Contrast in Crewel Embroidery: Modern designs on light and dark
Tatiana Popova
Search Press
Within this title, Ukrainian author Tatiana Popova brings together her long lived love of Crewelwork and develops designs which are both on dark and light backgrounds. Does that sound bland to you? As a description, yes. However as someone who does not naturally enjoy traditional forms of needlework, I was taken in by her visuals, which then in turn made me read her text. Honestly, I think I just had not fully ‘looked’ at crewelwork before. Yes, I respected it, cos see its beauty, but I did not want to try it. Reading her introduction, I already began to learn so much about this form of art. As a young girl, she admits herself that when looking at samples of this visually, she was confused, Why were leaves holding fruit? Why did birds perch in odd places? As she grew both in years and understanding, she came to love that aspect of this method. I see it as an Alice in Wonderland inspired concept, where everything looks normal, until you consider it again.
This excited me, I began to plan how I could work inspiration from the designs on the cloths I use in my own practice, namely vintage pieces, so not something as pristine and clean as she uses.
For those who actually are used to Crewel, I best not digress too far and come back to the content.
It is hardback, heavy, with over 135 Crewel stitches explained.
Over 100 pictures illustrated.
All templates are included.
Tools and material list given.
I liked the contrast idea, for example some designs which are colourful in themselves, are embroidered on fabric which is multicoloured. As someone who has had experience dyeing fabrics, this brought me to consider for I could use my pre-dyed fabrics and embroidery these designs on top of them. Then I began to think of fabrics and using thick ones as opposed to the usual ones….too many ideas before breakfast!
I am here illustrating that this title does more for your mind than simply instruct you to complete a project, Popova guides us in a suggestive way, yes with clear designs stated, but a little window of self direction allowed.
She also notes embroidery and its link to the Scientific fact that practice of this brings a form of therapy to the user.
If you know this method well, then this book may well freshly inspire you and if you are a little student, who feels they know nothing (I have been there) then you will yes, at first stare in awe, then realise you-could-too.