Stumpwork Embroidery: Techniques, Projects and Pure Inspiration - Softcover

Issue 91 - Oct-Nov 2014 Kay Dennis has written a number of books. Stumpwork Embroidery is a compendium of three popular titles by Kay and Michael Dennis: Stumpwork Seasons, Stumpwork Figures and Beginners Guide to Stumpwork. This comprehensive title offers clear step-by-step photos and inspiring projects so that embroiderers of abilities can create wonderful stumpwork and needlelace pieces with ease. * Stitch * November 2014 This book really is a "must have" for anyone interested in stumpwork. I recently invited Kay & Michael to run a workshop for our local branch of the Embroiderers' Guild and reading through this book is as good as having them with you. The photographs and diagrams are of a very high quality and coupled with clear and easy to follow instructions makes the projects a joy to undertake. There is something for everyone in this book whether a complete beginner or an experienced embroiderer and one cannot fail to be inspired by its contents. Kay and Michael must be congratulated on producing such a beautiful book. * Embroiderer's Guild * March 2015 If you're keen to learn a variety of approaches to stumpwork embroidery - from figures to scenes to animals and flowers - you'll definitely be interested in Stumpwork Embroidery by Kay and Michael Dennis. Stumpwork Embroidery, published just last year by Search Press, is a hefty instructional book that teaches the basics of stumpwork and how to apply them to all kinds of projects. The book is a combination of Kay & Michael Dennis's other books that are no longer in print, so if you have one or more of their previous books (like Stumpwork Figures, Beginner's Guide to Stumpwork, or Stumpwork Seasons), you'll recognize some of the content. Let's take a look at what Stumpwork Embroidery has to offer the stumpwork enthusiast, shall we? First of all, the book is large. It's large in size, and it's large in scope! Kay & Michael Dennis are a husband and wife team from the UK who have been working together for a long time! You can read all about them on their website, Kay Dennis Stumpwork. While you're there, do visit the gallery - this 3-D walled garden is exquisite! The full review of Stumpwork Embroidery is available on Mary Corbet's Needle N Thread Blog http://www.needlenthread.com/2015/03/stumpwork-embroidery-book-review.html * needlenthread.com * October 2014 Have you ever wanted to try your hand at the more challenging embroidery style known as stumpwork but not known where to start? Inside these covers is everything you need to know to become proficient in this fascinating and beautiful craft. The caption on the front says "Techniques, Projects and Pure Inspiration" which neatly describes the contents of this book in a nutshell. You can read about the history of stumpwork, learn how to do all the stitches and find out what you need to obtain, then make some projects and have a look at some lovely finished work. This is a large format paperback with a good heft to it, meaning that it flops open on the table and stays flat. It is packed with pretty much everything you need to know on the subject, and I love the way it gets you started right away with some lovely practice pieces. This initially starts you learning the embroidery stitches and how they are used in stumpwork via some small but attractive projects with the trademark Search Press step by step captioned photographs. The next section shows you the more complex needlelace via more projects, this time slightly larger and more challenging ones. Then you discover how to put them together to make a scene and learn about figures. This is a modern book that interprets stumpwork in a contemporary style, so you won't get Biblical scenes with people in 17th century dress. Instead there is a footballer, a fisherman, a fairy and other more familiar subjects. Finally there is a more challenging project, a roundel of the four seasons, all the templates for the projects and a list of stitches. See what I meant about being exhaustive? Embroiderers will be glad to note that they have most of what they need already, and gathering the rest is part of the fun. This is one of the most impressive craft titles I have seen this year and it belongs firmly on my keeper shelf. I look forward to teaching myself stumpwork, and so will you. * Myshelf.com * October 2014 Create stumpwork plants, animals and figures even if you are a complete beginner. This is a practical guide for all levels of experience. This book shows step-by-step techniques and unique projects from previously published works `Beginner's Guide to Stumpwork', `Stumpwork Seasons' and `Stumpwork Figures' as such is a comprehensive guide to stumpwork. It includes everything you need to know: materials, equipment, getting started, techniques including needlelace, design, templates and a stitch library. Discover how to create acorns, poppy seed heads, topiary shapes, faces and figures, scenes, butterflies and more. Excellent and recommended. * Karen Platt Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk/crafts * October 2014 Stumpwork Embroidery is a compilation of three of Kay's previous books: The Beginner's Guide to Stumpwork, Stumpwork Seasons and Stumpwork Figures. The projects in this book take you through the basics needed to begin this rewarding form of embroidery, and incorporate more advanced techniques which you can use as you become more confident. The book contains lots of information on the equipment, fabric, threads etc., that you will need to use and the stitch diagrams are clear and easy to understand. With plenty of photographs showing the stages of construction and the finished elements of each design, you will be able to undertake any of the projects in this book or use the techniques shown to create your own designs. I have the Beginners Guide to Stumpwork and have use it extensively when I am trying out unfamiliar stumpwork techniques or want to remind myself how to do something, It is great to have techniques from all Kay's books in one place and I shall be using it as a reference for my future work. A friend who has all three books will be buying this edition as her current books are falling apart, she uses them so often! * Denise Gannon, Craft Arena *

Kay Dennis is a professional embroiderer and former Chairman of the Guild of Needlelace. She has been teaching both needlelace and stumpwork for many years and is a member of the Embroiderers' Guild. She has written articles for a leading needlecraft magazine and has lectured and demonstrated widely. Michael Dennis is a professional woodturner. He retired in 2001 and now assists Kay full-time in all aspects of her work. Kay and Michael have been married for 32 years and live in Northwood, Middlesex.