Scandinavian Needlecraft - 35 step-by-step projects to create the Scandinavian home
Author Clare Youngs
Published by Cico Books
I've bought another Scandinavian craft book to add to my growing library. This book focuses on craft projects for the home inspired by folk art, nature and natural materials. The introduction explains the ethos of 'hygge', a Danish word that means 'wellbeing, comfort, coziness and pleasure in the simple things in life. This really appealed to me and is akin to my own life ethos. Each project has a foreword explaining the inspiration behind the item being crafted. The embroidery designs in this book cover both machine and hand embroidery, the stitches are basic but are beautiful in style. All projects in this book involve needlecraft or embroidery. The instructions are clear and supported by, photographs, illustrations and templates. The difficulty levels vary and there is something for everyone in terms of skill and style.
Pros - A wide range of great craft projects for the home that are beautifully designed. There are some good templates towards the back of the book with a clear key on each page explaining the stitches needed for each project. The felt embroidered baby boots in this book are gorgeous and could be up scaled for an adult. Another appealing project is a 'crested bird' chair pad that incorporates vivid colours and pompoms.
Cons - If embroidery and needlecraft is not your thing then this book is not for you (after all the clue is in the title). The illustrations in this book are not as clear as I would like, however this is a personal preference.
I would recommend this book, it would be a great addition to any crafters book collection.
