Each book is authored by a well-known artist who shares step-by-step techniques for transforming simple fabrics into canvases that explode with colour and texture. The authors also provide insights into their own creative development and the lessons they learned along the way.

We promise our list will appeal to artists of all skill levels. Get set to learn innovative techniques for creating breathtaking designs. 

Luscious landscapes

Alison Holt is known for her exquisite landscape machine embroideries, as well as her workshops and books. This latest book is a must-have as it features essential information from her other three books along with brand-new material.

‘Freehand machine embroidery is painting with stitch, and I enjoy playing with the subtleties and endless possibilities,’ says Alison. ‘For example, I can adjust the bobbin tension to emulate tree bark, moss or crumbling stone. Or I can lengthen stitches to capture the movement of a breaking wave or grasses swinging in the breeze.’

Readers learn how to create gorgeous, embroidered pictures of various landscape aspects, including formal gardens and flowers, romantic seascapes, and woodlands. The book is packed with information including required materials, advice on composition, how to achieve perspective, working with light and shade, and important basic stitches.

Alison breaks down her creative process into simple steps, explaining why each stage is important. She also includes sketches and close-ups of stitch techniques, as well as many step-by-step projects that are easy to follow.

‘I try to demystify freehand machine embroidery. I want to give readers confidence as they acquire the building blocks needed to develop their own style. I enjoy showing students they can create unlimited subject matter with a few well practiced mark-making techniques.’

Machine Embroidered Art: Painting the Natural World with Needle & Thread by Alison Holt (2020)
^{ISBN 9781782217916}

Layered fabric & stitch

They say good things come to those who wait, so if you don’t already have this book on your shelf, now is the time to grab it.

Katie Essam has revised and updated her very popular book, including adding a new bonus project. Katie brings a fresh and modern approach to traditional embroidery techniques, and her emphasis on showcasing the beauty found in everyday objects is engaging. 

‘Machine embroidery allows me to collate and connect all the mixed media I like to use in my art,’ says Katie. ‘It’s a creative adventure drawing together all the fabric, painting, drawing, found items, textured fibres and anything else I find. I love its freedom and versatility.’

The book features eight projects and many finished artworks to spark creativity. Each project builds on the last through step-by-step instruction and beautiful images. 

Katie’s overarching goal is to empower readers to grasp her techniques and run with them, no matter their ability to stitch or draw. 

‘Free-motion embroidery can begin with a reader’s own designs, photos or even a sketch. Each way works beautifully, and it completely comes down to the individual’s inspiration, interpretation and style. I love the guaranteed originality that allows readers to develop their own creative expression.’

Free Motion Embroidery: Creating Textile Art with Layered Fabric & Stitch by Katie Essam (2022)
_{ISBN 9781800920484}

Organic embroidery

If you’re looking for ways to stitch nature’s most intricate forms, you need to add this gem to your bookshelf. 

Meredith Woolnough is known for the unique way in which she combines machine embroidery with water-soluble fabric to create corals, plants, microscopic organisms and more. Her delicate threaded works are amazing, and now readers can learn how she brings them to life. 

‘I wanted this book to be both instructional and inspirational,’ says Meredith. ‘It shows how my artworks are made from start to finish, exploring how I use freehand machine embroidery on water soluble fabric. Readers will discover my inspirations, technical processes and the stories behind some of my favourite pieces.’

Readers will learn how to find interesting shapes or patterns found in nature, such as leaves, shells and coral. Meredith also explains how they can use their sewing machine to turn those inspirations into elegant open-work textile art. 

‘This book largely shares the overarching theory I’ve developed over many years of working with this type of embroidery. My hope is readers will use my book as a stepping stone to help build and streamline their own creative path using these wonderful, but sometimes challenging, embroidery skills.’

Organic Embroidery by Meredith Woolnough (2018)
^{ISBN 9780764356131}

Seascape stitching

Amanda Hislop lives in land-locked Oxfordshire in the UK, so she cherishes her trips to the sea. She always takes a sketchbook and fills it with inspiration. She turns those ideas into incredible textile seascapes using free-motion embroidery and mixed media.

Amanda explains: ‘I’ve developed a technique that gives me the freedom to work without an embroidery hoop. I make a foundation layered with cotton cloth, wet strength papers, threads and fibres glued with cellulose paste. Once dry, I paint the surface with acrylic paint, and then I use machine embroidery to create lines and texture.’ 

In addition to covering materials and stitch choices, the book features four step-by-step projects that help readers create a variety of seascape features. Throughout the text, Amanda shares her techniques for capturing the sea’s moods, rhythms, patterns and structures.

‘I encourage learners to enjoy the process of using a sketchbook to develop work from personal observation. I work with a less-is-more approach to drawing by considering what elements will suggest landscape, which results in an almost abstract impressionistic sense of place.’

Stitched Textiles: Seascapes by Amanda Hislop (2019)
^{ISBN 9781782215646}

Bold inspiration

While Bisa Butler’s book doesn’t include formal instruction, it’s packed with inspiration for using free motion quilting. Bisa is an American artist who captures vibrant scenes from African American life and history. Her portraits explode with coloured and patterned fabrics that she cuts, layers and stitches together.

In this book, Bisa shares her story and creative journey, situating her work within the broader history of textiles, photography and contemporary art. Other scholars chime in to illuminate Bisa’s unique approach to colour, use of African-print fabrics and wide-ranging sources of inspiration.

This is a beautifully illustrated look at the work of one of today’s most exciting textile artists.

Bisa Butler: Portraits by Bisa Butler (2020)
^{ISBN 9780300254310}

During that time, the definition of ‘fine art’ was being critically examined: what made something ‘fine art’ versus ‘fine craft’? Could something functional also be considered fine art?

Textile artists weighed in with a resounding ‘yes’ by reimagining quilts in ways that emphasized design over function. They deviated from traditional, historical blocks and patterns to create abstract works, landscape designs, portraiture and more.

Then those quilters displayed their works by hanging them on walls rather than spreading them across a bed. Ultimately, fine art galleries started paying attention, and as the saying goes, the rest is history.

The possibilities for designing and creating art quilts have exploded since then, and we’ve compiled a list of books that can help you tap into the excitement. Each book features clear instruction complemented by gorgeous illustrations and photos.

Most importantly, all of the books are authored by a well-known art quilter. Each of them approaches art quilting differently, but they all celebrate the possibilities.

It’s time to start adding some quilt art books to your bookshelf.

Art quilt collage

Looking to dip your toes into the art quilting world? Here’s a great book to start your journey.

You’re first introduced to eight design guides presented in simple diagrams. These basic layouts can then be applied to the book’s engaging work-along projects.

Design checklists help readers analyse their artistic choices and change layouts accordingly. And See what happens next exercises offer a more prescribed method for trying new approaches.

Deborah Boschert also gives you a look into her signature technique of incorporating meaningful symbols into her art quilts. You’ll learn how to create shapes and symbols that are special to you, as well as how to work in a series and finish small art pieces.

Deborah’s step-by-step imagery and clear instruction will help you unlock your own artistic vision.

Art quilt collage: A creative journey in fabric, paint & stitch by Deborah Boschert (2016)
^{ISBN  9781617452840}

Quilt out loud

Have something to say? Tap into the power of embedding stitched letters, numbers, words and sentences into your art quilts.

Quilt artist Thomas Knauer’s quilts follow the craftivism movement, and his art quilts emphasise social justice issues. Thomas knows the power of stitched text, and in his book, he gives you a look into his creative process. You’ll not only learn unique quilting techniques, but you’ll also discover how to choose and embed text in ways that have impact.

Each chapter focuses on a particular approach, including raw-edge appliqué, quilted text, binary numbers and Morse Code. Whether your theme is serious or whimsical, this book shows you how to combine aesthetics with powerful messaging using fabric and thread.

Quilt out loud: Activism, language & the art of quilting by Thomas Knauer (2023)
^{ISBN 9781644033227}

Stitching stolen lives

The Social Justice Sewing Academy (US) works with students to amplify voices, empower youth and build empathy through quilting.

Students learn to create quilt blocks that help them examine and express the systemic problems that plague their everyday lives. Stitching Stolen Lives offers an in-depth look into a special remembrance project. Youth designed quilt blocks that memorialise family and friends they lost due to social injustices.

You’ll learn about the remarkable journey each student took to find their voice through the art of quilting. You’ll be amazed and moved by the students’ extraordinary quilt portraits and reading about the personal stories that inspired them.

This book also includes a resource section on how to talk about racial equity and how to use art as a tool to aid self-expression.

Stitching stolen lives: Amplifying voices, empowering youth & building empathy through quilts by Sara Trail and Teresa Duryea Wong (2021)
^{ISBN 9781644031384}

Create landscape quilts

It’s time to pull out those travel pictures and start quilting!

Learn how to create unique art quilts featuring your favourite places. Meri Henriques Vahl shares a simple method for designing realistic quilted nature scenes and villages. Using photographs from her travels, Meri explains how she achieves stunning scenery with lifelike details in her art quilts.

Various techniques, including fabric collage and tulle overlay, help quilters of all levels learn to quilt majestic mountainscapes, charming buildings and realistic people. Easy-to-follow instructions complemented by a stunning gallery of quilts will inspire you to turn your travel photos into lovely art quilts.

Create landscape quilts by Meri Henriques Vahl (2021)
^{ISBN 9781644030127}

Creating art quilts with panels

Discover how to transform fabric panels and thread into one-of-a-kind art quilts.

Award-winning quilter Joyce Hughes demonstrates dimensional thread painting, raw edge applique, and a variety of embellishments to make seasonal panels, beautiful florals, and panel replicas like Van Gogh’s Starry Nights.

From simple beading to more advanced three-dimensional pieces, Joyce presents her techniques across six projects that feature detailed photographs and a step-by-step format.

Discover how to make your quilt pop and explore endless options for creativity with free-motion quilting, thread painting, trapunto, overlay, three-dimensional effects, machine techniques, raw edge applique, and a variety of embellishments.

Creating art quilts with panels by Joyce Hughes (2019)
^{ISBN 9781947163164}

Capture your own life with collage quilting

It’s time to get personal.

Whether you’re celebrating your pet’s personality, preserving a memory from a family holiday or recreating your favourite flower, this book teaches you a simple technique to create a stunning and personal art quilt.

Jane Haworth shares her fun, easy, and addictive quilting method that doesn’t require hundreds of pattern pieces. That’s why it’s perfect for quilters of all skill levels.

Twelve different project ideas feature a variety of styles and themes, including animals, flowers, houses, musical instruments and landscapes. You’ll start by learning how to choose a photograph or image and make enlargements to create a pattern.

Then Jane explains how to choose the right background fabrics, master some free-motion quilting techniques, and finish and display your quilt.

Capture your own life with collage quilting by Jane Haworth (2023)
^{ISBN 9781639810222}

At play in the garden of stitch

This book is all about free-motion fun in art quilting.

Paula Kovarik shares approaches to free-motion stitching that are approachable, engaging and multi-layered. You’ll be encouraged to explore how stitching can bring depth to composition, texture to emotions and line to ideas.

In addition to simple stitching and drawing exercises, Paula shares examples and inspirations for how to approach this art form. Pictures of her award-winning art quilts illustrate her techniques and clarify her process.

Close-up photos of stitching also inspire readers to try their hand at Paula’s techniques. And her technical tips and stories of her successes and failures make this a wonderful read.

At play in the garden of stitch by Paula Kovarik (2021)
^{ISBN 9780578920047}

And finally…

Here’s a list of additional older books that may just become your new firm favourites (although could be a little more difficult to find). Check thrift shops, libraries, second-hand bookstores, and other online book sites to source these titles.

