Embroidery book teaches traditional Swedish stitches

Published 3:50 pm Friday, August 23, 2013

A few embroidery stitches can turn a simple T-shirt or towel into something special.

Artist and blogger Karin Holmberg shows how to use traditional Swedish stitches to elevate the ordinary in “Scandinavian Stitch Craft: Unique Projects and Patterns for Inspired Embroidery.”

Holmberg’s projects are inspired by Swedish folk textiles, but they have a fresh feel. She sometimes uses a single color of thread to produce a simple, updated look or applies her stitchery to such unexpected surfaces as hoodies, lampshades and even underwear.

Don’t know how to embroider? No problem. Illustrations in the back of the book teach the basics.

“Scandinavian Stitch Craft” sells for $19 in softcover.