We all know how challenging it can be to attend in-person workshops with our favourite textile artists. And sometimes online workshops can be tricky to budget for, or hard to squeeze into our busy schedules.

Get ready to meet some very generous textile artists who are sharing their tips and techniques in book form, that super convenient, tactile and long-lasting format. They’re not holding anything back, and the wealth of information and instruction they provide is guaranteed to inspire.

There’s nothing like being able to sit with a book to study gorgeous images of an artist’s work and read step-by-step instructions to try out their techniques at home. And, as you tackle a book’s tips and projects, you can jot notes in the margins along the way. Most importantly, you can learn at your own pace and revisit ideas over and over again.

This is a long list filled with a variety of textile art genres, from traditional stitching to surface design to sculpture. And all the authors are indeed experts at what they do. We’re confident there’s at least a title or two you’ll want to add to your bookshelf. Enjoy!

Mixed Media Textile Art in Three Dimensions

Ann Goddard draws her inspiration from natural landscapes, organic materials and a concern for the environment. She combines textile and non-textile elements to create intriguing juxtapositions. Linen, loose fibres, paper and yarn are complemented by concrete, wood, lead and bark. 

Readers are introduced to techniques ranging from stitching, wrapping, couching and knotting to sawing, drilling and casting. Instruction is aimed to help artists create eclectic works in which boundaries are crossed and expectations are challenged.

Ann Goddard is part of the prestigious 62 Group. She exhibits globally, particularly in the UK and Europe.

Mixed Media Textile Art in Three Dimensions (2022) by Ann Goddard. ISBN 9781849946926

Organic Embroidery

Learn how to use your sewing machine to turn natural forms into exquisite art. Meredith Woolnough offers a behind-the-scenes look into her organic embroidery technique. Readers will learn how to create replicas of nature using a delicate system of tiny stitches. 

Twelve different creativity-prompting activities are included to help master her method, with emphasis on achieving varied shapes and patterns from sources like leaves, shells and coral. Instruction on working with your sewing machine is also included, as well as gorgeous images of Meredith’s works for further inspiration.

Meredith Woolnough is based in Australia, where she teaches workshops at textile studios and schools. Her work has appeared in Handmade, Fibre Arts Now, Stitches, Embroidery and other magazines.

Organic Embroidery (2018) by Meredith Woolnough. ISBN 9780764356131

Contemporary Weaving in Mixed Media

This modern guide to weaving contains a wealth of practical advice and loads of inspiration for every aspect of weaving. From gathering materials to making and exhibiting ambitious woven masterpieces, this book celebrates the meditative and calming effects of the loom. The best part is readers won’t need expensive equipment to create something beautiful. 

Rachna Garodia clearly explains how to choose a loom, take inspiration from the natural world to design and plan, gather varied materials, personalise your work, and explore unusual weaving techniques. The book is also filled with gorgeous images of Rachna and other global weavers’ incredible textile art.

Stitch Club member Louise J. Jones is a big fan of this book, especially its chapter called ‘Walk With A Poem In Your Heart’.

‘I’m delighted by the way Rachna creates ‘poetry yarn’ by combining poetry with textile art, and it inspired me to make my own version. The chapter also describes how Rachna created her Ode to Sylvia Plath piece, which incorporates a dried fig leaf to echo Plath’s fig tree metaphor for the heroine’s turmoil in The Bell Jar’.

Rachna Garodia runs workshops, works to commission and exhibits widely. She trained at the National Institute of Design in India and The Royal School of Needlework in London.

Contemporary Weaving in Mixed Media (2022) by Rachna Garodia. ISBN 9781849947657

Textile Creativity Through Nature: Felt, Texture and Stitch

Jeanette Appleton has come up with a guide packed with practical ideas for rewilding your creative practice. Written for new and experienced felters alike, Jeanette shares her philosophy and methods of working with nature as a way of nurturing creativity and sustainability. 

Learn how to create exciting felt surfaces that are both beautiful and versatile. From lines of sea, hedge and grass to cracks in parched earth or frosted puddles, Jeanette reveals her techniques for translating natural phenomena into subtleties of texture and stitch. She also shares a variety of strategies for overcoming artist’s block, including transforming recycled cloth, and studying the routes and patterns of your local environment.

Jeanette Appleton is a member of the 62 Group, and she exhibits her work in the UK and across the globe. Her work is featured in many magazines and books.

Textile Creativity Through Nature: Felt, Texture and Stitch (publication date October 2023) by Jeanette Appleton. ISBN 9781849947732

Fragmentation and Repair for Mixed Media and Textile Artists

‘Fragmentation’ and ‘repair’ are buzzwords in textile and mixed media art, and Shelley Rhodes is a master of both. Learn how she reconstructs and reassembles cloth, paper and other materials to create new pieces. 

Shelley also describes how she uses found objects collected over the years to add depth and emotional resonance to her work. From piercing and devoré to patching and darning, the author shares a wealth of favourite techniques, including the Japanese concepts of ‘wabi-sabi’ (finding beauty in imperfection) and ‘mottainai’ (using every last scrap).

Shelley Rhodes teaches workshops covering all aspects of design, stitch, drawing, sketchbooks and mixed media work. She has also written for a variety of publications, including Drawn to Stitch and Somerset Studio.

Fragmentation and Repair for Mixed Media and Textile Artists (2021) by Shelley Rhodes. ISBN 9781849946100

Embroidering the Everyday: Found, Stitch and Paint

Cas Holmes explores the everyday and the domestic to help readers re-examine the world and make use of their geographic limitations or individual circumstances as a rich resource for creating. 

Cas shares her own and other leading practitioners’ works to demonstrate how to be more resourceful, to rediscover a family history, to draw from one’s local landscape and to transform materials. Homemade dyes, mark-making, stitch, image transfer and collage are just a sampling of the book’s many techniques, which readers can use to create mixed media textiles in a more thoughtful way. 

Cas Holmes exhibits widely and runs courses at West Dean College in West Sussex. Her other books include Textile Landscape (2018), Stitch Stories (2015), Connected Cloth (2013) and The Found Object in Textile Art (2010).

Embroidering the Everyday: Found, Stitch and Paint (2021) by Cas Holmes. ISBN 9781849947114

Textile Portraits: People and Places in Textile Art

Anne Kelly is known for her evocative and nostalgic work that often incorporates portraits. This book gives readers a look into the variety of techniques she uses to achieve the nuances of facial expressions and personalities, including hand and machine embroidery, quilting and appliqué. 

Topics include self-portraits, cultural expression, abstraction, incorporating narratives and even pet portraits. Anne also features the work of other textile artists from across the globe who specialise in portraiture.

Anne Kelly is a textile artist and tutor. Her work is exhibited globally in solo and group exhibitions, and she is the author of Textile Travels (2020), Textile Folk Art (2018), Textile Nature (2016), and Connected Cloth (2013).

Textile Portraits: People and Places in Textile Art (2023) by Anne Kelly. ISBN 9781849947534

Targeted Truth: Threading the Reality of Society

Nneka Jones felt extremely vulnerable when she decided to transition from a painter to a mixed media artist, and Targeted Truth documents both her courage and artistic process. 

