Japanese Motifs in Stumpwork & Goldwork

From Mary Corbet’s Needle ‘n’ Thread —

“This book, which features gorgeous projects, comes across as much more detailed in instruction, with visuals that make the book very accessible, even if you have not had experience with either goldwork or stumpwork. The projects in the book are beautiful. Each one reflects Jane’s touch and style (yes, we do get the whimsical bug here and there!).

…. We move into techniques that include the preliminaries, like preparing your ground fabric, transferring your design, working with wire, various goldwork and stumpwork techniques, and all the foundational instruction you need in order to complete any of the projects. This section is a goldmine, whether you’re working the projects in the book or not. They’re full of useful tips on setting up any kind of similar project. You’ll learn a lot here, whether you plan to embroidery one of the designs or you just plan to soak up some inspiration from them.

The instruction is delivered via lots of diagrams (and text), with close-up photos of the embroidered section that’s being covered, so that you can see the method and techniques in the diagram, along with the desired outcome in the photo.”


Library Journal

“Expert stumpwork and goldwork teacher Nicholas (Shakespeare’s Flowers in Stumpwork) draws inspiration from traditional Japanese family crests for this collection of small projects incorporating surface embroidery, stumpwork, and goldwork. These techniques combine exquisite metal threads and three-dimensional wirework to create ornate, decorative designs. Twelve small projects are included in the collection, ranging from goldwork butterflies that pop off the fabric to flower-and-insect pairings featuring sakura, peony, iris, and lotus flowers. Nicholas’s instructions are highly detailed, with guidance on specific threads, needle sizes, and thread lengths, and each project is divided into sections that focus on one part of the design. Both diagrams and close-up photographs of completed works and works-in-progress are included, allowing embroiderers to follow along with the instructions. A history of Japanese family crests and basic information about tools, embroidery stitches, and transfer techniques are featured in the introduction, and traceable and downloadable templates are provided for each project.VERDICT Nicholas’s pieces are beautiful, but they’re best for embroiderers with experience in surface embroidery, stumpwork, and goldwork. For a thorough grounding in the basics of these techniques, beginners should start with the Royal School of Needlework’s guides [available from Search Press].”