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I learned how to embroider mainly from books, but also videos and just experimenting (which is how I've come up with some of the odd stitching I do.) No woman in my family ever did any kind of embroidery, which is why I had to teach myself. All the books I've read on the subject are quite advanced, however, so I was only able to learn the simpler stitches. I do want to expand my horizons, but my capabilities are probably not going to ever stretch to more difficult or intricate needlework. That's why when I saw Doodle Stitching by Aimee Ray I thought, that's the book I need.

The 29 projects in this book are all simple, beginner-level items that don't require any complicated embroidery. The author shows you how to do about 17 different basic stitches (most of which I've already done and can manage easily) to use for embellishing clothing, home decor, linens, etc. The instructions are all written clearly, and most don't require a bunch of materials (needle, thread, a hoop and the item you're embroidering are all you need for some.)

There's even a cute little lap quilt I really want to make. The simplicity of this book appeals to me; I wish I'd found it when I started teaching myself to embroider. Anyway, I think I will start making one of these projects during my break times in between quilts, and see if I can learn a bit more.

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