This isn’t a typical embroidery book highlighting different techniques or types of stitches. Instead, it provides a visual experience emphasising the marriage of art and activism and the physical work it takes to bind the two. 

Nneka’s portraits resonate with colour and feeling, and this sneak peek into her process allows readers to appreciate embroidery through every stage, ultimately leaving us with a greater appreciation for her final artwork.

Nneka Jones graduated with a BFA from the University of Tampa, Florida, US. One of her most notable achievements was a TIME magazine commission to produce the cover artwork for the August 31 2020 cover. 

Targeted Truth (2020) by Nneka Jones

Stitch and Pattern: Design and Technique for Pattern Textile Art

Learn how even basic squares, circles and triangles can create stunning impact in stitch and textiles. Drawing inspiration from across the globe, Jean Draper provides practical and simple instructions for developing and experimenting with patterns using grids, symmetry, rotation and repeats. 

Jean also provides instruction on creating bands and borders, strip patchwork and strip piecing. Even body ornamentation is explored to help interpret the human form in stitch. Inspiration, design methods and stitching techniques fill the pages of this gorgeous book.

Jean Draper is an exhibiting member of the 62 Group of Textile Artists and the Textile Study Group. Her work is in public and private collections throughout the UK and abroad.

Stitch and Pattern (2018) by Jean Draper. ISBN 9781849944397

Poetic Cloth: Creating Meaning in Textile Art

Discover how cloth, stitch and surface can create personal meaning in textile art. This book explores the connection between process and material by focusing on stitch, print, surface manipulation and construction to create seductive textile surfaces. Hannah Lamb emphasises a sensitivity to material, a quiet attention to detail and thoughtful application of textile technique. Her techniques include hand stitch, shadow work, patching, darning, devoré and cyanotype printing.

Stitch Club member Elizabeth Stephenson especially loves this book because it has a good balance of technical and practical information, along with inspiring images of completed works.

‘I’ve been very focused on process and am at a point where I need to consider meaning and purpose a bit more in my work. This book is a great prompt for thinking about those aspects. It also has a lovely textured cover, so it’s nice to handle as well.’

Hannah Lamb has lectured in embroidery and design at Bradford School of Art where she is currently Programme Leader for Textiles. Hannah exhibits nationally and internationally and is an exhibiting member of the 62 Group of Textile Artists.

Poetic Cloth: Creating meaning in textile art (2019) by Hannah Lamb. ISBN 9781849945363

The Art of Annemieke Mein: The Wildlife Artist in Textiles

Annemieke Mein is known for extraordinary sculptures borne out of her passionate commitment to the environment. She uses a variety of materials, such as silk, wool, fur and cotton for their colour, texture, credibility and aesthetic appeal. She then meticulously paints and stitches her subjects using hand and machine embroidery, appliqué, quilting, weaving, trapunto, felting and more. 

While her approach sounds complex, readers are provided with detailed instructions and gorgeous imagery of how to combine Annemieke’s numerous techniques for limitless combinations.

Annemieke Mein was the first textile artist to be accepted as a member of both the Wildlife Art Society of Australasia and the Australian Guild of Realist Artists. She has exhibited at galleries in Australia and her work is included in private collections across the globe.

The Art of Annemieke Mein: The Wildlife Artist in Textiles (2019) by Annemieke Mein. ISBN 9781782217657

Sculptural Textile Art: A Practical Guide to Mixed Media Wire Sculpture

Priscilla Edwards takes stitch to impressive new levels within wire sculpture. Working both two and three-dimensionally, Priscilla layers colour, stitch, shape and texture to transform surfaces into beautiful and whimsical sculptures full of character, curiosity and charm.

Readers can explore a playful mixed media approach to create 3D sculptures using a variety of media to transform plain papers, fabrics and memorabilia. Priscilla also offers tips for including both hand and free-motion machine stitching. The book wraps up with five separate projects designed to build upon complexity and inspire development of one’s artistic voice.

Priscilla Edwards exhibits her work globally and lectures in higher education for the University of Creative Arts (UK). Priscilla also hosts independent workshops and talks in galleries, museums and schools.

Sculptural Textile Art: A Practical Guide to Mixed Media Wire Sculpture (2022) by Priscilla Edwards. ISBN 9781782219002

Books featured in this article

• Mixed Media Textile Art in Three Dimensions (2022) by Ann Goddard

• Organic Embroidery (2018) by Meredith Woolnough

• Contemporary Weaving in Mixed Media (2022) by Rachna Garodia

• Textile Creativity Through Nature: Felt, Texture and Stitch (October 2023) by Jeanette Appleton

• Fragmentation and Repair for Mixed Media and Textile Artists (2021) by Shelley Rhodes

• Embroidering the Everyday: Found, Stitch and Paint (2021) by Cas Holmes

• Textile Portraits: People and Places in Textile Art (September 2023) by Anne Kelly

• Targeted Truth: Threading the Reality of Society (2020) by Nneka Jones

• Stitch and Pattern: Design and Technique for Pattern Textile Art (2018) by Jean Draper

• Poetic Cloth: Creating meaning in textile art (2019) by Hannah Lamb

• The Art of Annemieke Mein: The Wildlife Artist in Textiles (2019) by Annemieke Mein

• Sculptural Textile Art: A Practical Guide to Mixed Media Wire Sculpture (2022) by Priscilla Edwards

If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

Can’t get enough ‘must read’ booklists? Check out our Stitch Picks for best hand embroidery books.

You’re in a haberdashery shop, or browsing your favourite online sewing store, hoping to buy some embroidery scissors. But looking through all the options, the selection is huge. From tiny embroidery scissors to large fabric shears – and so many brands and styles in between – in all different colours and shapes.

So how do you choose?

Here’s what you need to do. First, figure out what you need the scissors for – this will help you to decide which types of scissors meet your needs. Then you can narrow down your options. To assist you, we’ve compiled this useful guide. 

We’ve also asked top textile artists Yvette Phillips, Aran Illingworth, Jessica Grady, Hannah Mansfield and Katherine Diuguid for their personal recommendations of the best scissors for textile art. 

So if you’ve always wondered why some scissors feature a stork design, and others have duckbill shaped blades or a curved design, then this article is for you. 

Read on to discover more about the world of embroidery scissors.

Please note: We’ve written this article to help you select the right scissors for the right task, and learn more about the different designs and some of the brands available. We’ve provided links to manufacturers and suppliers so that you can find out more before you head to your favourite local or online stockist. The scissors featured in this article have not been individually reviewed or tested.

Cutting threads with precision

Embroidery scissors are small and sharp, designed specifically for cutting threads or tiny snippets of fabric. There are lots of options to choose from: vintage decorative designs, traditional stork scissors, rose gold scissors, matte black scissors, colourful designs, foldable travel scissors and ergonomic scissors aimed for comfort.

Small straight embroidery scissors

Often the unfussy, straightforward option is the best. Classic embroidery scissors are small, pointed and sharp – perfect for cutting embroidery threads cleanly. They are widely available in haberdashery stores and online, and are made by many manufacturers.

• Fiskars Classic Precision straight scissors

• Prym Professional fine embroidery scissors, featuring quality Kai blades.

