Machine Embroidery and More by Kristen Dibbs
ISBN 1-57120162-9, Softbound, 96 pgs., $23.95, C & T Publishing, P.O.Box 1456, Lafayette, California 94549

As far as I’m concerned, Kristen Dibbs is the mother of the thread painting medium.  I have always admired her work and absorbed her books.  Her latest book, Machine Embroidery and More, carries us even further into her world of embellishment.

This book takes a different approach in that it is entirely worked and the projects are based, on border prints.  You are guided through the steps of embellishment by following the lines already there in the printed fabric.   It’s what you do in the different areas, the colors of thread, stitches chosen and finally the addition of beads that brings you to a wonderful and always beautiful conclusion.

Each of the ten projects are complete with easy to follow instructions.  I especially liked the color-coded pictures for the different steps involved.   With a different picture for each step and that step color highlighted in that one picture, it was very easy to follow and achieve.   I even managed to match the corners of my fabrics, thanks to Kristen’s instructions!

If you have some ability at free-motion work, this would be a lovely addition to your library.  You don’t often find a book with so much basic instruction that can be applied to projects of you choice along with instructions for specific projects if you have run out of ideas!  Kristen hits another home run with me. I just wish she was here in the USA so we could see more of her in workshops here.

  - Reviewed by Teresa Barrett