Customer review
A very detailed book showing some beautiful designs. It gives plenty of explanation into how to create each design and examples of the different stitches required. I'm a keen sewing and think this book will challenge and encourage me into learning a broader range of techniques. Perfect for anyone wanted to develop their stitching skills and take it to a higher level.
Customer review
A well thought-out and structured book with beautiful designs, I like the fact that the book is broken-down into sections, the first part focusing on materials, then come the designs, followed by a gallery of the stitches and techniques used (so good), ending with templates of the designs in colour and black and white. I am a total beginner and so it has been very slow going but I am able to follow the patterns and hopefully will get quicker as I go.
Customer review
It is sumptuous and for practised embroiderers a feast of stitches in a beautifully styled way. I had crocheted mandalas before but hadn't thought to embroider one. Transferring the designs onto fabric is clearly explained and you have the opportunity to use the already coloured prints too which is a bit different! As my first foray I chose to make the central designs of both Wax Flower and Sweetheart in red embroidery thread on calico to get myself started. These were liked so much by my Aussie pal that she cadged them off me and they are even now en route to Au! I intend to make more of just the central designs themselves in red thread rather than multi coloured and can see the patterns will lend themselves to red/white, blue/white and black/white beautifully, so a good resource book of designs to have at your fingertips!
Customer review
This is a beautiful book. The first section covers the materials and how to use them. It also gives clear instructions on different methods of transferring the designs to the fabric. The second section has details of each of the mandalas, with beautiful photographs of the finished pieces, prints of the original artwork and a clear key to the stitches and threads used for each section. It also includes a short paragraph about the inspiration behind the designs. The third section contains a stitch library with clear diagrams and instructions for the stitches used. The last section contains both colour prints and black and white templates to copy and enlarge.
Postcard Reviews
What I love about this beautiful book is that not only can I indulge in my love of embroidery but it also gives me the opportunity to try new things.
Colouring, beading and other stunning techniques can be incorporated to make a wonderful design. The intricacy of each pattern is two things.. they are beautiful and on closer inspection they are simple. This makes them easy for beginner embroiderers and gives advanced stitchers the chance to develop skills and add a more personal touch to their design.
This is a brilliant teaching tool. The instructions are easy to understand and each project is given a skill level: beginner, intermediate and advanced.
There are templates to copy, and each project comes with a DMC colour recommendation. Of course there is no reason why you cannot use your own choice of thread and colour scheme.
The finished designs are beautifully photographed and this is a book filled with embroidery inspiration. It really is beautiful.
MyShelf.com
Stitch twenty-seven beautiful mandalas using the gorgeous drawings of Monique Day-Wilde married to the sewing skills of Hazle Blomkamp and Di van Niekerk. Using a combination of freestyle stitches plus some other needlecrafts you can bring these designs to life and use them to adorn your home and wardrobe.
Mandalas and embroidery a wonderful combination! This book brings needlecrafts into the 21st century with an option of coloured prints as well as line drawings plus all the materials you can find from floss to beads. Stitch on plain cloth or try the latest embroidery style by stitching on patterned fabric and augment your work with ribbon, trapunto and appliqué. The mandalas range from the abstract to those featuring real motifs such as shells, flowers, feathers, stars, snowflakes and more. Some are seasonal, and three are sea inspired which pleased me! The book states that it is ideal for rank beginners as well as experienced stitchers, not a claim I would make; improver level upwards as there is too much for a newbie to cope with. However, the stitch and technique diagrams are very easy to read so a beginner could certainly learn freestyle embroidery from this book. Each project has a list of what you need, a large photograph of the finished design and written instructions. The numbers correspond with numbers on one of more diagrams so you know what goes where. Projects are also graded from 1-3 for difficulty and a finished size is given in metric and imperial. The mandalas range from 5½ to 11 and some are shown worked using the plain line patterns while others show what you can do with a coloured pattern. Instructions are given on how to do both methods; you will need a special type of iron-on paper or a copy shop for the coloured variety, and all patterns need enlarging. As I said earlier, this is a book of modern embroidery so some technology is required alongside the needles and thread. A beautiful book for the keeper shelf.
