Early Style Hardanger

I'm a lifelong stitcher and still do a ton of cross stitch; but it's fun to extend my repertoire into other techniques. I am stunned at how much I love this book: it exceeds all expectations.The layout is as follows: the first 20 pages illustrate a brief history of hardanger, named for Hardangerfjord an area in SW Norway wherein women who had been making traditional folk costumes since medieval times took European influences from whitework and adapted them into a unique style. The "bunad" or traditional formal dress was the result. Two of my favorite pages compare columns of close-up photos of traditional Hardangersøm (or Hardangersaum) stiches with modern examples. Then follow 28 pages of 10 suggested projects ranging from a small biscornu to a table runner to a blouse to a lampshade. Then there are 7 pages just to demonstrate how to begin the stitching in terms of materials and how to count and prepare the fabric for stitching. Next are 13 pages on the satin stitch, the foundation for the trademark kloster blocks as well as traditional shapes like petals and stars. Finishing techniques surprised me: there are no buttonhole edges, only hemstitch with mitered corners and knotted or "tooth" edging. Then she covers the standard eyelets--16 pages!--and classic shapes with woven and wrapped bars within kloster blocks like dove's eye and spoked wheel.Here's how meticulous the author is: a pretty variant of the dove's eye is displayed over 2 pages with drawings and explanation of 25 steps! Couldn't be more clear. Almost every page is filled with more photos and diagrams than text. The book comes to a satisfying end with thread suggestions, a Norwegian glossary and detailed index; but wait! there's more! In a sheer folder inside the back cover are patterns for all the projects! There are 2 pages of double-sided sheets of a whopping 27" x 18". But Ms. Stanton outdoes herself with the single side pattern for sewing and embroidering the blouse, printed on paper measuring 27" x 36"! (Reminds me of my mom spreading out the onionskin Butterick patterns to make my dresses as a child.)If I could have only one book on hardanger, I could be happy with this one. But I can also recommend these:Hardanger EmbroideryHardanger Basics and Beyond (anything by Janice Love)Fundamentals made fancy: HardangerHardanger Embroidery (Dover Needlework)Traditional Hardanger Embroidery (Dover Needlework)Hardanger EmbroideryGet anything--books and supplies--from Nordic Needle:Hardanger Embroidery Favorites: With Complete Instructions - Book 1Award-Winning Designs in Hardanger Embroidery 1979Cross N Patch A Collection of Beautiful Stitches (anything from Emie Bishop of Cross 'n' Patch)and get this VIDEO or anything else authored by Jane Greenoff:Hardanger for the Horrified: Hardanger Embroidery Made Easy

If you want an embroidery book with easily followed step by step instructions, beautiful patterns and wonderful projects, Yvette Stanton's books are the best. If you want to learn Hardanger embroidery this book is a gem. I am very happy with my purchase and highly recommend this book!

Birthday present to my self and I LOVE it!!! Yvette's books are always well written and illustrated. Especially love the step-by-step for each stitch, both right-handed and left-handed. Definitely a great reference book.

This is one of the best ever Hardanger books I've ever seen. VERY interesting. Lots of good tips. Good for beginner to advanced.

This is an amazing resource! Pages 151-152 of my copy have a 5"x1" hole in them, which clearly happened during the printing process. I was going to return this book, but realized I'll be able to figure out the missing instructions. And had my copy not been printer-damaged, I probably would have given this book a five-star rating. I especially appreciate the visual and descriptive comparisons of old-style and modern-style Hardanger work.Oh, and I contacted the seller about the damaged pages, and have received no response.

This book has wonderful instructions and some great patterns

Gorgeous book, lovely patterns.

This author produces good quality, informative embroidery books. My skills are lacking, but, her books are always interesting to read.

Very nice book. Well worth the money.

Ottimo acquisto. Arrivato nei tempi previsti. Ricco di spiegazioni con schemi passo passo dei singoli punti e con schemi completi dei lavori proposti. Anche per me che non conosco la tecnica è chiarissimo.

I am a self-confessed white embroidery addict, so I have been excited to receive my copy of this book. As with all Yvette’s work, Early Style Hardanger is beautifully presented with great attention to detail. The content is in three sections; first the history of the technique with suggestions for the right tools and materials, followed by the projects and then the extensive stitch tutorials in the final two thirds of the book.I was fascinated by the chapters describing the history of the Hardanger technique. I love how Yvette makes sure we know exactly how to pronounce the name early on, and explains many of the relevant Norwegian words for stitches. There are so many photographs of beautiful antique embroideries and luckily for us, I get the feeling that Yvette wanted to squeeze in as many fabulous examples as possible! It is so interesting to see how these embroideries were traditionally worn and used, and to understand how the Norwegian national dress developed into its present form.I can imagine many Hardanger enthusiasts in the worldwide stitching community are like me, in that although I know and love the contemporary embroidery form I had very little understanding of where the divide is between the original stitches/styles and those currently in use. Yvette goes into great detail to distinguish between the two, with photos comparing the materials used, the core stitches and the overall design preferences for early vs contemporary style. Whilst the early style form is recognisable as Hardanger to modern eyes, there are considerable differences with contemporary pieces, some of which I found surprising. This was probably my favourite part of the book!There are ten projects to follow and a good variety of finished items. The smaller designs include a Bookmark, Square Mat, Pin tin lid design, a Biscornu and decorative edging for a Christmas Stocking. The larger projects include a Table Runner, Cushion, Lampshade, Shirt and Apron. I have got my eye on the Biscornu, but I’m also excited about working the table runner and the lampshade. There are photographs and a book trailer video showing these projects on the Vetty Creations website.The Stitch Technique tutorials have all the hallmark Stanton detail we now expect. Both left and right handed instructions are available and colour coded for easy reference. Starting and finishing methods are included with suggestions for counting and trouble-shooting. There are several new filling and edging stitches that I’m looking forward to learning. Interestingly there are also several drawn thread borders and whilst I have seen these techniques together previously, I hadn’t realised the historical connection.The fabric used in these projects is widely available and a linen thread brand conversion chart is supplied in the appendix. All the materials required are available through the Vetty creations website; however for UK readers it is worth checking out lace making suppliers for linen thread. Sue Jones from the Tortoise Loft blog recommended Jo Firth Lacemaking & Needlecraft in West Yorkshire which carries the Bockens range of linen threads; one of the recommended brands.All in all, if you’re a whitework enthusiast this book will be just your cup of tea. And now … there’s a Biscornu with my name on it … just waiting to be stitched!

Sobre el ORIGEN del bordado HANDENGER.

初心者用です。ステッチの方法が簡単なものばかりなので、ある程度やっている方には物足りないと思います。