• Hemline embroidery scissors

Stork embroidery scissors

This distinctive and popular design evolved from the umbilical clamps in the toolkits of 19th century midwives. It was common for midwives to embroider in their quieter times and so their medical and stitch kits often became mixed up, as seen in the toolkit of midwife Rosa Bonfante held by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

• Klasse’ stork embroidery scissors 

• Hemline stork embroidery scissors

• Prym stork embroidery scissors

Decorative small embroidery scissors

If you are looking for something a little more fancy, try the Dinky Dyes colourful range of patterned embroidery scissors.

• Dinky Dyes scissors

Wide bow embroidery scissors

If you are looking for comfort, try a pair of wide bow (or big bow) embroidery scissors, which feature larger spaces for your fingers. These come in a standard size of around 10cm (4″) size, or as smaller baby bows, around 7cm (2¾”).

• Merchant and Mills wide bow scissors

Embroidery snips

Some stitchers like to use thread snips for cutting loose threads. They are spring-loaded, making them easy to use. Snips are also useful for anyone who does a lot of beadwork – they are great for cutting nylon or monofilament beading threads.

• Madeira thread snips

• Hemline thread snips

Goldwork scissors

Goldwork is an embroidery technique which uses a range of metal threads giving luxurious results. To cut goldwork purl and check wires cleanly, a good sharp pair of scissors is recommended. You can also buy specialist goldwork scissors, which have a finely serrated blade and should only be used for cutting metal threads.

Hannah Mansfield recommends… goldwork scissors

Hannah Mansfield: ‘My favourite scissors to use for goldwork embroidery are a small gold pair from Golden Hinde. They are made specifically for cutting goldwork wires. They have a serrated blade which means they can cleanly cut the wires instead of squashing the ends. 

‘I particularly like the fine point of these scissors, which allows you to cut the wires delicately and precisely. Having a dedicated pair of scissors for goldwork is essential to avoid blunting your best embroidery scissors with the wires.’

• Golden Hinde goldwork scissors

Hannah Mansfield is an embroidery designer based near Bristol, UK. In 2019, she was awarded First Prize in the Textile Art Open category of the Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery (UK). Hannah became a Trade Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers in 2020. She is a tutor for the Prince’s Foundation Metiers d’Arts embroidery course.

Artist website: theperpetualmaker.com

Instagram: @theperpetualmaker

Bent scissors

These small scissors have an ultra-fine point and an angled, bent blade. They are designed to make it easy to cut away warp and weft threads of the ground fabric when creating the beautiful lace effects of Hardanger work, a traditional whitework technique.

Katherine Diuguid recommends… KAI embroidery scissors

Katherine Diuguid: ‘I absolutely love KAI scissors – the sharp tips are nice and small and I can get into really tight spaces with no trouble at all. 

‘I use my angled [bent] embroidery scissors for cutting goldwork metals on a velvet board, for cutwork and chipping techniques.  

‘I prefer using my appliqué curved tip scissors for cutting the metal while I’m stitching it, or for any cutting close to or around the surface I’m embroidering – they are good for snipping threads without feeling like I might accidentally cut the ground fabric. 

‘The thing that I love most about the KAI scissors is that their blades are nice and thin and will chop my metals precisely with no bite marks or burrs. 

‘The only thing I don’t use my KAI scissors for is silk threads: I have a beautiful pair of Ernest Wright scissors that I use only for cutting silks. I do so much metal embroidery that it’s easier for me to have scissors that do everything including metal, and one special pair that only cut silk. As you can tell I am somewhat passionate about my scissors! They make a massive difference in the quality of your stitching, maintaining the rhythm when you’re stitching, and reducing waste.’

• KAI curved tip scissors US

• KAI bent scissors US

• KAI curved tip scissors UK

• Prym KAI bent scissors UK

• Ernest Wright embroidery scissors, a luxury handmade brand made in Sheffield, UK.

Katherine Diuguid, based in Mooresville, North Carolina, US, is known for her technical studies of colour theory in embroidery. She has presented her research at academic conferences for SECAC and the Textile Society of America. Her work has been featured in Inspirations (published by the Embroiderers’ Guild of America) and NeedleArts magazines.

Artist website: katherinediuguid.squarespace.com

Facebook: facebook.com/KatherineDiuguidArtist

Instagram: @katdiuguid

Curved scissors

If you are a fan of appliqué, you might want to invest in some curved scissors for cutting out small fabric shapes.

Yvette Phillips recommends… Westcott curved scissors

Textile artist Yvette Phillips has a box of scissors she’s collected over the years. Her favourites are a pair of Westcott 10cm (4″) curved titanium super soft grip scissors. 

Yvette Phillips: ‘They’re small and have a slight curve to them, which are great for snipping threads or trimming the edge of something that’s been appliquéd on. They allow you to get closer to the fabric without accidentally sticking the points into the fabric. I also use them for cutting shapes – the curved blades are really useful for cutting curved leaves or flower petals.’

Yvette also uses a variety of small sharp scissors, including a pair of Westcott small pointed scissors. These are good for cutting out small, detailed fabric shapes. To keep your embroidery and fabric scissors sharp, she advises using separate pairs for cutting fabric and paper. 

‘I put a blob of coloured nail polish on the blade of the scissors I use for cutting fabric, to differentiate them from the ones that I use to cut paper.’

• Westcott curved titanium embroidery scissors

• Westcott small pointed embroidery scissors

Yvette Phillips is a British textile artist living and working in Blewbury,Oxfordshire. She is a member of the Oxford Art Society, the Society for Embroidered Work, The Embroiderers’ Guild, and Modern Makers Collective.

Artist website: yvettephillipsart.com

Instagram: @yvettephillips_art

Appliqué scissors

Duckbill scissors are great for appliqué and quilt making. The duckbill shape gives great control and protects the base fabric when you are trimming close to the edges of a stitched fabric shape.

• Prym appliqué scissors

Scissors for cutting fabric

A larger pair of scissors is useful for cutting larger pieces of fabric, thick materials, or several layers of fabric. Fabric shears, dressmaker’s shears and tailor’s sidebent shears all have long, sharp blades. To increase their lifespan and keep them sharp, only use them for cutting fabric, and not paper.

Aran Illingworth recommends… Fiskars scissors

Fiskars make stainless steel scissors with classic orange handles which are recognisable worldwide. The company was founded as an ironworks in Finland in 1649 and their first cutlery and scissor mill was established in 1832. 

The iconic handle in Fiskars Orange is designed for comfort, and the precision ground stainless steel blades are known for their cutting performance and longevity.

Aran Illingworth: ‘My go-to fabric scissors are Fiskars’ fabric shears. I have been using Fiskars scissors for over a decade as they produce scissors which are durable, ergonomic and reliable. They allow me to cut fabrics with a range of densities and textures, both cleanly and precisely.’

• Fiskars Classic tailor’s shears, 27cm

Aran Illingworth is a textile artist based in Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, UK. Originally a psychiatric nurse working with the homeless and those suffering from addictions, she completed a degree in Applied Arts in 2010. She held a solo exhibition at the Knitting and Stitching Show in 2022 and exhibits at The Old Chapel Textile Centre, Newbury and The Willow Gallery in Oswestry in 2023.

