Lorna BatemanEmbroidered Country Gardens: Create beautiful hand-stitched floral designs inspired by nature

This is an inspirational book for me. I am a seasoned embroiderer but have done little in recent years due to loss of control of my right hand. Searching for a way back in to a loved hobby to while away the coming winter evenings, I saw this book and was drawn to it. Howglad I am that I bought it!The designs are reminiscent of home in the 50s and 60s. my mother came from an old fashioned home, where girls still prepared a trousseau in their teens and she and my grandmother made embroidered items throughout the two decades before I was born, using the then popular flower and stylised ladies transfers of the time. They came to add colour to our later post-war home with otherwise dull, utility furnishing. They went out of fashion in my late childhood, but still remained as happy memories for me.This lovely, photographically illustrated book is a feast of memories for me. However, far from the set lines of the transfer designs, this encourages use of the small designs offered to create completely individual larger embroideries on a variety of sewing-related items and beyond. It lends itself to creater creativity whilst allowing the use of Lorna Bateman's easy to use designs and make a whole that is as simple or complex as the embroiderer wishes. For me, as I re-remember old skills and relearn them as a 'lefty,' this offers both hope and inspiration.Patterns for the the fabric cutting in order to copy the things shown in the book are included in a folder at the back of the book. All the designs for the actual embroidery can be traced off from the pages and full instructions for stitches and embroidery techniques used are included, making this accessible and helpful to people with all skill levels.Thank you Lorna Bateman, I love this book! Now I just need to save up for all the equipment I need to get started in my bid in becoming an embroiderer again.

Really love this book, full of inspiration and detail showing how to embroider flowers etc. possibly my favourite book ever !

I wouldn’t say I am heavily into embroidery, but my goodness this book is inspiring. It’s is beautiful. So many projects and I discovered to my delight patterns at the back. This book is suitable from beginner to advanced. Lorna guides you through the tools, threads and fabrics that you need and eventually want. She teaches you different techniques and stitches and even painting onto fabric to enhance your eventual piece's. I am thrilled with my book and would recommend it as a gift for flourishing embroiderers or for those who enjoy the more intense detail Lorna presents in her work. It is a gift that keeps on giving. Wonderful!

This is a beautiful and inspiring book. Lorna's instructions ,diagrams and pictures are extremely clear. Each stitch demonstrated is shown step by step and all of the flower patterns are at the end of the book (this includes arches, gates and other bits and bobs) there is also a paper pattern for the bag included in a sleeve at the back. From this book I have purchased a taster pack on Lorna's website and I am following along on her YouTube channel. Cannot recommend this book enough, I am new to ribbon embroidery and this is just perfect.

I really love this book full of information and ideas to use.

crafter said they liked the book handy to keep by sewing bag

the wife enjoys embroidery

Very happy with this book, great instructions and ideas