In 2021, Inspirations Studios launched a new book by Margaret Light called A Fine Tradition, and it was very popular for good reason! Packed with lots of very accessible and appealing embroidery projects, the book is suitable for beginners and beyond who want to stitch and finish beautiful embroidered things. You can read my review of A Fine Tradition here.
I’m super excited to say that the second volume by Margaret Light – A Fine Tradition 2 – is now available! So today, we’re going to look at the inside of the book and I’ll tell you what you can expect from this extremely accessible project and instructional book.
Before we go forth to explore the new volume, you should know that I have a limited quantity of both books in stock right now! So if you didn’t have a chance to get the first volume, it’s been reprinted and you can add both to your needlework library. They’re available here in my shop. If these books have been on your radar, now’s a good time to pick them up!
If you have any of the gorgeous project and instructional books coming out of Australia from Inspirations Studios, then you will be very familiar with the format of this book.
A Fine Tradition 2 is full of gorgeous photography and clear step-by-step instructions for each project. The visual appeal of the book makes it a real joy to explore, whether you’re a stitcher or not! So, while this is definitely a project book, replete with thorough instructions, it’s also just a nice book to flip through. The pictures are pretty!
Thematically, the projects in the book reflect the author’s travels and explorations into the art and design styles of various places she’s been. So you’ll see some more exotic design in this book, but they are all super accessible for every level of stitcher.
The embroidery in the book is not complicated or so advanced that a beginner couldn’t tackle it.
Along with the embroidery – especially for the projects that finish into usable items – you’ll find thorough instructions for all the finishing.
There are twelve projects in the book. Each project is presented with a materials list, followed by step-by-step instructions to complete the embroidery and then to complete the finishing.
I really love the fact that she continued with the decorative tiles in this book as well. There are three in the first book, too.
I like this format for stitching a design! It makes for a very clean finish for displaying needlework, and the projects themselves are small enough to be worked pretty quickly. There’s nothing quite so satisfying as finishing an embroidery project and getting it display-ready, and you can do that pretty rapidly with these lovely tile designs that are featured in both books.
Throughout the instructions, there are plenty of close-up photos, so that you can clearly see what’s going on with the stitches or the design, and you can know pretty certainly what your outcome should be with a given stitch or technique.
This cushion is such a fun and colorful sampler! There are many small motifs on it, which keep the embroidery interesting and exciting. I always like sampler-esque designs that drive me forward to the next motif … and then the next motif. It’s the type of stitching that keeps me awake at night – because I can always move on to just One More small motif. Fun!
There are several pouches / small purse designs in this book, too. Some are really bold and exciting! If you like to make a statement with your accessories, you’ll definitely be able to do that with these projects!
There’s plenty more variety in the dozen projects in the book!
In the back of the book, there’s a fabulous stitch glossary with step-by-step photos for all the embroidery stitches used throughout the projects. These photo sequences are so instructive! You can really use these to build your own stitch repertoire. It’s a format I really appreciate when it comes to stitch instructions.
Finally, there’s a folio of pull-out, full-sized patterns in the back of the book, which makes it easy to get your project started quickly! No fiddling with printing, enlarging, and so forth.
In a Nutshell
Another wonderful project book from Margaret Light! The projects are accessible for beginners and beyond, and there’s a whole lot of variety in them! The book is a good addition to your needlework reference library as well, since it contains a whole bunch of fabulous instruction not just for stitching, but also for finishing. You can apply these techniques to your own projects, too, making the book a solid, worthwhile investment.
Where to Find It
If you’re in the US, you can pick up A Fine Tradition and A Fine Tradition 2 here in my shop under embroidery books. I’m happy to carry these books – and other carefully curated needlework books that can’t be had through discount bulk booksellers – so that you can avoid the extra cost and the longer wait for overseas shipping.
I ship via Priority Mail to ensure a safer, faster delivery. It is trackable and insured. If you order multiple products or books, I’ll package everything nicely in the least expensive priority option.
For readers who don’t live in the US, you can order the books directly from Inspirations Studios!
Given the popularity of the first volume, I have a feeling this second volume will be a sell out, so don’t wait too long if you’re keen to have Margaret Light’s books!
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