Stitch Stories

About Cas Holmes

Cas Holmes is one of UK's most renowned textile artists. She exhibits widely and runs courses at West Dean College. She has written for magazines including The Quilter. She lives in Kent, UK.

Sew Region Magazine

The cover of Stitch Stories is interestingly printed tactile fabric that invites you to open the book and find out more. Inside you will find excellent photographs, inspirational art work and clearly written text. All of these are used to good effect to explore and develop the ideas in the book.

Stitch Stories does not contain complete projects but is rather a 'how do guide'. The author encourages you to explore personal experiences, interests and familiar places for inspiration. The use of sketch books, journals and photography are explained to help you record your information. Don't be afraid of this all the ideas can be easily adapted to suit your level of confidence and experience.

From your initial inspiration the book is full of processes and techniques to enable you to create a unique piece of stitched fabric. Again all of these do not have to be followed but may encourage you to try something new and different. 

The use of textiles to tell a story is endless and this book is a good place to start. There may only be one idea in the book you wish to explore but who knows what may follow. 

I liked the inclusion of the work of other textile artists, many of whom were new to me, to illustrate ideas and techniques; this added another dimension to the book.

This book may not appeal to everyone but is well worth looking at for inspiration and ideas. Stitch Stories will find a place on my bookshelf. I may never use the ideas or techniques described, however it is a book I will open often, each time finding something new and maybe that stitch story will come to life.