Enjoy the confidence of knowing basic stitches and let your stitching spirit play to your heart's content! Directions for more than 35 different stitches , all arranged by how they're made - A gallery of stitchwork for inspiration to practice, play, and create - Step-by-step instructions and full color illustrations - Dozens of variations on straight stitches, building stitches, cross stitches, knots, chain stitches, and more Tired of looking for just the right stitch reference, author Ruth Chandler decided to create the handbook herself—and here it is! Modern Hand Stitching features six stitch chapters with dozens of variations on straight stitches, building stitches, cross stitches, chain stitches, knots, couching, wrapping, and making a stitch sampler, plus a gallery of stitching inspirations. Stitching is fun, exhilarating and artistic. Once you know your basic hand stitches, you can freely play to your heart's content with pattern and form. Modern Hand Stitching will show you everything you need to hand-stitch with confidence! Chandler offers colorful embroidery stitches and techniques for beginners and beyond. Those who are new to using embroidery and those with some experience will enjoy Modern Hand Stitching: Dozens of Stitches with Creative Free-Form Variations, by Ruth Chandler. The book is a stress-free, encouraging, and educational guide to creative free-form hand stitching, one that covers the basics while showing how they can be bent to suit any project. Illustrated instructions for thirty-eight different stitches are included, as well as examples of how to vary the effect by, for instance, changing the size or spacing of stitches, using different colors, or stitching with different materials. The directions for the stitches are clear, with large photos showing the step-by-step process of forming each stitch. These instructions will help even new stitchers succeed, and they include not only many common stitches but also some that are less often seen in guide books. Chandler advises stitchers to make a sampler book to practice the different stitches before using them on a project, which makes a fun and practical reference later. This is a beautiful and helpful book for embroiderers of all skill levels. Embroidery fans are going to want to keep in close, to return to the lessons, tips, and inspiring photographs. Finished projects made by the author and other artists show how different stitches and fabric treatments can be used to make stunning projects, inspiring stitchers to take to their needles and thread.--Sarah White --ForeWord Reviews-Spotlight Review; Fall, 2014 More than a stitch guide, this book triggers the imagination! This book demonstrates, in detailed close-up photos and step-by-step instructions, how to execute all the basic stitches, and then it shows you how to break the rules. After each stitch explanation is a "No Boundaries" section, where Ruth encourages readers to stitch creatively with tips and suggestions for taking each stitch further and to freely play with pattern and form. The photographs show how wonderful effects are created by altering stitch length, thread weight, direction, spacing, and color. Breaking the rules makes it easy to give your stitch work personality and artistic flair. Modern Hand Stitching includes a gallery of stitching inspirations. Step-by-step instructions and color illustrations for 39 stitches with clearly photographed techniques make this a useful tool for anyone looking to stitch outside the lines. --Stitch-it...today! July/August, 2014 Modern Hand Stitching: Dozens of Stitches with Creative Free-Form Variations offers some six stitch chapters covering 39 stitches with dozens of variations for each, and is a special recommendation for readers who want a sampler of ideas and step-by-step methods for recreating them. Color photos capture every technique while colorful pages offer plenty of examples of their different uses in art projects. The result is a colorful guide for any who would improve hand stitching capabilities. --Midwest Book Review; June, 2014 Gain confidence knowing over 35 basic stitches! This contemporary reference offers dozens of variations on straight stitches, cross stitches, chain stitches, knots, couching, wrapping, and more through step-by-step instructions, photography, and expert tips. Ruth Chandler grew up in Japan and learned basic Sashiko from an elderly neighbor. Ruth made her first quilt in 1990—a queen size hand-appliquéd and hand-quilted Hawaiian pineapple quilt—and she has never looked back. In her own unique style, she loves to use new techniques mingled with the old and her work usually shows the influence of her years spent in Japan. Ruth and her husband live in Colorado Springs, CO. (textileevolution.com) Landauer Modern Hand Stitching Book- Inside you will find 38 basic embroidery stitches and dozens of free-form variations The stitches are simple to learn, and easy to change them to fit your need