Crewel Twists

"Crewel Twists is a beautiful book of beautiful stitchery! I thought it was fun to read, I think the projects are really interesting twists on Jacobean designs, I like the fresh look of the projects and the incorporation of beads and multiple types of stitching that help make the projects fun and challenging, without being daunting." - Mary Corbet, Needle 'n Thread

Whether you refer to it as crewel or Jacobean, this free form of surface embroidery has been around for centuries and is very popular among needle artists today. Because of the nature of the fanciful objects and the tradition of using a large variety of stitches in one project, it lends itself to endless creative expression. Renowned embroiderer Hazel Blomkamp uses a wide selection of materials to update techniques and inspire embroiderers to explore, while working loosely within the confines of crewel work styles. She shows needle artists how to be creative with fabric, threads, beads and alternative stitches, borrowing techniques from other forms of needlework, and still producing a product that is typical of the crewel or Jacobean style of embroidery.

A fresh take on Jacobean embroidery
Materials and techniques to inspire
Six beautiful, decorative embroidery projects for your home.

Book Contents

Contents
Introduction 8
General tips 10
Materials 15
Tools 18
Stitch gallery 19

Beaded Jacobean embroidery 35
Spring trellis 37
Midnight meander 57

Borrowing techniques from needle-made lace 69
Autumn lace 71
Jacobean tangle 83

Creatively traditional 99
Just Jacobean 101
Bountiful season 115

Conversion chart for stranded thread 133
Patterns 137