Mountmellick Embroidery: Inspired by Nature
Meg-online:The authors call their excellent book 'inspired by nature' and the samples worked by them are truly inspirational.  To begin, they give a thorough history of this Irish technique with some beautiful historic examples.  All the materials, equipment and preparation for stitching are clearly explained followed by a comprehensive list of stitches traditionally used.  The diagrams for stitches are clear, easy to follow and include knitting techniques for the fringing.  There are two sections  of projects, one traditional and one more contemporary, so there are enough ideas to satisfy any stitcher.  As a bonus, at the end of the book, there is a pattern transfer to be used to help those who find stitching easier than drawing.  A great book for traditional techniques. www.karenplatt.co.uk: The textured form of whitework originated in Ireland. It is very attractive. Mountmellick embroidery is subtitled inspired by nature and the designs are from plant sources that originally grew in the area from which the work takes its name. This is a fully revised and expanded version of the original book. This is now a 104 page book that also includes a full size pattern sheet for a runner. The book gives a history of the technique of Mountmellick embroidery and also of knitted fringes. A comprehensive guide to stitches follows plus projects to practice what you have mastered. Learn the stitches with the aid of 600 clear instructions and diagrams. The seventeen projects are graded from beginner to advanced embroiderer. Try your hand at beautiful samplers, runners, doilies and table mats. This is an amazing book that will introduce you to the art of this type of embroidery - long may it be kept alive. I fell in love with it at first glance. Like Yvette's other embroidery books (see reviews), I would recommend this to anyone without hesitation.--This text refers to an alternatePaperbackedition.