Whitework Embroidery
Designs and Accessories with a Modern Twist
Seiko Nakano
Schiffer Publishing
I have smile inducing memories surrounding Whitework methods. As the inexperienced artist, embarking on an embroidery course with a RSN trained tutor in the form of UK based Tracy Franklin, I remember pre-judging this traditional method to be…dare I say it…boring. However, a good tutor makes for a positive experience and I now have altered views…this as well as most of the traditional embroidery methods can be what we want them to be - our own interpretations. As the author reveals in the introduction - this book is designed to tell a story.
I like the tiny hints of the modern, for example the white infused work has the odd little quirk, a golden hint of a stitch for example on a few of the motifs.
At the back of the book near the ending, we come across a beanie hat, which has become a part of a Whitework project - this item seems so out of the norm within this subject matter!
Learning the technique becomes less of a concern, as clear guidance through step by step imagery moving from stage to stage is given, as well as many a guide on tools.
So, for all of us who thought that Whitework isn’t for them….try it, you never know how you may be able to adapt it to your own practice of art.