Another book

Another of the books that is on my shelves that I often recommend is Carolyn Ambuter's The Open Canvas.  That link will take you to the Amazon page for this book which, while out of print, is quite easy to find.


The book is divided into six "books:" Pulled Canvas (or diverted thread), Neeedleweaving, Hemstitching, Filet (or Lacis), Hardanger, and Reticello and Hedebo.

Each book has eight to ten lessons.  The first for each is Canvas Preparation and the remaining lessons take the student through the steps of the type of embroidery to complete a sampler and one or more other patterns or proejcts. Each lesson is further broken down into steps.    All of the designs are modern (or were in 1982), but the techniques learned apply to historical works of the same types. There is a section of color photographs in the middle.

All of the stitch diagrams are clear, with more complex working broken down by steps and marked.

For example, the Filet section has this tray insert as one of the projects:

Lesson one of Filet covers canvas preparation (as it does for every section).

Lesson two covers cloth stitch and shows use of it in several ways.












Here is the beginning of Lesson 2A, Squares in cloth stitch.  Using both photographs and line drawings with detailed discussion, the student is taken step by step through the work.






This book is a common reference for me both for Medieval based work and more modern work.  I highly recommend picking up a copy if you come across one.