Simple Embroidery [Spiral-bound]

Whether you are a child or an adult just getting started on embroidery, this is a good book to have. Stitches are clearly explained and illustrated. However, while the book is full of pictures of embroidery projects, very few patterns are actually included. If it's ideas you want, this book is bursting with them. But if you are looking for detailed instructions for embroidery projects,then you should get a pattern book. Still, this book is a must-have because the designs are simply fun and so doable. Another wonderful Klutz crafts book.

On August 28th, I excitedly ordered this combined book/kit, Simple Embroidery. It arrived a few days later.

First of all, many many kudos on this WONDERFUL book! It makes it easy, simple, exciting and inspiring for a 50 year old to learn to embroider, so I can only imagine that a kid would really love it, too.

However, when I actually commenced to using the items from the kit part of the book, they failed miserably. The tiny square cloth is so thin that when I ironed on the transfers, following the directions exactly, they went all the way through to the ironing board cover leaving a nice crisp impression there, but actually began bleeding and fading right before my eyes on the white cloth. In addition, the hoop itself doesn't work. The thumb screw is jammed and will not tighten nor loosen, but remains fixed in one position, and this was from the first moment of trying to use it. The cloth does not stay taut because of this.

The other disappointment I had was where to store the transfers as I use them once since they give more than one impression. But that is minor compared to my disappointment with the hoop and the cloth.

This really is an EXCELLENT book for introducing a kid or adult to Simple Embroidery, but the Klutz Company went far too cheap on the materials in the kit part. As an adult, I was disappointed. As a kid, I would have been devastated, I am sure.

I have sent an email to the Klutz Company asking them to rethink using better materials for the kit part of the book. I would ship mine back for a refund, but unfortunately, I have altered the book by adding an envelope to store the transfers in and cutting off the piece with the box of materials so that it would be easier to refer to while learning each stitch. I did this prior to using the iron on transfers, cloth, and hoop. Therefore, I am sure that Amazon would not refund my money on this book. And it's not the book that I have any problems with--just the materials in the kit.

As an artist, I have plans to open an art gallery and gift store in 2 years, and had hoped to carry Klutz products so that the kids will have exciting ways to experience various arts and crafts. But this experience with vastly inferior materials is causing me to reconsider the Klutz products. Still, their books ARE really awesome. Only the materials need some shoring up.

My advice is to buy the book used, and purchase your own hoop, cloth, needles, floss and transfers, all inexpensive items and easily obtained at most craft stores. [..]

Once again, I was impressed with Klutz. They showed me how to do 11 basic stitches and 12+ projects. Then, I was off on my own. But all the pictures helped spark the creativity. It was devinently a plus. Very cool pictres. The floss was really kid friendly too believe it or not in the color and unfolding it. If you wanna learn to embroider in about 20 minutes and them go on from there... buy this book.

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