Review: Whitework with Colour

OK, OK, I admit that whitework isn’t cross stitch. But I like to get inspired by different kinds of needlework (and I do different kinds of needlework) and this book just happened to cross my desk recently and I wanted to share it with you.

Whitework with Colour (yes, British spelling) by Trish Burr is a lovely book that explores everything you need to know about stitching particular kind of embroidery, traditionally worked on white linen or cotton using white thread. These designs add some color to enhance the patterns or highlight details.

A lengthy discussion of materials, preparation, use of color and stitching tutorials opens the book, so even if you don’t have experience with this kind of needlework you can give it a go with the information in this book.

Projects are arranged by skill level, from beginner projects to more intermediate and finally those for stitchers with more experience. That’s nice because you can start where you are and keep working through this book for years to come.

The patterns are very detailed, with a full-color picture of the finished design, a tracing outline to enlarge, print out and use on your fabric, a stitch diagram and step by step instructions on which stitches to use where, with close up pictures of some of the steps included.

This book really contains everything you need to know to get started doing whitework with color, and offers a great collections of mostly nature-inspired motifs to get you started.

About the book: 240 pages, hardcover, 17 patterns. Published March 7, 2017, by Sally Milner, an imprint of Carlton Books, retail price $34.95.

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Different Kinds of Cross Stitch Thread and What to…

As the year comes to a close, you might be thinking about things you want to do, or do differently, in your life in the next year, and your crafting life should definitely be part of whatever resolutions or goals you set.

I feel like one of the most common goals for crafters of all varieties, not just cross stitchers, is to be more organized. Earlier this year I shared a post about organizing cross stitch supplies, and in the vault you’ll find ideas for storing embroidery floss in particular, as well as this post about how one cross stitcher uses a Caboodles box to keep her projects contained.

You might also want to finish projects that you’ve started but abandoned in the past, or to let go of some things that you know you’ll never finish (if you need help decluttering your craft supplies, I’ve got an ebook to help!).

Making more time for your crafts is another good goal, and may be especially important if you’re trying to avoid the news or social media. Start small, with scheduling in an extra 10 or 15 minutes a day, or declare that after supper is craft time, or whatever you need to do to hold that time for yourself. Doing something like a 100 day project is an easy way to commit to working on a craft regularly.

Another resolution you might consider is learning new skills or trying more difficult projects. I’m guilty of staying in the beginner zone when it comes to cross stitch for a really long time, but writing about it here has inspired me to try bigger, more colorful and more difficult projects, which is the challenging kind of fun. If there’s a project you’ve always wanted to do but were afraid to try, make this coming year the time you do it.

And if you are still learning the basics of cross stitch, check out my learn to cross stitch guide over at Our Daily Craft.

Do you have a cross stitch related resolution or something you want to learn this year? I’d love to hear about it!

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