A few years ago, I reviewed another book by this author, which I found so charming that I bought a copy for myself. I worked a design from it, which one of my lovely daughters-in- law snaffled almost as soon as I finished it. So how does this book measure up?

There is a brief introduction explaining that the sight and smell of vegetables in a carton was what inspired Kazuko to produce a book of embroidered vegetables. Immediately, one is launched into pages of them, all beautifully photographed. At the head of each page are two or three lines about the vegetable illustrated, along with the page number where you will find the relevant templates. I like this. It means you don’t have to flounder around trying to find them by hunting in the index or page flipping. Each vegetable is accompanied with its particular flower, leaf or leaves – sometimes wrought with long and short stitch, sometimes worked with a backstitched outline. Some also have a cross section of the fruit or vegetable. Some have a little garden critter to embroider as well. There is a double page spread of edible flowers and another illustrating her favourite garden tools. There is a charming selection of kitchen garden visitors – no, not grandchildren, but a couple of birds, a mole, butterflies, a spider and other creatures. I found the herb section really appealing. The sage leaves look so realistic.

After the illustrated embroideries come a few pages of stitch dictionary, which is adequate. Most of the stitches used are ones most of us will already be familiar with. Then comes the business end of the book, following the same format as the earlier one: the templates. At the head of each of these pages, is the page number where you can find the pictures of the worked embroidery and a list of the DMC threads you will need. The templates themselves don’t have to be enlarged and are simply and clearly drawn. Each project has a line towards each element, with the colour it’s embroidered with and the stitch used.

There is a brief conclusion, preceded by two pages which gives the common name of all the plants, its scientific name and country of origin. The common name of each also accompanies the embroidered version.

While there is much to delight in this book, it hasn’t charmed me as much as the earlier one. I feel the long and short stitch has not been executed all that well either. However, it is a sweet book and there are motifs which would be lovely if you make cards – mainly the motifs which are not vegetables but each to their own!

The copy I reviewed comes from Auckland Libraries. Locally, the best price I could find at the time I wrote this was $36.25 and Book Depository has it for $29.00NZ.
Erica Marsden

This is a beautifully designed book. As soon as I opened it, I found it appealing. The font is attractive, the layout is very good and the illustrations are seductive, especially if you like the indigo blue fabric and white thread in which sashiko is traditionally worked. Right from the contents page, this book drew me in.

I discovered in the introduction, that the ‘i’ in sashiko is almost silent and that sashiko means ‘little stabs’. Jill Clay gives an oversight of the origins of this Japanese style of embroidery, as far as it is known. One of the older designs originated in Persia (Iran). Who knew? Jill ends her introduction by expressing her view that she prefers to think of sashiko rules as guidelines and urges us not to take them too seriously. Her advice is to relax and enjoy the process. That’s so encouraging.

The first section covers tools and materials with the proviso that all we really need is a needle, some fabric and thread. There is guidance on various items which may be useful for transferring patterns onto fabric and advice on needles and threads, with options suggested to replace the Japanese materials, which may be difficult to source for those of us who live outside the country. Other items which may be useful are also listed, but there’s not a vast array needed. There follow a few pages on techniques which Jill assures us are quite simple. There is a stitch dictionary – very small – and basic instructions for making up some of the projects. More detailed instructions are given with each project.

The Projects! I just love them all. There are greetings cards, brooches, cushions, a pincushion, the most wonderful project bag, table linen, a scarf, a wrap-around apron and more. They are all worked on that beautiful, deep indigo blue with white, red and variegated threads – well maybe not all of them. If you want to find the exceptions, I recommend that you borrow the book from the Auckland Libraries. Each project has a list of materials needed and what look like very clear instructions, all well illustrated. There are useful tips throughout.

The book finishes with a pattern library and oh, what fascinating, appealing patterns they are. Many are geometric, some have curved lines and yet others are traditional and not so traditional motifs. Most are illustrated using the traditional colours of white on indigo but there are also some given in colour. There must be something there to tempt the most reluctant needle worker. Jill has even included blank graphs with varying grids which can be photocopied in case you get carried away and want to design your own sashiko patterns.

I hope a copy of this book is bought for our library. I think it would be well used!
Erica Marsden

In the introduction, the author shares that her favourite things to design and make are small, useful day-to-day items, often something she can use or give to someone, which I think we, as embroiderers, can identify with. She explains how she goes about designing and the delight she has in choosing fabrics and threads to realise her vision. You need to be aware that the author is a quilter, but all the projects has embroidery as its focus.

Have you ever heard of a tool called an appliquik rod? Me neither and I doubt if the RSN would approve. In the general techniques chapter, the author explains how to use them and why they are her preferred way for appliqueing fabric. My rule of thumb is, use the way which suits you. Other supplies you may need are also listed, including fabric glue which is used with the appliquik method…hmmm. At the end of the techniques chapter is a small, not awfully good stitch dictionary but most of us know how to access Mary Corbett’s if we get stuck. Given that the stitches used in the projects are pretty simple, many of us will already know how to execute them.

Each project has a coloured photo of the completed item, along with the measurements it will be when finished. There is a list of all materials needed – including specialised quilting buttons (from the author’s web site). Such buttons can be a challenge to get here but as skilled needlewomen, we could always just embroider the object instead, couldn’t we? There is a list of embroidery threads needed – Cosmo threads, which are made in Japan. However, I looked on line and there are conversion charts from Cosmo threads to DMC, so not really a problem, or you could be brave and create your own colour scheme. There are full size templates for the project and it is nice not to have to flip backwards and forwards for these. Each project is ‘complete’ with all instructions accompanying it in the same chapter and each project having its own chapter. There are projects for pillows (cushions?), totes and other bags, wall hangings, a sewing caddy, a needle case and scissor keep and so on – 13 in all. Instructions, both for the embroidery and for sewing the objects, seem to be well written and illustrated clearly. There are useful ‘tips’ in separate boxes on some pages.

If you like whimsical, folksy, quite cute, country style projects, I think you will find this a fun, useful book. It may appeal to younger stitchers too, especially as the embroidery itself is pretty basic and some of the designs will appeal to the younger at heart. Each design has an end product, many of which are useful – always a plus for a younger person. However, and I know I am being a GOW (grumpy old woman), it irritates me that the sub-title tells me I will ‘adore’ the projects. How can they possibly make that assumption? I do like them, but adore? That’s a bit of an assumption!

The copy I reviewed comes from Auckland Libraries. It is available at the time I wrote this, for $34 (NZ) from Book Depository or $50.00 if ordered locally.

Erica Marsden