Contrast in Crewel Embroidery

Tatiana Popova is a Ukrainian embroiderer. She learnt to stitch at an early age and for a time pursued her passion for stitching by studying a huge variety of embroidery styles and techniques, both at school and in her own time.Flowers have always had a special appeal to her. Having trained as a floristry designer, Tatiana continues making flower arrangements, now worked in silk ribbon and thread. She started her own business, Owl Crafts Company, producing kits for silk ribbon and crewel embroidery. Tatiana teaches at a number of craft shows and Embroidery Guilds all around the world, including the UK, USA, Japan, and Australia.You can find out more about Tatiana and her work on her website www.owl-crafts.com

Ukrainian author Popova brings a new vision to crewelwork. Rather than using traditional crewel wools, she creates patterns with the varied stitches and techniques of crewelwork but updates them with cotton floss, perle, and specialty threads. This book uses these threads in contrasting color palettes, and both light and dark fabrics as a base, to show how the same pattern can look startlingly different depending on color choices. There are eight patterns included: four simple “doodles” to practice on, and four complete night and day designs, all with stitch guides. From simple to advanced, each pattern shows how to adapt color choices to create the desired effect. The book includes clear photographs of both process and finished products, as well as an illustrated stitch guide for all the crewel stitches used in the projects. The style is conversational and engaging, with the author’s individual voice coming through.VERDICT: Sharing crewelwork designs with a focus on fresh colorways, and using threads that many stitchers are already familiar with, this book gives an updated look at the potential of traditional patterns. Popova offers practical crewel inspiration and fun ideas for contemporary embroidery.

• Introduction 6Materials, tools and tips 8DMC to Appleton conversion chart 9The knotty problem 10Called-for stitches 14Key to instructions 62Instructions 64Smart doodles 64Happy birthday 66Tiny the snail 72Goldfish 76Columbine 80Day & night designs 84Pattern one 86Queen rose light 88Queen rose night 94Pattern two 100Captured by flora 102Green brougham 110Pattern three 118Jewel the unicorn 120Jewels of november 132Pattern four 142Have a nice day 144Good night 154Templates 164Stitch index 172