Judith Baker Montano's Embroidery & Craz: 180+ Stitches & Combinations Tips for Needles, Thread, Ribbon, Fabric Illustrations for Left-Handed & Right-Handed Stitching

This is a guide to embroidery stitches, specifically aimed at crazy-quilters. It's a very small book---just a guess, I'd say no more than four by five inches. But it's spiral bound and it stands on its own, so you can prop it up beside you while you're embroidering, in order to see how to execute the stitches you're doing. The directions are simple and easy to understand, fully illustrated, and directions are given for both left and right-handed folks!It isn't an exhaustive source for all embroidery stitches, but it has all of the basics, plus many I'd never heard of before. Plenty are designed to be worked in a straight line, in order to cover the seams of your crazy-quilt. Others are meant to fill in the gaps. There's even a section at the end that shows examples of how to combine different stitches with breathtaking results! Most of the embroidery stitches are for use with regular floss, but a few are for silk ribbon, and a few are for wool thread.Last year, I made a crazy-quilt pincushion, but since I'm not an expert on embroidery, it was rather plain-looking. Thanks to this book, I finally produced a crazy-quilt piece that's richly embroidered and actually LOOKS like a proper crazy-quilt! I couldn't be happier.Five stars and highly recommended to anyone who wants to learn basic embroidery, or embroidery for crazy-quilting.

Great little table top spiral reference with a different stitch on each page. Beautiful, full color images throughout.Can be flipped through, or placed on the table in a standing position for reference.Would absolutely recommend!

This little book stands up and has left- and right-handed instructions and illustrations for every stitch included. One thing I wasn't expecting is the use of ribbons in a fair number of the stitches. Right now that isn't something I am interested in but it doesn't hurt to have them in there. Also included are variations on a particular stitch. There are so few books or videos for left-handers doing embroidery that it makes this book stand out for its usefulness and thorough coverage. Also includes tips and a guide to stitches. Very useful!

I was extremely happy when I got this book. I had been to several craft stores, sewing stores, and book stores around where I live and have never found an easier book to follow to aid me in my embroidery. The directions to make the stitches are super simple to follow and the examples to combine stitches to make new stitiches are invaluable and endless. I have never really seen using two colors of thread on one stitch which makes it like a new stitch in itself. The fact that this comes on it's own stand and you can just flip the pages was a great idea. It's not in your way as you are working but it is the perfect tool to help yu remember old stitches and to learn new stitches. It's also small enough to carry with you if you want to work as you go somewhere. A few of my friends are impressed and a little jealous of my new-found embroidery aid.

I think I was expecting something more than what I got -HOWEVER - nothing was miss advertised. I think I was hoping for more than just how to's on stitches. Based on the cover I thought I would be also seeing nice sized colorful example photographs. There are photos but they are thumbnail size and I have to keep picking it up to see it when I need a reminder.The stitch tutorials are computer generated line type drawings and sometimes the stitch does not match the thumbnail photo, which then makes me wonder if I'm doing it correctly. ( One such example is the chained feather stitch. ) Then I get out my laptop to my favorite site and double check with the video tutorial.One of the reasons I got this is because its a book with a built in stand that can be kept near you versus having to get out the laptop-not a chore-but I've got enough stuff on and around me while learning crazy quilt stitching.There are great things between the covers one of them being instructions for left and right handed stitchers ( this word does not seem to be in my lap top dictionary - I think it needs an update! ) ; )I have found this book helpful but I would have to put it seven out of ten on my list of crazy stitch books.

shown for every step of stitch. This is one of the best instructional manuals for stitching embroidery on the market, plus it stands up so you can see everything in front of you. The pages wipe clean in case of spills. I have looked for this book for a sometime but it is always sold out. If you find it, get it, you will not be disappointed. I have been embroidering for 50 years and I found stitches in here I have never seen before. I was so excited to get this book. It was a perfect combination book to my 'Elegant Stitches' book that Judith Baker Montano wrote in 1995, but that book did not show left hand instructions for stitches.

After many years of not doing embroidery, I wanted a “book” to remind me. This was a perfect choice after some debating. Left and right hand options. Stands up for easy to see… two others were so impressed, they ordered it after seeing mine.

it's great for the crazy quilt

Well developed; clear instructions and clear pictures. A must for both left and right handed sewing.

Ce petit livre est une merveille ! Les explications sont claires, mais les dessins le sont tout autant, si bien qu'on pourrait même se passer du texte. Les explications illustrées à la fois pour droitiers et pour gauchers pour l'ensemble des points est vraiment un plus appréciable. Et les exemples d'association de différents points à la fin me plaisent beaucoup ! Le fait que le livret tienne debout est parfois bien pratique !

I wasn't that happy with the book as it's rather small, the how to stitch illustrations are good but the descriptive photo of each stitch is very small and hard to see with any clarity. Had I seen the book prior to purchase I'd not have bought it

Dieses Buch ist ein praktisches Nachschlagewerk für -zig Stickstiche, übersichtlich und alphabetisch angeordnet. Links- und Rechtshänder finden auf jeder Seite die genaue Ausführung eines Stiches, auch mit Abbildungen und Variationen. Unterschiedliche Garne und Bänder werden verarbeitet, so dass sowohl für traditionelle als auch für ungewöhnliche Fäden und Bänder Anregungen gegeben werden, die zum Erfolg führen. Auch Kombinationen von Stichen werden vorgestellt und machen garantiert Lust aufs Ausprobieren. Sehr praktisch ist das aufstellbare Taschenformat mit Ringbucheftung, sodass die aufgeschlagene Seite auch offen liegen bzw. sogar stehen bleibt. Ich würde es wieder kaufen, allein das Blättern macht schon Spaß!

This handy little book was an excellent buy. If you want full instructions and inspirations for crazy quilts get Judith's other books. This is a pocket sized book which is spiral bound with a sturdy, double back cover so it will stand up by itself. It gives a few pages of general advice but is mainly an encyclopaedia of stitches. One page per stitch, giving a separate diagram for left and for right hand, a written description and a small photograph of the completed stitch. There are also a few pages of combinations of stitches(which I found particularly useful). If, like me, you always use the same half a dozen stitches, get this. It will give you 170 more! It has a permanent place in my embroidery tote.