Book Cover Embroidery

Writing a novel about a fourteen-year-old embroiderer led me to extensively research embroidery, and its use by early modern women to communicate their passions, their politics, their culture, and their history.

Because I like many forms of fiber art— I quilt, knit, crochet and sew— I was drawn to the study of embroidery personally, and decided to “try my hand” at it! My wonderful book cover designer incorporated embroidery-like images into the cover for Isabela’s Way and, perhaps unwisely, I determined to recreate that cover as an embroidered piece. That decision opened up a whole new world of local embroiderers, international organizations with vast stitch banks and textile history over hundreds of years.

Isabela's Way cover

Embroidered Isabela book cover

Stitching the book cover ( above left) has been a challenge, a joy, and a meditation on slow art. I newly appreciate the skill required to do embroidery well, the complexity of the design process, and the exacting patience embroiderers must embrace. I have experienced (along with occasional frustration!) the quiet thrill of bringing color and texture to an outlined design.  Finally, it’s been a delightful way to deepen my understanding of my main character, Isabela!