Machine Embroidery and More

Since there aren't any Publisher's Info or Editorial Reviews on this title, I am including the following in hopes it may be helpful: Machine Embroidery and More: 10 Step-by-Step Projects Using Border Fabrics and Beads FROM THE PUBLISHER Add elegance to your sewing projects! Start with fabulous border prints, add sheer overlay fabrics and dazzling machine embroidery, and top it all off with beautiful beadwork. You'll love the eye-popping effect this exciting process will bring to your work. 10 complete projects include quilts, wearables, home decor items, and accessories Kristen simplifies working with border prints and takes you step-by-step through the cutting and piecing process Embroidery can be done on any machine that features a few basic zig-zag, satin, utility, or decorative stitches Kristen Dibbs is a well-known Australian artist, teacher, and author. Her work has been shown in numerous exhibitions, and in museum and private collections in Australia and Europe. Kristen lives in Eastwood, New South Wales. SYNOPSIS Start with fabulous border prints, add sheer overlay fabrics and dazzling machine embroidery, and top it all off with beautiful beadwork. You'll love the eye-popping effect this exciting process will bring to your work.

I love to cruise through the photographs in this book when I am looking for inspiration. It is filled with photos of beautiful embellishments mostly done on border prints. Dibbs shows step by step how to use decorative machine stitches and beads to create fabric with rich texure and sparkle. Most of the book is devoted to 10 projects which use the same technique which is quick and simple to learn and understand. The bright, bold photos really stir my creativity and make me dream of ways I can make a pretty print dress become a spectacular attention grabber, or convert a simple pair of tab top curtains to a focal point by adding a border print stripe and embellishing with rayon and metallic thread along with some well placed seed beads. I would not use her technique on a quilt, though, as she has done in some of her projects. I think quilts should be snuggly. I think this technique is best in small patches because it packs quite a punch. It can be labor intensive, especially if using many beads, but like rich dessert, a little goes a long way.