Beginner's Guide to Goldwork (Beginner's Guide to Needlecrafts)

July 10

This practical guide incorporates both embroidery and goldwork techniques, that will appeal to all abilities. Clear, photographed step-by-step guides will take you through every stage from start to finish.

Newsletter 65, Summer 2007

I found this book very interesting and enjoyable to read. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, the colour plates are exciting and made me feel that I must do some goldwork again. It will be a good reference book for anyone to have and I intend to get one to add to my growing library of Search Press books.

Joan Walters, Launceston

Sept 06

For the basis of this book Ruth Chamberlin uses a sampler (pictured on the front cover) that she made and used as an aid when teaching her students how to master the different embroidery techniques. It now serves the same purpose for the readers of this book.

Step-by-step she explains through text and photographs how to master the techniques used for the particular parts of her sampler, most of them worked in gold or silk thread. There is absolutely no need to embroider a full copy of her sampler, you can just learn to make leaves or teardrops or other figures and use them as you wish in your own designs. For these designs as well as for the project of the last chapter she has included templates which you can transfer on transparent paper to get you started.

The different designs you'll learn to make include a decorative leaf, a golden diamond, a golden circle, three circles, a decorative lozenge and teardrops. Especially the last one I find quite impressive.

The stitches you will learn to master in this book are laid stitch, trellis stitch, satin stitch, long stitch, short stitch, brick stitch and basket stitch. The step-by-step instructions of all these stitches make this book perfect for beginners as well as more experienced embroiderers to fresh up their skills.

You will also learn to master couching, padding, using kid and making raised gold.

In the last chapter, and to me also the most interesting one, the author guides you through a simple project, perfect for beginners. Two different designs for one project will show you what you have learned to master in this book and it'll be a great motivation to try out more projects once you have managed to complete this project.

There are endless possibilities for making your very own projects as you just need a bit of imagination and a pencil to transfer it onto the fabric, choose the stitches you want to use and voila. If you decide to look at it that way I'm sure you'll agree with me that this book has opened up a whole new world of using gold in your embroidery pieces and will offer you endless possibilities.

Note: Although a lot of these materials are rather hard to find and are quite expensive she has included cheaper alternatives so that especially beginners don't need to throw away money on their sample projects. Included are introductions to all the different materials and equipment needed to start with goldwork as well as careful instructions on how to make your own slate frame.

Oct 06

This book would be invaluable to anyone with an interest in the Traditional skills of Embroidery. The author has produced an excellent guide to the use of goldwork in both ancient and modern embroidery designs. It starts with setting up the frame and explains the different kinds of threads, stitches and materials needed to complete professional stitching. The techniques are explained very clearly with diagrams and photographs which are easy to follow. Any reader starting to develop an interest in this ancient form of embroidery would find this paperback book invaluable both as an explanation of techniques and as a guide to design in a more modern form. The illustrations show some beautiful examples of the use of goldwork

Dec 06/Jan 07

Large scale colour photographs to illustrate stitches, techniques and finished items make this a really clear book to follow for anyone new to Goldwork.

Issue 165, Jan 07

...this book is absolutely essential for anyone with an interest in learning how to work ecclesiastical Goldwork. Ruth takes the reader through the basics with information about the various fabrics and threads plus a vital chapter on how to prepare a slate frame. Each of the main stitches are fully explained which are taken from one of Ruth's samplers and components of this are used to explain the individual techniques...It is worth mentioning that only components of the sampler are provided, not the entire design itself, but in an initial practise piece this is all that is required. There is an acorn sprig that is a design in itself that can be completed once you have tackled the stitches preceding it. The book concentrates on the use of Jap threads which is predominately used in ecclesiastic Goldwork so as to keep the embroidery, which is mainly used on copes and stoles, supple and light.

No. 45, Feb/Mar 07

The title of this book perhaps gives the impression that it's very basic, but it's ideal for both the beginner and the more advanced embroiderer.

If you haven't tried goldwork before or lack confidence, Ruth's clear instructions, looking at materials, stitches, how to transfer designs, raise surfaces and more, will be a boon. Techniques are explained in detailed step-by-step photographs illustrating each stage and include beautifully finished pieces that will appeal to all embroiderers. She also shares hints on how to get that perfect finish.