1.2 Characteristics of embroidery journals and what you can use them for

Before you start making an embroidery journal, I suggest that we speak about some characteristics that they have and that you should be aware of. 


1). No cover until it is finished. 


Your embroidery journal is going to be incomplete most of the time - it won’t have a cover until you make its last spread. And that would mean that it will have backside of embroidery at the front. 


If that bothers you, I suggest that you make a flyleaf like I did in this journal. That means making your very first page blank, out of plain fabric. 


2). No need to pre-stitch or pre-plan.


Unlike the common concept of stitchbook, where you have to plan it page by page, stitch it all first and only when everything it is finished, you can compile it together, with this journal you start with one spread and gradually grow it by adding new ones. So you always have something to flip through and you see your work as a page very soon. 


3). It can be as thick as you want it to be


Theoretically speaking, your journal can be very thick. I’m speaking in theory because I haven’t done a really chunky one yet.


But with this binding method, you basically create a pile of spreads and then attach a cover to the first page and the last page. 


When you open your journal, it will adjust itself by sliding in the spine area, but that’s about it. When it is lying on a table, or bookshelf, it holds its shape. 


4). Can be premade.


Maybe you know fabric books or journals that are premade and you paste your embroidery in that completed journal. Sort of a photo album for your embroidery. 


This journal can also be premade following the same method of constructing it. You can embellish it in advance the way you want, for example, insert occasional fabric pages, and then add your embroidery works into it. 


Types of embroidery journals you can make:


  • Experimental/sketchbook type
  • To store your past embroidery works
  • Art journal
  • Thematic journal (vintage style, folk style, needlepainting journal, crazy quilting journal, etc)
  • Stitch practice book
  • Lyrics/quotes book
  • Storybook
  • Fabric photoalbum


There are so many possibilities!


I hope that you got inspired and eager to try making your own journal. And in the next lesson we will learn how to make the first page!

Complete and Continue