This book is gorgeous! I'm a huge fan of Scandinavian design; I love all those clean crisp white interiors, crockery patterns with a Scandinavian feel and the cheerful colours and folksy motifs of their traditional crafts... and this book includes projects inspired by all those things.
The book contains 35 projects divided into five sections - bags, gifts and decorations, kitchen, clothes and accessories and soft furnishings - and covers a wide range of embroidery and needlework techniques.
It's a bit of a shame that almost all the templates need enlarging before use (even for small projects like gift tags and brooches) but all the instructions are very clear and there's a guide to basic sewing and embroidery in the back of the book which means the projects are very accessible.
Flicking through the book I've already mentally bookmarked several projects I want to try, including that groovy yellow bird cushion and lots of the red and white Christmas designs.
Even the things I don't want to make involve embroidery patterns I'd love to adapt for other items. For example, I'm not sure I could be bothered to embroider a bath mat, or to track down the special felt required to make the bag pictured on the cover... but both designs would look gorgeous on other things like cushions or canvas bags.
If you want to add some Scandinavian style to your life, Scandinavian Needlecraft is available from Cico Books, Amazon USA
, Amazon UK
, The Book Depository and many other bookshops. [Disclaimer - Cico Books sent me a free review copy of this book, and the Amazon & Book Depository links in this post are affiliate links]
the projects in it look fab! something else to add to my ever growing christmas list!
ReplyDeleteHi there -- I wanted to introduce myself. I'm Jan from Bobbypin's Boardwalk. Hawthorn chose you as a sunshine award and I wanted to meet those bloggers, so here I am. I really enjoy your blog. I'm looking forward to following you and I invite you to do the same!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteseeing you regularly bring a bit of sunshine to my life, I have awarded you a deserving ’sunshine award’ please see today’s post hope it brings a smile to your day
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A great looking book, what a nice thing to review!
ReplyDeleteI have this book and am currently using your felt to make the bird garland. It's very simple and looks good so far!
ReplyDeleteI bought that one recently - totally agree, it's gorgeous. I'm really fond of the lovely Christmassy things, like the bird garland, and love that gorgeous yellow bird cushion - you are so right, totally groovy.
ReplyDeleteI NEED that book, oh it is so me and I don't have it - arrrghhh!
ReplyDeleteWe move house on Monday and I have no money darn it, why oh why did I visit your gorgeous blog today *shakes head sadly*
Enjoy, it looks amazing!!!
I keep looking at this book in town, think you've persuaded me that it is one worth getting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your review of the book, I have been seeing it around recently, its always great to get some christmas inspiration at this time.
ReplyDeleteit looks wonderful!!
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