This book went into great detail about the stitches and designs. I enjoyed the variety of patterns that were included. The size variations are great too, as it is sometimes difficult to scale a pattern up. Some of the designs are big enough to go around the collar of a shirt!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review, but all opinions are my own.

I will start by saying that this is not the kind of stitching book I would usually pick up, since I am someone who enjoys the more precise, traditional forms of embroidery. But it came up as an early review option for me on Netgalley, so I thought I would have a look. I hope to give a review which will let you know if it′s the book for you, even if it isn′t for me!

This book is inspired by the exploration of new techniques and designs that happened in the 60s and 70s, and is geared towards people who don′t want to be constrained by fixed diagrams or materials. There is also an emphasis on the meditative quality of needlework, and the book explores some other meditative techniques which you might want to explore if inspired by the restfulness you find in stitching.

But there′s also a lot of practical information. The author describes materials and equipment in a straightforward manner, giving helpful hints. She explains how to transfer patterns, but I do wonder how easy it would be to transfer the motifs she uses in the book. (I had an online copy of the book, so not sure how it would look on paper.) The stitch glossary covers a wide range of stitches, and I found the diagrams and explanations quite clear, particularly how to start off each stitch, although I might do some of the stitches in a slightly different way.

The outstanding chapter of this book is the collection of symbols which covers a wide range of subjects – geometric forms, planets, zodiac signs, some unusual natural world images and other unexpected emblems. The author does give stitch suggestions for all the symbols, but also wants them to act as inspiration for your own designs. She gives examples of many of the symbols on clothing and other items. There are a lot of colourful images and photos, and the whole book has a flower child character which is pleasant to look at.

This is a 3 star book for me, but it could well be 4 or 5 star for anyone who likes this style of embroidery.

Mystical Stitches; Embroidery for Personal Empowerment and Magical Embellishment by Christi Johnson is about exactly what it says, adding embroidery to your fabric items to empower yourself.

There is lots of inspiration here, from the patterns to what they've been stitched on.  There are templates, lots of clear information, and beautiful photos.

 Mystical Stitches; Embroidery for Personal Empowerment and Magical Embellishment  by Christi Johnson was published on 25th May 2021 and is available from  Amazon  and  Waterstones .

You can follow Christi Johnson on  Instagram  and her  website .

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to  Storey Publishing .

Beautiful stitchery projects and tips with a metaphysical bent are presented with plenty of colorful photos. Whether you're into the mystical or not, your needle art will be improved after reading this one!

This is great, although be warned that it is not a normal embroidery pattern book! Going into this, I thought there would be a lot of patterns to try, but there are not. Instead, this book focuses on the mental and emotional connection between ourselves and our crafts, and how strengthening our understanding of these connections can make us better overall - both as people, and as crafters/embroidery enthusiasts. Very unique, with lots of really pretty photos of embroidery designs throughout!

I am a very early beginner of embroidery and haven't read books on it, but I really enjoyed this one and the variety of the patterns and projects provided.

A beautiful book. The images are inspiring and just lovely to sit and look at. That said, its not a beginner book - I say as a beginner to stitch work. Much of this felt overwhelming but I look forward to the day when I feel more at home with the stitches and designs. I shared the link to this book with friends further along in their craft than myself and they adore the idea of getting more information like this out there and are stoked to dive in. Highly recommend for everyone for inspiration and for intermediate for ease of use.

This was fine, had beautiful art, just wasn't as much my speed. I think it was informative and had some great stitches in it though!

Let me start this review by telling you a few things. I love all things craft related including stitch work and witchery. I have some experience with embroidery but it goes way back. I am a big fan of unique, hand embellished garments. Mystical Stitches, Embroidery for Personal Empowerment and Magical Embellishment
by Christi Johnson is a book that I couldn't wait to dive into. The author infuses magical practice into the chapters of this book, while sharing beautiful photos of the artwork she has done.

If you are looking for hoop patterns with mystical art, this probably isn't the book for you. If instead you are looking to incorporate stitch work into your practice of ritual, rite, mindfulness, etc. look no further. This is not so much a pattern book as it is a book of intention, helping the reader to understand the power of the creative process. The author explains stitch types and symbolism very well, helping the reader to arrive at their own designs for talismans.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Storey Publishing, LLC for the opportunity to read for review this electronic ARC. All opinions are authentically mine and gladly shared.

Simple stitches, easy to follow tutorials and striking motifs make up this book. But what I liked most about this book where the tips on keeping your creativity flowing.

