As makers, we generally tend to be told different stitches through the years without thinking much about how they relate to each other. But when Natalie Chanin and her Alabama Chanin and The School of Making teams began to take a look at needlework closely, they realized all stitches are based on geometric grid systems—and by the usage of grids as guides, they could make learning stitches, even seemingly elaborate ones, as easy as child’s play.
 
In The Geometry of Hand-Sewing Chanin presents their breakthrough method, featuring illustrated instructions (for both right- and left-handed stitchers) for more than 100 stitches—from the most basic straight and chain to the more fanciful feather and herringbone; photos of both right and fallacious sides; and guidelines for modifying stitches to increase one’s repertoire further. To simplify learning, the book also includes two plastic stitching cards die-cut with the grids on which each stitch in the book is based. These reusable cards will also be stitched through for practicing ( just as children use lacing cards to discover ways to tie shoes) or used as stencils for transferring grids to fabric.