Some people go on a book tour when they release a new book. I’ve never done this, but I thought I could instead take you on a tour of some of my books. I know that some of you have been along for the ride since the beginning but some of you are newer to my books and may not be aware of particularly some of the earlier ones. You are all most welcome to join me on my book tour!
Our previous stop on the book tour was The Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion. Today is the last day of our tour, and we will take a tour of Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway by Yvette Stanton. Thanks for coming along for the ride with me!
This is another book I didn’t have plans to write. I learned of smøyg when I was in Norway researching Early-Style Hardanger. As I really liked the embroidery, I decided to try it out. I made a collar for a shirt, which, when I wore it, people asked me, “So when are you going to teach us that?” And that set the little cogs turning.
Many people wonder how to pronounce smøyg, so if you view my video here, you’ll hear me say it.
I loved doing the research for this book. Smøyg is used in so many different ways, on so many different types of items that it was fascinating to learn about it all. The introductory section of the book details the many uses, with heaps of lovely colour photographs. The many different ways it is used also gave me much scope for many different projects – there are 13 in the book. I know people think of me as being a whiteworker, but I also love colour, so I found the projects for this book most enjoyable.
Most styles of smøyg uses a fine wool thread on evenweave linen fabric, but some use silk thread instead. There are projects in the book using each.
In the back of the book there is an appendix which visually shows thread and fabric compatibility. This is because I realise that the threads I have available to me might not be available to you. By way of a large series of stitched samples on different counts of fabric, the guide will help you to choose a thread which will work well for the count of fabric you have.
Here’s what some people have said about “Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway”:
This book is a little gem! It has a bit of everything, from history to projects you can actually do (and some small ones for instant gratification or last minute gifts), to very detailed tutorials. But those are elements that I would expect from a great craft book.
Where I think this one goes one step further is the fabric and thread compatibility guide at the end of the book. With all crafts it takes time trial and error to discover those things and the guide saves you from a lot of frustration! – Ms. Sofia Komninou
Ok so to be honest I had never heard of Smoyg, but I am always looking for new ways of darning and embroidery so I was thrilled to receive this book. I spent ages just reading about the history of Norwegian darning and looking at the various patterns and guides to stitches and techniques. There are 13 beautiful embroidered projects using bright colours and various designs. The step by step instructions make it so easy to follow and there is even informative parts telling you what problems you may have along the way. I am not experienced and did initially find it all a bit daunting, but I must say I have just completed my first project and it is perfect. I would highly recommend. – A Tinkler
The thing to remember about pattern darning is that it is all just running stitch, so the technique is certainly not difficult! If this sounds like something you want or need to try, you can purchase your copy of Smøyg: Pattern Darning from Norway by Yvette Stanton from Vetty Creations or from your favourite needlework retailer.
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