The books have landed, and we’ve started shipping out copies of The Geometry of Hand-Sewing. The School of Making team is so excited to share this new resource—it has truly been a labor of love. The idea for this book blossomed from Natalie’s love of geometry and math. As our team started analyzing embroidery stitches, we realized that most stitches are based on a geometric grid system. This different take on embroidery makes even the most challenging stitches easy to achieve.
The Geometry of Hand-Sewing is an invaluable resource that provides detailed written instructions for over 100 embroidery stitches paired with illustrations and photographs for each stitch. The book features a spiral binding giving it a workbook feel—perfect for working through dozens of different types of embroidery stitches. Included in the back are two perforated stitch cards that you can tear out and use to practice stitches on or for marking guidelines for your stitches onto your desired surface. The first chapters of the book index the tools and notions we love to help perfect our stitches. Chapter 3 works through the basic, foundation stitches that are built upon throughout the book—starting with the simplest and working to the more complex.
Each stitch (over 100) in the book is diagrammed showing both the right-handed and left-handed points of view. We even included photos of the backsides of stitches, so that your technique will be practically perfect. Once you master the basic stitches, chapters 4-6 show you how to embellish stitches, manipulate the grids shown in the book, and how to combine stitches and embellishments into patterned stitches. Design details are listed in the back of the book, and there’s an index of all the stitches shown so you can quickly find exactly what you’re looking for.
Pre-orders have shipped, so keep an eye on the mail for your book. Look for products and programming to go along with The Geometry of Hand-Sewing in the coming weeks. Visit our Makers Supplies + Stencils section to find all the tools you’ll need to get started.
Happy stitching from Natalie and all of us @ The School of Making.
I’m not allowed to buy anything for myself leading up to Christmas so it has gone on my wish list! I don’t know if I can last that long though!
Like Dawn, this book is at the top of my Christmas wish list! It is going to be hard to wait.
So glad to hear that you are excited about the book, Meg!
I got my copy! It is a really lovely, well written book. I am so glad the practice sheets/grids are reusable.
Thank you, Allison! We wanted this to be a workbook that would allow you to practice and perfect your stitches.
I have them all and this is the best one. Good job, Natalie.
oh my goodness! my mom (a geometry teacher at Deshler and one of your former stitchers) is going to love this! 🙂
So happy to hear that, A.J.! The holidays are just around the corner; you could order a copy for your mom or stop by The Factory and pick one up.
Finally an embroidery book that shows the BACK of our fabric! As a quilter I have wanted to see what each stitch would look like on the back without having to make examples of different stitches to find one that looks nice on the back of my quilt.
I am so excited to see AC on Creative Bug, Craftsy and another book! People need to slow down, stitch slow, making pieces hat last a lifetime.
I received my beautiful book today and I LOVE it! Left handed(me), right handed and the BACK of the fabric after it is stitched! Showing the BACK is so very important to quilters! Really good book, packed with techniques wth no fluff. It’s perfect!
Thank you, Amie! I’m so glad to hear that the book will be a useful resource for you.
My pre-ordered book arrived right on time for my next project! Like the previous books, this one is gorgeous. Lots of good practical information! The stitch cards are excellent and love that they are re-usable. Thanks for another beautiful and inspiring book!
Thank you for your kind feedback, Marijke. So glad that this will be a useful resource for you. Best of luck on your new projects!
I love your new book Natalie! I’m working through some swatches of the month and am finding the clear instructions in your new book a great help. I’ve been working on some couching and just couldn’t get it to ‘flow’ – the stitching felt very awkward. Having just received ‘The Geometry of Hand-Sewing’ I checked the instructions and realised I was doing the stitch the left handed way… I’m right handed! The stitching is progressing far more smoothly now!
The book is beautiful – a joy to own!