A beautiful book, with lovely embroidery patterns and tips. Would be a perfect gift for someone looking to start a new hobby or a beginner embroidery artist looking for inspiration and to expand their skills

A charming craft book with petite, clever designs to stitch onto small bags and purses, with instructions on how to finish the bags as complete projects.

Simply Stitched With Embroidery has an appealing, contemporary layout, with clean, clear photographs. The uncluttered design keeps attention focused on the projects, which are adorable. Higuchi has a brilliant sense of color, matching the carefully composed designs to just the right linen colors and purse shapes. It's nice to have a wide selection of designs--from flowers to animals to feathers to people. That a preteen girl models several finished projects is a little odd, as the projects would be quite advanced for someone her age. In that way, it looks a bit like an American Girl publication, rather than a craft book for adults.

As I only had access to a digital copy of the book (a pdf), I'm not sure that I like having all of the instruction pages in black and white at the back of the book. I appreciate that the author encourages stitchers to individualize the projects, but many of us frequently refer to the color photo of the sample project. As a paper book, it seems like it would be a joy to thumb through the front half. The crafter in me would like it to be a tad more functional, with photos right beside the instructions. That said, the clarity of the instructions is impressive, making the projects look inviting to try.

Sadly, nowhere in the Getting Started section does it say that a sewing machine is necessary. I was totally unprepared for Purse Making Basics instruction #3 on page 56: "Machine stitch the two layers of fabric together around the outline of the purse..." Yes, there are crafters who don't sew with machines!

If I were purchasing Simply Stitched With Embroidery for myself or another crafter, I would definitely purchase a paper copy. A lovely book with beautiful projects.

I was provided a free digital copy of Simply Stitched With Embroidery by Zakka Workshop and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Of Purses and Embroidery Motifs

I have been a crafter and an embroiderer for a long time. I don’t think this book is well organized, and it was at times confusing. In this book, the author provides a variety of mostly nature-inspired embroidery motifs along with 9 different purse sizes and shapes that they can be used on. The cover gives the impression that the book will discuss a variety of projects where you can use these motifs besides purses. But really, the emphasis is on purse construction and embroidery. I didn't think it was logically organized because it started with a very large section of all the photographs of the different purses and motifs. These at first did not appear to be grouped together in any logical fashion. I became confused just looking at the Table of Contents because it wasn't really clear what this large section was! (Everything became more clear as I went through the photos.) It would have been better to intersperse the different photos within the deeper how-to motif and purse construction sections. The general motif picture would have been great with the section on embroidering the motifs while the pictures of the different purses would have been nice in the purse construction section. Lumping them all together at the beginning of the book made me wonder what I was going to get to the actual how-to section. The how-to sections felt a little light. I don’t think the templates gave enough of an idea of what to do. There were no charts showing which stitches to use where; these are just noted around the tracing template. Again, that's where actually having the motif photos right in that section could help so the reader can see precisely what the author had done without flipping back to the other section. I felt similarly about the purse construction section. Beyond these organizational issues, I actually don't think the embroidery itself is that pretty. The motifs look a little crude and rustic. All in all, I feel disappointed in this book.

Pretty embroidery on very traditional clasp purses, lovely photos, clear instructions for individual stitches. This is not for the complete novice, but someone with experience of embroidery or purse making who wants to extend their skills.
I have a couple of bag-making books laid out in a similar style, with photos of the projects at the front, and the detail of techniques and instructions for each project to follow. I find that lay out a little confusing, but I’m sure others are more used to it.

This beautiful work is created by Yumiko Higuchi, a renowned Japanese textile artist. She has produced a multitude of embroidery and stitch books over the years.
This one includes beautiful step-by-step photos that clearly demonstrate Yumiko Higuchi’s favorite techniques for sewing bags as well as installing metal purse clasps and adding embellishments. These designs could easily be used in other textile art. She includes a helpful embroidery stitch guide. Full-size templates are also included for 20 embroidery motifs and nine bag patterns. Her work, as always, is a visual feast.

The designs in Simply Stitched with Embroidery pretty. The book also includes instructions on how to make the coin pouches that are the pictured samples. The problem i have with the book is the organization of information. the book starts with pictures of all the designs. if you want to stitch a design you need to flip to the pages in the back of the book for the traceable image and instructions. i prefer for the sample image to be by the instructions for the project.

This is a nice collection of embroidered purse patterns. Some are pretty, others are cute. Instructions are clearly written with illustrations to use to transfer patterns to your fabric for stitching. There is something charming about a clasp purse and the included designs add to that charm.

Thank you to Zakka Workshop and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Simply Stitched with Embroidery provides nine different purse designs with a dozen motifs that can be used to decorate the purses.

The book starts off by showing colour photographs all the different purses and the motifs but its not until about page 48 does the author provide details on how to achieve this. The instructions give details on the materials required, plus shows the different types of clasps that a purse could have. Also included is an embroidery stitch guide and tips.

The book provides you with general details on how to make a purse then provides instructions nine different instructions further on for each purse type.. Then it provides the patterns for the embroidery along the with threads. At the rear of the book are templates/pattern sheets.

It's a nice book but personally I prefer the instructions first and pictures alongside the patterns so I can see what I'm aiming for rather than having to find it at the front of the book.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

I am very, very new to hand embroidery (thank you quarantine) and this book was very easy to understand and follow for a beginner like me. There are pictures on every page, along with templates and detailed step by step instructions. Not only that, but I loved every single idea in this book, especially the cats.

