After all the love for my first book, Needlepoint: A Modern Stitch Directory, I thought it only right to bring you a collection of even more exciting stitches and techniques to try. So, get ready to take your needlepoint to the next level as we explore the world of dynamic and textural stitches. Next-Level Needlepoint will give you the confidence to start making bold stitching choices that will bring your needlepoint to life. I've curated my selection of over 100 stitches into brilliantly self-explanatory sections, focused on providing answers to your stitching prayers. Looking for something to bring flow to your design? Movement is full of energetic stitches that flaunt their direction to do just that. Needing an option to break up a block of stitching? Texture has so many tactile choices for eye-catching dimension. Wishing you could capture realistic details in your stitched pictures? Let me introduce you to the world of 'scenic stitches', decorative stitches that really tell the story of the space they're filling. Snowy stitches, cloud shapes, even lightning bolts are just a few of the aerial wonders to be found in Sky.

Subtle ripples on a pond or bold waves on the sea, even underwater bubbles, these and more aquatic delights can be achieved with the pick of Water. Tree canopies, wheat fields, sand dunes, flower borders, all can be replicated in stitch with the possibilities in Land. I'm asked for help in these areas more than any other, so I hope you'll love the ones I've selected - they're my absolute favourites! Even the dedicated basketweave-stitchers among you are bound to be tempted by the gorgeous stitches in Borders that offer beautiful ways to frame your designs. There are so many choices here for you to get inspired by, and whatever you need, I've got you covered. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned stitcher, with my step-by-step guides, packed full of how-to illustrations and photographs of stitched samples, you'll want to turn your hand to trying out each and every one of them. And I've created 10 new projects too, bringing my love of bright, colourful, joy-filled designs to help you to explore and celebrate decorative stitches. I've chosen to stitch all the new designs in this book onto plastic canvas as it's such a versatile material and the finished projects can be made up quickly and easily. If, however, you prefer to stitch onto regular canvas, everything you'll need to know is included in Getting Started, such as advice on choosing and using a frame, and blocking stitched fabric.

I love to share new and exciting stitches with crafters, as I do in #stitchmondays, my Instagram showcase of needlepoint stitches. My hope is that you will take the stitches in this book far beyond these pages and start experimenting with them yourself, swapping them out for those in the kits you buy or the projects you make, to add your own creative twist to any needlepoint design you stitch.