If you’ve followed the blog for any stretch of time, you will have probably noticed that Gingermelon crafts are a staple here! So of course, when the newest book, Gingermelon’s Embroidered Animals (USA / UK), released at the beginning of this month, there was no question I had to review it!
Upon flipping to the table of contents, you’re greeted by the full lineup of dolls that you can make from the book. This is unusual and I really appreciate having an ‘at a glance’ page of the book contents.
After just the first few pages, I immediately noticed that this is one of the most thorough books I’ve seen. It has a neat list of every supply you will need for the book’s projects, and each supply has a detailed description that is helpful for beginners.
What I really appreciate about the layout of this book is that it starts off with a basic doll pattern that you will simply tweak depending on the plush designs. The patterns themselves are of the highest quality, and the instructions are detailed while using simple language. This keeps them from being confusing, which is something I have found to be not uncommon with sewing and embroidery books.
Once you cover the basic doll design, you can then move on to all the cute animals! I had a ridiculous time of choosing my favorite, but whimsical mouse is definitely near the top of the list for me.
Ellie the elephant is another favorite of mine! Even if you’re not sure about your interest in embroidery, this book is worth owning purely for the level of detail and eye candy that’s included.
The lullaby lamb near the end is probably my absolute favorite—though I say that with difficulty.
One of the best things about this book is the stitch glossary at the back of the book. I was happy to see this, as it makes such a difference for beginners. It may not be difficult to search for stitch tutorials on the internet, but having it included in the book saves a lot of time.
Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough! Whether you’re a beginner or advanced in sewing/embroidery, there’s something for everyone in this book. You can buy Gingermelon’s Embroidered Animals on Amazon (USA / UK), and be sure to check out the Gingermelon Etsy shop and blog for more patterns.
While SCK was provided with a digital review copy of this book by Netgalley, the review is of the printed book which was not gifted.
Leave a Reply