Rebecca Ringquist's Embroidery Workshops

A creative, rule-breaking approach to embroidery that teaches the traditional techniques then encourages you to bend them. Ringquist covers French knots, satin stitch, chain stitch, and other fundamentals, but she also explores three-dimensional stitching, freeform thread drawing, nontraditional materials, and combining hand and machine stitching.

Why Start Here

This is Ringquist’s only book, and it distills her teaching philosophy into 20 projects that progress from fundamental techniques to experimental mixed-media work. A cloth sampler included in an envelope at the back gives you a guided starting point. From there, the projects build through table linens, wall art, and clothing embellishments, each one introducing new techniques and creative possibilities.

The book stands out because it treats embroidery as an art form with room for personal expression, not just a set of rules to follow perfectly. Ringquist’s background as a fine artist comes through in every chapter.

What to Expect

A hardcover at 160 pages with full-color photography. This book works best for someone who has tried a few basic stitches and wants to push embroidery in a more artistic direction. If you want precise patterns and traditional results, look elsewhere. If you want permission to experiment and discover what embroidery can become when you stop worrying about perfection, this is your guide.