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Today’s post is a bit different from the norm. When our fellow SEW Sister, Bianca Springer, reached out and asked if I would join her Blog Tour to help promote her new book, REPRESENT! EMBROIDERY, it was an enthusiastic yes for me. Bianca is such a talented designer and she has supported me in such beautiful ways over the past few years. She’s the founder of “Thanks I Made Them” and her designs are beautiful, vibrant, and meaningful. You may be familiar with the name and face if you attended my first Tea Time Live event on YouTube. Bianca was one of my first Sponsors and gave away a set of her very popular pattern weights from her Etsy Store.
Represent! Embroidery was born from Bianca’s desire to see more diversity in embroidery books. While on bedrest during a complicated pregnancy, she would modify the designs from the books to represent herself and her values. When she found herself incapacitated once again years later, she ran into the same issues with the embroidery books. This time she decided to reach out to C & T Publishing, asking for change. Then something magical happened. They challenged her to fill the need. And she did!
I hold in my hands the fruit of Bianca’s labor to bring to the community REPRESENT! Embroidery. The book is filled with projects and designs featuring a range of body shapes, skin tones, and hair textures.
I’ve never tried hand embroidery, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Well, I am very impressed with the layout of the book and find it to be beginner friendly. Bianca has provided us with all the steps we need to get started in this craft. She has detailed all the supplies, techniques and stitches needed for the projects. The project instructions are very detailed with helpful photos and line drawings. After reading through the book, I feel confident that I will be able to follow along and complete projects as a new beginner.
At the back of the book, you’ll find the design gallery with all the iron-on transfers for the projects. She has also provided a pocket on the inside back cover to store your designs after cutting.
As a new beginner to hand embroidery I’ll start with practicing the stitches before I jump into creating the designs. Then I plan to start with one of the more simple projects. My favorite design in the book is SQUAD GOALS. I absolutely love that it uses fabric appliqué and hand embroidery. This project is my ultimate goal. I will take my time and work on it when I can just sit and enjoy the process. I really want this to turn our beautiful so I can display it in my sewing studio.
What about you? Have you every tried hand embroidery? If you’re into the craft already, check out Bianca’s new book. If this is new to you, come join me and let’s learn a new craft. You can order REPRESENT! EMBROIDERY now!
Thanks for stopping by,
Remember: When you live in your DESIGN, it is from there that God SHINES!
Did you know that I created a Sewing Project Checklist to help you stay organized while sewing your garments? If you missed the video where I shared 3 Steps to Time Saving Sewing for Beginners, check it out to learn how you can streamline your sewing process. Tap the link below to get a Free PDF copy of the Checklist.
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This Post Has 8 Comments
I’ve done hand embroidery before. My great-great aunts decorated so many items with it. It’s good to do while sitting quietly with a cup of tea and good lighting. Making framed pictures or jar tops used to be fun projects. Embroidering the ends of pillowcases always dressed up the bedding.
Yeah, I like the idea of being able to do the craft while sitting and relaxing. I used to crochet and loved being able to take it anywhere and relax while creating.
How wonderful! I’m in for the new experience>
Yes, I think it will be fun.
I am a long time embroider and xstitcher, got the book because I just had to have it! This will be so fun!
So exciting! I’m really looking forward to giving it a try.
What a great book! Just like sewing, hand embroidery means you can make any “picture” you can think of! I’ve been embroidering since I was a child, when my mother started me out by using a pencil to write my initials on an old piece of pillowcase and showing me how to do a simple stitch, and I have always done some kind of hand embroidery or needlepoint ever since, including on my childrens’ clothes when they were very little. I can’t wait to see what you come up with – I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun as you explore this book!
That’s awesome that you’ve been hand embroidering since you were a child. What a great craft for young children.