• Inspired by design: Seven steps to successful art quilting by Elizabeth Barton (2013) ISBN 9781607056348
• Visual guide to working in a series: Next steps in inspired design by Elizabeth Barton (2014) ISBN 9781607056614
• Point, click, quilt! by Susan Knapp (2011) ISBN 9781607052265
• Journey to inspired art quilting: More intuitive color and design by Jean Wells (2012) ISBN 9781607055808

Featured picks

• Art quilt collage by Deborah Boschert (2016)
• Quilt out loud: activism, language & the art of quilting by Thomas Knauer (2023)
• Stitching stolen lives by Sara Trail and Teresa Duryea Wong (2021)
• Create landscape quilts by Meri Henriques Vahl (2021)
• Creating art quilts with panels by Joyce Hughes (2019)
• Capture your own life with collage quilting by Jane Haworth (2023)
• At play in the garden of stitch by Paula Kovarik (2021)

If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

Interested in more great books for learning textile techniques? Check out our list of books in which expert textile artists share their processes.

Do you have a favourite book about art quilting you can add to our list? Please share by leaving a comment below.

We already know you’re interested in the art of fabric and thread – why else would you be here? But perhaps you’re looking for a more tactile read, and the luxury of sitting down and reading a magazine cover to cover? If you’re interested in subscribing to a print (or digital) journal exploring textile art, there’s lots of gorgeous options to choose from. 

Here’s our list of the best textile art magazines. These publications are suitable for readers at all levels. High quality, beautifully illustrated, and aiming to inspire, engage and share, each title brings alive the latest developments and inspirations in textile art. 

Read on to discover these periodical gems: Embroidery, Selvedge, Fiber Art Now, Textile Fibre Forum, Quiltfolk, Quilting Arts and Surface Design Journal.

Embroidery

Embroidery is a beautifully presented long running magazine serving lovers of embroidery and contemporary textile art. It comes from the renowned Embroiderers’ Guild in the UK and was first published in 1932.

Over the decades, Embroidery has become the most well respected review of the art of embroidery and stitched textile art. This magazine inspires and impresses with its mix of textile art features, in-depth artist interviews and colourful artwork shots. There’s a listing of the best exhibitions and events around the UK and beyond, and all the latest news in the world of embroidery. 

Subscriptions are available for readers in the UK, Europe and worldwide. Published six times a year, it will bring you plenty of inspiration. Not to mention the option for incredible access to a vast, fully-searchable digital archive of back issues!

A digital downloadable version is available through Pocketmags, or a single issue pay-as-you-go option is available for those who don’t wish to commit to a long subscription.

Selvedge

Celebrate our communal love of cloth, culture and creativity in Selvedge, an attractive feast-for-the-eyes, square-format magazine. This internationally renowned magazine was launched in 2004 by textile obsessive Polly Leonard, and is published every two months in print and digital formats.

In a magazine as beautiful as the textiles represented within its pages, it features articles on textiles in fine art, craft, design, fashion and interiors, sharing the history and importance of cloth, and its place in the modern world. 

Print magazine subscribers receive complimentary access to the corresponding digital edition. Or subscribers can choose the digital-only version. Back issues are available to buy separately.

Great pride is taken in the printing process, using soy-based inks, paper and packaging produced in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible manner.

Textile Fibre Forum

Textile Fibre Forum is a long-running Australian textile art magazine, in print since the 1980s. Produced by ArtWear Publications since 2011, this quarterly magazine shares the work of textile artists, as well as promoting exhibitions and events, and exploring new techniques and innovations relating to textiles, fibres, and textile art. It has a strong focus on Australian artists and contemporary textiles, with articles from specialist contributors in each issue. 

The subscription price includes postage and handling within Australia. International purchasers pay postage at checkout. Alternatively, you can buy a digital subscription. Print format back issues are also available to purchase separately.

Fiber Art Now

This sumptuous magazine, published in the USA, has a broad remit – perfect for those who like a little bit of everything. It explores all types of textile art, including embroidery, crochet, weaving, felting, book arts, quilting, traditional techniques like shibori and sashiko, and more.

Covering installations, wearables, sculptures, vessels and basketry, wall and floor art, plus engaging artist profiles, there really is something for everyone. 

You’ll get four jam-packed magazines a year, as well as instant access to the archive of digital back issues. Shipping is free in the USA, and international subscribers can either pay for shipping or choose the great value digital-only subscription.

Quilting Arts

In Quilting Arts, you’ll learn more about textiles and techniques for contemporary art quilting and surface design. Published in the USA since 2001, this quarterly magazine is full of informative articles dedicated to promoting the art quilt movement, and is suitable for all levels, from novice to professional quilters and textile artists. 

It provides inspiration, technical information and mixed media insights; its aim being to elevate the visibility of art quilts through education, innovation and inspiration. 

Quilting Arts is available in print format, with a supplement to cover postage outside the USA. Back issues are available separately.

Quiltfolk

Travelling coast to coast from New Jersey to California, the quarterly magazine Quiltfolk visits a different state of the USA in each edition, exploring quilters and quilt stories unique to that region.

Beautifully designed and printed, this magazine is a tactile delight, with a soft cover and gorgeous images showcasing the art of quilting, and will appeal to all quilt makers and quilt lovers everywhere. 

This print-only magazine, first published in 2016, has 164 pages brimming with inspiration, and it is advert-free. Back issues are also available to purchase.

Surface Design Journal

If you’re looking to take your art to the next level, check out the Surface Design Journal from the Surface Design Association. This magazine will help to expand your knowledge on techniques and applications.

It covers textile art, design trends, exhibitions, as well as  interviews with artists, makers, curators and collectors. The journal is published in the USA, but has an international scope. 

This quarterly journal comes with membership of the Surface Design Association, which includes a range of other benefits.

Readers can choose print and digital, or digital-only subscriptions, at different price points depending on your location worldwide. Individual issues can be purchased at the SDA store.

Much of that early stitchwork was practical in nature, particularly to create clothing. As materials and techniques changed over time, distinctive cultural approaches to design, colour, and embellishment came to life

Textile art played an increasingly important role in expressing cultural histories, folklore, religious narratives, community organisation and family values. Thankfully, many of those textile traditions are alive and well.

Below is a list of books that literally takes you across time and geography. And you won’t have to buy a plane ticket! We start in North America with African American and Native American traditions. Then we head to the African continent, followed by a trek through Asian and Middle Eastern textile techniques. We even have a stop in Mexico.

All of these books feature gorgeous imagery and stories that are both breathtaking and inspirational. So, join us in celebrating the diversity of stitching across the globe.

The quilts of Gee’s Bend

The women of Gee’s Bend in southern Alabama (USA) have been creating vibrant quilts since the early 19^th century. Award-winning author Susan Goldman Rubin explores the history and culture of this fascinating group of women and their unique quilting traditions.

They are especially known for repurposing fabrics in remarkable ways, including old overalls, aprons, and bleached cornmeal sacks. Much to the women’s surprise, a selection of their quilts were featured in a travelling exhibition in 2002.

A New York Times critic reviewing that exhibition described their work as ‘eye-poppingly gorgeous and some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has ever produced’.

The quilts of Gee’s Bend by Susan Goldman Rubin (2017)
^{ISBN 9781419721311} 

Sewing and survival

This book offers a researched narrative based on original sources, diaries, personal letters and other notes highlighting Native American voices. Indigenous Americans have been sewing, weaving, making pottery and other crafts for thousands of years. But ongoing attacks on Native American cultures in the late 1800’s promoted a fascinating shift toward quilt making.

While quilting skills were forced on some women, others willingly took on the craft. It’s compelling to learn that quilting within the Native American culture continued to gain popularity to the point where quilts now serve as cornerstones of many Indigenous give-away traditions.

Author Teresa Wong expertly walks readers through this historical and artistic quilting evolution. Powerful narratives complement images of over 60 quilts, as well as images of significant historical events and portraits of artists and collectors.

The book is available from the author’s website and can be shipped to addresses in Canada, USA, Japan, EU, UK and Australia. The author donates $4 for every book sold to the American Indian College Fund.

Sewing and survival: Native American Quilts from 1880–2022 by Teresa Duryea Wong (2023)
^{Published by Third Floor Quilts}

Colour and creativity across a continent

Traditional handcrafted African textiles are sumptuous, intricate, and steeped in cultural significance. Readers will be introduced to an incredible range of handmade textile techniques found across the African continent.

These include the gorgeous strip weaves of the Ashanti and Ewe, lace weaves of the Yoruba, and mud cloths from Mali and West Africa. The book also explores Berber weaves from Morocco, beadwork from the Zulu, Xhosa, and Ndebele people, and the crocheted, embroidered, and feathered hats from Cameroon.

The book features over 570 colour photographs that complement in-depth information about the influences of religion, culture, trade, tradition, fashion and the changing role of women artists on African textile art. It ends with a guide to public African textile collections, as well as a glossary and suggestions for further reading.

African textiles: Colour and creativity across a continent by John Gillow (2016)
^{ISBN 9780500292211}

Sustainable textiles and mindful making

‘Kantha’ is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit word kontha, which means rags. It refers to both the style of running stitch, as well as the finished quilted cloth made from layers of cast-off fabric embroidered with threads pulled from old saris and dhotis.

Author Ekta Kaul explores this rich tradition through objects of extraordinary beauty that were created to be given as gifts or for use in life event rituals, such as marriage and childbirth. 

Steeped in the ethos of sustainability, emotional repair and mindful making, this book showcases inspiring interpretations of the kantha spirit and discusses creative techniques for readers to develop their own kantha. A dictionary of fundamental kantha stitches with supporting images and instructions is included.

Ekta Kaul grew up in India and trained at India’s National Institute of Design. She received a Masters in Textiles in the UK, and has lived in Edinburgh, Bath, Ahmedabad, Delhi and London. Ekta says living in so many vibrant cities provided a wonderful education in celebrating plurality of perspectives, helping to develop her unique creative style.

Kantha: Sustainable Textiles and Mindful Making by Ekta Kaul (2024)
^{ISBN 9781789940435}

Threads of awakening

When Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo set out to travel the world, little did she know she’d get sidetracked in a Himalayan sewing workshop. Ironically, that sidetrack proved to be her necessary life path.

Equal parts art book, memoir and spiritual travelogue, Leslie shares her experience as a Californian woman travelling to the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile in India to manage an economic development fund, only to wind up sewing pictures of Buddha instead. 

Tibetans have been creating sacred images from pieces of silk for more than 500 years. Much rarer than paintings and sculptures, these stitched fabric thangkas are among Tibet’s finest artworks. Leslie reveals the unique stitches of an ancient needlework tradition, introduces the Buddhist deities, and shares insights into the compassion, interdependence and possibility they embody.

Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo is a textile artist, teacher and author. She offers an online hands-on apprentice program called Stitching Buddhas that bridges East and West, traditional and contemporary.

Threads of awakening: An American woman’s journey into Tibet’s sacred textile art by Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo (2022)
^{ISBN 9781647420932}

Hmong story cloths

The Hmong people from the country of Laos have a rich tradition of creating story cloths to document their history and cultural legacy. Subjects for the cloths include traditional life in Laos, the Hmong New Year, folk tales and neighbouring peoples.

The Hmong first began making story cloths during their time in refugee camps. Story cloths begin with selecting fabrics and outlining images onto a backing cloth. Fabrics are then cut into the various shapes and appliquéd using intricate satin stitches. Borders are then pieced together and hand stitched. 

This beautiful book features 48 vibrant story cloths that provide a comprehensive look into the makers’ lives and culture. Readers will also find personal stories and artefacts that make this a great book for both history buffs and textile artists.

