Modern Hand Stitching: Dozens of Stitches with Creative Free-Form

This slim volume full of helpful photo guides to a variety of embroidery stitches makes a good addition to the sewist's library, especially for those who'd like a quick reference for the occasional decorative stitch. The author, a fiber artist based in Colorado, creates in a style that feels a bit dated, and the general layout and design of the book seems to hail from the late %E2%80%9890s as well. Even the featured projects (no patterns provided) are not contemporary, and the text can be repetitive and workmanlike. But since no one's picking this up to read, it shines as a guide to unusual stitches. Enjoy the clearly photographed introductions to the Layered Chain Stitch, Open Chain Stitch, Bullion Knot, and two dozen more, then find a way to use them that suits your style. Full-color photos. (Mar.)