book review // colorful stitchery

I've been sitting on a book for a while, and I keep meaning to share it and then I don't know what happens. Actually I have a few books that I'd like to show you, but one at a time, I think. So let's start with Colorful Stitchery by Kristin Nicholas.

You may remember that back in November I told you about the Stitch It With Wool Craftsy class that I took. This book was written by the same Kristin Nicholas that taught the class! Her Craftsy class was focused entirely on crewel embroidery, but her book has a combination of crewel, traditional embroidery, and a few other stitching techniques.

The 65 projects (Many are variations on a theme, but that's still a ton!) are divided into sections for cushions, kitchen, bedding, and some extras. All are a perfect way to stitch some color into your home.

Over half of the projects in Colorful Stitchery are pillows or cushions. Up until a little over a year ago, that wouldn't have excited me much, but now I kinda love pillow projects. I especially appreciate how Kristin has let the materials themselves help guide many of the cushion covers she designed. She describes some of these as being mindless stitching projects, which I enjoy immensely.

Crewel embroidery is the author's favorite, so there are are more than a few crewel designs (as well as some that have a crewel feeling to me, but technically aren't). The technique uses wool for stitching, and I like how Kristin works both new wool and recycled wool into her tutorials. The potholders would make a great gift, and just how stunning is this blanket?

In the "extras" category, you'll find some items that work with ribbon, boxes, stationery, and suggestions for even more less-than-traditional stitching.

The basics section has tons of information and lots of helpful (and colorful!) illustrations. And as silly as it may sound, I simply adore the divider pages and panels with pretty floral prints.

As a fun bonus, you can download one of the projects from Colorful Stitchery on Roost Books' website! Just be aware that it is a large file, so you may not want to download it on your phone or tablet. While you're there, check out Kristin's latest title, Crafting a Colorful Home.

Get your copy of Colorful Stitchery from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local book seller.

Thanks, Kristin and Roost Books for sending me this fun book!