Winner: Craft Book of the Year
WE’RE THRILLED TO BE TALKING TO Yvette Stanton about her latest release, Sardinian Knotted Embroidery, which won the ACIA* Craft Book of the Year award last month, and in particular, whitework.
by Mindy Cook
This is the first book ever published on this subject worldwide and as such it has been eagerly awaited by its cultural custodians in Sardinia and by stitchers around the world. There are 11 beautiful projects to make and careful research by the author has provided a fascinating historical and cultural background to the projects.
Although Yvette has no particular connection with Sardinia and this knotted embroidery technique, she was drawn to it because of her love of whitework. For her, this non-familial connection with the region she writes about is a common theme! It simply comes down to her love of the embroidery style practiced in that area.
Her journey on this book began by hopping onto Pinterest and looking at traditional folk dress.
Yvette explains. “In folk dress, generally if there is a white blouse there will be some sort of embroidery on that blouse. I found some amazing shirts from Teulada in Sardinia which had tall collars embroidered in whitework. It’s the white-on-white that drew me in.
Visiting Teulada in the south of Sardinia to meet the local embroiderers and see their work was a special time. I learned from the people who are passionate about their embroidery and they were amazed that someone would come all the way from Australia to see it. I am immensely grateful for their support and assistance with the book.”
What can we expect to see and learn in the book?
Sardinian Knotted Embroidery is based on a technique called Punt ’e Nù, which means ‘knotted stitches’ in Sardinian. It is actually a reasonably simple technique to learn as it uses one type of knot – a coral knot – not bullions, French knots or colonial knots. Once you’ve learned this basic stitch, which in this case is counted, you can make most of the projects in the book. If you take your skills a little further with some drawn thread hems and some needle lace, you can do them all. All the stitches and techniques are explained in the book with step-by-step instructions. There are even separate instructions for left-handers, as I am left-handed and recognise there is a need for this.
There are some large projects, such as a tablecloth, but also smaller ones, such as a biscornu and a wrap for a candle. If you’re a beginner, I’d suggest trying a small project first and then if you love it, try something larger that you can really get your teeth into!
What does winning an award like the ACIA Craft Book of the Year mean to you?
Winning this award was very special for me. Many publishers have a number of employees, however in my business it’s just me! So to have MY work recognised with a national award was very encouraging and gratifying. I try to make my books the best they can possibly be, so for a panel of industry experts to recognise my book like that was really exciting.
What is the next project for Yvette Stanton?
I have a list of book ideas as long as your arm and will be able to keep writing for many years yet! I am already working on the next book, but I’m not saying what the subject is just yet, apart from the fact that it is on another style of European whitework. I hope to have this new book available some time in 2015.
Sardinian Knotted Embroidery: Whitework from Teulada is available for $39.95 (includes delivery within Australia) from her website: www.vettycreations.com.au
Yvette Stanton is a regular exhibitor at the annual Craft & Quilt Fair in Sydney.
*The inaugural ACIA (Australian Craft Industry Awards) winners were announced last month at the Craft & Quilt Fair in Sydney, where Yvette Stanton’s book Sardinian Knotted Embroidery won Craft Book of the Year category. Entrants in this category were nominated by the industry and the winner determined by judges’ choice. |
Learn more about Yvette Stanton at her website