Let me start this review by telling you a few things. I love all things craft related including stitch work and witchery. I have some experience with embroidery but it goes way back. I am a big fan of unique, hand embellished garments. Mystical Stitches, Embroidery for Personal Empowerment and Magical Embellishment
by Christi Johnson is a book that I couldn't wait to dive into. The author infuses magical practice into the chapters of this book, while sharing beautiful photos of the artwork she has done.

If you are looking for hoop patterns with mystical art, this probably isn't the book for you. If instead you are looking to incorporate stitch work into your practice of ritual, rite, mindfulness, etc. look no further. This is not so much a pattern book as it is a book of intention, helping the reader to understand the power of the creative process. The author explains stitch types and symbolism very well, helping the reader to arrive at their own designs for talismans.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Storey Publishing, LLC for the opportunity to read for review this electronic ARC. All opinions are authentically mine and gladly shared.

Simple stitches, easy to follow tutorials and striking motifs make up this book. But what I liked most about this book where the tips on keeping your creativity flowing.

Review based on an ARC provided by the publishers.

I like the author's emphasis on learning skills and techniques and then being creative with them, rather than exactly duplicating specific projects. The spiritual aspect of the book will likely appeal to some readers and is not so "woo woo" that other people couldn't get a something out of it if they wanted to. The creativity and stress-management aspects are an interesting and more holistic approach to a craft book that actually makes a lot of sense to me.

One niggle: The ankh symbolism in the "geometric shapes" chapter (page 60) only talks about "masculine/feminine," rather than the more standard "life" symbolism. It would be worth mentioning "life," even if the rest is still included. It makes me wonder about the accuracy of the interpretations of the other symbols. Worthwhile for readers to double-check if the symbolism is very important to them.
That said, I think the rest is appealing and presents a different approach than the usual craft books. As a librarian, I will likely add it to our small library. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free review copy.

What a gorgeous book! This book shows how to embroider a wide variety of different stitches with clear instructions and connects the craft to rituals and meditation. The design is simply stunning, and the connection with spirituality adds extra dimension to the work. It’s a lovely book, and sure to be a popular guide for those interested in embroidery and more witchy vibes.

“Mystical Stitches” dramatically changed my view of what embroidery can be -- I had never thought of it as talisman or ritual tool. This book opened my eyes to the idea that embroidery can be an element on my spiritual journey.

Content-wise, “Mystical Stitches” is very thorough. The instructions about materials, stitches, and designs are clear. The projects are definitely ones that I would try. I like the fact that the book allows readers to really explore their own style and doesn’t over-explain when it comes to designs or patterns. I feel confident that I could successfully make the patterns and projects in the book, even if my work isn’t perfect.

I’ve always known that embroidery was an art form, but reading this book has opened a whole new world of possibilities for me. I’ll definitely be re-reading and incorporating elements into my crafting practice.

* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing.

I absolutely loved this and I thought it was a great example of a craft book that gives you more than just patterns and instructions. I feel like this is the beginning embroidery book that I wish I had been able to find years ago. It's also right up my alley with the "witchy" elements. Unfortunately I don't think this is a title that would do well at my library - we don't circ embroidery or needlework titles that often and I don't think this particular approach would connect with my patrons. But I'll be buying a copy for myself when it comes out!

Beautiful pictures of embroidery which makes you want to try and create! The book makes the creations seem attainable and supports using the ideas to foster your own creativity. The instructions for the different stitch types are very clear. The neatest part of this book is that it also looks at the spirituality that can be a part of your process!

There are some really beautiful stitches in this book. Great graphics show the stitches and guide you along. There's a bit about intention and bringing mindfulness and peace to your work which I found was a unique look at the embroidery process.

A guide to embroidering and stitching with a mystical edge.

In the first section of this guide many different types of stitches are showcased and given step-by-step instructions for the reader to follow along with. The instructions were mostly clear and easy to understand, although a few pictures would have been welcome alongside the drawings for reference. The following sections contain examples of stitching a variety of symbols, shapes, animals, plants, and more. These examples are varied and colorful and are given a guide via the stitch key in the back of the book, but might be difficult for beginners to copy. Those with prior experience in sewing are more likely to find inspiration and ideas from this book than those just starting out, who may be overwhelmed. The book does contain several step-by-step guides for projects such as embroidering jeans, shirts, and pillows.

Good for readers looking for unique stiches and patterns as well as those interested in incorporating spirituality and mysticism into their crafting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an e-copy of this book.

This is a delightful book, which I quickly realised needed to be held rather than viewed on screen. It contains so many ideas and techniques, beautifully illustrated, and is quite different to any stitching book I have seen before.

