Embroidering the Magic of Plants: Healing Flower, Leaf & Herbal Designs

Embroidery artist Yula’s beautiful if daunting English-language debut demonstrates how to embroider fabric with floral designs. In her discussion of tools and materials, Yula recommends stitching on linen or fine-textured cotton fabric and points out that a ballpoint pen that’s out of ink can be used in lieu of a tracer tool to trace patterns onto fabric. Among the dainty and intricate projects are embroidery hoops filled with daisies and leaves, fabric brooches featuring tiny bouquets, and gusseted pouches displaying a wintry forest scene. Readers should note that some projects, including the pouches, pen cases, and tote bags, need to be sewn from scratch in addition to embroidering the main fabric. Unfortunately for novices, there is no explainer of sewing techniques, and while Yula offers an overview of embroidery stitches, such as chain stitches and running stitches, the illustrations are occasionally unclear. Other tips and techniques, however, are explained thoroughly, including step-by-step photographs showing how to stitch miniature roses, as well as Yula’s recommended sequence for stitching (outlining first, followed by filling in areas, and finishing with finer details). Experienced crafters will get the most out of this. (May)