Hmong story cloths: Preserving historical & cultural treasures by Linda Gerdner (2015)
^{ISBN 9780764348594}

The art of Korean textiles

Bojagi, sometimes called pojagi, is the traditional Korean art of making textile wrapping cloths from exquisitely patchworked fabrics. The careful arrangement of pieces of cloth allows the maker to build unique abstract compositions, which is why this technique often appeals to textile artists and quilters.

In this book, artist and author Youngmin Lee shares the history of this art form and its place in Korean culture. You’ll discover bojagi hand stitch techniques, seam finishes and decorative motifs through a variety of contemporary and beautifully-illustrated projects.

Youngmin Lee is a Korean-born textile artist and educator based in California, USA. In 2017, she founded the Korean Textile Tour, an educational trip for textile enthusiasts. Youngmin has exhibited in the USA and internationally, including at the De Young Open Exhibition, San Francisco, in 2023-2024.

Bojagi: The art of Korean textiles by Youngmin Lee (2024)
^{ISBN 9781789941838}

Shibori for textile artists

Shibori is one of the world’s richest textile traditions. While commonly associated with Japan, the technique has been long used in Africa, India and South America. In this practical guide, textile artist Janice Gunner shows how to combine all geographic shibori methods with contemporary techniques to create stunning textiles bursting with rich intricate patterns and bold colour.

Various creative approaches are clearly explained and illustrated, including tied and stitched designs, folding, clamping, pleating and binding. Simple and safe instructions for a range of dyeing techniques are also provided.

Janice Gunner is an award-winning stitched textile artist, quilter and author. She is a renowned expert on Japanese textile art and was recently awarded The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles Education and Travel Bursary.

Shibori for textile artists by Janice Gunner (2018)
^{ISBN 9781849945301}

The fabric of life

From the intricate embroidery on a Palestinian wedding dress to the complex iconography on an Afghan war rug, textiles from the Middle East and Central Asia reflect their makers’ diverse beliefs, practices and experiences. This book explores the significance and beauty of textiles from across the vast area and is arranged thematically to enable cross-regional comparisons of the function and symbolic meaning of textiles.

Each chapter focuses on key life events, such as childhood, marriage, ceremony, religion and belief, and homestead. Featured textiles include garments, hats and headdresses, mosque curtains and prayer mats, floor coverings, tent hangings, hand towels, cushions, storage sacks, amulets and much more.

Contemporary works that grapple with modern political issues are also included. The author’s focus on the British Museum’s remarkable collection is sure to provide both education and creative inspiration.

Textiles of the Middle East and Central Asia: The fabric of life by Fahmida Suleman (2017)
^{ISBN 9780500519912}

Last but not least…

Serving a global community of over 60,000 stitchers can sometimes make it difficult to select books that are accessible to all. This is especially true for books that are out of print or self-published. That doesn’t mean they aren’t worth mentioning, though, so we’re sharing a few interesting titles that may be more tricky to locate, but still worth a read.

Phulkari from Punjab: Embroidery in transition

This meticulously researched book traces the history of Phulkari through the ages. Over 350 photographs help bring to life the nearly lost craft, including instances of revival and innovation amongst artists and designers.

Every stitch in Phulkari placed on the fabric tells a story in the form of motifs. Author Shalina Mehta spent seven years searching out those stories across the villages and byways of Punjab, which is considered home for this ancient craft.

Shalina traces the history of Phulkari from its decline to its revival and includes stories collected from practitioners along her journey.

Phulkari from Punjab: Embroidery in transition by Shalina Mehta and Anu H Gupta (2020)
^{ISBN 9781911630180}

Beadwork techniques of the Native Americans

This book focuses on beadwork techniques among the western Plains’ Indians, both past and present. Readers will discover the basics, advanced techniques, supplies and actual examples of beadwork through rich illustrations and easy-to-follow instruction.

Styles include loom work, appliqué, lazy/lane stitch and the gourd (peyote) stitch. Instructions for making and beading moccasins are also included. This book is both instructional and artistic, as it features dozens of images of beaded works housed in museums and private collections.

Beadwork Techniques of the Native Americans by Scott Sutton (2008)
ISBN 9781929572113

Mexican textiles

Mexican textiles are known for their passionate appreciation of colour, pattern and design. Author and photographer Masako Takahashi shares her love of the form by taking readers on a journey to artisan workshops, weaving centres, lace makers and family-owned rug manufacturers.

Readers are given an inside view of how traditional fabrics are designed, dyed, woven and finished. The photos are gorgeous, and the author shares insightful notes on regional differences, history, and technique.

Mexican textiles by Masako Takahashi (2003)
^{ISBN 9780811833783}

Printing is one of the oldest and most accessible ways to create a surface design on fabric. And it’s a valuable way to introduce another layer of mark-making into your work. 

Our booklist will help you get in on the act. From experimenting with gelli printing to trying block or screen printing, these books aim to guide you through the entire learning curve. Many also include information about colour theory, as well as ways to create incredible textile designs using simple methods and tools. Even better, you probably already have many of the materials you’ll need to hand.

It’s time to get printing!

Gelli Arts Printing Guide

Printing with a gelli plate is an easy and affordable way to create an incredible variety of print designs on fabric. This book will help you produce beautiful, one-of-a-kind artwork with amazing colours and textures. Wonderful results can be obtained quickly, and simple variations give each print its own unique personality. 

The book opens with the basics, covering supplies and how to set up your printing station, before delving into more than 30 different techniques for making colourful backgrounds, textured pages, multiple layers and basic borders. These instructions are complemented by step-by-step pictures of each technique. Perfect for beginners and experts alike, this newly expanded edition contains an updated gallery of printed art.

Gelli Arts® Printing Guide: Printing without a press on paper and fabric using the Gelli Arts® plate by Suzanne McNeill (2021)
^{ISBN 9781497205406}

Gelli Plate Printing

Meet your dream printing plate and fall in love with a fast and friendly approach to printmaking. Gelli plates are durable, reusable and stored at room temperature. They provide endless creative possibilities for monoprinting without huge prep times and mess. Simply apply paint with a soft rubber roller, make your marks, and pull your print. Wipe the plate down with a spritz of water and paper towel, and you’re ready to print again. 

Fifty separate techniques are presented using sponges, textured rollers, stencils, rubber stamps and more. You’ll also learn how to hunt down ‘texture makers’ such as rubber bands, combs, scraps of fabric, credit cards and more. The book also features a 26-page gallery showcasing the endless possibilities for creating colour, texture and pattern.

Gelli Plate Printing: Mixed-media monoprinting without a press by Joan Bess (2014)
^{ISBN 9781440335488}

Fabric Surface Design

Sensational stitch projects demand fabulous fabrics! Fibre artist Cheryl Rezendes shows you how to create an astonishing array of surface designs, simply and safely, using textile paints and printing ink. She covers a wide variety of techniques, including stamping, Japanese Shibori, silkscreen, soy wax and flour resist, image transfer, marbling, nature printing, foils and metal leaf. Step-by-step photographs illustrate every detail, and Cheryl includes innovative suggestions on how to combine and layer techniques for stunningly original results.

Fabric Surface Design by Cheryl Rezendes (2013)
^{ISBN 9781603428118}

Complete Guide to Designing and Printing Fabric

Looking to design your own textiles? This book is packed with advice from established fabric designers who offer clear, easy-to-follow tutorials. The entire fabric design process is explained, including where to find sources of inspiration for your designs. Then step-by-step instruction is provided for a wide variety of printing methods, including screen printing, monoprinting, stamping, stencilling, resist dyeing, painting and inkjet printing. You’ll find plenty of photos accompanying each tutorial, and both hand and digital printing methods are covered. Attention is also given to how to work with on-demand fabric printing companies, such as Spoonflower and Contrado.

Complete Guide to Designing and Printing Fabric by Laurie Wisbrun (2011)
^{ISBN 9781408147009}

Modern Block Printing

The 17 projects featured in this book showcase the versatility of modern block printing. From printing on fabric and clay to making homewares such as cushions and lampshades, Rowan Sivyer offers easy-to-follow instructions taking you through every step of the process. Attention is given to the history of this ancient printing method and exploring design essentials, as well as choosing and caring for tools and carving and printing techniques. Rowan is often inspired by nature, particularly that of her homelands in New Zealand and Australia. With beautiful photography and stunning design, this is an essential guide to block printing by hand.

Modern Block Printing by Rowan Sivyer (2022)
^{ISBN 9781784885182}

Block Print Magic

This is a perfect reference book for a wide range of print-making enthusiasts. Easy-to-follow illustrated instruction walks you through every step of the process. Artist Emily Howard starts by explaining how to choose and care for tools and set up a studio. Design essentials and carving techniques are then introduced, followed by printing techniques that include multi-block printing, reduction cuts, puzzle blocks and rainbow-roll printing. Advanced carving techniques for creating textures, cross hatching and 3D shading are also explored. 

Seventeen different projects are featured, as well as interviews and examples from five printmakers for inspiration and visual demonstration. This is a must-have for any printmaker’s bookshelf.

Block Print Magic by Emily Louise Howard (2019)
^{ISBN 9781631596155}

Block Print for Beginners

Learn how to create unique contemporary works of art using traditional carving tools and printmaking techniques to create custom lino prints. Practical instruction is combined with approachable projects and inspirational imagery. Essential materials such as printmaking inks, linoleum blocks, carving tools and papers are explored. Then the full process of moving from an uncarved block to a finished print is explained, including how to transfer a drawing, carve the blocks, and work with inks to achieve the best results. The book closes with step-by-step tutorials for creating a variety of lino print blocks that can be used over and over again. Elise offers a fresh, contemporary and enjoyable approach to learning this time-treasured art form.

Block Print for Beginners by Elise Young (2021)
^{ISBN 9781633228887}

Screenprinting on Textiles: The Complete Guide

Screen printing is a stencil method of printing with vast potential. Packed with instruction and practical advice, this book introduces the basic technical aspects of printing on fabric, as well as the equipment and materials needed to succeed. Ideas for designing and combining different types of motifs, images, patterns and repeats are also provided. 

You will learn effective low-tech methods using simple tools, as well as exploring the world of digital print. Advice on using colour, as well as dye recipes, is also featured. Methods such as cross dyeing, crimping and mark making on fabric can also be used in conjunction with screen printing. Sue generously shares practical tips for both traditional screen printing processes, as well as the latest techniques in contemporary practice. 

Screenprinting on Textiles by Sue Westergaard (2020)
^{ISBN 9781785007538}

Beginner’s Guide to Screen Printing

Screen printing involves the forcing of ink through a screen of fine material to create a picture or pattern. Erin demonstrates an accessible way of exploring the creative potential of screen printing, using a simple embroidery hoop and silk fabric. 

The book provides clear instructions and colourful step-by-step photography for 12 different projects, and you’ll learn how to print on different surfaces, including wood, cork and fabric. The projects feature coastal and botanical themes, along with templates and inspiration for you to design your own motifs. Long considered to be a ‘specialist’ and expensive technique, the ideas in this book make screen printing affordable and accessible to all.

Beginner’s Guide to Screen Printing by Erin Lacy (2019)
^{ISBN 9781782217244}

Simply Screen Printing

Leah Higgins is known for her innovative printing techniques on fabric. This book offers a detailed instructional guide to start screen printing using Procion MX dyes and other media to suit your budget and available workspace. It covers working with an open screen with loose resists (such as paper or thread) and with temporary resists (such as thickened dyes, masking tape and freezer paper). Semi-permanent resists, including flour paste, washable PVA glue and sticky back plastic, are also presented. Leah also shares how to combine screen printing with masks on fabric, and there is a section focusing on colour use. Over 500 gorgeous images are spread throughout the book offering both instruction and inspiration. This book is available to ship worldwide from Leah’s website.

