For needlewomen at an advanced level, The Art of Embroidery Design lives up to its name. This book offers a wide variety of offerings in one place. Christi Jordan includes a short introduction to embroidery for beginners at the back of the book. Jordan provides step-by-step instructions on how to create your own patterns. This book is definitely not for beginners. In spite of the fact that I've never embroidered before, I enjoyed browsing through the book. Jordan's work is absolutely phenomenal. With years of embroidery experience, Christi Jordan has become an embroidery expert. Her extensive knowledge and passion for the craft is evident throughout the book. She shares techniques and insights gained from her personal and professional journey. Jordan's dedication to the craft has made her a respected figure among embroidery enthusiasts.

A good book for beginners and beyond. This book teaches the reader about technique, colour and texture. And how to incorporate these into their projects uniquely. Quite an enjoyable as it wasn't just a manual but rather a vividly written book from one enthusiast to those who enjoy embroider as well.

Very beautiful and inspirational! I loved the cultural history woven in. I can’t wait to own this and reference it for my own projects.

The images and colors are stunning! I love that the book has instructions on creating practices and that the inspiration is tied to culture and history as well. The artist profiles are a cool way to illustrate how different individuals create and design. This is an amazing resource, not just for learning to embroider but to create a creative practice and make art that is authentic to you. I plan to purchase a physical copy for myself so that I can work through it slowly!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book doesn't focus on how to embroider (although there is plenty of information on that) it focusses on how to design, from the use of a design journal to where we can gather inspiration. I found this workshop style book very inspiring, particularly in the way it highlighted a range of designers and different embroidery styles. It is not prescriptive. the goal here is clearly to inspire, to assist and to provide confidence to the stitcher. I haven't picked up my embroidery needle since the end of the pandemic, and this book has me thinking about it. it's a beautifully illustrated and photographed volume and would be a lovely addition to any crafter's library.

As someone who has been embroidering for years, I was thrilled to dive into The Art of Embroidery Design by Christi Johnson. However, I’ll admit that my embroidery projects have slowed down over the past few years as my interest waned. Picking up this book, though, reignited my passion for the craft.

Johnson’s approach is both accessible and inspiring. While the book is absolutely perfect for beginners, it’s just as enriching for seasoned embroiderers like me. The detailed guidance and creative techniques felt like a breath of fresh air, offering new perspectives that even experienced stitchers can appreciate.

One of the standout features of this book is its stunning imagery. Each page is filled with vibrant, detailed photos that showcase not only the designs but also the artistry behind them. The visuals alone were enough to stir my creativity and get me sketching ideas for new projects.

Thanks to The Art of Embroidery Design, I’ve not only rediscovered my love for embroidery but also gained the motivation to dive into new designs and techniques. Highly recommend!

Really lovely beginners embroidery design book. The diversity of examples puts this ahead of other books on the topic.

As an advanced textile tutor I would recommend this book to those students who are looking for guidance to progress. It is not a 'pick up and copy this book' which is really refreshing to see.

This is a gorgeous book that takes some of the embroidery concepts I had in my mind and lays them out in a cohérant way. I will need to add the print version to my library.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

A comprehensive look at embroidery with useful segments of palettes choices and compositions. Nothing new and some projects would have been nice.

Fantastic!!! I devoured this book…it felt to rich and lush. Probably one of the best I have read. My favorite chapter was three, Decoding Design…it just does a great job to keeping it simple and taking you back to the basics. I reinvigorated my creative drive!!! Going to practice now!!!

The Art of Embroidery Design is the next book by artist Christi Johnson, featuring not just the mechanics of how to embroider, but all teh nuts and bolts to actually create your own designs from the ground up, starting with a blank sketchbook and a fear of drawing.

There are comprehensive sections of design theory, from colour and form and texture to old-school pencil and paper sketching and collaging to find designs and styles that are "you". There is a fascinating section on tradtional Indigenous embroideries from around the world, and spotlights on other artists and their design processes. As a reader, you get to create your own sampler as you work through the book, and there are projects and tutorials to get your ideas flowing.

This is NOT a project book to teach you to embroider a particular image; rather this is a reference guidebook for fibre and visual artists in all different mediums. I'll be coming back to this one again and again in my own art.

~Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~

Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for an advance copy of this book.

As someone who dabbles in embroidery, I have really enjoyed this book! I normally follow patterns, so this book was a refreshing opportunity to embrace creativity in my part-time hobby. I really found that this book did a wonderful job of including practical tips and new ways to approach foundational embroidery skills, while encouraging the reader to trust their sense of creativity.

Highly recommend this book for any level of embroiderer.

This is a wonderful reflection on textile art! Johnson provides advise on starting your journey with embroidery design. It is illustrated with inspiring images and punctuated design prompts. The artist profiles did a good job of providing depth to Johnson's advice. I left the book wishing for more in terms of exercises and project prompts.

Anyone looking for artistic inspiration should be able to find something helpful here.

For anyone that either enjoys or appreciates needle arts, this beautiful book is full of inspiration. The illustrations are a delight of color and express a richness of design that captures the eye. Full of information, tips, history and an almost meditative-like narrative, this book will enchant textile lovers and artists alike.

Christi Johnson's The Art of Embroidery Design is an impactful breath of fresh air filled with light bulb moments. My mom taught me how to embroider at the age of six and it has been a comfy constant in my life ever since. But even expert and experienced embroiderers can expect to find inspiration here. Gorgeous photographs and easy-to-follow instructions add to the piles of virtues.

This is not a book of patterns (there are many of those) but rather about taking inspiration from nature, fabrics and textures to create one's own patterns even if you can't draw (like me). Learn to love and incorporate imperfections and realize mistakes can lead to great things. But there's so much more such as the creation process, color, composition, untangling thread, samplers (my wheelhouse), supplies, influence of culture, shading, creating movement, and using geometry. Clear illustrations are given for specific stitches.

For some reason, freestyle has been on my radar only recently and now it's topping my list of new skills to master. This book gave me the encouragement and confidence I needed to dive in. My new project won't look contrived and has personal meaning. Seeing old things in new ways is thrilling!

So many spectacular photos and ideas jumped out at me, especially the stunning Peruvian appliqués, Uzbek dowry Suzani, using black to polish sections, and the most spectacular butterfly embroidery I've ever seen. I love how various artists and their projects are profiled. One of my favourite notions is if feels like you're making it up, you're on the right track. So much wisdom here.

My sincere thank you to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this stellar book. It has already enriched my life in unexpected ways and changed my embroidery perspectives.

I feel so inspired after reading this book! I've been drawn more to stitching than painting these days but felt unsure how to start. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and embroidery work, plus the featured artists were amazing as well. I read the book and then went back and immediately reread it. Such a gorgeous book! Thank you to the author and to NetGalley.

Whether you're a newbie or a pro with a needle, *The Art of Embroidery Design* by Christi Johnson will spark your creativity! Packed with approachable tips on everything from sketching your vision to playing with textures and colors, it feels like having a personal workshop at your fingertips. Plus, the book showcases stunning embroidery from around the world and inspiring artists to fuel your imagination. Get ready to stitch your way to masterpiece status! 🧵✨

This is a book for the educated creatives. It’s a valuable resource, beautifully constructed and passionately researched.

As an artist and designer, I can't help but appreciate and praise this book. Christi Johnson is a treasure. Like all well-researched books, she has case studies so you can read and see the examples of the techniques she’s practising. The standard of embroidery is high. This isn't a rainy Sunday activity with your grandmother but a refined guide to the art and design process of embroidery.

The photography in the book is beautiful. The construction of the book is beautiful. The curator has selected brilliant complimentary stock photography, and a very talented designer has brought this book together, someone with an eye for typography. If you only admire embroidery then this book is a strong contender as a coffee table book.

This book guides you through the whole process, from research to sketching and planning to making. If you're stuck for ideas, she has them, if you want inspiration, she has it. If you know what you want to do, but you're not sure how to achieve it, then she's got your back. From novice to expert, this book will satisfy. If you're looking to give a gift this book will delight you. I can not recommend it highly enough.

You've got to buy this book.

The Art of Embroidery Design is a great book for anyone who enjoys needlework and who might be thinking about creating their own patterns. It gives information and tips, and is a great way to dip your toes into design and decide if you want to do more with it or leave the designing to others and focus on the stitching alone.