As much as I’ve wished away some parts of this year, I’m happy to see fall arrive. I love this time of year! October finds me winding things down outside in the garden and soon enough, I’ll be turning my attention to indoor evening activities. I can remember my Mom used to do needlepoint and embroidery almost exclusively in the fall and winter months. While she did her best to teach me to embroidery pieces as well as she did, my stiches were always rudimentary, beginner level.  I regretted not learning this craft so I could teach my daughters, so when Fox Chapel Publishing invited me to review this book, I happily agreed, so I can better my skills and help my daughters learn how to embroidery animals too!


Cute Critters!



Learn how to embroidery with Animal Embroidery Workbook & giveaway



This is a sponsored post on Fox Chapel Publishing.  I received information to facilitate today’s post as well as a promotional copy of Animal Embroidery Workbook to thank me for my participation. All opinions and love of cute animals are my own.



About Animal Embroidery Workbook by Jessica Long:


Embroidery supplies needed


Stitch, Smile, and Build your skills! Author Jessica Long wants to help us take our embroidery skills to the next level with what’s sure to be the most charming embroidery book you’ll ever own. I had to have it when I saw the cute hedgehog on the front cover!


This workbook has 30 one of a kind animal projects, including a flower crown elephant, smiling sloth, dancing unicorn and many other whimsical designs that aim to build your embroidery skill set and confidence. The work book is broken into two parts with part one being for beginners, which is where I’ll start even though I did have a smattering of lessons off throughout my childhood from my Mom, whose skill level would be considered advanced. 


Part One Topics:

Part one of the Animal Embroidery Workbook covers the basics, such as:

Materials

Safety

Transferring patterns

Getting started on a project

Finishing Techniques

Fundamental Stitches


The Critter projects, or easy beginner projects include a flower crown elephant, dogs I’ve known, sketchy owls, floral bunnies, peacock feather, color-changing chameleon, and a pacific octopus.


Part Two Topics:

Part two contains projects that are divided into four sections based on skill level. These start with beginner friendly designs and progress into more advanced thread painting designs. Each project includes:

 

Step-by-step instructions

Color diagrams

Stitch direction diagrams

Color keys

Full Size patterns


The Confident Beginner creatures in this section of the workbook include:


Hummingbirds and Hibiscus



Hummingbird and Hibiscus, Mr. Frog, midnight lovebirds, wildflower fawn, llama mamas, she sews seashells, honeybee love. 


This little baby hedgehog is in advanced section of the book called thread painting. I hope to someday be proficient enough to do this project. The author is kind enough to not only share her templates with us, she teaches us how to transfer them onto our project medium AND shows us how to make this hedgehog into multiple projects, including jewelry pieces. 



little hedgehog embroidery advanced project



My Thoughts:

I decided it would be best for me to read the workbook in its entirety before I start a project, even though the colorful and cute animals, flowers and nature scenes speak to me and have me itching to get started ASAP. What I like most is the author teachers visually right alongside the written lessons, making it easier to learn. Ms. Long also emphasizes that it is completely OKAY to make mistakes! She addresses this topic very early on in the workbook by showing us how she messed up on a French knot. It was too loose, so she simply pulled it out and started again.

 

Even though I’m eager to get started on one of the many project options found in this cool workbook, I’m going to take an old piece of cotton cloth, some embroidery floss and needle and practice my stitches first. That way, once I do start my first project, my fabric won’t look like a pin cushion from all my tries, rip outs and re-starts.

 

The Takeaway:

I think this book is perfect for my daughters and I to learn from. The overview of the basics, like selecting the correct materials and setting a double hoop are so helpful. This workbook is also perfect for more advanced embroiders showcasing several patterns and projects for them to enjoy. This would be a perfect workbook for Mom and Daughter projects on cool fall evenings.

I invite you to learn more about the Animal Embroidery Workbook and the author Jessica Long by visiting her website, JessicaLongEmbroidery.com, where you can learn more about her, see more of her amazing artistry and even purchase a copy of Animal Embroidery Workbook. 


Win It:


Animal Embroidery Workbook giveaway


Thanks to today’s sponsor, Fox Chapel Publishing, one lucky reader will receive a paperback copy of Animal Embroidery Workbook by Jessica Long. Please read the terms outlined below before entering.


Terms:

No purchase is necessary to enter using the Rafflecopter form below.  My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize fulfillment, sponsor is. Winners will be notified by email used on entry form and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  This giveaway is not associated with nor endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, or any other social channel. 


Good luck! 



Rafflecopter selected Winner: Susan B. 



Please share in comments: If you win, will your keep this workbook or gift it? 


SHARE 8 comments

Add your comment

© My WAHM Plan · THEME BY WATDESIGNEXPRESS