Simply Screen Printing by Leah Higgins (2023)
^{ISBN 9781999585853}

Featured picks

• Gelli Arts® Printing Guide: Printing without a press on paper and fabric using the Gelli Arts® plate by Suzanne McNeill (2021)
• Gelli Plate Printing: Mixed-media monoprinting without a Press by Joan Bess (2014)
• Fabric Surface Design by Cheryl Rezendes (2013) 
• Complete Guide to Designing and Printing Fabric by Laurie Wisbrun (2011)
• Modern Block Printing by Rowan Sivyer (2022)
• Block Print Magic by Emily Louise Howard (2019)
• Block Print for Beginners by Elise Young (2021)
• Screenprinting on Textiles by Sue Westergaard (2020)
• Beginner’s Guide to Screen Printing by Erin Lacy (2019)
• Simply Screen Printing by Leah Higgins (2023)

Want to explore more possibilities for printing on fabric? Check out Discover: The power of print, which showcases a variety of textile artists using print surface design in their work.

If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

Do you have a favourite book about printing on textiles? Let us know below.

Get ready to meet some very generous textile artists who are sharing their tips and techniques in book form, that super convenient, tactile and long-lasting format. They’re not holding anything back, and the wealth of information and instruction they provide is guaranteed to inspire.

There’s nothing like being able to sit with a book to study gorgeous images of an artist’s work and read step-by-step instructions to try out their techniques at home. And, as you tackle a book’s tips and projects, you can jot notes in the margins along the way. Most importantly, you can learn at your own pace and revisit ideas over and over again.

This is a long list filled with a variety of textile art genres, from traditional stitching to surface design to sculpture. And all the authors are indeed experts at what they do. We’re confident there’s at least a title or two you’ll want to add to your bookshelf. Enjoy!

Mixed media textile art in three dimensions

Ann Goddard draws her inspiration from natural landscapes, organic materials and a concern for the environment. She combines textile and non-textile elements to create intriguing juxtapositions. Linen, loose fibres, paper and yarn are complemented by concrete, wood, lead and bark. 

Readers are introduced to techniques ranging from stitching, wrapping, couching and knotting to sawing, drilling and casting. Instruction is aimed to help artists create eclectic works in which boundaries are crossed and expectations are challenged.

Ann Goddard is part of the prestigious 62 Group. She exhibits globally, particularly in the UK and Europe.

Mixed media textile art in three dimensions by Ann Goddard (2022)
^{ISBN 9781849946926}

Organic embroidery

Learn how to use your sewing machine to turn natural forms into exquisite art. Meredith Woolnough offers a behind-the-scenes look into her organic embroidery technique. Readers will learn how to create replicas of nature using a delicate system of tiny stitches. 

Twelve different creativity-prompting activities are included to help master her method, with emphasis on achieving varied shapes and patterns from sources like leaves, shells and coral. Instruction on working with your sewing machine is also included, as well as gorgeous images of Meredith’s works for further inspiration.

Meredith Woolnough is based in Australia, where she teaches workshops at textile studios and schools. Her work has appeared in Handmade, Fibre Arts Now, Stitches, Embroidery and other magazines.

Organic embroidery by Meredith Woolnough (2018)
_{ISBN 9780764356131}

Contemporary weaving in mixed media

This modern guide to weaving contains a wealth of practical advice and loads of inspiration for every aspect of weaving. From gathering materials to making and exhibiting ambitious woven masterpieces, this book celebrates the meditative and calming effects of the loom. The best part is readers won’t need expensive equipment to create something beautiful. 

Rachna Garodia clearly explains how to choose a loom, take inspiration from the natural world to design and plan, gather varied materials, personalise your work, and explore unusual weaving techniques. The book is also filled with gorgeous images of Rachna and other global weavers’ incredible textile art.

Stitch Club member Louise J. Jones is a big fan of this book, especially its chapter called Walk with a poem in your heart.

“I’m delighted by the way Rachna creates ‘poetry yarn’ by combining poetry with textile art, and it inspired me to make my own version.”

Louise J. Jones, Stitch Club member

The chapter also describes how Rachna created her Ode to Sylvia Plath piece, which incorporates a dried fig leaf to echo Plath’s fig tree metaphor for the heroine’s turmoil in The Bell Jar.

Rachna Garodia runs workshops, works to commission and exhibits widely. She trained at the National Institute of Design in India and The Royal School of Needlework in London.

Contemporary weaving in mixed media by Rachna Garodia (2022)
^{ISBN 9781849947657}

Textile creativity through nature

Jeanette Appleton has come up with a guide packed with practical ideas for rewilding your creative practice. Written for new and experienced felters alike, Jeanette shares her philosophy and methods of working with nature as a way of nurturing creativity and sustainability. 

Learn how to create exciting felt surfaces that are both beautiful and versatile. From lines of sea, hedge and grass to cracks in parched earth or frosted puddles, Jeanette reveals her techniques for translating natural phenomena into subtleties of texture and stitch. She also shares a variety of strategies for overcoming artist’s block, including transforming recycled cloth, and studying the routes and patterns of your local environment.

Jeanette Appleton is a member of the 62 Group, and she exhibits her work in the UK and across the globe. Her work is featured in many magazines and books.

Textile creativity through nature: Felt, texture and stitch by Jeanette Appleton (2023)
^{ISBN 9781849947732}

Fragmentation and repair

‘Fragmentation’ and ‘repair’ are buzzwords in textile and mixed media art, and Shelley Rhodes is a master of both. Learn how she reconstructs and reassembles cloth, paper and other materials to create new pieces. 

Shelley also describes how she uses found objects collected over the years to add depth and emotional resonance to her work. From piercing and devoré to patching and darning, the author shares a wealth of favourite techniques, including the Japanese concepts of ‘wabi-sabi’ (finding beauty in imperfection) and ‘mottainai’ (using every last scrap).

Shelley Rhodes teaches workshops covering all aspects of design, stitch, drawing, sketchbooks and mixed media work. She has also written for a variety of publications, including Drawn to Stitch and Somerset Studio.

Fragmentation and repair for mixed media and textile artists by Shelley Rhodes (2021)
^{ISBN 9781849946100}

Embroidering the everyday

Cas Holmes explores the everyday and the domestic to help readers re-examine the world and make use of their geographic limitations or individual circumstances as a rich resource for creating. 

Cas shares her own and other leading practitioners’ works to demonstrate how to be more resourceful, to rediscover a family history, to draw from one’s local landscape and to transform materials. Homemade dyes, mark-making, stitch, image transfer and collage are just a sampling of the book’s many techniques, which readers can use to create mixed media textiles in a more thoughtful way. 

Cas Holmes exhibits widely and runs courses at West Dean College in West Sussex. Her other books include Textile landscape (2018), Stitch stories (2015), Connected cloth (2013) and The found object in textile art (2010).

Embroidering the everyday: Found, stitch and paint by Cas Holmes (2021)
^{ISBN 9781849947114}

People and places in textile art

Anne Kelly is known for her evocative and nostalgic work that often incorporates portraits. This book gives readers a look into the variety of techniques she uses to achieve the nuances of facial expressions and personalities, including hand and machine embroidery, quilting and appliqué. 

Topics include self-portraits, cultural expression, abstraction, incorporating narratives and even pet portraits. Anne also features the work of other textile artists from across the globe who specialise in portraiture.

Anne Kelly is a textile artist and tutor. Her work is exhibited globally in solo and group exhibitions, and she is the author of Textile travels (2020), Textile folk art (2018), Textile nature (2016), and Connected cloth (2013).

Textile portraits: People and places in textile art by Anne Kelly (2023)
^{ISBN 9781849947534}

Targeted truth

Nneka Jones felt extremely vulnerable when she decided to transition from a painter to a mixed media artist, and Targeted truth documents both her courage and artistic process. 

This isn’t a typical embroidery book highlighting different techniques or types of stitches. Instead, it provides a visual experience emphasising the marriage of art and activism and the physical work it takes to bind the two. 

Nneka’s portraits resonate with colour and feeling, and this sneak peek into her process allows readers to appreciate embroidery through every stage, ultimately leaving us with a greater appreciation for her final artwork.

Nneka Jones graduated with a BFA from the University of Tampa, Florida, US. One of her most notable achievements was a TIME magazine commission to produce the cover artwork for the 31st August 2020 edition. 

Targeted truth by Nneka Jones (2020)

Stitch and pattern

Learn how even basic squares, circles and triangles can create stunning impact in stitch and textiles. Drawing inspiration from across the globe, Jean Draper provides practical and simple instructions for developing and experimenting with patterns using grids, symmetry, rotation and repeats. 

Jean also provides instruction on creating bands and borders, strip patchwork and strip piecing. Even body ornamentation is explored to help interpret the human form in stitch. Inspiration, design methods and stitching techniques fill the pages of this gorgeous book.

Jean Draper is an exhibiting member of the 62 Group of Textile Artists and the Textile Study Group. Her work is in public and private collections throughout the UK and abroad.

Stitch and pattern by Jean Draper (2018)
^{ISBN 978184994439}

Poetic cloth

Discover how cloth, stitch and surface can create personal meaning in textile art. This book explores the connection between process and material by focusing on stitch, print, surface manipulation and construction to create seductive textile surfaces.

Hannah Lamb emphasises a sensitivity to material, a quiet attention to detail and thoughtful application of textile technique. Her techniques include hand stitch, shadow work, patching, darning, devoré and cyanotype printing.

Stitch Club member Elizabeth Stephenson especially loves this book because it has a good balance of technical and practical information, along with inspiring images of completed works.

‘I’ve been very focused on process and am at a point where I need to consider meaning and purpose a bit more in my work.

This book is a great prompt for thinking about those aspects.

It also has a lovely textured cover, so it’s nice to handle as well.’

Elizabeth Stephenson, Stitch Club member

Hannah Lamb has lectured in embroidery and design at Bradford School of Art where she is currently Programme Leader for Textiles. Hannah exhibits nationally and internationally and is an exhibiting member of the 62 Group of Textile Artists.

Poetic cloth: Creating meaning in textile art by Hannah Lamb (2019)
^{ISBN 9781849945363}

The wildlife artist in textiles

Annemieke Mein is known for extraordinary sculptures borne out of her passionate commitment to the environment.

She uses a variety of materials, such as silk, wool, fur and cotton for their colour, texture, credibility and aesthetic appeal. She then meticulously paints and stitches her subjects using hand and machine embroidery, appliqué, quilting, weaving, trapunto, felting and more. 

While her approach sounds complex, readers are provided with detailed instructions and gorgeous imagery of how to combine Annemieke’s numerous techniques for limitless combinations.

Annemieke Mein was the first textile artist to be accepted as a member of both the Wildlife Art Society of Australasia and the Australian Guild of Realist Artists. She has exhibited at galleries in Australia and her work is included in private collections across the globe.

The art of Annemieke Mein: The wildlife artist in textiles by Annemieke Mein (2019)
^{ISBN 9781782217657}

Sculptural textile art

Priscilla Edwards takes stitch to impressive new levels within wire sculpture. Working both two and three-dimensionally, Priscilla layers colour, stitch, shape and texture to transform surfaces into beautiful and whimsical sculptures full of character, curiosity and charm.

Readers can explore a playful mixed media approach to create 3D sculptures using a variety of media to transform plain papers, fabrics and memorabilia.

Priscilla also offers tips for including both hand and free-motion machine stitching. The book wraps up with five separate projects designed to build upon complexity and inspire development of one’s artistic voice.

Priscilla Edwards exhibits her work globally and lectures in higher education for the University of Creative Arts (UK). Priscilla also hosts independent workshops and talks in galleries, museums and schools.

