Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Crewel Intentions
Fresh Ideas for Jacobean Embroidery
Hazel Blomkamp

Search Press
19 June 2014/ ISBN 9781782211068
How-To Books / Embroidery

Reviewed by Rachel A Hyde

 

I’ve been an embroiderer since childhood, and have always loved the look of Jacobean embroidery. I have not done any due to being told that it had to be done with the traditional wool, and I am allergic to wool. Now here is a book after my own heart where not a shred of wool has been used, only modern cottons, rayons and metallic threads. The best part is (apart from the lack of wool) that it all looks wonderful!

It all looks much like the traditional crewelwork too, only given an updating as regards materials. If you read my review of this author’s Crewel Twists (also reviewed on this site) then you will know something of what to expect. There are clear diagrams of the stitches, an overview of materials and tools and some beautiful and exhaustively explained projects. Each has plenty of staged photographs as well as written instructions for such delights as a clock, tray, stool and even a music box. These items are available online, particularly if you also live in South Africa. This is not a beginners? book, but it has the sort of lush and opulent patterns that more experienced embroiderers will welcome. You do not necessarily need to have previous knowledge of crewelwork, but being an embroiderer used to working through patterns and making up projects is essential. Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the number of useful hints at the front, from tips on washing to advice about hoops, transferring designs, ways of working comfortably and even spectacles. There was considerable humor involved and a lot of common sense and some myth exploding, all the sorts of advice to put you in the right frame of mind for tackling some challenging and spectacular pieces of work. Very highly recommended.

Reviews of other titles by Hazel Blomkamp

Needle Weaving Techniques For Hand Embroidery
Needle Lace Techniques For Hand Embroidery

Crewel Intentions (Fresh Ideas for Jacobean Embroidery)
Crewel Twists (Fresh Ideas for Jacobean Embroidery)
Crewel Creatures

If you cannot find a good range of embroidery materials locally try www.searchpress.com for a list of suppliers.

  

UK Reviewer: Rachel Hyde's work can be found in The Bead Magazine, Making Jewellery and www.craftsuprint.com/rachel-a-hyde/
Reviewed 2014
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