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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How Many Strands of Floss Should You Use?

One of the most common supplies for cross stitch, aside from fabric, needles and floss, is an embroidery hoop. A hoop isn’t needed for every project, and indeed there are some stitchers who prefer not to use them at all. I generally don’t use a hoop when I’m working on a small cross stitch project, especially something that’s shape isn’t conducive to using a hoop (like a bookmark).

But embroidery hoops can be really helpful for cross stitch because they hold your fabric at an even tension, which allows you to stitch more evenly without any more work on your part. It’s great for beginners to use hoops because the tension on the fabric can both help make your stitches more even and make the holes in the fabric a little easier to see.

I’ll admit to always just buying whatever hoop is available in the right size when I’m ready to start a project without giving it much more thought than that. But there are things you should consider when choosing among the different kinds of hoops, which Caterpillar Cross Stitch covers in their great guide to embroidery hoops.

The post walks you through wooden, plastic, spring tension and flexi hoops (which I’ll admit to having never heard of; they’re made of vinyl and plastic apparently), as well as Q-Snap frames, which aren’t really hoops because they’re made of plastic tubes that you snap together in the size and shape you need.

It also covers what size hoop you should use for the project you’re working on and how to actually use a hoop in the right way.

Whether you’re new to cross stitch or more seasoned, you’re sure to pick up a tip or a product to try in this post, so go check it out over at Caterpillar Cross Stitch.

Do you have a favorite kind of embroidery hoop to use for cross stitch, or do you go without? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

[Photo: Caterpillar Cross Stitch]

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