Hilary Leslie's A Hoop of Threads & Longing: 20 Ink-Drinking, Slow-Burning Embroidery Projects is a fun craft book that she calls a "love letter to the romantasy genre." She offers designs based on common tropes, including the self-rescuing princess, several designs with dragons or references to cottagecore, time travel, and masquerades, as well as stitches that just celebrate a love of reading, such as one titled "The Library Cat."
Leslie, a self-taught embroiderer, has made a collection that is beginner-friendly with helpful guides outlining materials needed, how to use templates and patterns, and tutorials for starter stitches, including QR codes to access video tutorials. The book includes tips for integrating beading and simplifying the processes for best results, with ample encouragement to experiment with the patterns in terms of color and texture. Of the 20 projects shared, 15 are in the hoop and five are for embroidering everyday objects such as bookmarks and tote bags, meaning that there is sure to be something for everyone in these pages. --Michelle Anya Anjirbag, freelance reviewer