Teach Yourself Machine Embroidery: Easy Decorative Stitching Using Any Sewing Machine

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Summary: Teach Yourself machine Embroidery: Easy Decorative Stitching
Review: Delivery was slow, however, the book was in excellent condition.

Rating:
Summary: Teach Yourself machine Embroidery: Easy Decorative Stitching
Review: For the person that is transitioning from a mechanical to computerized sewing machine, this is a good source book. Clear instructions and diagrams. Wish there were more in color. Nice patterns and lots of projects to try and perfect. Would recommend.

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Summary: Good source book
Review: For the person that is transitioning from a mechanical to computerized sewing machine, this is a good source book. Clear instructions and diagrams. Wish there were more in color. Nice patterns and lots of projects to try and perfect. Would recommend.

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Summary: Basic Learning. . .
Review: I began doing machine embroidery more than 20 years ago, before we had the computerized machines and certainly before the current crop of automatic embroidery machines were available. The secret to doing decent freehand embroidery, yes, on ANY machine, is to practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more. I am amazed when I show my work to those new in the interest that they expect to sit down one day and turn out some sort of masterpiece! This is an art form like any other, and it is not mastered in a day, or a year for that matter. We have beautiful examples of machine embroidery done in the 19th century on straight-stitch-only machines, and it can still be done. Personally, I seldom use more than the straight and zigzag stitches on my machines, some of which have decorative stitches by the dozens. This is an entirely different discipline than the new 'automatic' machines which will stitch your design for you. I have no interest in those. In the 70's and 80's there were many excellent books written on freehand embroidery by machine. The best is Robbie Fanning's "Complete Book of Machine Embroidery". You can still buy it used through Amazon's network. It's the best, and at the same time you might want to also order her "Complete Book of Machine Quilting".

I have owned many, many sewing machines, and believe me, you can indeed do machine embroidery on any machine that works!

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Summary: This book doesn't deliver what the cover promises.
Review: Proving yet again that you can't judge a book by its cover, this one promises "easy decorative stitching using ANY sewing machine." However, the examples on the cover required programmed stitches...which I don't have on my machine...which is why I ordered this book in the first place. The book seems to provide a well-organized, clear, and thorough explanation of the more pictorial types of machine embroidery, but I was hoping for some ideas about how to do the decorative stitches on the cover on my beloved but very basic machine.