The Constance Howard Book of Stitches Hardcover – January 1, 1979

A wealth of knowledg. By using basic stitches, she has created a multitude of interesting and appealing variations. Just when you think someone has introduced something new, you look back at this book (copyrighted in 1979) and see so many novel things in print already. Constance Howard was so creative with her stitching!!

This book has been repackaged in recent years with an appealing modern-looking cover of a stitched face (not the one shown on this page at the time of writing the review). Unfortunately the insides are all still black and white - there was an errata notice in mine saying that the colour plates mentioned were not actually included.I nearly didn't delve into this book when I first picked it off the shelf at my guild library, because of the black and white photos. (I do like colour!) But on closer inspection I saw how this book is absolute gold in terms of the inspiration it provides for using stitches in creative and interesting ways.I was going to borrow it from the library, but then I realised that it would be a book that I would refer to again and again, and decided that I actually needed to purchase my own copy. So I did!This book was invaluable to me as I created the inspiration stitch panels for my own book on left-handed embroidery stitches. It prompted me to push my experimentation with stitches much further than I otherwise would have.I love the way it uses different textured threads, different weights of thread, different scales of stitch... and I even grew to love the fact that all the thread shows up as white (in the black and white photos) because it stopped me from being distracted by colour, and allowed me to only see the stitches.The book is not very instructional on how to work the stitches. There are some basic instructions, but you will probably want to use another book to teach you the stitches.However, this book is pure inspiration.

I collect stitch dictionaries as even though there will be overlap, you never know when you will discover something new and amazing. Constance Howard's Book of Stitches provides many things that are new and amazing. Howard groups stitches into related stitches and shows them in different sizes and thread weights on different backgrounds. That alone provides a lot of inspiration. Further, Howard has combined stitches in ways I haven't seen before, even though I am also an afficianado of crazy quilting. This book has a lot of information and resources packed into a mild manner demeanor.Why for the advanced embroiderer? Well, let's say, at least the intermediate as the stitch instructions, while present, aren't the best I have seen and in some cases it helps if the embroiderer has some passing familiarity with the stitch or stitch type and some experience learning embroidery stitches from a book. This isn't a book for absolute beginners.I want to be clear, I love this book and looked through it with pleasure and amazement, there is a lot of treasure in these pages. The Book of Stitches is now next to the chair where I work for easy access as I plan to take advantage of the inspiration and unique use of stitches. Recommended to the embroiderer and crazy quilter with no reservations. Canvas workers, needlepointers and those who like drawn or pulled work should look elsewhere for a stitch guide as The Book of Stitches concentrates on surface embroidery. The book is mainly in black and white as well, with a few color plates for those who demand color, but give this book a chance and it is sure to become a workhorse of inspiration and instruction.

Miss Howard's book does not provide ample directions for all the stitches nor do the samplers pictured provide any real inspiration. And because the sampler photos are not always adjacent to the stitches' descriptions, it can be hard to follow. HOWEVER: the more I've used this book the more I've come to appreciate Miss Howard's free-form, avant-garde approach to hand embroidery. If you are an experienced embroiderer -- or a very dedicated novice -- you will be glad to add this book to your collection. The more you look at it, the more you will observe -- and benefit from this wonderful book.I have found Ms. Howard's varied use of stitches well worth the purchase of the book. I think it deserves 5 stars. "Gunga" February 2018.

Best book for the creative embroiderer, that doesn't want to simply copy the patterns available. With this book alone it is possible to give a twist to patterns available or your own designs, and explore the possibilities of embroidery alone in a whole new and different way. Mandatory for every embroidery addict!

Love her work - the mother of all modern textile artists even if they don’t know it.

Excellent book of embrpidery stitches, ver inspiring ways of using different stitches in different ways.Way ahead of its time considering it was produced in the 60's i think.good reference book of stitches.

chosen because i like Constance Howards work and wanted to explore her technique for my C&G course in creative textiles

Every embroiderer should have this.