Lauren Holton - The modern embroidery studio : 20 stylish designs to stitch, wear, and share

Introduction

Often, people hear the word embroidery and immediately their minds conjure up visions of elderly women in hair nets, bound to their rocking chairs and adding daisies to handkerchiefs. While the modern embroidery movement leaves plenty of room for more mature stitchers, what you will find within the pages of this book is not your grandmothers embroidery. Were bringing fiber art into the modern world with new ways to use traditional methods, contemporary color palettes, and designs that reflect modern interests. But why? What can be gained from reviving the art of embroidery?

If you look back in time, youll find that the mid-twentieth century saw a shift toward all things modern. The days of everything being made by hand were no more, allowing people to purchase what they needed from stores. The home-made way of life that, out of necessity, dominated the past gave way to clean lines, factory-made food and furniture, and many social and cultural changes that we continue to benefit from today. However, in the 1960s and 70s, people began to realize that they were missing something. These decades saw an influx of fiber art (macram, weaving, quilting, and yesembroidery), making homes a renewed place of warmth and coziness. This shift was also a reclamation of the DIY mindsetnot out of necessity, but out of a desire for independence and creativity.

In this age of technology, where so many of us spend hours in front of screens each day, we find ourselves seeking out some of these same things: cozy homes, proximity to rejuvenating plant life, and ways to unplug and create something tangible with our hands.

Of all the ways to get crafty, embroidery is one of the most accessible and fulfilling. It requires very little in the way of materials, doesnt cost much, and the work in progress is often small and portable. Embroidery is easy to pick up and set downno need to waste time setting up or cleaning up after messier supplies like paint, which is a huge bonus for those of us whose busy lives only allow us 1520 minutes at a time for creative pursuits.

Stitching itself can be very meditative. In a face-paced world, it forces you to slow down and to use both your hands for a single task. The process of coaxing the needle and thread in and out of the fabric, the softness of working with fibers, the balance of gentleness and tension needed to create each stitchall of this provides a richly tactile experience that is just the opposite of our typical screen-centered hand motions.

Embroidery is rhythmic, rewarding, creative, and delightfully applicable. You can frame your finished pieces in the very hoop you stitched them in, encase them in a shadow box, or opt for an even more practical approach by embellishing your favorite denim jacket or canvas bag. The feeling of having made something with your own two hands is something not everyone gets the chance to experience as part of their daily routine, but it is one that should be a part of every human experience. Many people find the process of stitching so rewarding that they return to the craft again and again, not because they want to create a wall of embroidery projects, but because they find so much peace of mind in the craft itself.

As you explore the pages of this book, youll find embroidery projects that reflect contemporary interestseverything from coffee culture to houseplants. Many patterns will help you forge a deeper connection to the natural world (another thing many of us crave in our busy, sidewalk-centered routines), as well as abstract designs that allow you to free your mind, thinking only about color, shape, and expressing your own creative personality.

Most projects are approachable for novice embroiderers, but even the seasoned stitcher will find patterns in this book that allow them to use their skills in new, creative ways. Use this book as a chance to learn something new, tackling more challenging projects as you build your skill set. As your confidence grows, you may even find the desire to leave the pages of this book, designing your own projects based on whatever inspires you. Perhaps youll revisit grandmas daisies with a modern twist, or take off in a bold new direction. Whether you stick to these patterns or use them as a jumping-off point for your own embroidery journey, I cant wait to see what you create. Happy stitching!