Sculptural textile art: A practical guide to mixed media wire sculpture by Priscilla Edwards (2022)
^{ISBN 9781782219002}

So how do you choose?

Here’s what you need to do. First, figure out what you need the scissors for – this will help you to decide which types of scissors meet your needs. Then you can narrow down your options. To assist you, we’ve compiled this useful guide. 

We’ve also asked top textile artists Yvette Phillips, Aran Illingworth, Jessica Grady, Hannah Mansfield and Katherine Diuguid for their personal recommendations of the best scissors for textile art. 

So if you’ve always wondered why some scissors feature a stork design, and others have duckbill shaped blades or a curved design, then this article is for you. 

Read on to discover more about the world of embroidery scissors.

Please note: We’ve written this article to help you select the right scissors for the right task, and learn more about the different designs and some of the brands available. We’ve provided links to manufacturers and suppliers so that you can find out more before you head to your favourite local or online stockist. The scissors featured in this article have not been individually reviewed or tested.

Cutting threads with precision

Embroidery scissors are small and sharp, designed specifically for cutting threads or tiny snippets of fabric. There are lots of options to choose from: vintage decorative designs, traditional stork scissors, rose gold scissors, matte black scissors, colourful designs, foldable travel scissors and ergonomic scissors aimed for comfort.

Small straight embroidery scissors

Often the unfussy, straightforward option is the best. Classic embroidery scissors are small, pointed and sharp – perfect for cutting embroidery threads cleanly. They are widely available in haberdashery stores and online, and are made by many manufacturers.

• Fiskars Classic Precision straight scissors

• Prym Professional fine embroidery scissors, featuring quality Kai blades.

• Hemline embroidery scissors

Stork embroidery scissors

This distinctive and popular design evolved from the umbilical clamps in the toolkits of 19th century midwives. It was common for midwives to embroider in their quieter times and so their medical and stitch kits often became mixed up, as seen in the toolkit of midwife Rosa Bonfante held by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

• Klasse’ stork embroidery scissors 

• Hemline stork embroidery scissors

• Prym stork embroidery scissors

Decorative small embroidery scissors

If you are looking for something a little more fancy, try the Dinky Dyes colourful range of patterned embroidery scissors.

• Dinky Dyes scissors

Wide bow embroidery scissors

If you are looking for comfort, try a pair of wide bow (or big bow) embroidery scissors, which feature larger spaces for your fingers. These come in a standard size of around 10cm (4″) size, or as smaller baby bows, around 7cm (2¾”).

• Merchant and Mills wide bow scissors

Embroidery snips

Some stitchers like to use thread snips for cutting loose threads. They are spring-loaded, making them easy to use. Snips are also useful for anyone who does a lot of beadwork – they are great for cutting nylon or monofilament beading threads.

• Madeira thread snips

• Hemline thread snips

Goldwork scissors

Goldwork is an embroidery technique which uses a range of metal threads giving luxurious results. To cut goldwork purl and check wires cleanly, a good sharp pair of scissors is recommended. You can also buy specialist goldwork scissors, which have a finely serrated blade and should only be used for cutting metal threads.

Hannah Mansfield recommends… goldwork scissors

Hannah Mansfield: ‘My favourite scissors to use for goldwork embroidery are a small gold pair from Golden Hinde. They are made specifically for cutting goldwork wires. They have a serrated blade which means they can cleanly cut the wires instead of squashing the ends. 

‘I particularly like the fine point of these scissors, which allows you to cut the wires delicately and precisely. Having a dedicated pair of scissors for goldwork is essential to avoid blunting your best embroidery scissors with the wires.’

• Golden Hinde goldwork scissors

Hannah Mansfield is an embroidery designer based near Bristol, UK. In 2019, she was awarded First Prize in the Textile Art Open category of the Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery (UK). Hannah became a Trade Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers in 2020. She is a tutor for the Prince’s Foundation Metiers d’Arts embroidery course.

Artist website: theperpetualmaker.com
Instagram: @theperpetualmaker

Bent scissors

These small scissors have an ultra-fine point and an angled, bent blade. They are designed to make it easy to cut away warp and weft threads of the ground fabric when creating the beautiful lace effects of Hardanger work, a traditional whitework technique.

Katherine Diuguid recommends… KAI embroidery scissors

Katherine Diuguid: ‘I absolutely love KAI scissors – the sharp tips are nice and small and I can get into really tight spaces with no trouble at all. 

‘I use my angled [bent] embroidery scissors for cutting goldwork metals on a velvet board, for cutwork and chipping techniques.  

‘I prefer using my appliqué curved tip scissors for cutting the metal while I’m stitching it, or for any cutting close to or around the surface I’m embroidering – they are good for snipping threads without feeling like I might accidentally cut the ground fabric. 

‘The thing that I love most about the KAI scissors is that their blades are nice and thin and will chop my metals precisely with no bite marks or burrs. 

‘The only thing I don’t use my KAI scissors for is silk threads: I have a beautiful pair of Ernest Wright scissors that I use only for cutting silks. I do so much metal embroidery that it’s easier for me to have scissors that do everything including metal, and one special pair that only cut silk. As you can tell I am somewhat passionate about my scissors! They make a massive difference in the quality of your stitching, maintaining the rhythm when you’re stitching, and reducing waste.’

• KAI curved tip scissors US

• KAI bent scissors US

• KAI curved tip scissors UK

• Prym KAI bent scissors UK

• Ernest Wright embroidery scissors UK

Katherine Diuguid, based in Mooresville, North Carolina, US, is known for her technical studies of colour theory in embroidery. She has presented her research at academic conferences for SECAC and the Textile Society of America. Her work has been featured in Inspirations (published by the Embroiderers’ Guild of America) and NeedleArts magazines.

Artist website: katherinediuguid.squarespace.com
Facebook: KatherineDiuguidArtist
Instagram: @katdiuguid

Curved scissors

If you are a fan of appliqué, you might want to invest in some curved scissors for cutting out small fabric shapes.

Yvette Phillips recommends… Westcott curved scissors

Textile artist Yvette Phillips has a box of scissors she’s collected over the years. Her favourites are a pair of Westcott 10cm (4″) curved titanium super soft grip scissors. 

Yvette Phillips: ‘They’re small and have a slight curve to them, which are great for snipping threads or trimming the edge of something that’s been appliquéd on. They allow you to get closer to the fabric without accidentally sticking the points into the fabric. I also use them for cutting shapes – the curved blades are really useful for cutting curved leaves or flower petals.’

Yvette also uses a variety of small sharp scissors, including a pair of Westcott small pointed scissors. These are good for cutting out small, detailed fabric shapes. To keep your embroidery and fabric scissors sharp, she advises using separate pairs for cutting fabric and paper. 

‘I put a blob of coloured nail polish on the blade of the scissors I use for cutting fabric, to differentiate them from the ones that I use to cut paper.’

• Westcott curved titanium embroidery scissors

• Westcott small pointed embroidery scissors

Yvette Phillips is a British textile artist living and working in Blewbury,Oxfordshire. She is a member of the Oxford Art Society, the Society for Embroidered Work, The Embroiderers’ Guild, and Modern Makers Collective.

Artist website: yvettephillipsart.com
Instagram: @yvettephillips_art

Appliqué scissors

Duckbill scissors are great for appliqué and quilt making. The duckbill shape gives great control and protects the base fabric when you are trimming close to the edges of a stitched fabric shape.

• Prym appliqué scissors

Scissors for cutting fabric

A larger pair of scissors is useful for cutting larger pieces of fabric, thick materials, or several layers of fabric. Fabric shears, dressmaker’s shears and tailor’s sidebent shears all have long, sharp blades. To increase their lifespan and keep them sharp, only use them for cutting fabric, and not paper.

Aran Illingworth recommends… Fiskars scissors

Fiskars make stainless steel scissors with classic orange handles which are recognisable worldwide. The company was founded as an ironworks in Finland in 1649 and their first cutlery and scissor mill was established in 1832. 

The iconic handle in Fiskars Orange™ is designed for comfort, and the precision ground stainless steel blades are known for their cutting performance and longevity.

Aran Illingworth: ‘My go-to fabric scissors are Fiskars’ fabric shears. I have been using Fiskars scissors for over a decade as they produce scissors which are durable, ergonomic and reliable. They allow me to cut fabrics with a range of densities and textures, both cleanly and precisely.’

• Fiskars Classic tailor’s shears, 27cm

Aran Illingworth is a textile artist based in Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, UK. Originally a psychiatric nurse working with the homeless and those suffering from addictions, she completed a degree in Applied Arts in 2010. She held a solo exhibition at the Knitting and Stitching Show in 2022 and exhibits at The Old Chapel Textile Centre, Newbury and The Willow Gallery in Oswestry in 2023.

Artist website: aran-i.com
Facebook: aranillingworth
Instagram: @aranillingworth

Left-handed scissors

If you are left-handed and want to avoid getting those painful blisters on your hands, the good news is that some manufacturers make left-handed embroidery scissors and fabric shears. 

Other brands have super soft ergonomic handles that can be used by both left and right-handers. With a bit of trial and error, you’ll be able to find the perfect pair of scissors to cut accurately and painlessly.

• Premax left-handed embroidery scissors

• Famoré left-handed embroidery scissors, US

• Mundial ergonomic embroidery scissors, US

• Mundial ergonomic embroidery scissors, UK 

• Taylor’s Eye Witness left-handed dressmaking shears 

• Fiskars left-handed fabric shears

• Milward left-handed fabric shears

• Prym soft handle ergonomic tailor’s shears

Jessica Grady recommends… scissors for left-handers

Jessica Grady: ‘Being a left-handed stitcher, finding the perfect scissors always seems to be a little tricky. My favourite pair are actually not left-handed scissors at all, but are a pair of traditional Japanese bonsai pruning scissors – they are the perfect size and shape for cutting threads. I find these can be worked with your left or right hand and don’t give me painful scissor blisters. 

‘As I work with mixed media I go through lots and lots of pairs of scissors. I’m constantly cutting through tough materials like rubber, plastic and metal. I like to stock up with several pairs of low cost kitchen scissors from homewares stores like IKEA, as I don’t have to worry about blunting the blades – they are more budget friendly than specialist textile brands, and I can have a pair for all the different materials I work with.’

Jessica Grady is an artist based in West Yorkshire, UK. In 2018 she was awarded an Embroiderers’ Guild Scholarship (under 30). She is also an exhibiting member of Art Textiles Made in Britain (ATMB) and The Society for Embroidered Work. She is the author of Stitched Mixed Media (2023), and exhibited her work at the 2023 Knitting and Stitching Shows in Harrogate and London, with Art Textiles: Made in Britain, and The Embroiderers’ Guild.

Artist website: jessicagrady.co.uk
Instagram: @jessica_rosestitch

Looking for a bit of luxury?

Whiteley’s is a family run firm based in Sheffield, UK. The owners describe the company as ‘the last industrial scissor maker in the UK, and the oldest scissor smiths in the Western world’. William Whiteley & Sons were founded in 1760 and continue to produce handmade scissors for sewing and tailoring, including the Wilkinson patented ‘sidebent’ scissors which run flat along the fabric enabling a long straight cut, and a range of beautiful and high quality embroidery scissors.

Ernest Wright is another Sheffield-based company in the UK with a long history. They create sought after handmade embroidery shears and fabric shears. The company’s efforts to maintain and pass on the traditional methods for handcrafting scissors (which is on the list of critically endangered crafts in the UK) were rewarded in 2020 with the President’s Award for Endangered Crafts, given by the Heritage Crafts Association.

