A Stitcher's Holiday Dream: 10 Rare Embroidery Books! Part 3
My last newsletter for 2024.
I find myself back home in Paris after a wonderful month of teaching textiles in Florence. The city is beautifully lit up for Christmas, sparkling with a thousand little twinkling lights and we have arrived at the third and final chapter of this festive newsletter (please click here for part 1 and here for part 2 of this list).
The last three choices on this Christmas list dedicated to rare books are, I would say, a bit biased. I mean they are oriented towards the research I am currently focusing on, whether for my creative work, my practice-based PhD, or my travels.
8. Swiss Straw Work: Techniques of a Fashion Industry, by Veronica Main.
This book is a remarkable exploration of the material and its creative potential. Veronica Main has preserved the essence of a nearly forgotten tradition. In 2021, she was honored with an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for her outstanding contributions to straw plaiting, the hat industry, and endangered crafts.
In her debut book, she unveils the secrets of straw work techniques, many of which have never been published before. The result is a comprehensive archive of methods and designs that is both informative and visually stunning. Richly illustrated with vibrant color images and over 400 detailed diagrams, this step-by-step guide provides clear instructions for each technique. These methods can be easily adapted for various textile arts, including embroidery.
To truly appreciate the quality and beauty of her work, I invite you to watch this video.
The two last books are about Central Asia textiles with which I have been obsessed for a very long time. I am finally travelling to Uzbekistan next week and I am super super excited!!! I convinced four of my friends to join me in this girls trip to search for beautiful textiles, including ikats and suzanis and hopefully some hands-on experiences in the local embroidery ateliers. I cannot wait to share the experience with you all.
Silk and Cotton: Textiles from the Central Asia that Was, by Susan Heller.
The traditional textiles of Central Asia are real treasures! Straddling the legendary Silk Road, this vast region stretches from Russia in the west to China in the east. Whether nomadic or sedentary, its peoples created textiles for every aspect of their life, from ceremonial objects marking rites of passage, to everyday garments, to practical items for the home. There are suzanis for the marriage bed; prayer mats; patchwork quilts; bridal ensembles; bags for tea, scissors, and mirrors; lovingly embroidered hats and bibs; and robes of every color and pattern. Susan Meller has spent years assembling the textiles illustrated in this book. She documents their history, use, and meaning through archival photographs and fascinating travelers’ narratives spanning many centuries. She sells some of her collected items here, check them out!
Uzbek Embroidery in the Nomadic Tradition, by Kate Fitz Gibbon.
This is the illustrated catalogue for the exhibition that took place at the Minneapolis Institute of Art in 2007. Written by Central Asian art experts Kate Fitz Gibbon and Andrew Hale, it includes textiles from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century: sixty dynamic and intricately patterned embroideries from the nomadic and rural peoples living along the fabled Silk Road. The embroideries, ranging from highly abstracted wall hangings to boldly colored horse covers, reflect the diversity and aesthetic traditions of the region. These magnificent pieces were a a gift from the superb collection of Jack A. and Aviva Robinson.
As we close the final chapter of this year, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for being part of this wonderful journey.
Your passion for embroidery and textiles and the joy of discovering new corners of the world made 2024 a truly unforgettable year. Together, we wove memories, shared stitches, and explored the rich tapestry of traditions across Europe.
But the adventure doesn’t end here! I’m thrilled to invite you to join me for even more stitching adventures in 2025! New destinations, inspiring workshops, and countless moments of creative joy await us next year in India in February, Calabria in June and Tuscany in October. Let’s continue to celebrate the art of embroidery and the beauty of connection as we travel, learn, and create together.
✨🧵 I wish you all a peaceful and creative holiday season. Here’s to a new year filled with lots inspiration and discovery! I will see you in January with lots to share! 🧵✨
Bises from Paris
Nadia