Thread painting is a form of embroidery that creates a realistic, lifelike effect using just one stitch. In this step-by-step guide, embroidery artist Emillie Ferris has created nine exclusive patterns inspired by the garden. Iron-on transfers at the back of the book allow you to transfer the designs to fabric to get started straight away.

Welcome, kindred spirit! I’m honoured you have chosen to open my second book, and I am so grateful to be sharing these embroidery patterns with you. From my humble abode here in the UK, I send warm greetings to you, wherever you are across the world. How wonderful a book is, that it can connect us with like-minded souls, earth lovers and great appreciators of craftsmanship through distance and time. In this book, there are a total of nine projects for you to embroider – and whether you are a newbie or an experienced stitcher, you are welcome here. The predominant embroidery technique I use is often referred to as needlepainting, though you may know this method as Long-and-Short Stitch, thread painting or silk shading. I like to call it ‘painting with thread’. Throughout this book, I’d like you to remember that you are an artist. Every human, just by being, is an artist. I will be holding your hand every step of the way via step-by-step instructions; however, I trust and happily encourage you to let go of the pursuit of ‘perfection’ or following of the ‘rules’ and make your own colour choices in terms of embroidery thread and background colours. If you make mistakes along the way, remember that I still make mistakes too, and I’ve been painting with thread since 2013. One of the wonderful things about embroidery is how easy it is to unpick your stitches and start anew! I wish you many pleasant hours of embroidery with your magically gifted hands.