If you are looking to purchase scissors as a gift, the popular UK-based small business retailer Merchant & Mills stocks a good selection of attractively packaged, high quality embroidery scissors and fabric shears. The company’s ethos is to sell stylish, functional and sustainable products – and their scissors are designed for a long life.

Karen Kay Buckley, the US-based quilt artist, developed the Perfect Scissors™ range of straight and serrated blade scissors. These have stainless steel blades and soft, ergonomic handles which can be used by both left-handed and right-handed people. The serrated blade scissors are great for appliqué as they can also be used for cutting several layers of fabric at the same time. They pull the fabric into the scissors as you use them, giving a clean cut which is less likely to fray.

KAI is a premium Japanese brand with a long history, having been established in 1908. Known for their mission of combining old traditions with innovative production technologies, their scissors are made of high carbon stainless steel with vanadium, and are strong, well balanced and long lasting.

• Whiteley’s

• Ernest Wright

• Merchant and Mills

• Karen Kay Buckley

• KAI scissors US, KAI Europe, and stockists worldwide

My mother was a young girl during America’s Great Depression, and she also had family members who somehow survived the Dust Bowl years. She grew up hearing this saying, and she repeated it often to me, especially when I thought I needed something new to wear. ‘You can fix that’ was her approach to everything, especially when it came to textiles and clothing.

In a world focused on consumerism, textile artists are increasingly questioning the need for ‘new’ and are instead choosing to use vintage fabrics or incorporate visible mending and other sustainable approaches. And some artists incorporate natural materials or take a meditative approach to their work, inspired by the sights, sounds and rhythms of nature.

Working sustainably is great for your wellbeing. Whether you’re experimenting with natural materials, experiencing slow stitching or connecting with nature through your art practice, this philosophy will bring mental, physical and spiritual benefits.

But knowing where to start can be overwhelming. What should I make with that old tablecloth and how do I work around those stains? How do I reconnect with nature? Where do I source older textiles? What’s recyclable and what’s not? How do I work more sustainably?

This booklist has the answers you need. These expert authors will help you imagine, source and create your own textile art using a variety of techniques, including dyeing your own fabrics, incorporating found objects and natural materials, and exploring unique threadwork. You’ll also discover the benefits of connecting with nature to inspire your creativity.

Create Naturally: Go Outside and Rediscover Nature with 15 Artists

Learn from 15 makers who share their philosophies and step by step processes to create nature connected works. They not only share tips and suggestions for creating your own art, but they also articulate the physical, mental and spiritual benefits they gain from working with natural, recycled and repurposed materials. 

Featured works include a nature journal, baskets, temporary beach structures, dyed textile and woven wall art, and embroidery. The book’s luscious pictures and interesting stories make readers feel as if they’re having a personal creative conversation with the makers.

Author Marcia Young has been making and writing about art and fine craft for over 30 years. She is the founder of the Fiber Art Network and former publisher of Fiber Art Now magazine.

Create Naturally: Go Outside and Rediscover Nature with 15 Artists (2023) by Marcia Young. ISBN 978-0764364341

Wild Textiles: Grown, Foraged, Found

Textile artist Alice Fox is known for her remarkable use of natural and found objects. And she’s now sharing advice on how to work with foraged, gathered and grown materials to create fabulous textile art pieces. You’ll be amazed by the possibilities! Weeds, dandelions and other plants are useful as cordage, while leaves can be stitched, quilted and shaped into vessels. 

Alice also describes how grass, wool, plastics and mud can be delightfully repurposed, along with stones, shells and a multitude of urban treasures. She encourages makers to be open minded and experimental as they work with seasonal bounties to create art that bears a strong sense of place and character.

Author Alice Fox is an embroiderer and textile artist who uses techniques from textiles, soft basketry and printmaking. She is based in Saltaire, West Yorkshire (UK), and exhibits and teaches across the globe.

Wild Textiles: Grown, Foraged, Found (2022) by Alice Fox. ISBN 978-1849947879

Resilient Stitch: Wellbeing and Connection in Textile Art

Following up on her renowned book Slow Stitch, Claire Wellesley-Smith considers the connection and ideas around wellbeing when using textiles for individuals and communities. 

Claire and other contemporary textile artists share practical ideas for ‘thinking through making’, using ‘resonant’ materials, and extending the life of pieces using traditional and non-traditional methods. Community based textile projects are also featured, including a moving account of one textile community’s creative response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The connection between wellbeing and the creation of textiles has never been stronger. Recommendations for resilient fabrics that can be manipulated, stressed, withstand tension and be made anew are offered throughout the book. Claire and featured artists also explain techniques for layering, patching, reinforcing and mending. The overarching goal is to help makers explore ways to link their emotional health with their textile practice.

Stitch Club member Rosalind Byass is a big fan of Claire’s books and says she has read them from cover to cover several times.

‘Her first book, Slow Stitch, is like a stitch meditation. Its calm colours, cloth cover and peaceful visual layout make it one of my favourite textile books. I love Claire’s style of writing and her attitude and approach to life. Be sure to read her page on repair. It will change your view about things not being perfect. The section on stitching and mental health is also uplifting.’

Stitch Club member Joekie Blom is also a fan of Claire’s first book Slow Stitch.

‘It’s wonderful. I especially love the natural dyeing Claire describes. I changed all my not-so-liked threads into wonderful colours.’

Author Claire Wellesley-Smith is based in Yorkshire, UK. She teaches extensively in adult education, schools, community based projects, museums and galleries.

Resilient Stitch: Wellbeing and Connection in Textile Art (2021) by Claire Wellesley-Smith. ISBN 978-1849946070

Wild Colour: How to Make and Use Natural Dyes

Natural dyes are a wonderful way to add colour and dimension to your textile art, but knowing the ‘what’ and ‘how’ in working with plants can be a challenge. Jenny Dean’s book is a practical and inspiring all-in-one resource for textile artists of all genres, including knitters, sewers and weavers. 

More than 65 species of plants and natural dyestuffs are featured, and Jenny carefully explains how to select fibres and plant parts and then choose the right methods for mordanting and dyeing. She also describes how to obtain a range of gorgeous colours from every plant using environmentally friendly dyeing techniques.

Author Jenny Dean has been using natural dyes for over 40 years and has written several books on the subject. She also lectures and leads workshops on natural dyeing, and she enjoys hand spinning, knitting and other textile arts.

Wild Colour: How to Make and Use Natural Dyes (2018) by Jenny Dean. ISBN 978-1784725532

Textures from Nature in Textile Art: Natural Inspiration for Mixed-Media and Textile Artists

This book is for artists wanting to combine unusual recycled and repurposed materials with traditional fabric and thread. Textile artist Marian Jazmik reveals the secrets of her lushly textured and sculptural embroidered pieces, from initial photography to finished objects. Who knew a chance spotting of lichen on a tree trunk or scattering of autumn leaves could lead to such glorious textile art?

This book is packed with practical tips and illustrated examples of a myriad of Marian’s techniques. She takes the fear out of working with images and helps makers translate those images into three dimensional works using an eclectic mix of natural and synthetic materials. Hand and machine embroidery, as well as dyeing, printing and painting techniques, are also explained.

Stitch Club member Zara Muradyan is a fan of Marian’s book.

‘I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for new ways to explore textural surfaces while using everyday materials. Great resource for upcycling while creating sophisticated artwork!’

Author Marian Jazmik is based in Bolton, Lancashire, UK, and she has exhibited widely, including at The Knitting and Stitching Shows, Home in Manchester and with Prism textiles group in London and Birmingham.

Textures from Nature in Textile Art: Natural Inspiration for Mixed Media and Textile Artists (2021) by Marian Jazmik. ISBN 978-1849946704

The Wild Dyer: A Maker’s Guide with Natural Dyes with Projects to Create and Stitch

Fabrics coloured with natural dyes have a beauty and subtlety all their own. Onion and avocado skins, chamomile and birch bark, and even nettles and acorns can produce lovely, ethereal colours and effects. 

Abigail Booth takes the reader’s hand to help demystify how to forage and grow dying materials. She fully explains her dyeing process, including workspace setup, equipment and fabric choices and care. Beautiful photographs are complemented by easy to follow instructions. 

In this book, Abigail also shares unique sewing projects for using your beautifully dyed fabrics, including a drawstring foraging bag, a gardener’s smock and a reversible patchwork blanket. Both beginners and experienced artists will enjoy Abigail’s journey from her kitchen to the great outdoors.

Author Abigail Booth is based in London, UK, and is co-founder of the studio collective Forest + Found. She works in textiles, drawing and painting, and exhibits in the UK and internationally.

The Wild Dyer: A Maker’s Guide with Natural Dyes with Projects to Create and Stitch (2017) by Abigail Booth. ISBN 978-0857833952

Eco Colour: Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles

No matter your experience with using botanical dyes, India Flint leads the way. She explores the fascinating and infinitely variable world of plant colour, including gathering, preparing and processing plants. 

From whole dyed cloth and applied colour to prints and layered dye techniques, India uses renewable resources and shows how to do the least possible harm to the dyer and the environment. Her recipes include a number of processes uniquely developed by India, as well as guidelines for plant collection and using nontoxic mordants.

Author India Flint is an artist and writer whose works are represented in collections and museums in Germany, Latvia and Australia. She lives on a farm in rural South Australia, researching plant dyes, making artworks and planting trees.

Eco Colour: Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles (2021) by India Flint. ISBN 978-1911668404

Textiles Transformed: Thread and thrift with reclaimed textiles

There’s something quite magical about textile collage using vintage textiles, and Mandy Pattullo is an expert. Following the make do and mend and folk art traditions of previous generations, Mandy provides simple instructions for working with a variety of antique textiles and precious fragments. The book is filled with ideas for embellishment, stitch and appliqué, as well as tips for transforming materials into impressive quilts, bags, books, tablecloths, tapestry panels, wall hangings and more.

Mandy also shares project ideas for working with quilts, patchworks, linen, lace, wool and deconstructed preloved garments. Each project beautifully demonstrates how makers can incorporate beautiful fabric and stitch finds from the past.

Author Mandy Pattullo trained as a surface pattern and textile designer and is now a textile artist who exhibits and teaches across the UK. Her work is based on collage techniques, and she makes a conscious effort to repurpose existing textiles.

Textiles Transformed: Thread and thrift with reclaimed textiles by Mandy Pattullo (2020). ISBN  978-1849945806

Mending with Boro: Japanese Running Stitch & Patching Techniques

One simple stitch can bring new life to hundreds of your favourite things! Harumi Horiuchi introduces the simple straight (running) stitch called sashiko (it translates as ‘little stabs’), used to repair and reinforce fabrics. This process of repair, and the philosophy of finding beauty in mending, emerged in Japan and is known as boro. It’s a favourite technique among visible mending enthusiasts, as it adds intriguing textural elements to garments and home furnishings.

Harumi’s approach is simple: the things you love are worth fixing. She helps makers discover the pleasure of working with old fabrics and making classic neutrals come alive. Whether readers want to reinforce, repair or remake an entire garment with patches, Harumi’s demonstrations and instructions are easy and enjoyable. Not only will fabrics and garments gain a new look and feel, but the environment will also be grateful.

Author Harumi Horiuchi is an expert in repurposing old fabrics, particularly linen. She has co-authored other books in her native Japan about the joy of reworking and wearing old clothing.

Mending with Boro: Japanese Running Stitch & Patching Techniques (2023) by Harumi Horiuchi. ISBN 978-0804856041

Creative Mending: Beautiful Darning, Patching and Stitching Techniques

Mending is truly an art form in the hands of Hikaru Noguchi, and she’s sharing her entire range of techniques for embroidering, patching, darning and felting. Noguchi’s basic rule of mending is that a repair should suit the fabric and its user, so she provides 13 illustrated lessons and over 300 colour photos to help readers make the statement (or not) they want.

