Doodle Stitching: the motif collection

by Aimee Ray

This follow-up to the best-selling Doodle Stitching offers fans expanded and updated basics, 400+ easy embroidery motifs on the page and on a CD sealed in the back of the book, 17 projects, and lots of added inspiration. More than a dozen categories include Alphabet, Asian Chic, Baby, Celebrations, Embellishments, Fruits & Veggies, Space, Trees, Flowers, Winged Wonders, and Woodland Creatures-and each section includes one motif stitched by the author. 
The motifs on the CD are in simple black lines, so readers can easily manipulate them using their own image-editing software, print them out, and transfer them onto their substrate of choice using the instructions in the book.
PROJECTS
Wearables : Jewelry, pajama pants, hat and mittens o Home Dé Fabric basket, decorative wall hangings, more o Gift Items : Keepsake gift bags

Genres: Crafts, Nonfiction, Sewing, Reference, Art, Creative

132 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2010

About the author

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

Reviews

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

I'm not sure what the doodle in the title refers to unless it means that these are whimsical motifs rather than realistic representations. They're all on the adorable side and very simplistic. There are some interesting projects rounding out the same old same old. The entire collection is on the included CD for easy printing to transfer paper.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge plus: A CD filled with motifs that I was able to save onto my computer. I will not use all of the motifs (I'm not that motivated), but it was refreshing to flip through an embroidery book and not get annoyed with awful (unusable) patterns. It was nice to read about some stitchery materials I forgot about, too. Ahem, stabilizers.

Minus: The visuals for basic stitches weren't very clear. If I were just starting out with embroidery, this would not be my first book for that very reason. Some of the craft projects were awful, but that's just my craft preference.

I didn't learn anything new, but it was an overall good "refresher" read for embroidery. Bonus: It was from the library so the motifs were absolutely free. Fabulous!

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book includes a cd with all of the embroidery templates in the book (not in color--too bad) but otherwise they are super cute and you really can pick your own color palette. I like how the author has detailed pictures of each type of stitch that was used in the projects featured in the book. My sister has already used this book for several projects.

[DeDe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has amazing artwork to stitch! I love the CD that accompanies the book. It allows the reader to resize any art motif in the book to the size he/she wants. The projects are great with a modern feel. It brings hand-embroidery to the present! There is a wide variety of images that can be used in a number of ways! I LOVED this book!

[Alexandrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this from the library and found the directions and discussions at the beginning to be well written and interesting. The doodles are cute, and as the library book came with the disc I had access to save them if I had wanted, however I found the book well worth buying because of all the useful reference information.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a really good book. I learnt a lot from it. Its got many designs that are really cute. It has many designs of animals, flowers and stuff like that.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

was actually after some books on zentangling (doodling) but all I could find at the library was this one. It is for embroidery but has some great templates and comes with a disc of template patterns too.

[Nicolle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of cute, fun, and fresh doodles for embroidery. I know a lot of people had issues with the CD-ROM that's included with the book, but I checked this book out from the library and never had an opportunity to use it. Not sure I would purchase it now that I've seen it, but still worth the time to look through and read.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I had requested 'Sublime Stitching' from the library, so... whoops, I guess. The designs are cute, but bordering on cutesy. I don't know if I foresee using many of them (although the vegetable ones are nice).

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some Lovely ideas in here, and very easy to make them unique and your own. The designs are all together at the back of the book which was useful. I have already used a lot of these ideas on handkerchiefs for family and friends.

[TienvoorNegen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After learning how to crochet and fidgeting around with felt I wanted to get some ideas for embroidery.
What stitches are there and how do I use them.
A wonderful book with great motivs and patterns!

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute designs, but almost TOO cutesy. I personally wasn't sure where I'd put any of them. BUT they did give me some ideas for coming up with my own designs, so that's a plus. Still, fun to sit and flip through for inspiration.

[Stef · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't embroider (checked out this book for doodle ideas), but Ray's books make me want to. The projects didn't really excite me--any design can be on anything, was the gist I got--but the designs themselves are super stinking cute.

[Redrosevertigo0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has hundreds of really cute embroidery designs you can customize with he included CD-Rom. My first project is going to be some embroideries for my bathroom wall.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic source for embroidery patterns; comes with CD containing 400+ designs and 17 project ideas.

[Nicole]

Great energy-saving project: All Weather Draft Dodger

[Polly · Rating 5 out of 5]

great resource for simple stitches

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aimee brings embroidery into the 21st century. It's fun, colorful, easy, and the patterns are on a CD!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of cute, simple embroidery patterns.

[Sue K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely inspiration ! one of those books I can thumb through and dream of the possibilities.Its food for a crafter's soul. Simplicity, how to and colors. I love the whimsy

[Collette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this book was very interesting. I like the way that it is layed out and the pictures in it. I would recommend it to other people.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, loads of great ideas! Thank you Ms Ray for giving embroidery a sense of freedom it never had before!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of cute designs to stitch.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute ideas for contemporary embroidery.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun concept-- taking the stuffiness out of embroidery and providing newbies with the tools to get started with simple and fun instructions and patterns.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found several designs that I'm going to use as inspiration for zentangle/doodling. Definitely a wide array of choices. Plus many fun craft ideas.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book with great ideas for taking your hand sewing to the next level.

[Zaiba]

great resources for design ideas

[Angela Good]

Cute embroidery project ideas.
Simple instructions.
Wonderful photos showing detailed stitching instructions.
LOVE THIS BOOK!

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would LOVe to check out this book!