Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches

Introduction 6
Outline Stitches 10
Border Stitches 24
Composite Band Stitches 52
Isolated Stitches 66
Open Filling Stitches 80
Solid Filling Stitches 96
Detached Filling Stitches 108
Straight and Slanted Canvas Stitches 118
Crossed Canvas Stitches 132
Composite Canvas Stitches 150
Insertion Stitches 164
Edging Stitches 170
Cut and Drawn Stitches 178
Pulled Fabric Stitches 186
Index 208

About Jan Eaton

Jan Eaton is a professional needlecraft and textiles designer. Her embroidery, crochet and knitting designs have appeared in many magazines and part works, including Classic Stitches, Crafts Beautiful, Needlecraft Magic and Inspirations. She has written over a dozen book including 200 Crochet Blocks, also published by David & Charles.

Customer review

A beautifully produced book with lovely illustrations and clear instructions, and nice to have stitches sorted into categories. A very useful book for any embroiderer.

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Customer review

I love the detailed information about all the different stitches. So easy to follow and learn. Certainly worth the price to broaden my embroidery skills. Highly recommended.

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Customer review

I loved this little book from the minute I opened to the first page. From the introduction to all your sewing needs to simplicity of the cross stitch, from the filling stitches to the cut and drawn - a fabulous introduction and detailed explanation of how to achieve. For those starting out with needlework I think this book would serve as a wonderful guide and to those more accomplished a nice reminder. My daughter is studying for a degree in product design and textiles a subject she has no real familiarity with but using this as a guide she has wowed her tutor with an amazingly diverse sampler far more complex than was expected so 10/10 for beginners. Now where's my hoop...?

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Customer review

This is a beautiful book with lots of photos and illustrations clearly showing the stitches. I really like the presentation and colours used and feel inspired to start my first embroidery project!

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Embroidery, The Textile Art Magazine (March/April 2019)

Even if you own a stitch guide, this clearly illustrated dictionary is a welcome addition, either as a foundation for the novice or as a handy reference for the experienced embroiderer. 

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Postcard Reviews

This is a book that fulfils every need for embroiderers.

It includes stitch techniques, both written and visual, which makes it a brilliant teaching guide for beginners as well as acting as a reminder for those more advanced.

Mary Thomass Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches was first published in 1934, and Jan Eaton has revised and updated it perfectly.

It is fabulous that Search Press has republished this book, as it gives us the opportunity to learn from a classic embroiderer such as Mary Thomas as well as gaining more modern skills from Jan Eaton.

I love the abundance of colour, beads and decorative stitches that fill the pages. It is both artistic and inspirational.

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East Kent Embroiderers Guild

Any stitcher, whether beginner or advanced, can confidently consult this book assured of its accurate and comprehensive content and it will surely be the future classic; a must-have that every embroiderer should own.

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myshelf.com

This is a revised and updated (by Jan Eaton) edition of the classic guide, originally published in 1934. Marys book was the original embroidery dictionary, the one that inspired the many to follow. How does it stand up today?

Like every book that is deservedly called a classic it stands up very well. There are over 400 stitches in here, all with clear, easy to follow diagrams and in many cases, photographs of a worked sample. Each stitch also has a short description which contains information about its origin if known, use, tips for working and anything else of note. Stitches are grouped according to their use in a design, so there are chapters for isolated stitches, borders, outlines, various types of fillings, different types of stitch for canvas, pulled fabric, cut-work and more. This is how I always look for stitches when I am designing a project so appreciate this way of organising. At the beginning there is a very short section showing types of thread and fabric available for hand embroidery plus a few tips for beginners. At the back is an index, and throughout the book quite a few examples of finished work. It does not matter what level embroiderer you are, a book like this is invaluable and I wouldnt be without a stitch dictionary. I have quite a few, but this is probably the best and also inspired most of the others.

Recommended for anybody who wants to learn (or is already adept at) embroidery.

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SEW Region Magazine (December 2019)

A must have for all new embroiderers.

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Embroiderers Guild

This is a must have book whether you are new to embroidery or an experienced embroidery.

It has dedicated chapters on types of Stitches: filling Stitches, pulled thread Stitches etc. Many stitches will be familiar to an embroiderer but alongside that this book is filled with little known Stitches with excellent illustrations and instructions opening up new possibilities for creativity.

Beside each stitch is the type of thread and fabric to use for the best results and in some cases offer alternative suggestions. Simple easy to follow diagrams for each stitch. Images are clear and a good size.

Alternative names for Stitches are also included. This is much more than a stitch dictionary it is also full of interesting snippets about the Stitches. Beautiful practical and a joy to read.

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Stitch Magazine, Feb/March 2019

The new edition of Mary Thomas's classic stitch reference library; the first and last word in embroidery. This classic reference book has achieved near-legendary status since it was first published in 1934, owing to its clear instructions and huge library of stitches. It includes fully illustrated instructions for over 400 embroidery stitches, ranging from simple border and outline stitches, to filling stitches, canvas stitches and pulled fabric stitches. Scattered throughout are dozens of inspirational embroideries to show the stitches in action. Ideal for both those starting out with needlework and those more accomplished embroiderers who need inspiration for different stitches and techniques, this new, redesigned edition includes the internationally-renowned embroiderer Jan Eaton's revisions to the original text, and includes a preface by famed embroiderer Mary Corbet.