Learn how to use yarn, floss, ribbon and fabric to reinvent well loved garments, as well as ways to manoeuvre through tricky places like inseams and underarms. Numerous variations and 67 different tips and examples provide all the guidance you need to rethink and repair beautifully.

Author Hikaru Noguchi moved from Japan to England in 1989 to study constructed textiles, which led to collaborations with several British designers, including Tom Dixon and Barneys. Hikaru has participated in many international exhibitions, and her work is sold in boutiques and department stores in London, Paris, New York and Tokyo.

Creative Mending: Beautiful Darning, Patching and Stitching Techniques (2022) by Hikaru Noguchi. ISBN 978-0804854740

Stitched Mixed Media

‘Embellishment’ is what Jessica Grady is all about, and she’s well known for literally turning trash into whimsical and colourful treasures. This book is packed with colour, ideas and enthusiasm as she helps readers look at the potential of recycled products. She then explains how to turn those finds into beautiful embellishments for hand stitching onto samples. 

Projects and step by step sequences demonstrate her exciting process of playing with textiles and mixed media to create new and unique works. Jessica helps readers build a basic tool kit, as well as provides ideas for sourcing and organising supplies, making a stitch library of samples, and using threads creatively. 2D and 3D techniques are clearly explained for creating unique pieces and helping readers develop their own artistic voice.

Author Jessica Grady is based in West Yorkshire, UK, where she is a member of Art Textiles Made in Britain. Her work has been exhibited internationally, and in 2018, she was named as the ‘Under 30’s Scholar’ by The Embroiderers’ Guild. Jessica is also a passionate teacher who teaches stitch and recycling through various workshops and community projects.

Stitched Mixed Media (2023) by Jessica Grady. ISBN 978-0719842238

Books featured in this article

• Create Naturally: Go Outside and Rediscover Nature with 15 Artists (2023) by Marcia Young

• Wild Textiles: Grown, Foraged, Found (2022) by Alice Fox

• Resilient Stitch: Wellbeing and Connection in Textile Art (2021) by Claire Wellesley-Smith

• Wild Colour: How to Make and Use Natural Dyes (2018) by Jenny Dean

• Textures from Nature in Textile Art: Natural Inspiration for Mixed Media and Textile Artists (2021) by Marian Jazmik

• The Wild Dyer: A Maker’s Guide with Natural Dyes with Projects to Create and Stitch (2017) by Abigail Booth

• Eco Colour: Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles (2021) by India Flint

• Textiles Transformed: Thread and thrift with reclaimed textiles (2020) by Mandy Pattullo

• Mending with Boro: Japanese Running Stitch & Patching Techniques (2023) by Harumi Horiuchi

• Creative Mending: Beautiful Darning, Patching and Stitching Techniques (2022), by Hikaru Noguchi

• Stitched Mixed Media (2023) by Jessica Grady

If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

Looking for more book suggestions? Check out our list of the best hand embroidery reference books.

Here’s the good news – we’ve done the hard work and gathered a list of books to help you. 

We searched for modern reference books that are easy to source and suitable for all embroiderers. And we asked members of the TextileArtist.org Stitch Club to recommend their favourite stitch books, too. They came up with some great titles, including some old favourites, which we’ll mention later on.

Read on to discover our list of the best hand embroidery books. These are all great guides that you can keep in your reference library, and return to again and again.

Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery 

Contemporary embroidery calls for an inspiring modern publication, so why not consider Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery by Sharon Boggon?

This stunning visual treat describes 120 stitches, with instructions for left- and right-handers, and gives you plenty of ideas for adapting them to create exciting and colourful patterns and textures.

Stitch Club member Jocelyne Simon recommended this book, telling us she was drawn to the author’s practical and illustrated presentation, and how it presents lots of stitches and ideas for creating texture, step-by-step. 

Australian textile artist Sharon Boggon is also the creator of the blog PinTangle. This paperback edition was published in 2020, by C&T Publishing.

Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery (2020), by Sharon Boggon. ISBN-13: 978-1617458774

Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches

A highly-regarded reference guide, Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches includes a comprehensive stitch dictionary with over 400 stitch types. 

The book was first released in 1934, and has become an absolute classic.

This paperback edition, published in 2018 by Search Press, has been revised and updated by the well-respected embroiderer and textile designer Jan Eaton. 

It’s organised into categories including filling stitches, straight stitches, outline stitches and more, and each stitch technique has clear diagrams and photographs, alongside easy-to-follow instructions. This makes the book suitable both for beginners and more experienced stitches looking to expand their repertoire.

Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (2018), revised by Jan Eaton. ISBN-13: 978-1782216438

Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion

Are you a left-hander who sometimes struggles to follow instruction guides created for right-handed people?

One solution is to try looking at the diagrams through a mirror… But this can be tricky, so perhaps the Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion by Yvette Stanton is just what you need. 

Not to leave out the right-handed stitchers, Yvette has also written the Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion. 

The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion was recommended by Stitch Club member Mary-Jo Eckhart: ‘This book has thorough, clear photos, easy to read diagrams, plus words that make sense. Yvette started with the left-handed book, then published one for righties, too, who felt left out! I must have over 30 books on stitches and this is the one I reach for again and again.’

Amberley Kemp from the Stitch Club team also recommends this book: ‘The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion is an absolute lifeline for left-handed stitchers as the majority of materials out there are geared towards those who are right-handed. And from my teaching experience, it’s not easy to teach how to do a stitch with your left hand when you are right-handed.’

Both of these straightforward stitch dictionaries feature clear step-by-step instructions, photographs and diagrams which are simple to follow. They include over 170 stitches, including a large range of surface stitches. 

Yvette Stanton is an Australian embroidery designer and lover of whitework, and self-published these paperback books in 2010 through Vetty Creations.

Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion (2010), by Yvette Stanton. ISBN-13: 978-0975767733

Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion (2010), by Yvette Stanton. ISBN-13: 978-0975767740

The Embroidery Stitch Bible

Another popular stitch dictionary is The Embroidery Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden, a needlecraft designer, teacher and author. In this book you’ll find over 200 stitches photographed with easy-to-follow charts. 

This paperback edition was published in 2017 by Search Press, and was recommended by Stitch Club member Janet Woo.

‘I love the Constance Howard Book of Stitches as the photos are lovely, but I prefer The Embroidery Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden as it explains how to do the stitches, as well as providing diagrams and photos.’

The Embroidery Stitch Bible (2017) by Betty Barnden. ISBN-13: 978-1782216025

Hand Embroidery Dictionary

Another great reference guide by teacher, author and stitcher Christen Brown. This book is useful for stitchers of all abilities. It contains a vast number of stitches, over 500 stitch designs, all with step-by-step instructions.

The stitches are organised into categories using a useful visual content guide, which should help you find what you are looking for.

There’s also a section on tools, tips and tricks to aid your embroidery work, and help for left-handers. This paperback book was published by C&T Publishing in 2021.

Hand Embroidery Dictionary (2021), by Christen Brown. ISBN-13: 978-1644030097

Hand Embroidery Stitches for Everyone

Would you prefer the versatility of an ebook when learning new embroidery stitches? Hand Embroidery Stitches for Everyone is written by the respected embroidery artist behind the popular website Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials, Juby Aleyas Koll.

This ebook, available in PDF and Kindle formats, allows you to zoom in on the photographs which can help you to understand the stitches. 

It’s easy to navigate too, with the stitches helpfully organised into stitch families using a picture dictionary, with clickable links to each section.  

It includes over 300 hand embroidery stitches with step-by-step photographs and clear instructions. There’s also tips and techniques for beginners, such as how to handle needles, threads and embroidery hoops, and some printable patterns so you can practise your stitches too. 

This ebook also features interesting snippets of information on the origin and history of many of the stitches. This second edition was published in 2021 by Roxy Mathew Koll and Juby Aleyas Koll. 

Hand Embroidery Stitches for Everyone, 2nd edition (2021), an ebook by Juby Aleyas Koll, of Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials.

The Intentional Thread

If you want to take your stitches further, The Intentional Thread by Susan Brandeis explores how to use thread to communicate your thoughts and ideas.

Several of our Stitch Club members recommended this book, including Ali Taylor, for whom it’s a firm favourite: ‘I find myself going back to this book time and time again, for creative new ways to make marks with some of the simplest of stitches.’ 

And Deb Elliott: ‘I love this book. It’s definitely my stitching bible. I was originally loaned this book by my friend Claire Benn, a mixed media artist. After turning the first pages I knew I had to get my own copy!’

This book, published by Schaffer Publishing in 2019, will help you to use stitch with intention, sharing ways to use line, shape, colour and texture in your work. Suitable for stitchers at all levels, it’s both a reference book and an education tool, with suggested projects to help you explore the ideas covered in the book.

Susan Brandeis is a renowned American artist and educator. She is founder of the Southeast Fibers Educators Association, and a member of the Surface Design Association.

The Intentional Thread: A Guide to Drawing, Gesture, and Color in Stitch (2019), by Susan Brandeis. ISBN 978-0764357435

And finally…

When we asked the TextileArtist.org Stitch Club community which books they most used to aid their stitch explorations, many members told us about their favourite old books. 

Some stitchers have owned these books for decades, others found them in thrift shops, online or in second hand bookstores. Here’s their recommendations:

• The Constance Howard Book of Stitches (1979), by Constance Howard, published by Batsford. ISBN-13: 978-0713410051

• Stitches: New Approaches (2004) by Jan Beaney, published by Batsford. ISBN-13: 978-0713488876 

• Encyclopaedia of Embroidery Stitches, Including Crewel (1975) by Marion Nichols, published by Dover Publications. ISBN-13: 978-0486229294

Several Stitch Club members mentioned The Constance Howard Book of Stitches, including Jane Cook: ‘I love books which show how to use the stitches, rather than just learning them. My favourites are Stitches: New Approaches, by Jan Beaney and the Constance Howard Book of Stitches (of course).’

And another Stitch Club member recommended the Encyclopaedia of Embroidery Stitches, Including Crewel, by Marion Nichols, explaining that it was ‘a very clear ‘how to’ book for all the stitches you could ever want to use.’

So keep an eye out for these worthy classics, and other gems. These books may be out of print and only available second hand, but they could become valuable treasures – how-to  books that you can return to again and again for inspiration.

Books featured in this article

• Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery (2020), by Sharon Boggon

• Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (2018), by Mary Thomas and revised by Jan Eaton.

• Left-handed Embroiderer’s Companion (2010), by Yvette Stanton

• Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion (2010), by Yvette Stanton

• The Embroidery Stitch Bible (2017), by Betty Barnden

• Hand Embroidery Dictionary (2021), by Christen Brown

• Hand Embroidery Stitches for Everyone (2021), an ebook by Juby Aleyas Koll of Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials

• The Intentional Thread: A Guide to Drawing, Gesture, and Color in Stitch (2019), by Susan Brandeis

With one of these books by your side, and inspiration from the huge range of embroidery artists featured on TextileArtist.org, it’s time to start your stitched journey of discovery. We encourage you try out some new stitches, and see where they take you. 

If you’re looking to discover more about the inspiring work made by modern embroidery artists, check out Discover: Five contemporary embroidery artists, Stitching the great outdoors: Landscape textile art and Delightful distortion: Seven abstract textile artists.

Are you looking for more books about textile art? Read Top textile artist books: Our recommendations.

If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

Book mockups by pmvchamara courtesy of Freepik.

Have you used one of the hand embroidery books listed here? Let us know why you would recommend it, by leaving a comment below.

The best place to start is to consider what you actually need a sewing machine for. 

