Field Guide to Embroidery

Connect to the wildlife of seven North American ecosystems by stitching these 52 beautifully accurate designs, from bears to manatees to prairie dogs and more. With this fun collection of projects in field-guide format, stitch your favorite animal, bird, fish, and plant species based on the ecosystems you love or live in. Organized according to seven North American ecosystems—desert, mountain, forest, waterways, prairie, ocean, and urban—the 52 beautifully accurate designs by naturalist Jessica Kemper include popular species (think bears, manatees, and river otters) and some that are less well known or are potentially threatened. Beginner-level patterns coexist with intermediate and advanced patterns to appeal to all embroidery lovers looking for stunning new designs. Learn the materials, stitches (including the one-of-a-kind "fur stitch," which renders mammal fur beautifully!), and techniques to complete an embroidery project from start to finish. The simpler designs require just a few hours. Measuring approximately 3 to 4 inches, the creatures are perfect to adorn any stitchable surface. A denim jacket with a snappy alligator? A cap featuring a herring gull and ocher sea stars? A tote sporting a Gila monster among desert plants? Or perhaps there's a shirt pocket calling for a badger with a red-winged blackbird. These designs bring nature anywhere and allow you to wear your favorite wildlife species sustainably.