Doodle Stitching: Embroidery & Beyond: Crewel, Cross Stitch, Sashiko & More

by Aimee Ray

In her first two Doodle Stitching books, Aimee Ray proved that doodling isn't just for paper anymore! Now she brings her irresistible art to a variety of embroidery techniques in a timeless resource for anyone with a needle and thread. Appealing to stitchers of all levels, the beautiful decorative stitches and techniques here include stumpwork, appliqué, Shisha, cutwork, and Sashiko. They're all presented in Ray's fresh, accessible, and whimsical style, with more than 20 fun projects and extra motifs so readers can personalize their creations.

Genres: Crafts, Nonfiction, Art, Sewing, Reference

120 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2013

About the author

Aimee Ray is an artist, graphic designer, illustrator, and author of craft books.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute little collection of embroidery projects. While I like the overall style, I wasn't particularly enamoured with any of the projects, except the one featured on the cover (I love mushroom motifs!). Techniques are really basic, and not very in-depth. A sweet collection of simple and fun contemporary stitching ideas, but I probably will not consult it again - unless it's for the mushroom pincushion ;)

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book. I like how she recorded her patterns. There were a few patterns that really caught my eye, especially the nature walk banner. It was beautiful and right up my alley. I liked the Hansel and Gretel panels and cuckoo clock too!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for advancing your embroidery skills. Basic embroidery stitches are used in the patterns as well as some advanced techniques to try. Easy to understand instructions and great photographs.

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm ambivalent about this book. On the one hand, it's far better organized and has more interesting projects than the previous two books, on the other the designs are the opposite of whimsical instead being heavy and involved. It's great that she's incorporating a wider range of embroidery types than in the past, but I don't think it's executed any better and this time I don't know if it's intentional. I do like the Shashiko designs a lot and the corner placement (rather than centered) embroidered designs in quilt squares, but what's up with the lollipops on the apron landing right over top of some girl or woman's breasts? (I refuse to use a eupemism like "the girls" because they aren't girls, I didn't have any "girls" when I was a girl, and I barely have them now, so I'm going to own my lack of much three dimensional and call them what they are: barely there breasts.)

Sorry, I'm in a snarky mood today.

2.5 stars rounded just in case my mood has affected my judgement

[Miki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I like the idea of doodle stitching, but none of these projects appealed to me at all.

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cuckoo clock, woodland creatures, mushrooms... going to use these stitch patterns as zentangle/doodle inspiration.

[DeeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on embroidery. I especially loved the chapter on decorative stitches.

[Astrid Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite style, but cute projects.

[Aphelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Doodle Stitching book, and I love Aimee Ray's cute style! The projects are sweet and colourful and include a variety of techniques. Standouts for me: the Crewel Family Tree, a modern and adorable update on the traditional Tree of Life Jacobean design, the simple Sashiko placements and the cute mushroom pincushion on the cover (which also has a pretty bunny variation!).

My favourite project, by far, is the amazing Canvas Cuckoo Clock, where Aimee stitched the cutest cuckoo clock motif on art canvas and attached clock parts to make a working wall clock! I also adored the two versions of the Crewel Peacock Messenger Bag motif, and if I were to stitch a project from this book, the peacock would probably be it.

This is a book suited for the beginner who is curious about different embroidery styles. It would make a great gift for a teenager just getting into stitching. Although there is a short section with stitching diagrams, the majority of the book focusses on the projects. Almost all of them are cute, but there are few that I would make. As an intermediate stitcher, I was hoping for a bit more detail on the speciality techniques, especially the Shisha mirrorwork. However, it's a great book to pique anyone's interest in techniques beyond basic outline hand embroidery.

Templates are included in the back, and Aimee even includes variations for some designs, but most of these have to be scanned and enlarged. This is a real drawback. I hope future printings will come with the templates on CD, as her Christmas motif book did. Very fun book!

[Mindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not able to use a crayon like the book suggested to add background color before stitching. I also think the suggestion about ironing a printed page to transfer a pattern was ridiculous. This might be good for someone who collects craft books as it doesn’t do justice to actual sewing techniques

[Mircah Foxwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book provides a very superficial intro to several types of needlecraft. It fails as a technical book, because it doesn't provide enough good detail and instruction. It has a project or two for each type of needlework discussed, but none are to my taste.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun guide to embroidery and cross stitch and ways to spice up what you do and create. Embroidery is tricky but it's such a beautiful hobby. This book walks through stitches and ideas.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The designs are very pretty and seem quite feasible. Fun to look at!

[Dinh Hong · Rating 3 out of 5]

very cute patterb for doodle stitching for embroidery

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of cute projects, just none really my style.

Weirdly, I liked the suggested variations more than the pictured ones.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has instructions and patterns for designs using cross stitch, decorative and couching stitches, applique, redwork, crewel, sashiko, shisha (persian w/ mirrors), cutwork, stumpwork, and wired stumpwork. Projects range from embroidered cards to aprons, dolls, and cuff bracelets.

A small section at the back contains an overview of embroidery basics and stitches. It includes an easy to follow diagram, written description, and photo of each finished stitch.

My favorite projects are a canvas embroidered cuckoo clock and a nature walk sampler that uses shisha stitches to hold acorn caps and pebbles and shells.

Age Recommendation: Most kids should be able to do basic stitches using safe plastic needles. Some of the more complex projects such as creating 3d embroidery using wired stumpwork are best left for older/ more experienced stitchers.

[Stef · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like with the other doodle stitching book, I was more interested in the doodle aspect than the stitching, so I didn't pay too much attention to the projects not can I speak to their difficulty. (Not being an embroiderer, they all looked tricky.) I found more to love in her first book but this one is okay too.

[Ames · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for basic beginner embroidery. Glossary with pictures and explanations of each stitch. Easy but very cute beginner designs.


(Finished in 2014, Changed Year to not affect my current reading challenge book count)

[Nicolle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute collection of projects and ideas. I'm glad I read it, but wouldn't buy it--at least for me, there weren't really any new techniques to learn and I wasn't in love with any particular project outlined in the book.

[Andrea McDowell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good for beginners. It didn't have as much detail or depth as I would have liked, and the projects were just ok.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice cute embroidery designs, but does seem to be working from the premise that the reader already knows basic embroidery stitches.

[Joan Arbogast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the felt appliqued Babushka!

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the creative suggestions and the book is delightful to browse. Borrowed it from the local library.

[Beth]

Cute and inspiring!