Product guide

The Hand-Stitched Surface: Slow Stitching and Mixed-Media Craft Book

The Hand-Stitched Surface is a craft book by Lynn Krawczyk about slow, improvisational stitching and mixed-media work on fabric and paper. It combines basic stitch guidance with projects and downloadable or printable templates, and includes ideas such as stitching on photographs and making fabric and paper pieces.

At a glance

Covers basic stitches and ways to modify them, along with thread weights, pattern-making, color, and improvisational stitching.
Describes fifteen projects for layered mixed-media surfaces on fabric and paper.
Includes templates intended for scanning and printing, with a stated enlargement instruction for one template.

Price

$3.99Save 85%

Reference price: ~~$25.99~~

Price checked: Nov 13, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

The combination of stitch fundamentals and project examples gives readers both technique guidance and ideas to try.
Projects span fabric and paper, including stitched buttons, a kitchen towel, a note card, and embellished photographs.
Customer feedback describes illustrations and how-to diagrams as helpful, including for beginners.

Technical specifications

11 specifications

Book details
Publisher	Creative Publishing international
Publication date	May 1, 2017
Language	English
Print length	135 pages
ISBN-13	978-1589239593
File size	42.3 MB

Reading features
Screen Reader	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	Enabled
X-Ray	Enabled
Word Wise	Not Enabled
Page Flip	Enabled

What to know before buying

The templates are described as material to scan and print. Most are to be printed at 100 percent, while the Technicolor Begonia Cushion template should be enlarged to 115 percent. Some project examples may call for materials or kits such as cover button kits, which are not confirmed as included.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers interested in improvisational hand embroidery and decorative stitching.
Crafters looking for mixed-media ideas that combine stitching with fabric or paper.
Beginners seeking stitch guidance alongside creative project examples.

Less suited to

Readers seeking an advanced, comprehensive reference of embroidery stitches rather than a project-led introduction.
Buyers who need a physical copy or printed templates. The listed edition details describe an ebook file.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.5 / 5 · 171 ratings

5 stars73%73%
4 stars17%17%
3 stars4%4%
2 stars3%3%
1 star3%3%

Customer feedback describes the book as fun and inspiring, praising its original projects, illustrations, and technique explanations, with some feedback noting beginner-friendly diagrams. Reactions to the simplicity are mixed. That may matter if you want approachable project inspiration, while readers looking for deep technical coverage may prefer a more extensive stitch reference.

Positive themes

Customers praise the original projects and illustrations.
Feedback highlights informative technique content and materials guidance.
Some customers consider the book suitable for beginners and mention how-to diagrams.

Mixed feedback

Customer reactions to the book's simplicity are mixed.

Frequently asked questions

What techniques does the book cover?

The listing describes basic stitches and modifications, mixing thread weights for texture, creating patterns, exploring color, and improvisational stitching.

Are projects included?

Yes. The listing describes fifteen projects for fabric and paper, including examples such as stitched buttons, a note card, and embellished photographs.

How are the templates used?

The listing says to scan and print them. It specifies printing at 100 percent except for the Technicolor Begonia Cushion template, which should be enlarged to 115 percent.

Does the book suit beginners?

Customer feedback characterizes the book as beginner-friendly and mentions how-to diagrams. The listing also says it covers stitching essentials, though customers have mixed reactions to its simplicity.