Doodle Stitching: Fresh & Fun Embroidery for Beginners

I bought this book because a Ms. Ray is a fellow craftster.org user and I have long admired her work. I bought it to support her and because I loved the cover project. Unfortunately that project is not featured within but some patterns that are photographed in the book are not actually projects in the book. The patterns can be found for purchase on her etsy.
That said, the projects and step by step instructions are clear. However, when I first learned embroidery, I was uncomfortable transferring patterns without using iron-ons, which is why I recommend Sublime Stitching: Hundreds of Hip Embroidery Patterns and How-To for first ever embroiderers. Doodle Stitching would be a book to tackle after you've become somewhat confident in your ability to transfer designs on your own. (I am the type of person who likes to do it the technical "right way" when trying a new craft, after that I am comfortable to experiment.)
The instructions are clear and the thread colors for the photographed projects are listed. Her stitching instructions were also very clear. I got a little confused while tackling the sewing instructions for the lap quilt but I think that had more to do with the spaciness of the last weeks of my pregnancy rather than the instructions themselves.
This book makes a great addition to any young crafty embroiderer's library and I totally recommend it!

I am new to embroidery and found this to be the perfect book for a beginner. It has clear instructions on how to complete several different types of stitches, how to mix different stitches together, and when each type of stitch would be appropriate. There were also many ideas in this book ranging from simple and tiny pictures, to full page pictures, and ideas of how and where you could use each type. I think someone with more experience might not appreciate this book, but I would definitely recommend it to beginners!

I love this book! It is delightful and full of the feeling of old time embroidery in a very today way. The projects are easy and the directions are simple and well done. I would recommend this book to anyone, whether a beginner or pro, it's just plain fun. The completed projects have been well received. I am a 'doodler' so this book has shown me how to put those doodles to good use as well as sneaking off with others doodles and turning them into fun gifts for that person. I recommend this book, yes.

This book was SO disappointing!

I'm a big fan of Aimee Ray on etsy... but it feels like she saved all of the good embroidery for herself. Her work online is a million times better than the work in this book. Don't let the cover fool you.

This book has very generic, boring projects. It has no creative flair and wasn't worth the money. The model consistently through the book is kind of annoying, too. I thought it was Aimee at first (since the model is pictured on the side of the book under the author's name), but, alas, Miss Ray is pictured in the back.

If you know how to embroider, I wouldn't recommend this book. If you like boring, old-fashioned and uncreative patterns, then buy! buy! buy!!!

I see this book as an embroidery refresher, and a taking off point for great creativity. I am not likely to exactly follow any patterns in the book, but have already borrowed bits and pieces of them, and used them as a jumping off point for my own ideas and designs. It had honestly never occurred to me to get this creative with embroidery. This ain't your granny's embroidery! But it sure is fun!