Hip to Stitch

Book excerpt: Ideas for embellishing beautiful garments and home decor to add personal touches are presented with easy, step-by-step instructions, illustrations, and 38 stitch techniques and 20 hand-embroidered projects, in this stylish stitching how-to. Included are motifs to dress up a skirt, day tripper bags, a guitar pick case, a picnic baby bib, a butterfly picture frame, hand-embroidered pillows, stitched note cards, and heirloom scrapbooks. Throughout the book are helpful tips and hints such as hiding knots and thread tails, sewing a pocket, making durable stitches, and working with silk and wire. In addition to teaching the basics, this guide can make projects ambitious by experimenting with stitches and the number and placement of motifs so that even experienced stitchers will find renewed inspiration for embroidery.