Marion ScoularCritiques

Lending

Lending

Lending

Lending

Lending

Lending

For a serious stitcher, there are so many books on techniques from which to choose. Marion Scoular has written one of the best in Advice is-- for listening to, not necessarily taking!! The author, a graduate of the prestigious Royal School of Needlework as well as the Cambridge Institute College, is a noted teacher and designer and has participated in many seminars of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America and other organizations. Her expertise shows in this book on techniques for counted and surface stitchery. She begins with basics like threads, needles and fabrics and goes on to starting and ending threads, “to hoop or not to hoop” and many other topics. She also mentions essential gadgets like the magnet to pick up stray needles, roller frames and many others. This is not a book which lists how to do various stitches - there are lots of those books available – but how to apply knowledge that she has gleaned over years of stitching.

There are so many hints for perfect stitching such as how to end a thread so that it does not shadow on the front of the work. However one of the best sections is the difference between buttonhole and blanket stitch and why it matters. In this country we use the term buttonhole stitch when we mean blanket stitch. Marion has one of the best descriptions of how to do the buttonhole stitch. She also explains how to start and stop the blanket stitch as well as chain and several others. Many books include the basics but not what to do when you reach the end of the row. And she also explains the grain of thread which is a controversial topic with many stitchers and why it can matter. Is it needlepoint or canvas embroidery? Does it matter what we call it? And she debunks the controversy over whether one needs to use the Danish method of cross stitching promoted by Ginnie Thompson. (I sometimes do but not on something like aida cloth where I think it simply does not matter.) As she so nicely puts it, the back of the work is only for you unless it is an article like a napkin. Don’t obsess! She also explains safe use of things like masking tape and marking pens; however she does mention that conservators and museums might not approve. Do use the rinse test where the final rinse water is clean enough to drink.

There is no index; however there is a very good table of contents and that suffices for finding material of interest. She has WOW points throughout the book, what she calls words of wisdom to ponder. Her black and white illustrations are simple and very clear drawings. However, be aware that she uses a font that approximates handwriting and can be difficult to read at times. The eye catching front cover with its title information is a photo of Marion’s work as is the stitcher’s prayer on the back cover.

The title says it all. Marion is giving advice and things she has learned along the way. You don’t necessarily need to take it. The best teacher is experience and she encourages each stitcher to develop their own individual style. The final result is what matters. I find this is one of the best books for hints and suggestions on perfecting stitching; it belongs in the library of every serious stitcher.½

This is the best book I know for learning blackwork. It is also very good if you already do blackwork, but want to get better or branch out into different varieties of blackwork. Over half the book is advice on how to do it. Rather than concentrate on one type of blackwork, or lay down rules as to which way of working is best, Scoular lists choices and explains the advantages and disadvantages of each. There are several pages of fillings, borders, and motifs; even one of darning patterns. The book finishes with three 'thoughtful projects' to get you going.½