Hoop Art

Issue May/June Social media is awash with images of embroidery framed in hoops; and this book does begin with several projects that do just that, but there is so much more to this stylish how-to book, which those who are keen to learn embroidery will love. Morgan has designed 50 modern motifs (from abstract and geometric patterns to botanical motifs and hand-lettered designs) that can be completed using only ten basic stitches, and has included a set of handy iron-on patterns that will have you stitching in no time. The stylish hoop art embroideries feel fresh and there is an entire section dedicated to embroidering jewellery, patches, homewares and clothing. Beginners will love the ease with which they can embroider a stylish necklace or tote bag, and more experienced stitch enthusiasts can tackle the embroidered denim jacket and patches, or the hoop that features on the cover. This is embroidery for our times, which, whilst aimed at a younger reader, will still appeal to anyone interested in stitching fashionable projects. * Embroidery * Issue 54 Embroidery has been brought into the 21st century. No longer the outdated skill for samplers and fussy patterns here Cristin Morgan has worked traditional stitches into beautiful designs perfect for modern interiors. Combining contemporary motifs that include geometric designs and botanical imagery worked in bright threads, once you've mastered the 10 basic stitches you'll have the knowledge to make 50 illustrated designs. Discover how to update and embellish a cushion cover, napkins or even a denim jacket, or simple salvage a hoop from a charity and create some contemporary wall art. * Reloved * If you think that freestyle embroidery is all about fussy rules and old-fashioned florals think again! This versatile way of making colorful marks on fabric can be as individual and modern as the stitcher, and this book shows you how to express yourself in stitches. This is an ideal book for a beginner as not only does it tell you what you need and show you enough stitches to get you started it also contains plenty of simple projects and even some embroidery transfers. I love the way the author points out that a beginner does not need to own everything on the list and says in just a few words how little you need to start. The projects start with several fun but very basic pieces that can be hung up in their hoops, and continues through garments, accessories, soft furnishings and even jewelry. The stitches are all shown at the back in a beginner-friendly way together with instructions on starting and finishing off plus how to transfer with and without the iron-on method. There is a section containing the templates, a list of projects with the DMC threads used and a couple of useful alphabets to trace if you are monogramming. Each project has plenty of captioned photographs as well as a large photo of the finished piece, size and a list of materials. If I could choose I would have opted for a darker, slightly larger typeface and most of the projects also require a sewing machine plus some basic skills associated with it. Some pieces can be made without, and none of the items are difficult to make up. I think my favorite is the zippered makeup purse decorated with lipsticks worked in a mixture of fabric paint and embroidery. Stitch a botanical fern, cactus napkins, winking pillow, watermelon sunglasses case, pictures in hoops of a rainbow, bees, wildflowers and many other things. I was impressed with the pom-pom instructions that show a totally different method to the one I have always used that can be done with a maker or just some card scraps. If you want to learn freestyle embroidery without a lot of unnecessary fuss and prefer contemporary designs you will love this very beginner-friendly book. -- Rachel Hyde * myshelf.com * Delve into the world of modern embroidery with Hoop Art by Cristin Morgan of Marigold + Mars. It features 20 new proj

Cristin Morgan is an accessories designer turned contemporary embroidery artist. Inspired by nature, colour, texture and graphic design, Cristin believes that embroidery deserves a place outside of the hoop. Her work can be found at marigoldandmars.com and at instagram.com/marigoldandmars, where she also shares a behind-the-scenes look into her creative process with her 15.5K followers. Cristin lives in Richmond, VA, with her husband and their two sons.