gave me. For some reason, French knots give me a lot of trouble and I find myself looking them up every single time I use them. It doesn’t stop me from trying, but I do have to review before hand.

    Pat Nelson

    662
  567. Hi Mary,

    I love books with special stitch guides, especially background stitches for needlepoint. I’m a self taught person on how to stitch just by using information given via books. My greatest challenge was to teach myself the peyote stitch, in beading, just by looking through beading books, I figured it out and have beaded many projects.

    Happy Holidays,
    Teri

    663
  568. I am a digital learner so tend to look for in for and inspiration online. I do have a copy of Crewel Creatures close at hand for composite stitch inspiration. The needle weaving is amazing.

    664
  569. I reach out for Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches by Mary Thomas and The embroidery stitch bible by Betty Barnden to select stitches.

    665
  570. The books I reach for most often are dictionaries of stitches. Sometimes I need to find something different and sometimes I just need inspiration.

    666
  571. Whilst at home I use my 90 year old copy of Samplers and Stitches by Mrs Archibald Christie, much loved, as my source for stitch ideas and methods but I travel with The Embroidery Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden ( a Search Press book!) which is robust and has good colour instructions.
    Lynda A. H. UK

    668
  572. Mary Thomas’ dictionary of embroidery stitches….. and I would like – for both inspiration and instruction – any or all of the above!

    669
  573. Hi Mary,

    Many years ago, I bought the Readers Digest Complete Guide to Needlework. It is still the reference book I use most often. Thanks for the give away.

    670
  574. I enjoy various embroidery techniques so use lots of books. For Hardanger reference, Janice Love’s Basics & Beyond and Fundamentals Made Fancy are indispensable. Lately, I’ve been trying stumpwork. There’s so many choices but I’ll go with Muriel Best’s Stumpwork for inspiration and Kay & Michael Dennis’ Stumpwork Embroidery for techniques.

    671
  575. I enjoy all books and can spend hours just paging through any needlework book. The book I use the most is the Needlework Stitch Bible. Would really like to add more books to my collection. Thank you for offering this giveaway.

    672
  576. I don’t have a book I reach for all the time anymore. Lately I find that I am reaching out to the internet for assistance. A few keywords and I have all I could wish for and more. But, I love to look at reference books and sigh over the information and lovely pictures. If I could have a new one like Traditional Blackwork Samplers (Needlecrafts Series) Lesley Williams I’d be a happy camper. [Actually, any blackwork book]

    673
  577. Oh dear – I’m drooling again!! I love books, and join you in the fanatic club (as many of my previous comments on your book reviews will attest). As for what book I reach for the most – there are many. If I need stitch instructions I reach for any of the A-Z books or Judith Baker Montano’s ‘Embroidery & Crazy Quilt Stitch Tool’. For crazy quilting I like anything by Kathy Seaman Shaw. For knitting I like a book called ‘Vogue Knitting’ and for overall drool-worthy inspiration I have a copy of ‘The Art of Annemieke Mein’ from Search Press – the 2011 reprinted version.

    674
  578. My favorite book in my stitchy library is “Lady Evelyn’s Needlework Collection” — I love to soak in the beautiful pictures especially the whitework.

    675
  579. The book I reach for most is Yvette Stanton’s The Right Handed Embroiderer’s Companion. However Mary’s Individual Tips and Techniques is my usual go to when I need a reminder on how to do a particular stitch.

    676
  580. My go to book is The Left Handed Stitchers Companion by Yvette Stanton. After reading your review I knew I had have it immediately. To have an entire book dedicated to lefties instead of the few pages normally found throughout other books is amazing. Thank you for all that you do!

    677
  581. My Stitch Bible is often the one I reach for for inspiration on “what would work to achieve”, but my favorites just to look through are Trish Burr’s beautiful books and Di VanNiekirk (sp?). Both of them just have such beautiful to look at pages.

    678
  582. I would like to have the book “The Art of Annemieke Mein” by Annemieke Mein because of its inspiring mix of techniques and material.

    679
  583. i think that lately the book i have been going for the most is Alison Cole’s stumpwork book. i have been trying to learn many of the different techniques while attempting to recreate a stumpwork piece i saw in a museum. The piece is full of birds and animals and i am excited to see the birds and flower books you showcased.
    happy holidays!

    680
  584. The resource I go to most often is “Long and Short Stitch Embroidery “by Trish Burr. It has been most valuable in learning this technique.

    681
  585. I have so many wonderful books it’s impossible to choose just one. I’m a great fan of Trish Burrs books but just for beauty alone it has to be the Embroidered Art of Chloe Giordano.

