There were so many patterns that looked like a lot of fun to create. I love that the instructions are clear and the patterns don't have an old fashioned feel to them. I cannot wait to get the physical copy of this so I can practice. I am brand new to embroidery and there are patterns that look easy enough I can do them right away, but also complicated enough I can work up to them.

4 stars

Overall a great book with several fun and cheerful designs. I was able to follow along easily when making my project, although I do have some experience with embroidery so I am not sure how a true beginner would feel. If someone was looking for an embroidery book with relatively easy designs that are in this type of modern and colorful style I would definitely recommend.

A great guide for anyone wanting to learn embroidery. Lots of stitches and practical ways to practice and use them. Good patterns too.

Really cute designs to bring embroidery and needlework arts into a modern craft space. The patterns themselves very in difficulty and I think this would be fantastic for a newbie.

The Modern Embroidery Handbook is a tutorial guide with patterns for surface embroidery (including a pattern sampler to keep as a primer) by Clare Albans. Due out 30th May 2024 (30th April in the UK) from Pen & Sword on their White Owl imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format.

It's nice to see embroidery and other fibrecrafts enjoying a renaissance of sorts. In times (long) past, people would learn these skills as a matter of necessity, handed down from generation to generation in the family. That's no longer true, so crafters must turn to other sources of instruction. The internet (youtube, ravelry, et.al.) and other social media channels are good sources of instruction, but for not-strictly-visual learners, books are still vital. For folks who learn better with a book in front of them than constantly pausing a video, this is a good instructional volume.

It's a well written and formatted guide to embroidery projects along with basic stitch instructions and templates which are suitable for beginning and up embroiderers. The introduction includes instructions for a colorful primer/sampler where readers can learn the stitches, and have a finished project for reference for further projects. The actual project chapters build on one another and cover beginning basics, borders & edging, decorative stitches & motifs, and textures & knots. The final chapter includes templates and tips.

There are QR codes scattered throughout with links to further information and online content.
The stitch diagrams which are provided include clear line drawn schematics for straight stitch, lazy daisy, satin, French knot, chain stitch, and other surface embroidery techniques. It would be possible to complete the projects in the book by just using the stitch tutorials, but obviously having a more experienced stitching buddy would help. It should be noted that this book is about surface embroidery, not cross stitch. It's lovely to see tutorials and and upswing in interest for the other fibrearts; it seems like only cross-stitch had any following for a long long time and it's nice to see surface embroidery enjoying a renaissance.

Very colourful and appealing projects. Four and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

A lovely book. I am relatively new to embroidery and this has certainly given me lots of ideas of different projects I could work towards in the future. It is useful because it has lots of clear images and step by step guides. It would also make a good gift. Thank you for the review copy!

I want to get back to embroidery and this book was a good re-introduction to many stitches. The images and instructions were clear and helped me understand how to recreate them.
I liked her projects - and want to do a few of them as I normally would stick to a very traditional design but I love how she has had fun with different stitches in the same embroidery project - I think that would be so fun, and the best part is they are quick and easy - so not as time consuming as some of the other crafts I do.

This book was ok for me. I didn't think it offered up any new ideas, but would work for those new to the craft. Interesting project ideas beyond just hoop art.

In terms of crafting books I always feel like they are awesome but seem to miss the mark, this book hit the mark spot on. Not only were the projects something that I would actually like to do and keep and use as decoration, the pictures were chosen extremely well and made the process to follow along and learn very easy. This book has given me so much information and knowledge I was lacking for hand embroidery and has inspired projects I am actually excited to gift and display. I will for sure be recommending this book to others especially beginners.

This book grabbed me and my students right off the bat! We are excited to work through some of the projects, and I have a shoe stitching workshop in my plans for next fall already.

I teach student teachers, and am always looking for texts to add to our collection of “how-to” books. Sometimes, makers want a book to explore, rather than relying on a video for instruction.

What's great here? The wide variety of projects, the detailed project photos and the colour. A number of my students also commented on how well the book was structured, allowing the reader to easily find a project with a specific stitch.

My only quibble, and it's a common one for me, is wanting more detailed diagrams/photos on the how-to pages. I regularly end up supplementing those with a video.

This is absolutely a stitching guide for grade 7-post-secondary libraries and makerspaces to grab for their shelves.

The Modern Embroidery Handbook will encourage and inspire you to go beyond the embroidery hoop, get out of your comfort zone and be bold in trying different techniques. If you’ve ever wanted to experiment with watercolours on fabric, stitch unique customised pieces to wear or use in your home, or even to create 3D effects with hand embroidery, then look no further. This colourful and informative book will give you the confidence to experiment and help you to find joy in taking time out to be creative!
This is a brilliant book for anyone who is interested in Embroidery. Filled with excellent photos and instructions for the beginner and also some new stitches which might satisfy the more proficient embroiderer. There are many projects to make anyone happy and some interesting twists on the traditional. An excellent addition to a crafters library. Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the chance to learn and review The Modern Embroidery Handbook.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was completely wasted on me because I viewed it on a kindle. That aside there are some lovely brightly coloured patterns and an easy to follow step by step for each stitch. What more could you want?....a physical copy. Doh!

