Beginner's Guide to Traditional Japanese Embroidery

Rating:
Summary: I Agree
Review: I have been studying traditional Japanese embroidery for several years, and I can only say that I agree "in Spades" with the other two reviewers. Instead, purchase Shuji Tamura's book. It is superb.

Rating:
Summary: Abysmal
Review: Japanese embroidery is an exacting craft using precise techniques that must be correctly mastered. Either Ms. Gray never studied them or she is deliberately ignoring them, because much of the information in this book is wrong. Anyone who uses this book to study Japanese Embroidery will be disappointed in the results. And if he or she finds a real teacher, the reader will have to unlearn a great deal. Some of the instructions are really weird, for example, steaming the finished work a foot away from the fabric. This is not how it's done and for good reason. Save your money and buy Shuji Tamura's book on Japanese Embroidery.

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointed
Review: When I saw this book I hoped for a wonderful addition to my library on things Japanese. But I am sadly disappointed.

Anyone who tries to use this book to guide them into the world of Traditional Japanese Embroidery will have a lot of trouble unlearning bad habits later on. I firmly recommend that anyone with an interest in Traditional Japanese Embroidery find a good teacher and use the standard text written by Shuiji Tamura entitled "Traditional Japanese Embroidery: Instructions for the Basic Techniques."

Although the photograph quality is excellent in this book, the content of both photographs and diagrams is poor. In addition, some of the text describes shortcuts which are not only incorrect, but may be damaging to your fabric. Please beware.