Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Book Review: The Machine Embroidery Handbook

Title: The Machine Embroidery Handbook
        
Author: D.J. Bennett
        
Date: 1997
        
Publisher: Lark Books
        
ISBN: 1-887374-45-0
        
Length: 128 pages including index, graphics, and many full-color photos
        
Quote: “Somewhere along the line, some creative person noticed that certain patches added distinction and interest to a plain piece of fabric.”
        
That was how appliqué, the first decorative machine-stitching technique discussed here, was born. The author recommends that you make a sample of each technique, as you read this book, in order to understand the technique and move on to  the next. From appliqué the book goes on through fabric manipulation (piecing, slashing, padding), cutwork, needle lace, coloring (with melted crayons, with ink, with paint or dye, with bleach), embellishing cloth with plastic, layering sheer fabrics, making collages with found and recycled objects, and even making jewelry with clay.


        
Even if there’s no room for a sewing machine in your life, this book is still lovely eye candy; pictures are sure to suggest things you could do in your chosen craft. If you have a sewing machine and want to embroider with it, you will enjoy this book.

It's more inspiration than detailed explanation...then again, if you play with a sewing machine often, pictures are probably enough to explain new things you may want to try doing with it.

Is The Machine Embroidery Handbook a Fair Trade Book? I suspect that it should be, but it's hard to find out, because a web search makes no distinction between the athlete D.J. Bennett, the novelist D.J. Bennett, and the author of this book. The best we can do with an online price for The Machine Embroidery Handbook will be $5 for the book + $5 for shipping. If you send this amount to salolianigodagewi @ yahoo.com I'll send Lark Books a real letter to find out more about D.J. Bennett and/or her/his favorite charity, who will be eligible to collect $1 out of that $10. 

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