Mary Corbet's Needle 'n Thread
This book is so beautifully thorough that I could pretty much eliminate every other book I own on this type of whitework embroidery, thereby saving quite a bit of shelf space! Of course, I wont do that. I have several books on whitework that I very much appreciate and use.
But wow! Jenny Adin-Christies new book, Fine Whitework, is a barn burner from cover to cover. I think we are super fortunate to have this book available, written by a master embroiderer who has such a profound artistic sense and such notable teaching skills. It seems to me that only Jenny Adin-Christie could have written this book and pulled off such a masterpiece that makes traditional fine whitework accessible to todays embroiderer.
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The whitework in this book draws on an array of techniques from surface embroidery, to needle lace, Desden work, Ayshire whitework, to the various embroidered laces of the nineteenth century so many needlework traditions! to bring to life multi-faceted designs through texture and tonal contrast. Its the texture, the contrast, the multiple layers, the variations in weight and depth, in airiness and heaviness, that enliven this type of fine whitework embroidery and make it so captivatingly beautiful. The techniques youll learn in this book are not restricted to whitework alone, though. They can carry over into innumerable embroidery pursuits.
The fact is, if youre good at this kind of whitework, the embroidery world is pretty much your proverbial oyster. You can do anything!
The book begins with an introduction to the Royal School of Needlework, where Jenny found her needlework career, followed by an introduction to and a history of whitework, and then it launches into instruction.
First, Jenny covers materials and tools. Heres where youll find information on fabrics for fine whitework, with explanations of the different fibers, weaves, weights, and so forth. Youll learn about the threads that are used in traditional whitework. And youll explore tools that make the embroiderers work possible, easier, or more efficient. Besides the small tools, Jenny shows us different types of embroidery hoops and frames and how to prepare and use them.
Then, we move along to design inspiration. The author provides an array of advice on where to look for inspiration and how to consider what you are seeing in the light of whitework. She talks about the difference between solid and open space in designing whitework, teaching us how to consider the open spaces carefully in order to achieve a balanced design that makes sense to the viewer.
Then, she takes us through getting the design down on paper and working it out until we are satisfied with it. Her advice here is invaluable when it comes to the whole concept of designing. This section is gold.
Possibly my favorite pages in the preliminaries: the tonal scale of fine whitework from the whitest areas to the open, airy areas that become negative space. This section is such a great visual tool for helping the reader to make sense of the way the eye and the mind see and interpret whitework. I also love the section on the order of work!
Then, theres gobs of information on transferring the design in a number of different ways. And theres a bit on working a preparatory stitch sampler, too, to hone techniques before applying them to your main project.
Then, we get into techniques. This part of the book launches into the detailed instructional content, and its divided into six sections: essential starting techniques, sculptured techniques, translucent techniques, filigree techniques, fretted techniques (fretted is such a great word), and voided techniques. The instructions are offered in easy-to-understand diagrams in step-by-step photos along with plenty of explanatory text, with helpful tips along the way. The text is readable and the explanations, diagrams, and photo instructions are all clear, precise, and eminently accessible.
Oh my goodness! There are So Many Techniques in this book! Its mind-boggling how much effort must have gone into creating such an organized and clear instructional manual!
After all the instructional techniques, we are presented with two projects to put our learning into practice. You might be tempted to say, Only two projects?, but I assure you, the second project is itself a masterclass in fine whitework, incorporating the equivalent of about eight projects when you consider the techniques involved. Nevertheless, there are two other projects that go along with this book, bringing the total to four projects. Ill talk about these two extra projects below.
The first project is a small piece with the (sorry, Jenny) unfortunate name of Scabiosa, after the unfortunately-named scabiosa flower. Such pretty flowers, for such a name! (No doubt it comes from the Latin scabiosus, which means itchy.) But the project is lovely! It is a small roundel incorporating multiple layers and techniques. Think of it as the taster project.
After providing us with materials lists and design, Jenny takes us step-by-step through the project, from beginning to end, in a thorough manner that ensures a successful completion. After the project is completed, youll find these variation pieces.
After the first project, were presented with a whole section of further inspiration gorgeous photos of the work of Jennys students. Its a lovely gallery of inventive and beautiful pieces. Then, we have the second project in the book, called Small Birds May Fly High and its a stunner. Again, we are taken step-by-meticulous-step through this project, with over 53 pages of instruction.
Theres no detail not covered here, even to some specialty framing techniques for this type of multi-layered piece. The book ends with pages of templates for the projects and the technique sampler elements.
I really dont know what else to say about this book, aside from: get it. If you have any interest in this type of embroidery, if it inspires you, if you even just want to learn some of the techniques to apply to different types of embroidery, youre going to learn well from this book. Jenny doesnt leave you guessing on anything shes an expert at every level. This comes across in her instruction, which is delivered in an accessible, genuine, and sincere voice throughout the book.
Its a Magnum Opus in every sense of the term. I think it will end up being the standard in whitework instructional books for years to come.