Artist website: aran-i.com

Facebook: facebook.com/aranillingworth

Instagram: @aranillingworth

Left-handed scissors

If you are left-handed and want to avoid getting those painful blisters on your hands, the good news is that some manufacturers make left-handed embroidery scissors and fabric shears. 

Other brands have super soft ergonomic handles that can be used by both left and right-handers. With a bit of trial and error, you’ll be able to find the perfect pair of scissors to cut accurately and painlessly.

• Premax left-handed embroidery scissors

• Famoré left-handed embroidery scissors, US

• Mundial ergonomic embroidery scissors, US

• Mundial ergonomic embroidery scissors, UK 

• Taylor’s Eye Witness left-handed dressmaking shears 

• Fiskars left-handed fabric shears

• Milward left-handed fabric shears

• Prym soft handle ergonomic tailor’s shears

Jessica Grady recommends… scissors for left-handers

Jessica Grady: ‘Being a left-handed stitcher, finding the perfect scissors always seems to be a little tricky. My favourite pair are actually not left-handed scissors at all, but are a pair of traditional Japanese bonsai pruning scissors – they are the perfect size and shape for cutting threads. I find these can be worked with your left or right hand and don’t give me painful scissor blisters. 

‘As I work with mixed media I go through lots and lots of pairs of scissors. I’m constantly cutting through tough materials like rubber, plastic and metal. I like to stock up with several pairs of low cost kitchen scissors from homewares stores like IKEA, as I don’t have to worry about blunting the blades – they are more budget friendly than specialist textile brands, and I can have a pair for all the different materials I work with.’

Jessica Grady is an artist based in West Yorkshire, UK. In 2018 she was awarded an Embroiderers’ Guild Scholarship (under 30). She is also an exhibiting member of Art Textiles Made in Britain (ATMB) and The Society for Embroidered Work. She is the author of Stitched Mixed Media (2023), and exhibited her work at the 2023 Knitting and Stitching Shows in Harrogate and London, with Art Textiles: Made in Britain, and The Embroiderers’ Guild.

Artist website: jessicagrady.co.uk

Instagram: @jessica_rosestitch

Looking for a bit of luxury?

Whiteley’s is a family run firm based in Sheffield, UK. The owners describe the company as ‘the last industrial scissor maker in the UK, and the oldest scissor smiths in the Western world’. William Whiteley & Sons were founded in 1760 and continue to produce handmade scissors for sewing and tailoring, including the Wilkinson patented ‘sidebent’ scissors which run flat along the fabric enabling a long straight cut, and a range of beautiful and high quality embroidery scissors.

Ernest Wright is another Sheffield-based company in the UK with a long history. They create sought after handmade embroidery shears and fabric shears. The company’s efforts to maintain and pass on the traditional methods for handcrafting scissors (which is on the list of critically endangered crafts in the UK) were rewarded in 2020 with the President’s Award for Endangered Crafts, given by the Heritage Crafts Association.

If you are looking to purchase scissors as a gift, the popular UK-based small business retailer Merchant & Mills stocks a good selection of attractively packaged, high quality embroidery scissors and fabric shears. The company’s ethos is to sell stylish, functional and sustainable products – and their scissors are designed for a long life.

Karen Kay Buckley, the US-based quilt artist, developed the Perfect Scissors range of straight and serrated blade scissors. These have stainless steel blades and soft, ergonomic handles which can be used by both left-handed and right-handed people. The serrated blade scissors are great for appliqué as they can also be used for cutting several layers of fabric at the same time. They pull the fabric into the scissors as you use them, giving a clean cut which is less likely to fray.

KAI is a premium Japanese brand with a long history, having been established in 1908. Known for their mission of combining old traditions with innovative production technologies, their scissors are made of high carbon stainless steel with vanadium, and are strong, well balanced and long lasting.

• Whiteley’s

• Ernest Wright

• Merchant and Mills

• Karen Kay Buckley

• KAI scissors US, KAI Europe, and stockists worldwide

Key takeaways

Some quick tips on embroidery and fabric scissors:

• If you are new to embroidery, a pair of small, sharp embroidery scissors and some fabric shears are a good place to start. 

• To extend the life of your sewing scissors, don’t use them to cut paper. Tie a ribbon on them or mark them with a dot of paint – this will remind you (and others) that they are to be used for fabric and thread only!

• If you are exploring appliqué, cutwork or goldwork, it’s worth buying a pair of specialist scissors to aid your work.

• If you use scissors regularly with different materials, it’s a good idea to keep a specific pair of scissors or shears for each type of cutting job.

• Always store your scissors dry. Keep them wrapped in some clean, absorbent material. If you’ve invested in a specialist pair, why not sew a bag for them? Look after your tools and they will look after you.

Looking for new stitch techniques? Read The best hand embroidery reference books.

Do you have a special pair of embroidery scissors? Tell us more by leaving a comment below.

‘Make it do, do without, use it up, wear it out’.

My mother was a young girl during America’s Great Depression, and she also had family members who somehow survived the Dust Bowl years. She grew up hearing this saying, and she repeated it often to me, especially when I thought I needed something new to wear. ‘You can fix that’ was her approach to everything, especially when it came to textiles and clothing.

In a world focused on consumerism, textile artists are increasingly questioning the need for ‘new’ and are instead choosing to use vintage fabrics or incorporate visible mending and other sustainable approaches. And some artists incorporate natural materials or take a meditative approach to their work, inspired by the sights, sounds and rhythms of nature.

Working sustainably is great for your wellbeing. Whether you’re experimenting with natural materials, experiencing slow stitching or connecting with nature through your art practice, this philosophy will bring mental, physical and spiritual benefits.

But knowing where to start can be overwhelming. What should I make with that old tablecloth and how do I work around those stains? How do I reconnect with nature? Where do I source older textiles? What’s recyclable and what’s not? How do I work more sustainably?

This booklist has the answers you need. These expert authors will help you imagine, source and create your own textile art using a variety of techniques, including dyeing your own fabrics, incorporating found objects and natural materials, and exploring unique threadwork. You’ll also discover the benefits of connecting with nature to inspire your creativity.

Create Naturally: Go Outside and Rediscover Nature with 15 Artists

Learn from 15 makers who share their philosophies and step by step processes to create nature connected works. They not only share tips and suggestions for creating your own art, but they also articulate the physical, mental and spiritual benefits they gain from working with natural, recycled and repurposed materials. 

Featured works include a nature journal, baskets, temporary beach structures, dyed textile and woven wall art, and embroidery. The book’s luscious pictures and interesting stories make readers feel as if they’re having a personal creative conversation with the makers.

Author Marcia Young has been making and writing about art and fine craft for over 30 years. She is the founder of the Fiber Art Network and former publisher of Fiber Art Now magazine.

Create Naturally: Go Outside and Rediscover Nature with 15 Artists (2023) by Marcia Young. ISBN 978-0764364341

Wild Textiles: Grown, Foraged, Found

Textile artist Alice Fox is known for her remarkable use of natural and found objects. And she’s now sharing advice on how to work with foraged, gathered and grown materials to create fabulous textile art pieces. You’ll be amazed by the possibilities! Weeds, dandelions and other plants are useful as cordage, while leaves can be stitched, quilted and shaped into vessels. 

