RSN Essential Stitch Guides: Silk Shading

A new, larger format edition of the classic reference work on silk shading by the Royal School of Needlework (RSN). The Essential Stitch Guides provide a set of definitive works on traditional embroidery techniques.

Graduate Apprentice Sarah Homfray illuminates the beautiful craft of silk shading, also known as painting with a needle, long and short stitch embroidery, or thread painting. This book reveals the history of the craft before moving on to the materials and equipment required. Next, Sarah covers design and using colour, simplifying and demystifying this often neglected area of embroidery.

The main part of the book then delves into all the essential stitches and techniques through clear, step-by-step diagrams, coupled with beautiful, close-up photographs showing how they can be used in a finished piece.

Key traditional techniques are included: the fundamental stab, split, and long and short stitches; along with couching, padding, adding beads and sequins, and knots. The book concludes with beautiful and exquisitely-worked examples, covering working with different fabrics, threads, and incorporating painted backgrounds.

The RSN teaches hand embroidery to the highest standard and is respected worldwide. It not only upholds the traditions of English embroidery that date back many hundreds of years but also constantly advances embroidery in new and innovative ways. This series of Essential Stitch Guides has been produced in close collaboration with the RSN with the aim of providing a set of definitive works on traditional embroidery techniques.