Can anyone recommend books or websites for a beginner in embroidery?

Hand or machine embroidery? And what style?

For most hand embroidery, I'd suggest just picking up a hoop (these are quick and easy and work well: http://www.yarn-and-threadbylisa.com/Embroidery_Qu... or ,http://www.anetz-designs.co.uk/images/4pony500.jpg ), some fabric (muslin will do for most styles, and consider a piece of aida for most counted styles), and play a bit. The needles you want for embroidery on most fabrics are embroidery or crewel; for counted work, tapestry needles are usually used. Embroidery floss is the usual starter for beginners.

Here, for instance, is a quilt block for a memory quilt, done with just three stitches: stem, feather and french knot:

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/2178467...

Head for your library for books by:

-- Erica Wilson

-- Jacqueline Enthoven

-- Judith Montano

-- Cecile Dreesman

-- Mary Thomas

-- books from Arco, DMC and other embroidery thread

makers

Or look online at:

http://www.needlenthread.com/2006/10/video-library...

http://www.needlenthread.com/2008/09/tips-and-tric...

http://inaminuteago.com/stitchindex.html

http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch/stitches/i...

Then play. Remember how the early quilt blocks you made were often simple 9 patches, not NY Beauties or carpenter wheels? Same idea with embroidery. Play. Discover. Work out the hitches. Many of us who embroider often keep "doodle cloths", where we work out stitches and ideas before using them on a big project. (That quilt block is close to a doodle cloth even though it was meant for a friendship quilt... here's the original that inspired it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blossfeldt_55a.j... ) and I think I'm going to rehash that as an embroidered wool coat.)

Because most embroidery is surface design, you don't have to worry about the structural aspects of a project so much, which can be quite freeing.

You'll figure out what works best for you over time -- hoops vs. frames vs. q-snaps vs. working in hand tend to be one of the biggest determinants. I tend to work either in small hoops (I like about 6" or 6x10" ovals) or in hand, but I'll work big pieces in frame, and I don't like stands. Your choices may be different.

If you'd like to drop me a note about the style(s) of embroidery that interest you, I may be able to suggest some more focused resources.

I've been doing hand embroidery for over 50 years now, and have tried a lot of styles and techniques.

One of the best ways to learn is to purchase a kit for beginners.

Go to the library for books on how to embroider.

That was how I started after a few years I changed to counted cross stitch. The reason was I found cross stitch more versatile and it has developed over the years.

I always make my own birthday and christmas cards.

At least Cross-Stitcher and The World Of Cross-Stitching are great magazines to look for, often with small and easy kits included!

Knitting for Dummies, Teach Yourself Visually, and Getting Started Knitting are my favorites. Yes, all the information is on the web someplace, however I consider it is valued at the fee to have a booklet in hand. Also, I extremely propose a few US #eight or nine needles and a few mild-coloured wool (i.e Lion Wool or Paton's Classic Moreno) to begin with ... simply to paintings and not using a mission target in brain in the beginning. Tinker slightly, if you are going to ... Happy Knitting!