Simply Samplers: Easy Techniques for Hand Embroidery.

 Mechanicsburg, VA, Stackpole Books, 2014

ISBN: 978 0 8117 1292 7

Samplers. What are they? For me they are not proscribed, cross stitched designs, but more of what today tends to be called a doodle cloth – a place to experiment with and master new stitches, or play with variants of a known stitch. However, like many things,the idea of a sampler has evolved. So what does this book offer us?

The first chapters describe the tools and other supplies needed for beginners to embroidery, followed by basic techniques. The techniques cover those things which beginners need to know – how to determine thread count, starting and ending threads, transferring designs, reading charts. The presentation of these seems well thought out, with clear explanations and illustrations.

Most of the book is taken up with sixteen projects, which range from those easy enough for beginners, to those which require a modicum of expertise. The majority of the projects are for Aida or other counted thread material but there are five surface embroidery designs. I confess that only one of the latter really appeals to me – a shamrock sampler. There is aseasonal sampler which may interest youngerstitchers and which could be easily adapted to make it more appealing to a Kiwi. There are five different counted thread alphabets, four of which are cross stitched. There is a colourful, counted thread band sampler and an ‘intermediate’ level counted thread one, which includes counted satin, straight stitch, fern stitch and Algerian eye stitch.  There is a lovely, mainly cross stitched cushion, made up of nine different squares. I really like the colours the used for this project. The squares can be worked separately to make coasters or ornaments.  Being an American book, there are a couple of Halloween designs.

The directions for the projects seem to be clear.  They are nicely illustrated with both photos and diagrams. The book finishes with a competent stitch directory, with diagrams for each stitch used in the book. There is also a good section on how to make up the various projects. DMC cottons are used throughout, but the author has thoughtfully included a colour conversion chart for Anchor and Sullivans (?) threads. There is also a useful glossary of needlework terms.

 This is a bright, well produced book, appealingly set out. I think it would be useful for beginners butwould suggest having a look at the Auckland Public Libraries copy before rushing out to buy it.

Erica Marsden