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Joyful Stitching: Transform Fabric with Improvisational Embroidery
Dive into Laura’s delightful world of embroidery and learn how to create small, free-form embroidery pieces that are alive with color and texture. With instructions for 21 basic embroidery stitches and 6 projects, all in Laura’s signature colorful, whimsical style, you’ll transform a flat, plain surface into a joyful, design-packed art piece. Stitch on wool, felt, or silk, and enjoy the simple pleasure of slow stitching. Includes a gallery of display ideas, as well as additional ideas for using free-form stitching.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2001
792 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 13, 2018
The beauty of this book lies in the colour combinations used for the projects.
Laura Wasilowski has introduced us to 21 basic embroidery stitches that create the most divine improvisational stitchwork.
The Yellow House Landscape is just stunning, and while it is created using silk, I can imagine the effect being just as beautiful on other fabric.
Joyful Stitching gives an abundance of advice, from fabric choice to thread, transferring your design to your fabric and even how to make your own wool felt. There is a stitch guide and templates, each technique is shown in beautiful photography and as I said before the colours used are gorgeous. They clash, compliment and are all very artistically presented.
Each project is adorable, they are simple in there design but the results are superb. The skill of the author really shines in her work and is so very inspiring. Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced embroiderer this is book that will amaze and delight.
Filled with fantastic suggestions on how to create texture, shapes and giving variations on the stitches used, I love this book. It really is a great teacher and I am sure that my own embroidery will be more accomplished by following the suggestions and tips.
Laura Wasilowski has introduced us to 21 basic embroidery stitches that create the most divine improvisational stitchwork.
The Yellow House Landscape is just stunning, and while it is created using silk, I can imagine the effect being just as beautiful on other fabric.
Joyful Stitching gives an abundance of advice, from fabric choice to thread, transferring your design to your fabric and even how to make your own wool felt. There is a stitch guide and templates, each technique is shown in beautiful photography and as I said before the colours used are gorgeous. They clash, compliment and are all very artistically presented.
Each project is adorable, they are simple in there design but the results are superb. The skill of the author really shines in her work and is so very inspiring. Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced embroiderer this is book that will amaze and delight.
Filled with fantastic suggestions on how to create texture, shapes and giving variations on the stitches used, I love this book. It really is a great teacher and I am sure that my own embroidery will be more accomplished by following the suggestions and tips.
August 6, 2019
Terrific. Absolutely wonderful. Explanations of how to come up with your own designs to embroider as well as providing patterns and examples. I hope to come back to this book when I have some time for creative embroidery. There are good explanations for how to transfer designs easily. Also beautiful and fun ideas for embroidery stitches.
February 5, 2025
3.5 stars
Best for intermediate and up.You could just copy the few patterns but really this book exists to encourage you to think outside the box with your stitches. The author has done things with relatively common stitches that I have never seen done before, most notably blanket stitch. It feels instinctual, like she has such an eye that she can just look at an image and see what will work.
I have a few minor critiques:
- The order of the stitch library would be better if done with similar stitches next to each other.
- Troubleshooting of more temperamental stitches would not go amiss.
- Granted I'm reading on a small device so the pictures aren't that clear but there appears to be puckering of the fabric in several images.
- The materials the author uses undoubtedly give lovely results but are not necessarily that easy/cheap to get.
- The text is sometimes on the exuberant side - I'm already reading your book; you don't need to sell it to me!
Best for intermediate and up.You could just copy the few patterns but really this book exists to encourage you to think outside the box with your stitches. The author has done things with relatively common stitches that I have never seen done before, most notably blanket stitch. It feels instinctual, like she has such an eye that she can just look at an image and see what will work.
I have a few minor critiques:
- The order of the stitch library would be better if done with similar stitches next to each other.
- Troubleshooting of more temperamental stitches would not go amiss.
- Granted I'm reading on a small device so the pictures aren't that clear but there appears to be puckering of the fabric in several images.
- The materials the author uses undoubtedly give lovely results but are not necessarily that easy/cheap to get.
- The text is sometimes on the exuberant side - I'm already reading your book; you don't need to sell it to me!
December 31, 2019
Colourful!
Lots of great ideas for getting stitchy. Love the 'hand of Fortune' and all the nature examples. Now I just need to get needle and thread in hand!
Lots of great ideas for getting stitchy. Love the 'hand of Fortune' and all the nature examples. Now I just need to get needle and thread in hand!
August 31, 2019
A fun and innovated approach to using embroidery to enhance the pictures - the only thing, and it is minor, is that the stitch description is in the beginning, and then when you go to the different projects you have to jump back to see each one. Not a problem with a physical book, but not so easy with an ebook. Otherwise, a fun book and one I highly recommend.