This was a great book for anyone who wants to try their hand at embroidery. There are tons of stitches, all with detailed instructions that are easy to follow. I also really enjoyed the variety of projects that the author has created with the stitches. They are all very engaging and things I can see someone who is new to the craft being interested in. Often, people have a very dated notion in their heads when someone says they embroider, and this helps to show that it can be up -to -date as well!

This book shows step-by-step instructions for learning hand-embroidery and getting started on your first few projects, including printable templates. I liked that the stitch instructions used photos instead of illustrations because it helped me see how the thread is actually supposed to look. This is a great resource for instruction to keep on-hand when you (inevitably in my case) forget how to do a specific stitch, or as inspiration for creating your own designs in the future.

The Modern Embroidery Handbook includes many fun beginner embroidery projects using basic stitches. It is ideal for youth and adults who are trying embroidery for the first time. The book offers good guidance to learn and practice essential stitches. I recommend the book for youth leaders who are looking for fun projects and all other learners who want to incorporate embroidery in arts and crafts projects.

This is a solid introduction to embroidery. If you've never picked up needle and embroidery thread this book can get you going. It doesn't devote a lot of page space to discussion of materials, which would be useful for a total beginner, but the fact that you can check out the author's blog and youtube for more info is a nice bonus.

I liked the variety of projects, the sampler suggested looks fun and there were some project ideas that were out of the box, I've never seen a 3D apothecary jar embroidery project before and the idea of stitching on a wire basket was pretty cool!

This book would be great for a teen who wants to try out embroidery, good projects and bright eye catching colors would make this a good fit. And I want to order it for my library.

"The Modern Embroidery Handbook" is a comprehensive guide to the art of hand embroidery, designed for stitchers of all levels. Inspired by vintage sewing companions, the book offers step-by-step instructions for 72 different stitches, a large-scale sampler, and 20 original projects. The initial chapters introduce basic stitches commonly found in embroidery designs. As readers progress, they are introduced to more advanced techniques, including stitches for borders and edging, decorative motifs, and textural stitches and knots. Each stitch is clearly illustrated with step-by-step instructions, making it accessible even to beginners. The 20 projects provide ample opportunity to practice the stitches learned. They range from simple samplers to more ambitious pieces, such as a customizable mini-sampler dress, a botanical wreath, and a collaborative embroidery project. Each project includes detailed instructions, beautiful photographs, and templates for home use. Beyond the technical guidance, "The Modern Embroidery Handbook" encourages readers to explore their creativity and experiment with unconventional techniques. Albans provides tips for using watercolours on fabric, creating unique pieces for personal use or home decor, and experimenting with 3D effects in embroidery. The book's focus on modern embroidery aligns with current trends in the craft. Albans emphasizes bold motifs, personalized designs, and a contemporary aesthetic. The projects reflect this modern sensibility, encouraging readers to step out of their comfort zones and explore new possibilities. Overall, "The Modern Embroidery Handbook" is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning or advancing their embroidery skills. From basic stitches to inspiring projects, this book provides a comprehensive and accessible guide to the art of hand embroidery.

As a beginner to intermediate embroidery artist, I found this to be a more of reference guide for inspiration on using stitches as opposed to a handbook on how to execute its stitches and projects.

I had expected some additional templates especially for the sampler project. I also would have liked if there were more than 2 images for more of the more complicated stitches/steps. It does not feel as instructional but rather like a brief snapshot of ideas.

The variety of use cases in the sample projects from clothing to decor were enjoyable. My favorite designs were the Polaroid photo frames and the botanical hoop.

Overall, this feels more reference guide for more experienced creators not a handbook as it's titled. It is a bit too simplified/condensed for beginners that need more in-depth instruction. While it works as a good inspiration for stitches and their uses, some may need additional resources on how to complete the more complex stitches or designing their projects.

Thanks to NetGalley and White Owl for providing an early copy for review.

I know the basics of embroidery and have done a few pieces. So this title sounded interesting to review. I really liked the idea that there are nearly 70 stitches included and all in a sampler. That idea is simply great for practice and as a reference too. I like the layout of the book. The projects are a mix of quickies and time consuming ones. The photographs are good and templates are provided. The stitches are not explained elaborately but for someone who knows its a quick refresher. its more a project book than a basics. I wish there were more photos of authors work included for inspiration.

Really great book. I love that it had a sampler pattern and included more then just the most basic embroidery stitches. I like how it was organized to build upon itself with more stitches being used in the patterns. It also has a nice mix of projects.