    682
  586. Because I am all over the place on what sort of embroidery I do, my most reached for book changes regularly. Right now it’s Botanica (the fabulous book on crewel 3-D representations of various fruits, veggies and other plants.) I’m practically sleeping with that book right now, and as an aside, I’m totally in love with the way crewel yarn works up in this sort of project.

    683
  587. What I would like to have is the book “Blackwork Embroidery: Stitches, Techniques, & 13 Modern Projects” by Bernadette Baldelli because of its innovative ideas.

    684
  588. When I need inspiration I reach for Stitches to Savor, A-Z Embroidery book 1 and 2, and Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilting.

    685
  589. I do enjoy good needlework books. I use ideas from many of my books including Hardanger, Brazilian Embroidery, Black work, Huck, and basic stitch instructions. Most recently I’ve been working from “A Flower Alphabet” by Elisabetta Sforza. A lovely book with great ideas.

    686
  590. I don’t have one specific surface embroidery book that I go to. Over the years I have taken workshops from Jane Nicholas, Alison Cole, and Lorna Bateman. In each instance, I have purchased their book or books to help me progress and/or complete my project. I constantly refer to them for reference.

    Any of the book groups would be a wonderful addition to someone’s library.

    687
  591. Nothing better than being inspired cuddled up in front of a cozy fire with a good embroidery book.
    Pat R.

    688
  592. I struggle a lot it’s colour matching so have been eyeing Colour Confident Stitching. I would love a book like that

    690
  593. I have used the Encyclopedia of Needlework by Therese de Dillmont since the early 1980’s. In fact I have made every project in the book at least once. The book I had was so well loved and used that it was falling apart and I had to by an new copy recently.

    Peace,
    Heidrun

    691
  594. I’ve never been able to afford all the embroidery books I wanted. I’ve been interested in various kinds of counted thread embroidery techniques (cross stitch, needlepoint, and blackwork especially) for a long time and tended to concentrate on graph collections

    692
  595. I don’t have only one. It depends on the technique I’m working with, whether needlepainting, stumpwotk, goldwork , …. Alison Cole’s are on top of my desk, along with Trish Burr’s and Jane Nicholas, Helen Stevens

    694
  596. I would love to own a copy of Hazel Blomkamp’s Crewel Creatures – so much beauty and inspiration in one place!

    695
  597. I would love to have the Birds and Flowers collection of books as those are two of my favorite topics to embroider!

    696
  598. I have a small embroidery book from the 1940s that my Grandmother got for S&H coupons (anyone remember those?). I think it was published by Good Housekeeping. I use it all the time – it’s hand drawings with really clear instructions.

    697
  599. I don’t have any books, I have one magazine that I use and I frequently use your website. I love the 2020 Inspirations because I love whitework, but I also love Birds and Flowers.

    699
  600. I do not own any embroidery books for now (I learned mostly everything through your website and tutorials!), but if I could choose any book to magically appear on my shelf, it would be Elisabetta Sforza’s In a Wheat Field (even though it’s more of a booklet than a book). The images I’ve seen from it are so gorgeous! And I do have a soft spot for embroidered wheat haha! Thank you for all those giveaways!

    700
  601. What a lovely array of books – I could not choose between them – a super prize to win and no excuses to get going on something new in embroidery.

    701
  602. I love books so much that I’d say I don’t have a favorite. I love my stitch dictionary books when I need help with a stitch. Other times I love to browse through my collection to get inspiration for my next project. I love to take a piece from this one and a piece from that one to make the project my own. More books would be a dream!

    702
  603. I’m a prairie-country gal so the book “Embroidered Country Gardens” by Lorna Bateman is my current inspiration… the projects are beautifully illustrated with detailed instructions. I’d love to be gifted any one of these book sets to learn different types of embroidery! I may not attempt them all but this library resource would be truly treasured.

    703
  604. One of the most enjoyable for general information and good for basic stitches is Advice is…by Marion Scoular. Basics and Beyond for Hardanger by Janice Love is my go to book. I would love to have the one on Blackwork.

    704
  605. I don’t have any single book I use unless it’s a specific pattern. I do have my beloved 1930s reprint of de Dillmonts’ big book of all things embroidery for instructional reference! Modern instruction comes from a great website by Mary Corbet! Otherwise…a variety of books old & new. I’m always on the hunt for new publications, & really love historical pictures. I can’t answer this question!! Too many wonderful sources of ideas to choose from!

    705
  606. My go to book lately is Creative Stitches, a book of stitches by Sue Spargo, since I am working on finishing projects for Christmas…however if I am struggling with a stitch I go to your website and look for a video to show me what I am doing wrong. I am left handed so my stitch process tends to be backwards by everyone else’s process.

    706