Stitched Textiles: Nature

An inspiring step-by-step guide to creating contemporary textile artworks themed on nature. Stitched Textiles is an exciting series in which leading textile artists present their work through step-by-step demonstrations, techniques, projects and inspirational examples. In this book, Stephanie Redfern illustrates her love for the natural world through her stitched textile works and explains how you can create your own works inspired by the ocean, the rainforest, botany, birds and animals. Discover how a mixture of hand-stitching, machine stitching, embellishment and textile painting and printing can result in a stunning piece of artwork to be proud of. This colourful reference book contains four original step-by-step projects featuring birds, butterflies and botanical features, and is packed with expert advice on preparing your fabric, printing and painting, stitching and embellishing, and adding your finishing touches. Stitched Textiles: Nature is the fourth title in this successful theme-based series. It contains an extensive section on techniques, featuring step-by-step guides to machine- and hand-stitching, attaching embellishments and found objects to your work; painting and printing on fabrics including cotton, silk and Khadi paper; and using objects found in nature, such as leaves, to make unique and iconic prints. The book includes three beautiful, inspirational projects based on different facets of the natural world: Ocean, Rainforest, Botany, Birds and Animals. Stitched Textiles: Nature also features examples of the author, Stephanie Redfern's own intricate and detailed works based on nature, exploring the means by which the pieces have been created, and the wonderful stories behind Stephanie's journey as an artist. The wealth of information and visual stimuli in Stitched Textiles: Nature is intended to inspire the reader to create their own works inspired by nature. Stephanie begins by exploring the use of sketchbooks and study pages; progressing to picking out iconic elements from sketches and photographs; and eventually assembling a stunning, personal piece of stitched textile work on fabric or on cotton-blend Khadi paper; applying handstitch in metallic threads; machine stitch in whimsical and beautiful patterns; embellishing with natural beads or found objects.