Alice also describes how grass, wool, plastics and mud can be delightfully repurposed, along with stones, shells and a multitude of urban treasures. She encourages makers to be open minded and experimental as they work with seasonal bounties to create art that bears a strong sense of place and character.

Author Alice Fox is an embroiderer and textile artist who uses techniques from textiles, soft basketry and printmaking. She is based in Saltaire, West Yorkshire (UK), and exhibits and teaches across the globe.

Wild Textiles: Grown, Foraged, Found (2022) by Alice Fox. ISBN 978-1849947879

Resilient Stitch: Wellbeing and Connection in Textile Art

Following up on her renowned book Slow Stitch, Claire Wellesley-Smith considers the connection and ideas around wellbeing when using textiles for individuals and communities. 

Claire and other contemporary textile artists share practical ideas for ‘thinking through making’, using ‘resonant’ materials, and extending the life of pieces using traditional and non-traditional methods. Community based textile projects are also featured, including a moving account of one textile community’s creative response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The connection between wellbeing and the creation of textiles has never been stronger. Recommendations for resilient fabrics that can be manipulated, stressed, withstand tension and be made anew are offered throughout the book. Claire and featured artists also explain techniques for layering, patching, reinforcing and mending. The overarching goal is to help makers explore ways to link their emotional health with their textile practice.

Stitch Club member Rosalind Byass is a big fan of Claire’s books and says she has read them from cover to cover several times.

‘Her first book, Slow Stitch, is like a stitch meditation. Its calm colours, cloth cover and peaceful visual layout make it one of my favourite textile books. I love Claire’s style of writing and her attitude and approach to life. Be sure to read her page on repair. It will change your view about things not being perfect. The section on stitching and mental health is also uplifting.’

Stitch Club member Joekie Blom is also a fan of Claire’s first book Slow Stitch.

‘It’s wonderful. I especially love the natural dyeing Claire describes. I changed all my not-so-liked threads into wonderful colours.’

Author Claire Wellesley-Smith is based in Yorkshire, UK. She teaches extensively in adult education, schools, community based projects, museums and galleries.

Resilient Stitch: Wellbeing and Connection in Textile Art (2021) by Claire Wellesley-Smith. ISBN 978-1849946070

Wild Colour: How to Make and Use Natural Dyes

Natural dyes are a wonderful way to add colour and dimension to your textile art, but knowing the ‘what’ and ‘how’ in working with plants can be a challenge. Jenny Dean’s book is a practical and inspiring all-in-one resource for textile artists of all genres, including knitters, sewers and weavers. 

More than 65 species of plants and natural dyestuffs are featured, and Jenny carefully explains how to select fibres and plant parts and then choose the right methods for mordanting and dyeing. She also describes how to obtain a range of gorgeous colours from every plant using environmentally friendly dyeing techniques.

Author Jenny Dean has been using natural dyes for over 40 years and has written several books on the subject. She also lectures and leads workshops on natural dyeing, and she enjoys hand spinning, knitting and other textile arts.

Wild Colour: How to Make and Use Natural Dyes (2018) by Jenny Dean. ISBN 978-1784725532

Textures from Nature in Textile Art: Natural Inspiration for Mixed-Media and Textile Artists

This book is for artists wanting to combine unusual recycled and repurposed materials with traditional fabric and thread. Textile artist Marian Jazmik reveals the secrets of her lushly textured and sculptural embroidered pieces, from initial photography to finished objects. Who knew a chance spotting of lichen on a tree trunk or scattering of autumn leaves could lead to such glorious textile art?

This book is packed with practical tips and illustrated examples of a myriad of Marian’s techniques. She takes the fear out of working with images and helps makers translate those images into three dimensional works using an eclectic mix of natural and synthetic materials. Hand and machine embroidery, as well as dyeing, printing and painting techniques, are also explained.

Stitch Club member Zara Muradyan is a fan of Marian’s book.

‘I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for new ways to explore textural surfaces while using everyday materials. Great resource for upcycling while creating sophisticated artwork!’

Author Marian Jazmik is based in Bolton, Lancashire, UK, and she has exhibited widely, including at The Knitting and Stitching Shows, Home in Manchester and with Prism textiles group in London and Birmingham.

Textures from Nature in Textile Art: Natural Inspiration for Mixed Media and Textile Artists (2021) by Marian Jazmik. ISBN ‎ 978-1849946704

The Wild Dyer: A Maker’s Guide with Natural Dyes with Projects to Create and Stitch

Fabrics coloured with natural dyes have a beauty and subtlety all their own. Onion and avocado skins, chamomile and birch bark, and even nettles and acorns can produce lovely, ethereal colours and effects. 

Abigail Booth takes the reader’s hand to help demystify how to forage and grow dying materials. She fully explains her dyeing process, including workspace setup, equipment and fabric choices and care. Beautiful photographs are complemented by easy to follow instructions. 

In this book, Abigail also shares unique sewing projects for using your beautifully dyed fabrics, including a drawstring foraging bag, a gardener’s smock and a reversible patchwork blanket. Both beginners and experienced artists will enjoy Abigail’s journey from her kitchen to the great outdoors.

Author Abigail Booth is based in London, UK, and is co-founder of the studio collective Forest + Found. She works in textiles, drawing and painting, and exhibits in the UK and internationally.

The Wild Dyer: A Maker’s Guide with Natural Dyes with Projects to Create and Stitch (2017) by Abigail Booth. ISBN 978-0857833952

Eco Colour: Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles

No matter your experience with using botanical dyes, India Flint leads the way. She explores the fascinating and infinitely variable world of plant colour, including gathering, preparing and processing plants. 

From whole dyed cloth and applied colour to prints and layered dye techniques, India uses renewable resources and shows how to do the least possible harm to the dyer and the environment. Her recipes include a number of processes uniquely developed by India, as well as guidelines for plant collection and using nontoxic mordants.

Author India Flint is an artist and writer whose works are represented in collections and museums in Germany, Latvia and Australia. She lives on a farm in rural South Australia, researching plant dyes, making artworks and planting trees.

Eco Colour: Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles (2021) by India Flint. ISBN 978-1911668404

Textiles Transformed: Thread and thrift with reclaimed textiles

There’s something quite magical about textile collage using vintage textiles, and Mandy Pattullo is an expert. Following the make do and mend and folk art traditions of previous generations, Mandy provides simple instructions for working with a variety of antique textiles and precious fragments. The book is filled with ideas for embellishment, stitch and appliqué, as well as tips for transforming materials into impressive quilts, bags, books, tablecloths, tapestry panels, wall hangings and more.

Mandy also shares project ideas for working with quilts, patchworks, linen, lace, wool and deconstructed preloved garments. Each project beautifully demonstrates how makers can incorporate beautiful fabric and stitch finds from the past.

Author Mandy Pattullo trained as a surface pattern and textile designer and is now a textile artist who exhibits and teaches across the UK. Her work is based on collage techniques, and she makes a conscious effort to repurpose existing textiles.

Textiles Transformed: Thread and thrift with reclaimed textiles by Mandy Pattullo (2020). ISBN  978-1849945806

Mending with Boro: Japanese Running Stitch & Patching Techniques

One simple stitch can bring new life to hundreds of your favourite things! Harumi Horiuchi introduces the simple straight (running) stitch called sashiko (it translates as ‘little stabs’), used to repair and reinforce fabrics. This process of repair, and the philosophy of finding beauty in mending, emerged in Japan and is known as boro. It’s a favourite technique among visible mending enthusiasts, as it adds intriguing textural elements to garments and home furnishings.