September 15, 2024
This book is so cute, and does what I would want a book of this type to do: inspire me to create something of my own while practicing new things. It does have patterns in it, but only a few, so it's not the whole book.
What would have made it 5 stars for me would have been for it to be longer, include pictures of other people's projects inspired by the creations, and more information about other ways to turn this into more than wall art or pillows after.
Overall, I'm pretty delighted by this book, and the style of the stitching is something I'm into and like to do myself, so it's a reminder of how much visual interest that can be created with a few simple stitches.
What would have made it 5 stars for me would have been for it to be longer, include pictures of other people's projects inspired by the creations, and more information about other ways to turn this into more than wall art or pillows after.
Overall, I'm pretty delighted by this book, and the style of the stitching is something I'm into and like to do myself, so it's a reminder of how much visual interest that can be created with a few simple stitches.
January 4, 2019
I've been embroidering for about 18 months now, first following patterns and then tentatively setting out on my own. This book has entered my life at the perfect time. Wasilowski offers ideas with just enough detail for me to understand how she's using stitches for a specific effect. I can't wait to head into the great adventure of improvisational stitching!
December 4, 2020
Borrowed via Prime Reading, I would definitely prefer a hard copy, and may end up purchasing this to add to my artsy library. I did basic embroidery in my childhood, but honestly haven't played with floss in at least 30 years. This is a great reminder of basics, and plenty of eye candy to inspire
June 18, 2022
Lots of useful information for creating embroideries
Great book with great embroidery stitch instructions and techniques for working with different types of fabrics. A useful addition to my technique book collection.
Great book with great embroidery stitch instructions and techniques for working with different types of fabrics. A useful addition to my technique book collection.
November 25, 2022
Unreadable
Got this on Kindle Unlimited. I don't know what has happened, but the text is jumbled up, lines that should follow each other are instead randomly scrambled up, making it impossible to read. Very disappointed, as this seems to be a great book, if only one could read it!
Got this on Kindle Unlimited. I don't know what has happened, but the text is jumbled up, lines that should follow each other are instead randomly scrambled up, making it impossible to read. Very disappointed, as this seems to be a great book, if only one could read it!
April 19, 2023
Kindle edition is broken.
The words don’t make sense. One sentence starts, the second sentence starts, then you get the end of the first sentence, and so on. I tried this on my iPhone with different font sizes.
The words don’t make sense. One sentence starts, the second sentence starts, then you get the end of the first sentence, and so on. I tried this on my iPhone with different font sizes.
May 8, 2024
So beautiful. So original. So magical. So inspirational. So wonderful.
So beautiful. So original. So magical. So inspirational. So wonderful. I don't have words to express my awe for your work. Pure art. Fantastic. It's way beyond what I expected. Thank you.
So beautiful. So original. So magical. So inspirational. So wonderful. I don't have words to express my awe for your work. Pure art. Fantastic. It's way beyond what I expected. Thank you.
November 27, 2019
A great beginner book.
December 31, 2019
Great instruction
Fun to explore these stitches and ideas for embroidery. Really enjoyed this book. Even thinking about buying this book for ideas to try.
Fun to explore these stitches and ideas for embroidery. Really enjoyed this book. Even thinking about buying this book for ideas to try.
January 1, 2020
Really fun and inspiring ideas for embroidery! This one really gets you thinking outside of the perfection obsession and lets you just have fun. Also recommended: "Boho Embroidery"
April 5, 2020
Read on kindle.
I’m trying to do some slow stitching. It’s just not coming to me. This book has some beautiful projects.
I’m trying to do some slow stitching. It’s just not coming to me. This book has some beautiful projects.
April 11, 2020
Beautiful work!
Lovely, short book with small project ideas using embroidery stitching across various textiles. Fabulous use of color and free forms to make lovely art pieces.
Lovely, short book with small project ideas using embroidery stitching across various textiles. Fabulous use of color and free forms to make lovely art pieces.
April 26, 2020
Great instruction
Would recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about this informative book. Instructions are very clear and concise, projects are challenging.
Would recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about this informative book. Instructions are very clear and concise, projects are challenging.
June 15, 2020
Helpful
I found a book to be very well written with a lot of photographs and illustrations. Great projects to do as well. Highly recommend
I found a book to be very well written with a lot of photographs and illustrations. Great projects to do as well. Highly recommend
June 24, 2020
Gorgeous and inspirational. Clear, concise directions. I love both her work and the book.
January 9, 2021
Helpful for embroiderers.
March 23, 2022
Great book with colorful, folklore type projects and endless possibilities. Just enough and not overwhelming.
January 11, 2023
Good reference for hand embroidery in felt. Inspirational and very motivating to try something new. Beautiful projects.
March 9, 2023
3.5 Stars for me. Thought the tutorials were well done.
December 7, 2025
Want a hard copy!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews