Foreword by Kew 6
Introduction 8
What is needle painting? 10
Tools and materials 10
Preparation 16
Stitch instructions 20
Securing your thread
Long-and-short stitch
Split stitch
Satin stitch
French knots
Bullion stitch
Practise the stitches
Outlines 30
Raised embroidery 32
Anatomy of a flower 34
Useful advice before you start 35
Simple projects 36
Japanese anemone 38
Flower sampler 44
Clematis 94
Camellia 100
Intermediate projects 106
Rhododendron 108
Waterlily 116
Iris 122
Spider chrysanthemum 128
Advanced projects 134
Rose 136
Magnolia 144
Poppy 154
Thread substitutes 163
The templates 164
Using the iron-on transfers 176
Trish Burr is a self-taught embroiderer who hungrily consumes all aspects of this fine craft. Through research and practice she has developed this individual technique of surface embroidery. She is the author of several highly successful books. Trish lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa. For more information on Trish and her work visit www.trishbembroidery.com
Take inspiration from the natural world with needlework expert
Trish Burr's embroidery guide, made in association with The Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew. Learn new stitching methods while creating
intricate spider chrysanthemums, striking magnolias and much more.
The book also comes with reusable iron-on transfer papers so you
can get started straight away.
*Sew Magazine*
Another fantastic Search Press craft book. The photos are beautiful
and detailed and the instructions are clear to follow. The author
has given step-by-step instructions for beginners but the projects
will appeal to more experienced embroiders too. A gorgeous book
with lovely projects to make.
*Amazon*
This is a beautifully written and illustrated book, very clear
instructions for beginners and improvers! Lots of information about
threads and stitches before you start on a new project, can’t wait
for my new threads to come to start on a simple project, as I have
only done a little hand embroidery in the past I look forward to
accomplishing some more intricate projects in the future.
*Amazon*
We have to admit, we will never get enough of Trish’s exquisite
needlepainting, and this book doesn’t disappoint. This time, she’s
combined her prodigious talent with the Royal Botanic Gardens in
Kew, England, to bring you 11 gorgeous floral projects rendered in
her easy-to-follow yet photographically perfect way.
For the Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers, Trish has chosen a range
of unusual designs which can be worked individually or as one
spectacular botanical study, packed with colour and life. Trish’s
books are known for their uncomplicated instructions and the gentle
progression from simple to complex, and this book is no different.
You can begin with the starter project – a vivid purple Japanese
Anemone, then work, step-by-step through the book, mastering
flowers, plants and insects until you reach the magnificent
Magnolia and intricate Poppy sampler at the end. Beautifully
presented in a hardcover folder, the book also comes with a set of
reusable iron-on transfers tucked into the elegant cover slip, so
you don’t have to hand draw your patterns on to your fabric.
Naturally, if you prefer, all of the patterns are also provided for
you in the back of the book so you are really spoilt for
choice.
It is difficult to decide which of these striking botanical studies
is our favourite, so taken are we by each and every piece. This is
a must for any Trish Burr lover, as well as any lover of floral and
botanical imagery. Make sure to secure your copy now.
*Inspirations*
The Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers is a beautiful book
exploring botanical textile art through needle painting (a form of
surface embroidery). The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have a
special place in my heart (after I got engaged there) so I had high
expectations of this book to do justice to such a beautiful setting
with a vast collection of botanicals and botanical illustrations.
The botanical illustrations within Kew’s Library, Art and
Archives collection have offered inspiration for many makers,
crafters and artists since it was established in the mid-19th
century. Trish Burr offers a new and inspiring insight into
Kew’s botanical illustrations through her 11 embroidery projects.
The book starts off with a beautifully detailed section explaining
terminologies, materials, tools, and preparation activities. Trish
then begins to explain the different stitches. I found these pages
not only visually stunning, but clear and accessible. Each stitch
is explained with clear tips, methods, diagrams, and photos both
how-to for the stitch and for the finished flower using that
stitch. Once all these areas have been covered, Trish then starts
to guide you through the projects! These projects are grouped
according to their difficulty and range from “simple projects”
through to “advanced projects”. Each project is so sumptuously
presented with beautiful stitching, a clear information list (about
materials, project size), information about the illustration that
inspired Trish’s textile interpretation and a step-by-step guide
for stitching the botanical for yourself. I love how each project
also has an accompanying, reusable transfer sheet (with information
about how to use the transfer sheet) so that you don’t have to
worry about getting the botanical shape correct… you can just start
stitching! This really is a breath-taking book and the photography,
the information, the projects, and the overall feel of the book is
absolutely flawless! A true 5* book which is going to be a
beautiful book for anyone interested in art, making, botanicals,
Kew, sewing and creating!
*naomialice.com*
As well as sewing and quilting, I am very interested in botanical
painting and I often indulge myself in painting flowers and
botanical subjects. I also love flowers and gardening, so I was
very excited to see Trish's interpretation of the Kew collection of
fine art botanical subjects in embroidery. When the book arrived, I
was struck by the luxury of it - a sumptuous edition with the book
wrapped in a practical hard-backed folder to store all the
embroidery transfers you need for the projects in the book. There
is an elastic closure on the folder to hold the book and transfers
neatly in place. Beautiful it certainly is, but it's also a highly
practical source book, packed with techniques for you to re-create
Trish's stunning embroideries in stitch. As well as sewing and
quilting, I am very interested in botanical painting and I often
indulge myself in painting flowers and botanical subjects. I also
love flowers and gardening, so I was very excited to see Trish's
interpretation of the Kew collection of fine art botanical subjects
in embroidery. When the book arrived, I was struck by the luxury of
it - a sumptuous edition with the book wrapped in a practical
hard-backed folder to store all the embroidery transfers you need
for the projects in the book. There is an elastic closure on the
folder to hold the book and transfers neatly in place. Beautiful it
certainly is, but it's also a highly practical source book, packed
with techniques for you to re-create Trish's stunning embroideries
in stitch. The book includes eleven wonderful projects for
beginners and beyond, including embroideries of a camellia,
waterlily, and magnolia. I particularly love the Flower Sampler
that consists of eighteen small elements in a stunning completed
project, or that can be stitched individually. I decided I'm going
to have a go at stitching the blackberry. For a small design, it
uses twelve colours of thread to build up a stunning design and
richness of colour. The folder edition of the book includes
all the iron-on transfers you need plus outlines of each design.
The iron-on transfers are on thick paper and can be stored in the
cellophane envelope that comes with the book. I used the iron-on
transfer to get the blackberry design onto a piece of fabric I had
actually dyed with real blackberry juice! I will be using this in a
special book about the hedgerows that I am making. The instructions
for using the transfers are at the end of the book and were very
clear to follow. The iron-on design is useable more than once as I
prepared a second blackberry for my project. Each design in the
book is photographed in excellent detail with step-by-step images
to guide you through each stage. The final project in the
book is a poppy sampler in the style of a botanical plate and is
exquisite. You can achieve this yourself with the comprehensive
instructions in the book. I am in awe of this book - it is
stunning to look at in itself for anyone with a love of flowers and
gardening, but the designs within are so well illustrated and
explained that, with some practice, anyone who loves to embroider
will be able to achieve them.
*The Sewing Directory*
In association with The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, here's the
ultimate guide to embroidering flowers. The reusable iron-on
transfers are in a hardback folder, ready to use. Full size
templates are also included. This stunning, practical book is a
must-have for anyone interested in capturing flowers in thread.
*Machine Knitting Monthly*
Trish Burr reinterprets botanical artworks from the archives at Kew
Gardens through her delicate and detailed needle paintings;
bringing out their colours and giving them a three dimensional
quality. A must-have for anyone interested in capturing flowers in
thread.
*Stitch*
Every once in a while a book arrives that you cannot wait to open –
The Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers by Trish Burr is such a book,
this is a beautiful book, everything from the actual production and
presentation of the book, to the illustrations inside, is truly
inspiring. Kew’s Library, Art & Archives was established in the
1850’s and now forms one of the greatest collections of botanical
information found anywhere.As well as supporting the work of Kew’s
scientists and horticulturalists it is also accessed by thousands
of researchers, garden enthusiasts, historians and the general
public around the world. It is from this collection that Trish
Burr’s beautiful embroideries have taken their inspiration. The
illustrations are exquisite and the detailed instructions contain
everything to encourage any embroiderer to want to create their own
examples. The contents include a Foreword by Kew detailing their
work. An Introduction from Trish explaining her own journey and
encouraging everyone from beginner to advanced to become involved
in creating their own work. Trish uses a technique called needle
painting, this is a technique of surface embroidery like painting a
picture on fabric with a needle and thread, this is also known as
silk shading, long-and-short shading, or thread painting. She also
includes very comprehensive details including everything you need
to know to enable you to get started; including tools and
materials, preparation, stitch instructions, how to practise the
stitches, outlines, raised embroidery, anatomy of a flower, and
useful advice before you start. The projects are then divided into:
Simple projects including:
Japanese anemone, Flower sampler, Clematis, Camellia Intermediate
projects including:
Rhododendron, Waterlily, Iris, Spider chrysanthemum Advanced
projects including:
Rose, Magnolia, Poppy Finally there are details on thread
substitutes, the collection of templates and how to use the iron-on
transfers. The detail is so helpful, the step-by-step instructions
take you through each stage of creating the pieces and the
illustrations themselves are outstanding. Embroidery is such a
satisfying and wonderful activity and this gorgeous book is
destined to become a beautiful heirloom providing inspiration for
many generations to come, we absolutely adored it! Highly
Recommended!
*Beautiful Heirloom Home*
Trish Burr is a needlework designer in South Africa, and she has
written many, many books, most notably about needlepainting, which
is her specialty. With her vast experience, her ever-developing
style and approach, and her exquisite sense of colour combinations
for shading, it is no wonder that Trish would be the needle artist
to delve into the Kew Archives (from the Royal Botanic Gardens), in
order to reproduce some of their botanical illustrations in needle
and thread. The resulting book, published by Search Press as part
of their 50th Anniversary line-up of stellar art and craft books,
is a wonderful collection of floral and garden-related cameos for
the embroiderer to stitch. The book is extra-special, thanks to a
few nuances and extras that we don’t often find in this type of
embroidery book.
So, let’s take a look at it!
First, let’s talk about what’s different. The physical properties
of the folio edition of the book are different. Most of us, if we
are getting the book now, are most likely going to go for this
folio edition, which is the one that’s available for pre-order. The
other edition – it’s a straightforward hardbound edition for
libraries – lacks this outer folder that holds both the soft-bound
version of the book and a packet of iron-on transfers, to make your
journey into the projects much easier!
The hard-board folio cover protects the book and the transfers and
closes with an elastic band. It’s a lot like a moleskin notebook… a
very large moleskin notebook. The folio cover and the presence of
iron-on transfers are probably the greatest differences you’ll
notice right away with this book, but there are other nuances
within the book itself that are slightly different from Trish’s
previous books.
You might not notice it right off the bat, because many art and
craft books these days have morphed into this approach, but some of
the photos in here are larger than life. They are big, making it
easy to see the details of the embroidery. The little berry
element, for example, which is part of the Floral Sampler found
under Simple Projects, is about 1.5″ high from the tip of the stem
to the base of the berry when transferred at the given size. In the
book, the photo of the berry is around 5.5 – 6″ from tip of stem to
base of berry. So, it’s super enlarged, and you can’t miss the
details! This is a good thing, I think. Seeing details is helpful
when it comes to exploring a technique, especially as a
beginner.
But it can give you a sense of discombobulation when you set about
embroidering. You don’t necessarily realize that the item you’re
about to embroider is significantly smaller than the image of it,
until you transfer it. This is one of the problems I run into with
blogging, too. Close-up photos of embroidery shown on a website
tend to give the sense that the piece is much larger than it
actually is, and when you sit down to stitch it, there’s a period
of adjustment while you get used to the difference in the real size
versus the perceived size. Still, I’d rather have too much detail
than too little, especially when I’m learning something new!
Ok, let’s look at what’s in the book!
The Kew book is both an instructional book and a project book. The
projects range from simple to advanced. If you are a beginner in
needlepainting, you can start at the beginning of the book to get
your feet wet, and then move into deeper waters. If you are
experienced, you can jump in anywhere.
At the beginning of the book, you’ll find introductions to Kew, to
Trish and the book’s contents, and to needlepainting in general.
Before getting into the projects, you’ll find the background
information for getting started, from fabrics, threads, tools, and
basic techniques. Much of the preliminary instruction is offered
via diagrams and via close-up photos that demonstrate the
techniques. It’s all very clear, as you would expect.
Trish goes into detail demonstrating approaches to shading, to
colour combinations, stitch direction, and so forth. There are ‘11
inspiring projects’ within the book… technically. Really, there are
28.
There are two projects in the book that really excite me the most,
although they are all beautiful in their own way. The first is
under ‘Simple Projects’, and it’s called the ‘Flower Sampler’. It
encompasses 18 embroidered elements (20, if you count each
individual embroidered element), each of which can be taken out of
sampler context and used as its own little practice project. I love
this sampler. I love the idea of it. I love the beauty of the
finished, whole sampler. And I love the fact that each element
could really stand on its own as a mini project. For each element
in the sampler – some of which are not necessarily flowers – you
get a materials list, the design, and step-by-step instructions on
how to stitch it. You’ll also get a larger-than-life photo with
clear details of the embroidery, which will serve well to help you
successfully stitch your version.
There’s a magnificent bee, by the way… Now, this is where Trish’s
artistry really shines. I mean, it shines everywhere, but I’m
especially besotted with the bee. Check out the bee wing. It’s
solidly embroidered. There’s no translucent anything there – the
threads are solid colours. But it is a wonder to behold. It looks
translucent, thanks to her subtle shading, drawing in the colours
behind the wing and bringing them to the forefront while stitching
it. It’s fabulous! There are many simple projects in the book,
then, if you consider the sampler as individual projects, too.
Then, there are intermediate projects that build on the knowledge
and skills you’ve gleaned from the first section of the book. There
are four intermediate projects, including studies of the
rhododendron, the waterlily, the iris, and the spider chrysanthemum
which graces the cover of the book. For those of you who have
followed Trish for years, you’ll probably notice some slight
adjustments in her style and approach here and there throughout the
book. The rhododendron, for example, has a definite contemporary
and somewhat trendy look to it. So, you can expect to see some
variation in Trish’s interpretations – they are not necessarily all
sketchy-botanical looking. Some pieces are very boldly
contemporary.
There are three advanced projects: a rose, a magnolia, and a poppy
sampler. The poppy sampler is my second favourite in the book! It’s
just lovely. And it would be a wonderful study in long and short
shading. I think I have A Thing for things called samplers. The
poppy sampler can also be broken down into at least two – if not
more – projects.
In the more advanced projects, you’ll see that Au Ver a Soie silks
enter the materials lists. Yay! I’m a huge fan of needlepainting
with silk. I know there is a school of thought out there that
favours stranded cotton for needlepainting (also called “silk
shading”) but I’ve always thought that there’s nothing quite as
beautiful as silk shading worked with silk! In the back of the
book, Trish offers a list of thread substitutions for those who
wish to work some of the projects in silk. This is handy! Thread
substitutions are never absolutely exact, but it’s a nice
springboard for those who like to adjust their own colour palettes
and thread types.
Finally, of course, there’s the pattern section. If you have the
folio edition of the book, though, thankfully, you won’t have to go
through a meticulous transfer process! Wow! Heaven!
I’m not going to pro and con this book. If you love needlepainting,
if you want to explore needlepainting fully, if you love
botanicals, you’re going to love this book. You’re going to want
the special folio edition. And you’ll find it a treasure.
*Needle 'n' Thread*
Sometimes Search Press really goes the whole nine yards and
produces a book with extra wow factor. From its larger format,
sturdy colourful covers, and elastic to keep it closed like a box
you know that something special hides within, and you won’t be
disappointed. Inside is a pocket full of transfers for stitching
eleven stunning studies of flowers from Kew Garden’s botanical
illustration collection. The lush colours and elegant layouts of
18th and 19th century botanical art are just made to be captured in
embroidery, especially the thread painting style worked mostly in
long and short stitch. The author promises that this is not too
difficult for even a beginner to master, and there are not many
stitches to learn. Mostly it is a case of practising getting the
shading right and there are quite a few staged photographs to show
the right way. You won’t need many tools and materials; a slate
frame or hoop, six stranded cotton floss and fabric is most of what
you will require. You can learn how to work the various stitches as
well as prepare a hoop, use transfers, choose materials and care
for your finished work. To limber you up for the actual projects
there are several simple pieces, all with captioned photographs as
well as a diagram showing the order of work, list of threads and
anything else you need. All sizes are given in both imperial and
metric, and after the first project there is an option of working a
sampler featuring another 18 small studies plus two simpler larger
projects. Following this are two more chapters containing the
intermediate and advanced projects, the latter of which concludes
with another sampler. Full projects typically have photographic
stages with arrows indicating what colour floss, essential when
working on complex, variegated flowers with a lot of different
shades. Each finished piece is shown in a large format, often over
two pages so you can appreciate its beauty and see what you are
working to achieve. At the back is a handy table of thread
substitutes so you can opt for DMC instead of the more costly and
harder to source (at least in the UK) Au Ver A Soie thread. When
your transfers have worn out, or you want to work on a dark
background there are also full-sized outlines for tracing, showing
that the author has thought of everything! This is one of my top
choices for this year and a book to treasure.
*myshelf.com*
I was delighted to be asked to review this book. Having grown up
less than seven miles from Kew gardens I have happy memories of
family visits to Kew. I have been aware of Trish’s books for a
while. I was always a bit daunted by the pictures I had seen. How
could I possibly even think about starting one of her projects and
achieve such amazing results? With this book think that it might
just be possible! The book itself starts with hints and tips for
stitching, predominantly using silk shading (also known as needle
painting). The most beautiful flower projects are given, all
inspired by the library of art and archives at Kew Gardens, the
largest collection of its type. Trish begins with good explanation
of the types of fabrics you could use for your project, setting out
the pros and cons of each. She goes on to explain the threads used
and how to use them. Also covered is the types of frames, needles,
and other accessories to use as well as tips for when you have
finished such as how to wash, block and mount your completed work.
There are detailed instructions, photos and line drawings
explaining the stitches used, with tips for those perhaps new silk
shading – starting with simple leaves and petals, showing direction
of stitch and colour changes. This then builds to introduce
additional stitches to enhance your embroidery – French knots,
satin stitch, padding and outlining. Next on to the set projects –
starting with a lovely Japanese anemone. It is so well photographed
at every stage, that a flower could otherwise appear daunting, is
achievable. The projects then build as you work through the book.
There is a sampler with 18 separate elements including some insects
as wells as flowers that could be stitched individually or as the
intended sampler. Trish then moves onto the intermediate projects
which begin to use silks rather than stranded cottons but could be
completed with stranded cotton if wished. Finally, we have advanced
projects, rose, magnolia, and poppy all with comprehensive shading
instructions and photos including very detailed close up pictures.
Everything is so clearly illustrated with instructions and
pictures, even the advanced projects seem achievable. In the winter
when I personally find stitching more difficult with lack of
natural light, I can see myself just sitting down and turning its
pages. It is beautiful, inspiring, well put together and every
purchase supports the work of Kew saving plants and fungi around
the world.
*The SEW Region Magazine - Book Threads*
A beautifully illustrated book that will inspire all embroiderers,
this book is the result of an invitation to Trish Burr from the
Royal Botanic Gardens to examine their extensive collection of
botanical illustrations and to reproduce a selection of the
illustrations as embroideries. While principally a book on thread
painting, the author has used other stitches where appropriate to
bring the subjects to life. The details found in the botanical
illustrations have been faithfully reproduced in the embroidered
works. Rather than being too prescriptive with respect to the
materials required to complete the projects, the author provides a
good discussion on the pros and cons on background fabric, thread
and hoop/frame options. This book has been designed for use by
embroiderers of all skill levels. There is an excellent tutorial at
the beginning of the book covering the stitches required to
complete the projects. The illustrations are excellent and
there are examples of petal shapes that can be used to practise
shading and colour blending before starting a project. There are 11
projects divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced sections.
The photos of the finished projects leap off the page. They are all
well presented with easy to follow step-by-step directions and
beautiful macro photos of each of the steps, providing excellent
guidance on stitch and colour placement. Trish has used the silk
threads of Au Ver à Soie in a number of the projects and the subtle
colour movement across the embroidered petals gives the smooth,
lush appearance of newly unfurled petals just before they are
damaged by weathering and insects. The intricate details recorded
in the original botanical illustrations have been superbly
translated into stitch and the choice of colours and subtle
blending of colour throughout the projects is true to nature. There
is one particularly good illustration of this in the selection of
colours for the bee wings. By selecting a lighter shade of the same
tones as the rest of the abdomen of the bee and then outlining the
edges and veins of the wings with straight stitch, the wings appear
to be transparent. It looks amazing. Each project references the
botanical illustration and artist, but I love botanical and
zoological drawings as they help you focus on the details in the
original subject material and would have loved to see the original
illustration beside the embroidered reproduction. (Editor: To see
these visit Kew’s website). For anyone who wants to learn or
further develop their thread painting skills, this book will help
give you the confidence to develop your own projects.
*Threads*
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