The Embroidery of Mexico

The Embroidery of Mexico is a vibrant celebration of Mexico's rich embroidery heritage, covering eight key traditional and modern styles with over 30 templates to trace off and use.

Keep the stunning traditions of Mexican artistry alive in this evocative visual journey through the diverse embroidery traditions of Mexico, blending hands-on instruction with cultural reflection.

Artist and researcher Gimena Romero takes readers deep into the symbolic language of stitch, tracing its threads from indigenous communities to contemporary urban streetscapes.

Part travelogue, part artistic meditation, and part practical guide, this book invites embroiderers of all levels to discover and make their own the living heritage of Mexican embroidery. Discover:

• Distinct regional styles including Tenango, Street, Mazahua, Thought, Mixe and Purepecha embroidery, each introduced through vibrant photography, storytelling, and in-depth technique.
• Experimental practices such as Lavin embroidery (using human hair) and Romero's own abstract, texture-based compositions.
• Stitches, motifs and techniques including: Tenango foot, Xi (tree leaf), Zigzag, Eye, Leaves; fruit-based filler stitches like Open banana, Pineapple, Strawberry and Woven watermelon; Mixe stitches rooted in regional language and culture; and contemporary embellishment techniques: Cortes braid, Moss, Mexican coral stitch, and Interlinked hearts.
• Practical guidance on tools, materials, and transferring designs.
• 8 pages of full-size templates, ready to copy off and use.

Stitches are not merely technical tools - they carry symbolic, poetic meaning. Many are named in indigenous languages or with metaphorical phrases that reflect daily life, identity, and ritual.

Gimena encourages readers not only to replicate these stitches and embroideries but also to reinterpret them in their own artistic voices.

This work is a translation of the Spanish edition by popular Mexican embroidery artist Gimena Romero.