A Year of Embroidery: A Month-to-Month Collection of Motifs for Seasonal Stitching (Make Good: Japanese Craft Style)

A Year of Embroidery is a new pictorial embroidery primer by Yumiko Higuchi. Released 4th Sept, 2018 by Roost books, it's a concise 88 pages, full color, and available in paperback format.

It's nice to see surface embroidery coming back into its own. It seemed for years that almost all of the new tutorial books were aimed at counted cross stitch or quilting. This book is laid out in a calendar format with different project sections gathered into months/seasons. There are 3 projects per 'month' with some months having an alternative colorway of one of the projects.

The projects themselves are mostly line drawings with filling stitches. Some are quite structural and border on stumpwork. They're all appealing and would be ideal for decor or clothing applications. The book is peppered with photographs for inspiration for finishing the projects.

There is a very short technique chapter between the monthly project sections and the line drawings of the patterns. This chapter also includes a few tips (how to carry thread, finishing techniques, etc) which can be utilized to make the projects easier and better.

The photography is very clear. With the diagrams, the projects should be comfortable for a keen beginner.

The line drawings of the patterns also include recommended stitch fillers.

Lovely and useful addition to the embroiderer's library. I am going to incorporate some of the line drawn motifs in the freehand areas of my next counted thread sampler.

Five stars

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

The designs in this book are a real contemporary take on classic embroidery. I haven't embroidered in years but the authors work has inspired me to take up the needle again. The illustrations are beautiful and directions are clear.

This book is wonderful for sewing stuff and embroidering on it. A blouse, bag, linens, and a few portrait worth pieces. I really like this! Embroidered Botanicals is better. I know!

Dislike that you have to copy patterns yourself. Pretty much chain ditching throughout the designs.

Great book good patterns

This book is fun to look through and I look forward to using the embroidery patterns. The embroidery pictures are lovely, the directions and patterns are look very helpful.

🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸

A Year of Embroidery is simply beautiful ... one of the prettiest books around! It offers an array of motifs for elegant seasonal stitching. Follow the course of a year—from snow flowers in January to lily of the valley in May, a collection of seed pods in October, trumpeting angels in December—to add seasonal elan to embroidery projects, one lovelier than the next. Designer Yumiko Higuchi offers easy-to-follow instructions and detailed diagrams for 38 patterns with sweet imagery and a lively feel. For all skill levels. 5/5

Thanks to Roost Books and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.

#AYearOfEmbroidery #NetGalley

This has quickly become one of my favorite needlework books. I am an avid and experienced seamstress. These patterns are lovely for me and for teaching others. It is easy to copy the patterns and do some adjusting and tweaking to make t your own... even using bits and pieces on other projects. Beautiful color photos.

Good instructions, l can’t wait to start.

This book is amazing! The patterns are absolutely gorgeous. The book is extremely friendly for beginners, yet lends itself to experienced embroiders. I am in love!