Harumi’s approach is simple: the things you love are worth fixing. She helps makers discover the pleasure of working with old fabrics and making classic neutrals come alive. Whether readers want to reinforce, repair or remake an entire garment with patches, Harumi’s demonstrations and instructions are easy and enjoyable. Not only will fabrics and garments gain a new look and feel, but the environment will also be grateful.

Author Harumi Horiuchi is an expert in repurposing old fabrics, particularly linen. She has co-authored other books in her native Japan about the joy of reworking and wearing old clothing.

Mending with Boro: Japanese Running Stitch & Patching Techniques (2023) by Harumi Horiuchi. ISBN 978-0804856041

Creative Mending: Beautiful Darning, Patching and Stitching Techniques

Mending is truly an art form in the hands of Hikaru Noguchi, and she’s sharing her entire range of techniques for embroidering, patching, darning and felting. Noguchi’s basic rule of mending is that a repair should suit the fabric and its user, so she provides 13 illustrated lessons and over 300 colour photos to help readers make the statement (or not) they want.

Learn how to use yarn, floss, ribbon and fabric to reinvent well loved garments, as well as ways to manoeuvre through tricky places like inseams and underarms. Numerous variations and 67 different tips and examples provide all the guidance you need to rethink and repair beautifully.

Author Hikaru Noguchi moved from Japan to England in 1989 to study constructed textiles, which led to collaborations with several British designers, including Tom Dixon and Barneys. Hikaru has participated in many international exhibitions, and her work is sold in boutiques and department stores in London, Paris, New York and Tokyo.

Creative Mending: Beautiful Darning, Patching and Stitching Techniques (2022) by Hikaru Noguchi. ISBN 978-0804854740

Stitched Mixed Media

‘Embellishment’ is what Jessica Grady is all about, and she’s well known for literally turning trash into whimsical and colourful treasures. This book is packed with colour, ideas and enthusiasm as she helps readers look at the potential of recycled products. She then explains how to turn those finds into beautiful embellishments for hand stitching onto samples. 

Projects and step by step sequences demonstrate her exciting process of playing with textiles and mixed media to create new and unique works. Jessica helps readers build a basic tool kit, as well as provides ideas for sourcing and organising supplies, making a stitch library of samples, and using threads creatively. 2D and 3D techniques are clearly explained for creating unique pieces and helping readers develop their own artistic voice.

Author Jessica Grady is based in West Yorkshire, UK, where she is a member of Art Textiles Made in Britain. Her work has been exhibited internationally, and in 2018, she was named as the ‘Under 30’s Scholar’ by The Embroiderers’ Guild. Jessica is also a passionate teacher who teaches stitch and recycling through various workshops and community projects.

Stitched Mixed Media (2023) by Jessica Grady. ISBN 978-0719842238

Books featured in this article

• Create Naturally: Go Outside and Rediscover Nature with 15 Artists (2023) by Marcia Young

• Wild Textiles: Grown, Foraged, Found (2022) by Alice Fox

• Resilient Stitch: Wellbeing and Connection in Textile Art (2021) by Claire Wellesley-Smith

• Wild Colour: How to Make and Use Natural Dyes (2018) by Jenny Dean

• Textures from Nature in Textile Art: Natural Inspiration for Mixed Media and Textile Artists (2021) by Marian Jazmik

• The Wild Dyer: A Maker’s Guide with Natural Dyes with Projects to Create and Stitch (2017) by Abigail Booth

• Eco Colour: Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles (2021) by India Flint

• Textiles Transformed: Thread and thrift with reclaimed textiles (2020) by Mandy Pattullo

• Mending with Boro: Japanese Running Stitch & Patching Techniques (2023) by Harumi Horiuchi

• Creative Mending: Beautiful Darning, Patching and Stitching Techniques (2022), by Hikaru Noguchi

• Stitched Mixed Media (2023) by Jessica Grady

If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

Looking for more book suggestions? Check out our list of the best hand embroidery reference books.

Are you new to embroidery, and want some help getting started? Or are you an experienced stitcher looking to expand your range of techniques? Maybe you’re more of an inventor and you’re searching for ways to experiment with your stitches to create some exciting outcomes?

Here’s the good news – we’ve done the hard work and gathered a list of books to help you. 

We searched for modern reference books that are easy to source and suitable for all embroiderers. And we asked members of the TextileArtist.org Stitch Club to recommend their favourite stitch books, too. They came up with some great titles, including some old favourites, which we’ll mention later on.

Read on to discover our list of the best hand embroidery books. These are all great guides that you can keep in your reference library, and return to again and again.

Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery 

Contemporary embroidery calls for an inspiring modern publication, so why not consider Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery by Sharon Boggon?

This stunning visual treat describes 120 stitches, with instructions for left- and right-handers, and gives you plenty of ideas for adapting them to create exciting and colourful patterns and textures.

Stitch Club member Jocelyne Simon recommended this book, telling us she was drawn to the author’s practical and illustrated presentation, and how it presents lots of stitches and ideas for creating texture, step-by-step. 

Australian textile artist Sharon Boggon is also the creator of the blog PinTangle. This paperback edition was published in 2020, by C&T Publishing.

Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery (2020), by Sharon Boggon. ISBN-13: 978-1617458774

Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches

A highly-regarded reference guide, Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches includes a comprehensive stitch dictionary with over 400 stitch types. 

The book was first released in 1934, and has become an absolute classic.

This paperback edition, published in 2018 by Search Press, has been revised and updated by the well-respected embroiderer and textile designer Jan Eaton. 

It’s organised into categories including filling stitches, straight stitches, outline stitches and more, and each stitch technique has clear diagrams and photographs, alongside easy-to-follow instructions. This makes the book suitable both for beginners and more experienced stitches looking to expand their repertoire.

Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (2018), revised by Jan Eaton. ISBN-13:‎ 978-1782216438

Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion

Are you a left-hander who sometimes struggles to follow instruction guides created for right-handed people?

One solution is to try looking at the diagrams through a mirror… But this can be tricky, so perhaps the Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion by Yvette Stanton is just what you need. 

Not to leave out the right-handed stitchers, Yvette has also written the Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion. 

The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion was recommended by Stitch Club member Mary-Jo Eckhart: ‘This book has thorough, clear photos, easy to read diagrams, plus words that make sense. Yvette started with the left-handed book, then published one for righties, too, who felt left out! I must have over 30 books on stitches and this is the one I reach for again and again.’

Amberley Kemp from the Stitch Club team also recommends this book: ‘The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion is an absolute lifeline for left-handed stitchers as the majority of materials out there are geared towards those who are right-handed. And from my teaching experience, it’s not easy to teach how to do a stitch with your left hand when you are right-handed.’

Both of these straightforward stitch dictionaries feature clear step-by-step instructions, photographs and diagrams which are simple to follow. They include over 170 stitches, including a large range of surface stitches. 

Yvette Stanton is an Australian embroidery designer and lover of whitework, and self-published these paperback books in 2010 through Vetty Creations.

Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion (2010), by Yvette Stanton. ISBN-13: 978-0975767733

Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion (2010), by Yvette Stanton. ISBN-13: 978-0975767740

The Embroidery Stitch Bible

Another popular stitch dictionary is The Embroidery Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden, a needlecraft designer, teacher and author. In this book you’ll find over 200 stitches photographed with easy-to-follow charts. 

This paperback edition was published in 2017 by Search Press, and was recommended by Stitch Club member Janet Woo.

‘I love the Constance Howard Book of Stitches as the photos are lovely, but I prefer The Embroidery Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden as it explains how to do the stitches, as well as providing diagrams and photos.’

The Embroidery Stitch Bible (2017) by Betty Barnden. ISBN-13: 978-1782216025

Hand Embroidery Dictionary

Another great reference guide by teacher, author and stitcher Christen Brown. This book is useful for stitchers of all abilities. It contains a vast number of stitches, over 500 stitch designs, all with step-by-step instructions.

The stitches are organised into categories using a useful visual content guide, which should help you find what you are looking for.

There’s also a section on tools, tips and tricks to aid your embroidery work, and help for left-handers. This paperback book was published by C&T Publishing in 2021.

Hand Embroidery Dictionary (2021), by Christen Brown. ISBN-13:‎ 978-1644030097

Hand Embroidery Stitches for Everyone

Would you prefer the versatility of an ebook when learning new embroidery stitches? Hand Embroidery Stitches for Everyone is written by the respected embroidery artist behind the popular website Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials, Juby Aleyas Koll.

This ebook, available in PDF and Kindle formats, allows you to zoom in on the photographs which can help you to understand the stitches. 

It’s easy to navigate too, with the stitches helpfully organised into stitch families using a picture dictionary, with clickable links to each section.  

It includes over 300 hand embroidery stitches with step-by-step photographs and clear instructions. There’s also tips and techniques for beginners, such as how to handle needles, threads and embroidery hoops, and some printable patterns so you can practise your stitches too. 

This ebook also features interesting snippets of information on the origin and history of many of the stitches. This second edition was published in 2021 by Roxy Mathew Koll and Juby Aleyas Koll. 

Hand Embroidery Stitches for Everyone, 2nd edition (2021), an ebook by Juby Aleyas Koll, of Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials.

The Intentional Thread

If you want to take your stitches further, The Intentional Thread by Susan Brandeis explores how to use thread to communicate your thoughts and ideas.

Several of our Stitch Club members recommended this book, including Ali Taylor, for whom it’s a firm favourite: ‘I find myself going back to this book time and time again, for creative new ways to make marks with some of the simplest of stitches.’ 

And Deb Elliott: ‘I love this book. It’s definitely my stitching bible. I was originally loaned this book by my friend Claire Benn, a mixed media artist. After turning the first pages I knew I had to get my own copy!’

This book, published by Schaffer Publishing in 2019, will help you to use stitch with intention, sharing ways to use line, shape, colour and texture in your work. Suitable for stitchers at all levels, it’s both a reference book and an education tool, with suggested projects to help you explore the ideas covered in the book.

Susan Brandeis is a renowned American artist and educator. She is founder of the Southeast Fibers Educators Association, and a member of the Surface Design Association.

The Intentional Thread: A Guide to Drawing, Gesture, and Color in Stitch (2019), by Susan Brandeis. ISBN 978-0764357435

And finally…

When we asked the TextileArtist.org Stitch Club community which books they most used to aid their stitch explorations, many members told us about their favourite old books. 

Some stitchers have owned these books for decades, others found them in thrift shops, online or in second hand bookstores. Here’s their recommendations:

• The Constance Howard Book of Stitches (1979), by Constance Howard, published by Batsford. ISBN-13: 978-0713410051

• Stitches: New Approaches (2004) by Jan Beaney, published by Batsford. ISBN-13:‎ 978-0713488876 

• Encyclopaedia of Embroidery Stitches, Including Crewel (1975) by Marion Nichols, published by Dover Publications. ISBN-13: 978-0486229294

Several Stitch Club members mentioned The Constance Howard Book of Stitches, including Jane Cook: ‘I love books which show how to use the stitches, rather than just learning them. My favourites are Stitches: New Approaches, by Jan Beaney and the Constance Howard Book of Stitches (of course).’

And another Stitch Club member recommended the Encyclopaedia of Embroidery Stitches, Including Crewel, by Marion Nichols, explaining that it was ‘a very clear ‘how to’ book for all the stitches you could ever want to use.’

So keep an eye out for these worthy classics, and other gems. These books may be out of print and only available second hand, but they could become valuable treasures – how-to  books that you can return to again and again for inspiration.

Books featured in this article

• Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery (2020), by Sharon Boggon

• Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (2018), by Mary Thomas and revised by Jan Eaton.

• Left-handed Embroiderer’s Companion (2010), by Yvette Stanton

• Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion (2010), by Yvette Stanton

• The Embroidery Stitch Bible (2017), by Betty Barnden

• Hand Embroidery Dictionary (2021), by Christen Brown

• Hand Embroidery Stitches for Everyone (2021), an ebook by Juby Aleyas Koll of Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials

• The Intentional Thread: A Guide to Drawing, Gesture, and Color in Stitch (2019), by Susan Brandeis

With one of these books by your side, and inspiration from the huge range of embroidery artists featured on TextileArtist.org, it’s time to start your stitched journey of discovery. We encourage you try out some new stitches, and see where they take you. 

If you’re looking to discover more about the inspiring work made by modern embroidery artists, check out Discover: Five contemporary embroidery artists, Stitching the great outdoors: Landscape textile art and Delightful distortion: Seven abstract textile artists.

Are you looking for more books about textile art? Read Top textile artist books: Our recommendations.

If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

Book mockups by pmvchamara courtesy of Freepik.

Have you used one of the hand embroidery books listed here? Let us know why you would recommend it, by leaving a comment below.

Nothing can beat experiencing textile art ‘in the flesh’. Visiting an exhibition of tactile work created by an artist you admire offers an opportunity for discovery; pondering on the intricacies of a stitched design up close and personal, breathing in the detail, absorbing the craftsmanship. For enthusiasts of fiber, this inspiration is unparalleled.

But how do you bottle that? Dedicated textile art exhibitions are sadly rarer than they should be. And there is still a baffling resistance on the part of many galleries to feature work created with fiber, no matter how innovative or contemporary.

And that’s one of the reasons TextileArtist.org exists. And it’s also the reason we decided to curate some of our favourite contemporary work by some of the most exciting artists working with textiles today in a series of digital books.

We selected a series of compelling subjects, including Textile Art Inspired by Nature and Textile Sculpture and sought out the best artists working in those mediums and styles. Our aim was to make the work of these incredible international practitioners accessible no matter where you are in the world.

Textile Art Inspired by Nature

Leslie Morgan, Little Bird

Nature is one of the most enduring inspirations for art of any form. Fascination with forests, seas, wildlife and the sky doesn’t seem to ebb.

In Textile Art Inspired by Nature, we celebrate the work and worlds of 10 artists speaking of this well-trodden subject matter in new and resounding voices.  Each chapter delves into a different artist’s take on nature and the techniques and processes they use to bring their concepts to life.