Are you interested in free machine embroidery or working with water soluble fabric? Stitching appliqué, or creating seams and hems? Or adding texture, quilting and other heavy duty stitching? 

The market is changing all the time so, rather than a list of machine models, we thought we’d get some advice from the experts on the best type of machine to buy within your budget.

We talked to five textile artists working in a variety of styles and asked them about the machines they love to use. Free motion embroidery experts Meredith Woolnough and Sue Hotchkis, quilt artist Clara Nartey, and mixed media artists Bobbi Baugh and Katie Essam employ a variety of sewing machines. 

Here’s some great guidance from these artists to help you choose and use a sewing machine for your textile art adventures.

Katie Essam

Katie Essam uses a Janome Horizon Memory Craft 7700 for free motion embroidery, with the feed dogs down. Katie explains: ‘Its needle up/down button is great, but the best bit has to be the thread cutting function – the sound it makes as it cuts is so satisfying!’

Katie also still uses her very first machine, a Bernina Activa 220.

For stitching large works, she recommends using a heavyweight machine, as it is stable and smooth to work on. The downside (or perhaps the upside!) is that it’s a bit of a workout if you want to take it out and about to in-person workshops.

“The Janome 7700 has a long arm and large base, perfect for stitching large bits of fabric.”

Katie Essam, Textile artist

Katie advises that most machines can do free machine embroidery with minimal adjustments so you may not have to splash out for a brand new machine. You can use any machine, as long as the feed dogs can be lowered (or a needle plate cover can be placed on top of them). 

You’ll need to source a free motion embroidery foot with either a C-shape (open toe), which helps you see what you are doing, or an O-shape (closed toe), which is best for couching and textural stitching. 

Katie Essam: ‘I learned to sew on my Mum’s Bernina from the 70s. The older machines were built to last and without the digital bits, it seems like less can go wrong. The weight of the old style metal cases help with stability. 

‘I’m a fan of weighty machines. With free motion embroidery, it’s best to have the machine as still as possible while you work – a heavy machine and a sturdy work surface help to achieve this. However, if you need (or already have) a lightweight portable machine, it can also be used for free machine embroidery. 

‘If you are looking for a new machine, a brilliant feature to look out for is the thread cutting function, as well as a good sized working area. A sewing table attachment can be useful, although they can make changing a front loading bobbin a little tricky.’

Katie Essam’s useful tips

Katie: ‘If you do a lot of free motion embroidery, don’t touch the tension! I learnt this the hard way. And when stitching through lots of layers of fabric, change the needle regularly and go for a thick heavy duty needle, which won’t bend or snap so easily.

‘Make sure you are as comfortable as possible, that your table and chair are at the right height and distance apart, and that your machine and pedal are the right distance away from you – your forearms should rest comfortably on the table.’

Katie Essam is a mixed media textile artist based in Bexhill, UK. 

Katie loves the freedom and enjoyment of experimenting with different media. She is the author of Free Motion Embroidery: Creating Textile Art with Layered Fabric & Stitch (2022). ISBN 9781800920484

Website: katie-essam.co.uk
Instagram: @katiejeany

Clara Nartey

Clara Nartey uses a range of techniques to make her art quilts, including embroidery, quilting, appliqué, digital painting and digital printing. All the fancy stitches that many sewing machines offer were not important to her style of embroidery. 

She currently uses a domestic sewing machine by JUKI TL-2010Q and a Moxie mid-arm quilting machine by Handiquilter. Her domestic machine allows her to complete detailed sewing and precision embroidery work, and the mid-arm machine is for quilting and overall embroidery.

Clara Nartey: ‘The JUKI 2010q is a workhorse. The machine I had before this was a computerised embroidery machine, but I needed a machine that gives me the flexibility to use it as an intuitive drawing tool. With this machine, I can take control of the direction of the stitching the way that I want it.’

Having found it difficult to create larger art quilts, Clara acquired a mid-arm sewing machine, which would help her manoeuvre heavier and larger pieces. The mid-arm machine has a 38cm (15″) throat space giving her much more room to work.

“I went for a simple straight-stitch sewing machine with lots of power to support the heavy stitching I do.”

Clara Nartey, Textile artist

Clara Nartey’s useful tips

Clara: ‘My recommendation for getting a sewing machine for embroidery is to focus on what you need. What does your style of embroidery require? My style of free motion embroidery requires two things: the ability to drop my feed dogs and to do straight stitches. 

‘Also, when you’re buying a sewing machine, look for one where you have local support. Machines break down sometimes and it’s frustrating not to have a service company nearby to fix your machine for you.’

Clara Nartey is based in Connecticut, USA. 

Clara tells visual stories of Black women inspired by her African heritage and her work is held in private and public collections including at Yale University. She is the author of Drawn with Threads: What a textile art exhibition can teach us about our creative potential (2019). ISBN 9781733250207

Artist website: ClaraNartey.com
Instagram: @ClaraNartey
Facebook: ClaraNarteyArt

Bobbi Baugh

Bobbi Baugh creates collaged textile artworks, using original painted and hand printed fabrics, collaged with glue and then stitched. She works most projects in smaller sections, then joins these together using machine-sewn seams. 

You might be surprised to hear that both of the portable sewing machines that Bobbi uses are over 30 years old. One is a Pfaff Hobbymatic 875 and the other a Pfaff Select 1536, and she uses both for all her construction and quilting.

Bobbi Baugh: ‘I purchased the first one when I had my first home, wanted to sew drapes, and needed to upgrade from the Singer I’d used since high school. I had never heard of art quilting at the time and it was not a well-researched purchase. I just told the salesperson I needed to sew through heavy fabrics without the timing and tension going haywire. 

‘I was told that the Pfaff machines have a good motor, almost never require adjustments to the tension, and switch readily from one fabric type to another – that has proven to be true. Like my car, which is over 20 years old, I hope these two sewing machines keep chugging along for me forever.’

“It suits my temperament and philosophy of artmaking to use materials and equipment that are as simple as possible.”

Bobbi Baugh, Textile artist

Bobbi Baugh’s useful tips

Bobbi: ‘To take care of your machine, take it for a service and cleaning at least once a year. When I tell my very reliable and faithful local repair serviceman the kinds of fabrics I sew, he just shakes his head and scolds: “Paint and glue on fabric! Really?”. But he keeps my machines running smoothly.’ 

Bobbi Baugh is a mixed media textile artist based in DeLand, Florida, USA. 

In 2023-24, Bobbi’s work was shown in six SAQA Global Exhibitions, at Q=A=Q at the Schweinfurth Art Center, Art Quilt Elements in Wayne, Pennsylvania, and at numerous other regional and national exhibitions.

Website: bobbibaughstudio.com
Facebook: bobbibaughart
Instagram: @bobbibaughart

Meredith Woolnough

Meredith Woolnough uses free motion embroidery in combination with soluble fabric to create her ethereal sculptures inspired by nature. She uses a Bernina Q20 for most of her work, switching to a regular domestic machine for zigzag stitches or if she’s travelling or teaching a workshop. 

She finds the Bernina a comfortable machine to work on, but she stresses that you only need a regular domestic machine for free machine embroidery. Several years ago she wrote a post on her blog explaining why she mostly uses her Bernina Q20. 

As for buying a machine, Meredith recommends: ‘Purchase the absolute best machine you can afford at the time. View a sewing machine as a long term investment. Second hand machines can be a good option if your budget is tight.’ 

“Get a good machine, take good care of it and it will serve you faithfully for a lifetime.”

Meredith Woolnough, Textile artist

Meredith Woolnough’s useful tips

Meredith Woolnough: ‘Clean your machine regularly. For basic machine maintenance that you can easily do yourself, a few drops of strategically placed oil and a quick brush of the bobbin compartment is key. Your sewing machine manual or a quick Google search will tell you what you need to do – so no excuses! Your machine will thank you for it.

‘Secondly, make sure you have the right needle for the job. Fresh needles can fix a lot of stitching problems but, in my opinion, choosing the right needle from the beginning is even more important. 

‘Choose a needle to suit the type of work you are doing, in a size to suit the thickness of your thread. I work with standard weight machine embroidery thread and find that a size 90 Jeans needle (sharps needle) works best for freehand embroidery on water soluble fabric.’ 

Meredith Woolnough is based in Newcastle, Australia, and is known for her sculptural embroideries inspired by nature. 

Meredith has exhibited widely and her work is held in collections in Australia. She is the author of Organic Embroidery (2018), ISBN 9780764356131. 

Website: meredithwoolnough.com.au
Facebook: meredithwoolnoughartist
Instagram: @meredithwoolnough

Sue Hotchkis

The Bernina 1008 is the machine Sue Hotchkis uses the most to create her artwork. She also has a Bernina 730e, which is a computerised sewing machine with an embroidery unit attachment. 

Sue Hotchkis: ‘The 1008 is sometimes referred to as the workhorse because it’s very strong and can take a lot of rough treatment because it’s not computerised. There are no fancy needle threading options. With my artwork, I often sew through several layers of fabric and it doesn’t struggle. 

‘The Bernina 730e lets me draw my own design on the laptop and then turn it into a stitched design. This model is old now. I bought it at a good price when a newer model came out.’

“The Bernina 1008 is a very straightforward sewing machine and it’s great for free motion stitching.”

Sue Hotchkis, Textile artist

 ‘The Bernina 1008 is great for free motion stitching and has interchangeable feet – my favourites are the cording foot for creating cords of several strands of thread wrapped in satin stitch, and the tailor-tacking foot which creates a decorative loopy surface stitch. If you want to make creative textiles with unusual materials then this type of Bernina is ideal.’ 

Sue first encountered Bernina sewing machines while studying embroidery at university. She bought her first Bernina, a 1001 model, over 30 years ago – and it still works! Sue found a secondhand one on sale recently for the same price she originally paid in the 1990s.

Sue Hotchkis’ useful tips

Sue uses her machine with a custom Sew Steady extension table, which helps when working on a large artwork. She explains: ‘The fabric doesn’t drag and pull on the needle when stitching and the table takes the weight and allows the fabric to flow’.

Sue Hotchkis is based in the Highlands of Scotland, UK and creates printed and stitched abstract wall art.  

She was awarded the Silver Medal at the 12th Scythia Textile Biennial in 2018, and an Award for Excellence at the 11th Lausanne to Beijing International Fiber Art Biennial in 2021. She is a member of QuiltArt and Edge Textiles Scotland. 

Website: suehotchkis.com
Facebook: SueHotchkisTextiles
Instagram: @suehotchkis

Glossary

• Bobbin – A small spool of thread that sits inside the machine to supply the bottom thread.
• Extension table – An accessory that attaches to the machine to provide a wider working area, useful when working with large pieces of fabric or a large embroidery hoop.
• Feed dogs – The teeth located under the presser foot that evenly feed the fabric through the machine.
• Free motion embroidery – Where the stitching is controlled freehand, like a drawing, and the feed dogs are lowered or covered so the fabric glides easily in any direction under the needle.
• Free motion embroidery foot – A specialised presser foot that allows the fabric to glide around for freehand embroidery work.
• Long arm machine – A sewing machine and frame, with an extra large working area of over 45cm (18″) and rollers to help manipulate large quilts.
• Mid arm machine – A sewing machine with a wide throat space of 30cm – 45cm (12″ – 18″). 
• Needle plate – The metal plate through which the needle and bobbin thread pass during stitching.
• Needle plate cover – A plastic cover that sits on top of the needle plate, allowing free motion embroidery in a more basic machine where the feed dogs cannot be dropped. 
• Presser foot – A metal foot that presses the fabric down to the needle plate during sewing.
• Throat space – The working area to the right of the needle, between the main body of the machine and the needle plate.
• Zigzag stitch – An automatic stitch setting for creating z-shaped stitches.