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Embroidery Now: Contemporary Projects for You and Your Home
Embroidery Now is a stylish hand-embroidery guide for the modern maker. Author and textile artist, Jennifer Riggs, known on Instagram as @Threadhoney, walks you through the embroidery process. You'll learn about the materials included in the practice, nine different stitch techniques with illustrated step-by-step instructions, and 30 individual projects designed for you to use in your home and wardrobe.
Perfect for both new and experienced embroiderers alike, projects include a boho stitched lampshade, embroidered accent pillow, constellation tablecloth, minimalist canvas wall art, starry-stitched dresses, and much more. You will be delighted by the unique, current designs, sophisticated color palettes and on-trend motifs. Each project is broken down into step-by-step instructions and templates so you can recreate them yourself, even if you have no prior embroidery experience. Packed with tips and tricks and a lot of inspiration, Embroidery Now shows that anything can be embroidered and gives you the confidence to continue to embellish your world through embroidery.
Perfect for both new and experienced embroiderers alike, projects include a boho stitched lampshade, embroidered accent pillow, constellation tablecloth, minimalist canvas wall art, starry-stitched dresses, and much more. You will be delighted by the unique, current designs, sophisticated color palettes and on-trend motifs. Each project is broken down into step-by-step instructions and templates so you can recreate them yourself, even if you have no prior embroidery experience. Packed with tips and tricks and a lot of inspiration, Embroidery Now shows that anything can be embroidered and gives you the confidence to continue to embellish your world through embroidery.
- GenresCraftsNonfiction
160 pages, Paperback
Published October 29, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 15, 2022
Ooofa Doofa. This one has some issues.
Number 1: Appropriation
The pattern shown on the cover, what is clearly a Hamsa, is labeled "Mystical Eye Hoop Art". The Hamsa is an image (a hand with aligned fingers and an eye in the palm) is part of a couple of cultural traditions, Jewish and North African/Middle Eastern mostly, and while making or displaying it is generally seen as okay WITH KNOWLEDGE OF ITS MEANING, calling it a "Mystical Eye" and not mentioning that it is a hamsa or any of it's cultural meanings is appropriation.
Additionally there is a piece called a "Caged Eclipse Dream Catcher" which is A. not a dream catcher and B. in no way mentions the indigenous cultures that such items come from. Things-that-arent-dream-catchers-being-labeled-such is also a problem in the macrame community, so it is already a pet peeve of mine, and real dream catchers should only be made by members of the indigenous cultures that they come from. Here is a twitter thread on the subject from actual indigenous people.
Number 2: The Patterns-That-Aren't-Really-Patterns
I am all for stitching on unexpected materials or using these sorts of embroidery to embellish clothing or create art pieces, but I would estimate that roughly 50% of the "patterns" in this book were not embroidery patterns. Adding tassels to a bag, wrapping thread around some hoop earrings, adding running stitch to a lampshade, adding pom-poms to a basket, putting short running stitches on the top part of some slip on sandals, and much more. This book feels like someone had about 10 Basic (I do mean that in the negative way) patterns and were told to pad them out into a full book.
Final Opinion:
It's bad. This is the book version of that one girl from the Baby Sprinkle episode of Schitt's Creek.
Klaire. It is only about aesthetic with no care for the meaning or art behind the things that they are using to decorate. It's vapid. And there are way better embroidery books out there.
If this sort of stuff interests you and you want A TON more patterns AND to know the meaning behind them check out Mystical Stitches: Embroidery for Personal Empowerment and Magical Embellishment It is so much better than this.
Number 1: Appropriation
The pattern shown on the cover, what is clearly a Hamsa, is labeled "Mystical Eye Hoop Art". The Hamsa is an image (a hand with aligned fingers and an eye in the palm) is part of a couple of cultural traditions, Jewish and North African/Middle Eastern mostly, and while making or displaying it is generally seen as okay WITH KNOWLEDGE OF ITS MEANING, calling it a "Mystical Eye" and not mentioning that it is a hamsa or any of it's cultural meanings is appropriation.
Additionally there is a piece called a "Caged Eclipse Dream Catcher" which is A. not a dream catcher and B. in no way mentions the indigenous cultures that such items come from. Things-that-arent-dream-catchers-being-labeled-such is also a problem in the macrame community, so it is already a pet peeve of mine, and real dream catchers should only be made by members of the indigenous cultures that they come from. Here is a twitter thread on the subject from actual indigenous people.
Number 2: The Patterns-That-Aren't-Really-Patterns
I am all for stitching on unexpected materials or using these sorts of embroidery to embellish clothing or create art pieces, but I would estimate that roughly 50% of the "patterns" in this book were not embroidery patterns. Adding tassels to a bag, wrapping thread around some hoop earrings, adding running stitch to a lampshade, adding pom-poms to a basket, putting short running stitches on the top part of some slip on sandals, and much more. This book feels like someone had about 10 Basic (I do mean that in the negative way) patterns and were told to pad them out into a full book.
Final Opinion:
It's bad. This is the book version of that one girl from the Baby Sprinkle episode of Schitt's Creek.
Klaire. It is only about aesthetic with no care for the meaning or art behind the things that they are using to decorate. It's vapid. And there are way better embroidery books out there.
If this sort of stuff interests you and you want A TON more patterns AND to know the meaning behind them check out Mystical Stitches: Embroidery for Personal Empowerment and Magical Embellishment It is so much better than this.
February 2, 2021
I enjoyed this book from cover to cover, and plan to make several of the patterns in the book. What I didn't like was having to go to a website to download several of the patterns which could have easily been included in the book's pattern section. I find it quite annoying to not to have all the patterns in one place. Overall the book included the basic hand embroidery information which is great for a beginner as well as a seasoned hand embroiderer. I can never read too much about hand embroidery, and the patterns have a nice modern take which I like.
April 23, 2020
This book is fantastic! It makes intimidating-looking projects and motifs seem way more accessible. I love the variety of projects: it shows how you can embroider your velvet bralette, a basket, your jeans, sandals, cards, and more! And of course, classic hoop embroidery. It teaches you some stitching basics and includes templates, which are very cool. All of these projects feel like items that are probably selling on Etsy for big money, but you can make them yourself! Highly recommend.
February 12, 2026
Riggs introduces the reader to the techniques, equipment, and patterns necessary to complete 30 modern projects. The projects include clothing, home decor, upcycling old clothing, and small art pieces. The projects are well-illustrated and include detailed instructions. A beautiful resource book as well.
December 6, 2019
A good simple approach to modern embroidery. The patterns included are great for a beginner and offer a clean design focused approach to embroidery- the book really is what it says... embroidery now!
June 19, 2020
I love all the projects in this book they're so cute and well explained!
September 2, 2020
Such a crisp, good book for anyone interested in embroidery. Read in Finnish.
September 15, 2022
Some great inspiration ideas - including phases of moon and constalation. I like the design patterns.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews