Book Review - Stitched for Fun

Hi everyone:

March is here and I'm not sure if it arrived like a lamb or a lion here in Calgary. How do you go from +6 celsius one day to below zero temperatures and a foot of snow two days later? That's life in Calgary, always switching from one extreme to another, and the reason why the weather is always a topic of conversation. 

Much like the weather, I've been switching back and forth between embroidery and quilting this month. Some of the work is for upcoming patterns and some is just for pure enjoyment. I'm finding lots of sources of fun embroidery designs in my extensive collection of needlecraft books.

I am currently stitching up a design from Darcy Ashton's Papercut Valentines book (this is for pure enjoyment!). It is actually an appliqué design, but I traced it on pink linen (perfect for heartsy designs) and am embroidering it using a backstitch. 

Design from Papercut Valentines by Darcy Ashton

Another book in my collection is Stitched for Fun: 35 Easy and Adorable Embroidery Projects by Fiona Goble from Martingale & Company . 

Stitched for Fun by Fiona Goble
Photo courtesy of Martingale & Company

I think they had me at "easy and adorable". I'm always looking for quick and easy patterns that I can whip up before I become distracted by another idea or project. I also enjoy whimsical designs and this book had me hooked from the first page which features a little "beastie" - definitely my type of design.

If you haven't tried hand embroidery before, don't worry, Fiona has information on everything from the supplies you'll need to how to transfer the designs to your fabric. She also includes great instructions on how to achieve the simple stitches used in the projects. Each project includes a detailed material list and complete instructions as well as clear photos of the project. The patterns are for a variety of fabrics, such as fleece, cotton and felt, as well as paper (cards and tags).

Cool Robot from Stitched for Fun
Photo courtesy of Martingale & Company

There are a variety of projects in the book and it is broken into sections, such as Eat, Sleep, Play, Celebrate, etc. Each section includes several different types of patterns, such as a pencil case, a baby's bib or an embroidered lampshade, to name just a few.

Sweetest Little Baby Face from Stitched for Fun
Photo courtesy of Martingale & Company

I love the whimsical nature of these patterns and appreciate the practicality of the projects. If you're looking for a quick gift for a baby shower, you'll find several ideas in Stitched for Fun. Need a card for a birthday or a gift tag? You'll find patterns for these in the book too.

The Long and Short of it from Stitched for Fun
Photo courtesy of Martingale & Company

One of the things that I look for in a collection of designs is to see how transferable they are: that is, could I use these designs in other ways, in other projects. I would definitely be able to use Fiona's designs on other projects, such as stitched onto a jacket or on the collar of a blouse or even on placemats or a table runner (always looking for a quilting angle). 

Wise Old Owl from Stitched for Fun
Photo courtesy of Martingale & Company

These sweet and charming patterns would be perfect for gifts for children and babies. Even teens would enjoy adding these designs to a card or pencil case - or they could make the cell phone case design included in the book. 

Quick to make, appealing and practical, Stitched for Fun has it all.