Review based on an ARC provided by the publishers.

I like the author's emphasis on learning skills and techniques and then being creative with them, rather than exactly duplicating specific projects. The spiritual aspect of the book will likely appeal to some readers and is not so "woo woo" that other people couldn't get a something out of it if they wanted to. The creativity and stress-management aspects are an interesting and more holistic approach to a craft book that actually makes a lot of sense to me.

One niggle: The ankh symbolism in the "geometric shapes" chapter (page 60) only talks about "masculine/feminine," rather than the more standard "life" symbolism. It would be worth mentioning "life," even if the rest is still included. It makes me wonder about the accuracy of the interpretations of the other symbols. Worthwhile for readers to double-check if the symbolism is very important to them.
That said, I think the rest is appealing and presents a different approach than the usual craft books. As a librarian, I will likely add it to our small library. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free review copy.

What a gorgeous book! This book shows how to embroider a wide variety of different stitches with clear instructions and connects the craft to rituals and meditation. The design is simply stunning, and the connection with spirituality adds extra dimension to the work. It’s a lovely book, and sure to be a popular guide for those interested in embroidery and more witchy vibes.

“Mystical Stitches” dramatically changed my view of what embroidery can be -- I had never thought of it as talisman or ritual tool. This book opened my eyes to the idea that embroidery can be an element on my spiritual journey.

Content-wise, “Mystical Stitches” is very thorough. The instructions about materials, stitches, and designs are clear. The projects are definitely ones that I would try. I like the fact that the book allows readers to really explore their own style and doesn’t over-explain when it comes to designs or patterns. I feel confident that I could successfully make the patterns and projects in the book, even if my work isn’t perfect.

I’ve always known that embroidery was an art form, but reading this book has opened a whole new world of possibilities for me. I’ll definitely be re-reading and incorporating elements into my crafting practice.

* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing.

I absolutely loved this and I thought it was a great example of a craft book that gives you more than just patterns and instructions. I feel like this is the beginning embroidery book that I wish I had been able to find years ago. It's also right up my alley with the "witchy" elements. Unfortunately I don't think this is a title that would do well at my library - we don't circ embroidery or needlework titles that often and I don't think this particular approach would connect with my patrons. But I'll be buying a copy for myself when it comes out!

Beautiful pictures of embroidery which makes you want to try and create! The book makes the creations seem attainable and supports using the ideas to foster your own creativity. The instructions for the different stitch types are very clear. The neatest part of this book is that it also looks at the spirituality that can be a part of your process!

There are some really beautiful stitches in this book. Great graphics show the stitches and guide you along. There's a bit about intention and bringing mindfulness and peace to your work which I found was a unique look at the embroidery process.

A guide to embroidering and stitching with a mystical edge.

In the first section of this guide many different types of stitches are showcased and given step-by-step instructions for the reader to follow along with. The instructions were mostly clear and easy to understand, although a few pictures would have been welcome alongside the drawings for reference. The following sections contain examples of stitching a variety of symbols, shapes, animals, plants, and more. These examples are varied and colorful and are given a guide via the stitch key in the back of the book, but might be difficult for beginners to copy. Those with prior experience in sewing are more likely to find inspiration and ideas from this book than those just starting out, who may be overwhelmed. The book does contain several step-by-step guides for projects such as embroidering jeans, shirts, and pillows.

Good for readers looking for unique stiches and patterns as well as those interested in incorporating spirituality and mysticism into their crafting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an e-copy of this book.

This is a delightful book, which I quickly realised needed to be held rather than viewed on screen. It contains so many ideas and techniques, beautifully illustrated, and is quite different to any stitching book I have seen before.

I have already pre-ordered a hard copy and can't wait to get my hands on it and get stitching some of the magical designs!

This is a lovely book. Johnson offers her readers easy to understand instructions for a large number of designs to be embroidered. I’m ready to get out my needles and thread and start embroidering.

This is a beautiful book that is considered and generous. It is full of beautiful imagery, rich colours and practical tips. Nestled along side this are some stitch tutorials, suggestions on selecting fabrics and discussions about symbolism, magic and folklore. Whilst not everything appealed to my personal taste, there was more than enough on offer to spark my imagination and had me reaching for my needle and thread.
Rather than offering prescriptive patterns and instructions to achieve an end result, this is a book that focuses on the individual focus in order to become fully involved and derive personal satisfaction from a project.This is a book that really explores creativity and intent in order to achieve a state of flow.

It is a book to be savoured and I would like to thank the publishers and Net Galley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.