Helen Stevens Master Classes

I have the master class Embroidered Flowers. Also have her Embroiderer's Year book.These are not like Trish Burr's books in that she does not include the colorways. I am guessing that is because she uses Piper Silks unavailable in the USA. But that being said she has a few patterns including: Poppies and Mallow Evening Primroses and Herb Robert Rosebay Willowherb and Bindweed Woodland variety Riverbank variety They are the most rudimentary drawings however. The Embroider's Year has mostly no patterns, just inspiration.

There are 4 so far: Embroidered Flowers (2000), Embroidered Butterflies (2001), Embroidered Birds (2003), and Embroidered Animals (2005). I have the birds book and the animals so far. Haven't done any of the projects yet, but gosh, these books are great just to drool over.

There are five projects in each book, each one building on the techniques learned in the previous project. In Embroidered Animals, the projects are

1)Harvest Mice (A very similar single mouse design is in the latest issue of Inspirations), 2) Fox and Foxglove, 3) Hare and Moon, 4) a cat head and dog head, and 5) a koala with euclayptus. For each project there is a colorplate, a list of the stitch tenchniques used, a line drawing, a colored charts (just suggested colors, no numbers or types of threads recommended), 4 pages of design notes which discuss finding the core of the design subject, in what order to work the elements, etc. Besides the projects, there are lots of beautiful picture of other of Stevens' designs and line and color drawings throughout the books that describe the core(s) of the subject animals, how to find the core, and direction of stitching. There is also discussion of the habits and antamony of different animals, birds, etc. Stitches and techniques used and explained include basic stem stitch, graduating, coiling and reflexing stem stitches, voiding, opus plumarium, snake stitch, and dalamatian dog techniques.

IMHO, these are not beginner embroidery books, but are more for the intermediate to advanced level. Anyone who likes the Jenny McWhinney's threadpainting designs in Inspirations and Helen Stevens' designs is going to love these books.

HTH,

Connie and the little Ragamuffin

I have many of Helen's books including the Birds and Flowers ones.

I find them quite detailed - for example, there are colored drawings of the birds with stitch directions, colors and notes - very detailed step by step photos of various parts of the birds sketched and started. While she has samples of colors with descriptions (i.e. dark orange, dull blue) she does not specify a certain color name/number by manufacturer- perhaps so the stitcher can use whatever materials you have access to. There are also close-up photos of the stitching itself in various stages which I found quite helpful.

However, they are not truly "pattern" books - although she explains all about how feathers lie and what direction they flow and has many examples you are encouraged to use your own eye and go out and sketch and then stitch. If this doesn't appeal to you I could very easily see being able to take a photo and use it as a basic template to outline the shape and various areas by color as a guide.

MelissaD