Relive the childhood excitement of a travelling circus arriving in town with this beautifully stitched celebration of traditional performers and their awe-inspiring acts. Packed full of nostalgic motifs and projects influenced by circuses of the past, you won't be able to resist getting into the carnival mood and picking your favourite member of the troupe to stitch.

The extensive collection of bright, playful motifs make a handy resource for any embroidery enthusiast to dip into. With spreads made up of template outlines on one side and the finished stitched items opposite, it couldn't be easier. They cover every imaginable spectacle that might be seen at a circus of yesteryear. From daring acrobats, tumblers and tightrope walkers to incredible performing animals - you'll be transported straight back to this exciting world from another era. Also included are the tents, signs and caravans that make up the circus infrastructure along with decorative borders, banners and lettering.

A selection of 12 delightful projects make use of the motifs, embellishing and customizing a range of items, some of which are made from scratch. Novice stitchers needn't worry, as the embroidery in the book uses a medley of simple stitches that are fully explained with clear step-by-step artwork throughout.

Also covered are the essential basics of what tools and equipment you will need and how to transfer the templates to your fabric. Motifs include: strongmen, acrobats, tumblers, clowns, elephants, train, dancers, musicians, ringmasters, banners, flags, tents, ticket office, signs, big cats and many more... Projects include: greetings card, needle case, child's dress, cake band and phone case.

Patterns & Books

The Hooktionary

Cross Stitch My Home: Stitching the Sweet Moments

Embroidered Woodland Creatures

Circus Embroidery

Pen to Thread