A lovely book of minimalist adorable motifs and ideas for how to use them to make practical usable and decorative items,

This is a gorgeous little book which would make a great gift for an embroidery novice or intermediate needleworker, it's full of cute ideas.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My fingers itched terribly when I was looking through this book. I wanted so much to pick up my needles!

Though most of the embroidery are featured on purses, the patterns can be used on anything made of fabric. If you do want to make the purses, full instructions are given though I am not sure if you can easily purchase the hardware such as clasps and handles that will be required. You may be able to adapt and adjust for whatever you are able to get.

I loved all the designs (except for triangular butterfly wings.) The colours and the color combinations are beautiful, and there are no complicated stitches to learn.

It was a joy to look through this book because the photographs are all so gorgeous!

Thank you Netgalley and Zakka Workshop for the ARC. This is my honest review.

This book has the patterns and ideas for quite a few different homemade clasp purses. There is a section discussing the types of thread to use and how many strands for the embroidery. Also, the supplies needed to make each style of clasp purse to include the type of fabric, needles, floss and clasp type. Each type of stitch is explained, the method to transfer an image to the fabric and how to construct the purses once the embroidery is complete. There are pictures throughout for guidelines and even and explanation of how to make a pom pom to accessorize further. There are references to templates for the designs, but the ARC did not have these available. The book is very informative although, the digital ARC is difficult to understand at times with minor typos such as writing the measurements as 61/4 rather than 6 1/4, but the measurement in centimeters follows to clear up any confusion. Overall, this book was very enjoyable and informative and the projects are very pretty and doable for a relative beginner. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. #NetGalley, #SimplyStitchedWithEmbroidery.

Simply Stitched with Embroidery is a tutorial and pattern guide for surface embroidery motifs which is part of a series by Yumiko Higuchi. Due out 1st Sept 2020 from Zakka Workshop, it's 104 pages and will be available in paperback format.
I enjoyed this book. The pictures are all very clear and colorful, the projects are well designed and appealing, and the text is easy to follow. The introduction includes a discussion of tools, supplies, and basic techniques. The bulk of the book is taken up by the 9 purse projects. The projects themselves are varied and attractive, from small to large. Most all of the projects could certainly be easily adapted to other finishes. All of the templates and stitching diagrams are included. Each tutorial contains an introduction, materials list (nothing too exotic or difficult to source), and step by step line drawn process pictures from start to finish. Tips and alternative finishes are included in the tutorials. The book also includes a supplies and links list (but no index). There are many lovely color photographs included. It should be noted that these projects utilize surface embroidery for decoration (not cross stitch). Many of the designs in the book could also serve as a good jumping off point for dimensional embroider/stumpwork.

Really appealing book with attractive projects for an underrepresented technique. Lovely!

Five stars. Worthwhile for the fabric crafter's library. It's also very nice to see embroidery techniques outside of cross stitch getting some representation.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This is a beautiful book of Japanese embroidery featuring many different designs and motifs to embroider.

The book starts off showing the finished patterns as a showcase of what you can make and what they will look like then goes on to show how to do the stitches, the full sized patterns and instructions on how to make said patterns and designs.

This is a beautiful book for anyone interested in embroidery.

This book has very elegant and minimalist motifs and designs. I find the most valuable information is the detailed explanation on how to create the handbags and small coin purses displayed in the book. This is not just an embroidery book - it is a guide to creating everything that you see in the photos. Appreciated this approach and not simply being given the layout for the individual motifs.

I found the layout of this book inaccessible and difficult to follow. That first part of the book is filled with beautiful images of the projects and stitches but you then have to flick to towards the end of the book for the instructions about the stitches and making the project. It makes it difficult as the reader and the maker to navigate. The instructions were very basic and difficult to follow.

A beautifully signed book The perfect gift for anyone who wants to explore modern stitching.

Ore than ever we are turning to crafting, embroidery being hugely popular. Lovely to pick up , put down, easily transportable, soothing and mindful. So this new book is on point.

Illustrations are beautiful, bursting with ideas in fact.

I absolutely love the many motifs shown, easy to translate into lots of projects.. I plan a tool case for sewing needles with. cat motifs.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this delicious book.

A couple of years ago I was having a really hard time with my anxiety and life in general, I needed something that would distract me and that didn't require looking at a screen, so I started practicing modern hand embroidery and I've been a big fan of the practice ever since. Hand embroidery allowed me to take a step back from every day life, keep my hand and mind busy and produce beautiful products.

As soon as I saw this book available on NetGalley I knew that I wanted to read it and have it for future references for my own hand embroidery. I was sure it was going to provide many cute patterns for me to follow and try out and also help me in learning new techniques and experiment with my abilities. That's exactly what I found in this book!

I received a digital review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. That may be the problem - most of the images of the embroidery patterns were missing from the egalley., and since those were missing, it was kind of a disappointment.

The tiny purses were cute, though, and I'd bet some of the designs that WERE included in the galley would also be cute on a face mask, since we're all going to be wearing those for the foreseeable future.

I received a digital galley of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Beautiful book with clear illustrated instructions for embroidery projects. I love all the photos of finished pieces and only wish there were even more!