If you love surface embroidery, you’re in for a special treat! This latest book by Elisabetta Sforza, called ‘A Sea to Stitch’, is a very special journey through an alphabet of shells and seaweed, starfish and seagulls!
Elisabetta is an embroiderer from Verona, Italy, who has published a couple of books already (‘A Flower Alphabet’, and ‘In a Wheat Field’) – both are beautiful books for inspiration, with gorgeous photos, but I think this one is my favourite, as it is so unusual. There are lots of books using floral themes, but not so many using marine themes. And with this book, Elisabetta has really created some wonderful designs to use with an alphabet, and in other shaped designs (such as hearts and swags).
The book is soft backed, and has 88 pages. As Elisabetta is Italian, but she wants to reach the English-speaking market with her work, the book has dual language text. There are dozens of photos, showing a full alphabet of designs in both 9cm high and 14 cm high versions.
The colour keys list six different colourways, so you can choose whichever one suits your decor best.
As I got this book so that I can stitch something for the coastal-themed bathroom that I am doing in my house at the moment, I think this is my favourite colourway, as it co-ordinates with the paintwork I’ll be using:
But they are all lovely!
Elisabetta clearly explains how to work all the stitches featured in the book, and there is a tutorial at the end on how to create words out of the individual letters shown.
At the end of the book there are pages of line drawings for you to trace off and then transfer to your fabric.
It’s a beautifully put together book, as were Elisabetta’s two previous books. Your fingers will be itching to get going! I can see these individual letters being used for drawstring bags or box lids, as well as simply being framed.
When I do book reviews, if there is anything that is a ‘downside’, I try to be honest and mention it, but with this book I really can’t fault it!
The book is available either direct from Elisabetta from her blog (which is in both Italian and English), or from designated stockists in various countries. If you are in the UK, you can get it from the website of Jenny Adin-Christie (who also has the most amazing embroidery kits of her own designs – well worth a look!). In the UK, it’s £27.50. Jenny also stocks Elisabetta’s other two books.
Title: A Sea to Stitch
Author: Elisabetta Sforza
ISBN: 978 88 943526 27
Price: £27.50
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Janet Granger's Blog 
I just received a copy of this book and it is beautiful! Very inspiring and well done.
It’s lovely, isn’t it?
I’ve just ordered this book to drool over; I am only a beginner embroiderer so not sure how much I will actually be able to do…
The stitches used are quite simple ones, and there are loads of photos and diagrams, so you should be OK 🙂
Your simple and my simple might be a little far apart! However I’ll give it a go. I can always ask Liz (The Stitchsmith here in NZ) as she’s nearby