Introduction
Stitches and techniques
Creative stitching
Crewel designs
Stitch index
Tatiana Popova is a Ukrainian embroiderer. She learnt to stitch at an early age, inspired by her mother and grandmother's embroidery, and for a time she pursued her passion for stitching by studying a huge variety of embroidery styles and techniques, both at school and in her own time. Tatiana studied Floristry Design at university, but soon after graduating she discovered the world of embroidery. She started her own business, Little Owl Smart Crafts Company, producing kits for silk ribbon and crewel embroidery. Tatiana participates in a number of craft shows all around the world, including the UK, USA and Japan, and annually teaches at the Bead & Button Show in the USA.
You can find out more about Tatiana and her work on her website, www.owl-crafts.com.
Last year I reviewed this author’s first book The Seasons in Silk
Ribbon Embroidery on this site. This was a book with the wow factor
in spades, a rare treat for the more advanced embroiderer. A year
on and here is another such book, this time showing what crewel
embroidery is capable of when inspired by fairy tales. The main
project in this book is a larger piece entitled Tree of Happiness.
Each section of this is also featured as a smaller design elsewhere
in a different colorway, and each of these sections was inspired by
a different fairy tale. Ms Popova is from the Ukraine, so the tales
are more varied than they would be from an English speaking author.
Andersen’s The Wild Swans are featured as is the Wizard of Oz and
Cinderella, but there are also Polish and Russian stories plus a
ribbonwork owl, the inspiration behind the author’s website name.
To learn the stitches start at the beginning where you will find
some very clear and foolproof staged photographs. There are also
many tips here, and a gallery of photographs showing the whole tree
plus all the separate elements. Each of these is also shown paler
with a numbered key showing which stitch goes where with a handy
page reference. This is a large format book and there are plenty of
good-sized photographs with close-ups so you get a good idea of
what the work is supposed to look like. Each chapter covers a
different element, and as well as the expected key and list of
materials there is a brief description of the story plus a personal
reminiscence about how the author was inspired to choose it. This
makes for interesting reading, and also caused me to ponder on what
gets my own creative juices flowing. The embroidery uses Appletons
wools or DMC threads which include stranded cottons (including
variegated) plus pearl cotton sizes 8 and 12. The instructions are
clear, but despite the author’s claim that beginners can tackle the
projects I imagine most newbie embroiderers would be better
starting with simpler work. Turn to the back for the outlines and
advice on transferring to fabric, including tips for working on
patterned material. This is definitely one for that keeper shelf,
and my favorite book of 2020 so far. I can’t wait for book
three!
*myshelf.com*
This is a book filled with stunning crewel work embroidery. The
designs are inspired by the fairy tales we all love and each design
is accompanied with the story which brings each piece to life.
Tatiana Popova is a major craftswoman in her art, and what she does
is beautiful. She not only demonstrates the techniques of crewel,
she simplifies and breaks down each design into small achievable
parts. Diagrams, stitches and an array of colourful glossy
photographs showcase the thread work and many of them have a 3D
effect so it is easy to see each stage. These stages are divided
into ‘zones’ which make it simple to understand. A lot of useful
information is included and there is a conversion guide for various
threads. I highly recommend this book.
*Amazon*
A beautiful book with excellent instructions and images. The images
are good enough to aid your stitching. I love that you can do
elements of the design or put it all together as one large design
if you are more competent. A nice range of stitches covered as well
with plenty of 'how to' instruction. A new author for me but one I
will be looking at again.
*Amazon*
Oh what a fabulous book. I’m new to crewel embroidery so have to
keep referring to the stitch patterns early on in the book but it’s
all there! Exactly what I needed. The instructions are so well
illustrated. I like the way the whole design is divided into 12
zones. I loved the storytelling behind each design. A truly
inspiring book.
*Amazon*
Issue March/April This is a colourful wow of a book with appeal for
those who admire crewel work but would appreciate a modern
approach: Tatiana Popova's colourful designs and fluid approach to
materials tick those boxes. Favouring stranded cotton and cotton
pearl thread over traditional crewel wool gives her designs a
contemporary feel, along with multiple options for different colour
palettes and a wider range of 90 stitches, all of which are
explained in clear instructions (with helpful photos of stitches,
rather than diagrams), detailed photography and pattern diagrams to
copy. Popova has established her own aesthetic, with designs that
are equally enticing to novices as well as established
stitchers.
*Embroidery*
A beautiful book! Tatiana tells folktales which link to each
element of the design. These are stand alone designs which can be
either embroidered individually or combined to make the gorgeous
Tree of Life design seen on the cover. Stitch instructions are
provided in alphabetical order for all the stitches used and the
photographs are stunning. This is a truly exquisite book, I own a
LOT of embroidery books, but this is definitely one of my
favourites.
*Amazon*
While I'm only an occasional embroiderer, crewel is my favourite
technique by far and I have a few books on the subject.
This book has some great photography, with many large, vivid,
detailed images so you can really see what you're supposed to be
doing. The stitch instructions are particularly strong - I really
like the way that the author uses different colours to show how the
stitches build up. This is a vibrant book with delicious photos and
it's a worthwhile addition to any embroidery library - if I were
thinking about buying a crewelwork kit, I'd definitely pull this
out instead as the instructions are so good.
*Amazon*
On the whole I am enjoying this book, the pictures and stitch
descriptions are excellent, the folk tales charming and the
patterns challenging. I would recommend this book for intermediate
level and above.
*Amazon*
This is a truly beautiful book. The photography is fantastic making
the embroidery look like jewels on the page. Tatiana's instructions
and step by step photos are really clear and easy to follow. I
can't wait to start my crewel Embroidery journey.
*Amazon*
Absolutely stunning book, lots of advice, beautiful pictures
showing closeup work.
*Customer Review*
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