The array of beautiful images of their work prove that there really is no limit to the possibilities of how nature can be harnessed to create original, breathtaking art and how textiles seem to be the perfect medium to capture the rhythms and textures of the natural world.

Anne Honeyman, Meadow Bowl

You’ll share in the stories of long-time TextileArtist.org contributors Cas Holmes, who uses found materials as the foundation for her work, and Anne Kelly, who creates densely embroidered and multi-layered works.

You’ll also be invited into the worlds of machine embroiderer Anne Honeyman, mixed media practitioner Lesley Richmond, and abstract artist Pat Bishop. And you’ll take a glimpse into the processes of Dionne Swift, who uses drawing as the basis for her work, Susan Beallor-Snyder, who creates natural manila rope sculptures, and Nicola Henley, whose process is instigated by the movement of birds. Finally, you’ll discover what lies behind the work of applied artist Maria Boyle and quilter Leslie Morgan.

Find out more about Textile Art Inspired by Nature here.

Textiles: A Response to Landscape

Jan Beaney, Purple Hedgerow

Landscapes have been a source of inspiration for artists throughout the ages.

Far-reaching vistas have been depicted literally and portrayed abstractly by practitioners working in a wide range of media. But there is something about the depth and tactility of textiles that seems particularly apt when taking the natural world as a starting point.

Textiles: A Response to Landscape brings together 10 incredible contemporary artists who speak of the subject matter in a unique way. In compiling the book, we sought to highlight the vast range of opportunities textiles offer as a means of interpretation by exploring the stories, influences and techniques of the artists featured. There’s also a wide selection of beautiful images of their work.

Daren Redman, Three Flowers

You’ll share in the stories of Alison King, who is inspired by the hills and valleys of Scotland, and Shona Skinner, who became frustrated with the flatness of paint and moved to textiles as a means of expressing the landscape of the Shetland Isles.

You’ll also be invited into the worlds of the longest serving member of the renowned 62 Group Jan Beaney, Indiana-based quilter Daren Redman, and long-time TextileArtist.org contributor Carol Naylor. And you’ll take a glimpse into the processes of Pauline Nijenhuis, who uses acrylic paint and stitch on untreated linen, Debbie Lyddon, who makes non-representational objects and wall hung pieces, and Carol Shinn, who creates photo-realistic machine embroidery. Finally, you’ll discover what lies behind the work of collage-artist Barbara Lee Smith and Licentiate member of the Society of Designer Craftsmen Diana McKinnon.

Find out more about Textiles: A Response to Landscape here

Contemporary Stitch

Debbie Smyth, Trolleyed

Contemporary Stitch is a celebration of the work and worlds of 10 incredible embroidery artists.

You’ll share in their stories, discover what makes them tick and take a glimpse into their processes. You’ll also feast on an array of beautiful images of their work.

We couldn’t compile a book on Contemporary Stitch without including the woman who started it all; the first chapter is dedicated to mum, Sue Stone. Alongside her you’ll find fellow 62 Group members Tilleke Schwarz, who uses stitch to create ‘visual poetry’, and Alice Kettle, who creates painterly pieces of work using machine embroidery.

Sue Stone, Some Things Never Change

You’ll also be invited into the worlds of USA-based fiber artist Nike Schroeder and image-hijacker Inge Jacobsen. And you’ll take a glimpse into the processes of Debbie Smyth, who has become renowned for her thread drawings, Emily Jo Gibbs, who creates both portraiture and textile sculpture, and Stewart Kelly, who takes his inspiration from the human form. Finally, you’ll discover what lies behind the work of needle and thread sketcher Elisabeth Rutt and mixed media artist Kirsty Whitlock.

There are two defining factors that unify all of the work featured in Contemporary Stitch; it is made using embroidery as its basis, and it represents the best that modern Textile Art has to offer.

Find out more about Contemporary Stitch here

Artistic Embroidery

Melissa Zexter, Woman with Veil (Detail)

Artistic Embroidery brings together the musings of 10 more incredible stitch artists working today.

You’ll learn about their journeys, plus why and how they make their mark in the world of modern art. You’ll also enjoy a huge array of high quality inspiring images of their work.

You’ll share in the story of Nigel Cheney, an artist we’ve featured many times on TextileArtist.org and someone we admire for the scale of his ambition and his unique take on a well-worn subject matter. Alongside him you’ll find Melissa Zexter, who creates embroidered photography, and Jean Littlejohn, who is internationally renowned for both her art and her teaching.

Jean Littlejohn, Renewal

You’ll also be invited into the worlds of textile designer and illustrator Naomi Ryder and figurative artist Nicole Ladrak. And you’ll take a glimpse into the processes of Caren Garfen, who uses textiles to explore women’s issues in the 21st century, James Hunting, who started life as a freelance fashion embroiderer before discovering a more personal approach, and Willy Schut, who uses a combination of painting, appliqué and freehand machine embroidery. Finally, you’ll discover what lies behind the work of quilt artist Bethan Ash and graphic textile designer Evelin Kasikov.

We’re sure you’ll agree that the work represented in Artistic Embroidery brings together a breath taking array of modern art, which all just happens to be created using stitch techniques.

Find out more about Artistic Embroidery here

Textiles Re:Imagined

Isobel Currie, 3-dimensional embroidery

Delve into the minds of 50 of the world’s most innovative and inspiring textile and fiber artists.

Textiles Re:imagined takes you on a journey of discovery as you share in the stories of 50 diverse artists, all of whom demonstrate excellence in workmanship and design. This is your ‘behind the scenes’ pass into how the artists got to where they are today, what inspires them and the processes they use to create their breathtakingly beautiful work. Immerse yourself in a world of possibility within the realm of textile and fiber art and embrace the freedom to explore new concepts and ideas.

In compiling this book for you and other passionate, creative people just like you, we sought to challenge preconceptions about what constitutes ‘textile art’.

Jennifer Collier, Photo Camera

The work of the 50 featured artists honours tradition in many cases, but is always innovative, exciting and contemporary.

In Textiles Re:imagined, you’ll find well established, highly respected practitioners, such as Jean Draper and Karen Nicol, rubbing shoulders with those at the start of their journey, such as Bella May Leonard. You’ll discover artists drawing inspiration from a multitude of sources including nature (Heather Collins), foreign culture (Pippa Andrews) and the human condition (Hilary Bower), using a diverse array of materials including felt (Janice Arnold), rope (Judy Tadman) and recycled objects (Barbara Cotterell), and working in a wide range of methods including hand-weaving (Alice Hume), beading (Jan Huling) and basketry (Polly Pollock).

By covering such a wide and varied range of materials and techniques, our aim is that you’ll be inspired to experiment and push the boundaries of your own practice.

And of course, as fiber art is a visual medium there’s a huge array of sumptuously vibrant images of the artists’ work to stimulate you further.

“This book is full of inspiration. I feel that I have had the opportunity to visit one of the best mixed media museums in the world and have browsed and read and mused for hours over this ebook. Do yourself a favour, if you love mixed media you will love this book” SJ Fisher Amazon

Find out more about Textiles Re:Imagined here

Get the entire collection

We’re offering all 5 of the textile art ebooks featured in this article in an exclusive discounted bundle. Check out the offer here.