I have already pre-ordered a hard copy and can't wait to get my hands on it and get stitching some of the magical designs!

This is a lovely book. Johnson offers her readers easy to understand instructions for a large number of designs to be embroidered. I’m ready to get out my needles and thread and start embroidering.

This is a beautiful book that is considered and generous. It is full of beautiful imagery, rich colours and practical tips. Nestled along side this are some stitch tutorials, suggestions on selecting fabrics and discussions about symbolism, magic and folklore. Whilst not everything appealed to my personal taste, there was more than enough on offer to spark my imagination and had me reaching for my needle and thread.
Rather than offering prescriptive patterns and instructions to achieve an end result, this is a book that focuses on the individual focus in order to become fully involved and derive personal satisfaction from a project.This is a book that really explores creativity and intent in order to achieve a state of flow.

It is a book to be savoured and I would like to thank the publishers and Net Galley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

This book made me think about my own crafting and how calming it can be while stitching. This book was so much more than just directions for some cool embroidery. They walk you through the ritual of creating your own talisman, and talk about the many symbols you can choose, colors, and composition. They even give a few ideas for talismans, tips for embroidering garments, and more.

The stitching instructions were clear and easy to understand. I think this book is useful for people who are new and those who are experienced in needlecraft.

I was drawn to “Botanica” and “Forces of Nature” when reading the Treasury of Symbols. I would like to implement some of their techniques into my own stitching in the future. I like the idea of setting an intention before beginning a project.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-ARC.

#MysticalStitches #NetGalley #StoreyPublishing

Mystical Stitches, by Christi Johnson, is a craft book in all senses of the word. Not only does Ms. Johnson provide good lessons on embroidery, she covers the meaning of many common symbols (plants, animals, astrology, etc.).and shows examples of them in embroidered form. She details how to use symbols in magical operations, and gives basic instructions for performing spells. The book is both informing and entertaining, and removes all barriers to decorating clothes, altar cloths, and pillow covers with meaningful symbols.

Since the cost of starting embroidery as a hobby is very low, this book would be of interest to people starting to investigate magic and looking for practical spells to do (or just trying embroidery for the first time). Ms. Johnson tells you everything you need to know to get started.

Book not eligible to be reviewed on Amazon yet (1/17/21)

If you're anything like me, you get stuck in the wormhole of Pinterest. I always see these amazing crafty things that I so wish I could do. So, when I saw Mystical Stitches, I was all about it.

The author, Christi Johnson, takes us through her process of brainstorming and creation for her works of embroidery. She provides patterns and inspirations from nature by way of botanicals, animals, the planets and astrology, earth elements, and mythological symbols. The wold book has a great folksy vibe to it that really spoke to me. She has plenty of real examples and processes to work through. She provides tips and stitches examples with really neat combinations. I would say that the book is great for someone that likes to get really creative with their crafty endeavors. Most of the book is geared toward a new age/spiritual slant and I'm absolutely down for all that. The pictures and examples as colorful and really inspiring. I can't wait to try some of these on my own!

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

A lovely looking book! Sadly it was archived before I could get to the end, but I very much enjoyed what I read.

I found the book very useful. I greatly enjoyed the symbol repository. My biggest complaint is the current format of the book made understanding the stitch explanations next to impossible. Something I hope won't be an issue once it comes to print.
I fully intend to purchase this book for my own collection, if not my library's.

Thank you to @netgalley, the publisher and author for gifting me this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

At first glance I thought this would be a "classic" stitch-book with ideas for new projects. And for some part it is, but what wasn't quite my cup of tea were all the mystical stuff.

It can be a good read and inspiration for a person who's into mysticism and that kind of stuff but I will pass it.

It leans heavily on the spiritual side of creating, and there are many references to talismans, mythology, astrology, meditation, and even yoga. Not quite the embroidery tutorial for me. It also doesn't provide patterns as much as just a photo of each design and then a drawing telling you what stitches to use.

What a wonderful book. This a perfect book for any embroiderer who enjoys the mindfulness of the hobby. I loved the way the focus was not necessarily on completing a project, rather the journey to completion. There are plenty of projects to go at, and Christi gives us the meanings of all her ideas. I loved the fact that this book enables you to create a gift for someone that actually means something symbolically, not just because it's handmade.

It is colourful, with loads of clear pictures, and very clear instructions on all of the stitches used (none of which are difficult), and there are charts that you can trace and use.

It is a wonderful book to buy for someone new to the craft, as it is so interesting and clear.

I loved the book so much that I now have it on pre-order with Amazon, as I feel that I need it on my bookshelf as a permanent fixture!