Finding Your Closest Shop
Your local retailer can provide advice, inspiration, and community you're not likely to find a substitute for in the big box stores or online. Hoffman Distributors, a needlework wholesaler web site has a shop finder which will help you locate the nearest shops.
Web Needlework Resource Lists
Since our first resource list appeared on the web n the late 90's, many more resources and lists have appeared on the web. Since ours was becoming quickly stale, we'll point you to a sampling which we've come across.
- needlepoint.about.com and crossstitch.about.com and embroidery.about.com. Use their Search to discover both links within about.com and outside. Try "decorative stitches", for instance.
- www.needlenthread.com has a nice annotated list of books with reviews related to embroidery.
- Atlantian A&S Links. is a very nice organized set of resources in historic needlework
Designing or incorporating decorative stitches can be inspired by nature, art, mathematics, emotion and many other areas we experience. Many centuries of application of decorative ornament have provided examples and documentation we can continue to explore and use for inspiration. Click on Book titles to see GoogleBooks entries.
Decorative Pattern Theory Books
- Day, Lewis F., Pattern Design, Courier Dover Publications, 2013 (originally published 1903 by B.T. Batsford Ltd., London).
- Beyer, Jinny, Designing tessellations: the secrets of interlocking patterns, Contemporary Books, 11 June 1999.
- Stevens, Peter F., Handbook of Regular Patterns: An Introduction to Symmetry in Two Dimensions, Mit Press, 1981.
Color Theory Books
- Itten, Johannes, The Art of Color: The Subjective Experience and Objective Rationale of Color, Wiley, 15 January 1974.
- Albers, Josef, Interaction of Color, Yale University Press, 2006. Also available as an iOS app, see Interaction of Color by Josef Albers in iTunes.
Needlework Organizations
Needlework organizations offer education, socializing with folks with similar interests, discounts in many retail establishments, and access to recent news and developments.
"EGA is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the study and preservation of the art of embroidery. Membership is open to anyone interested in needlework, from the beginner to the professional. Members work within local chapters or a member-at-large network to improve their skills and knowledge. Numerous opportunities are available to learn embroidery and needlework techniques, including chapter meetings, workshops, correspondence courses, certification programs, and national and regional seminars. In addition, we offer free projects, a youth program, a quarterly magazine, and national traveling exhibits."
"The American Needlepoint Guild, Inc. (ANG) is an educational, non-profit organization whose purpose is educational and cultural development through participation in and encouragement of interest in the art of needlepoint."
"The Cross Stitch Guild was formed by well known designer/author Jane Greenoff in March 1996. It quickly became a worldwide organisation with a committed and enthusiastic body of members.
The CSG deals with cross stitch and all other forms of counted embroidery, such as Hardanger and canvas work."
"Organization to share opportunities for discovery and creativity in embroidery. Workshops, other activities, library, branches."
"…a national non-profit educational organization whose purpose is to have a fellowship of persons who enjoy needlework and wish to learn and share their knowledge; and thereby to work towards maintaining higher standards of design, colour and workmanship. Our aim is to preserve traditional techniques and promote new challenges in the Art of Embroidery through education and networking."
"The National NeedleArts Association advances its community of professional businesses by encouraging the passion for needlearts through education, industry knowledge exchange and a strong marketplace."
"Its goal is to uphold the highest standards in the needlearts by providing excellence in education to all those interested in furthering their embroidery skills as teachers, judges, artists, designers, authors, and technically proficient embroiderers."
"The National Embroidery Teachers Association is an organization open to all teachers, active or retired, and to prospective teachers of embroidery and other textile arts."