No comments about Happy Holidays in Plastic Canvas.

5 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting & Crocheting.

1. An excellent overview of both knitting and crochet for all levels. I love the international comparisons for both stitches, methods and hooks/needles. A top class reference book.



2. I liked the book but I thought it was going to show me more stitches than it did. I bought it to teach me how to knit and I now know the basics but I don't have any other stitch patterns to pratice with. Rebecca Watts



3. This book is a god send. It's plain simple instructions even a duffer like me can follow.



4. I learned how to knit when I was little. However, I have forgotten a lot of things since then. So I purchased this book to get some reviews. This book is extremely helpful along with a two hour class I took on knitting. The two hour class got me started again, and this book refreshed me on the more detailed things such as increase and decrease. This book is very basic, it doesn't teach much else beyond the basic types stitches. So if you want patterns, either look online or get another book. And if you have never knitted before and want to learn how to knit, I suggest either look for videos online or take a two hour knitting class. This book however, will be helpful in terms of after you have already learned how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off. The book is in black and white if I remember correctly.



5. This book does attempt to provide detail information for beginners (I being one of them). It has great information on the basics such as types of yarns, gauges, understanding of the types of stitches, and so on. However,the pictures that accompany some of the stitches aren't always visually clear to understand because they are in two different colors (red and blue). I had hoped to find full color instructions but was sadly disappointed. The publishers should have spent the money for colored pictures in the instructions not the patterns.

No comments about Ultimate Plastic Canvas Collection.

3 comments about Helen M. Stevens' Embroiderer's Year: Exquisite Embroideries Celebrating the Ever-Changing Seasons.

1. I am always fascinated with Helen's works. This one particular. I should say her technique is not that complicated and subtle compared to Chinese SuZhou embroidery's. But her ways of interpreting country creatures like flowers, plants, birds, animals are so vivid that they seem to come to life. Her stitches are just like impressionists' stroke, which capture the every essential piece of natural beauty. I love her landscape works especially. I regret not seeing so many landscape works in this book, but her two works of the same scene in late spring and early winter already ensnare my heart and I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves embroidery and nature.



2. A BEAUTIFUL book. If you like Helen Stevens' work, you will love this book.



3. I was so loving this book until I realised it is basically a gallery of her work and with not a pattern in sight. Well worth drooling over but not a 'how to' book unless you want to use a magnifying glass on each photo to work out how each is stitched and no projects to complete yourself. Will keep it for the facinating artwork.

5 comments about Needlepoint Trade Secrets: Great Tips about Organizing, Stitching, Threads, and Materials.

1. In her introduction to Needlepoint Trade Secrets, Janet Perry states, "...even though I've been stitching for over 30 years, I still discover ways to make my stitching better, learn a new stitch, or rediscover something from times past." On her website, www.napaneedlepoint.com, Janet bills herself first and foremost as a teacher. She wrote the original edition of Needlepoint Trade Secrets in the interest of sharing her discoveries.
   
   And does she ever! She offers fantastic tips on everything from where to find design ideas (your favorite lifestyle magazine is a great place to start!), to color choices (a good color wheel is invaluable), to how to finish your completed canvas easily and inexpensively.
   
   As a 30-plus-year stitcher myself, I must admit that the most daunting question I face with a completed canvas is, "OK, now what do I do with this?" Most stitchers will tell you that their UFO pile is as large as it is, due to the expense of finishing. Janet's terrific suggestions include everything from how to beat the high cost of custom framing, to innovative uses for those gorgeous belt canvases.
   
   Although there is a lot in Needlepoint Trade Secrets, her breezy style makes this 119-page book an easy read. Its short, bullet-filled chapters make this a fast read. The revised edition's small size (the original book was 8-1/2 by 11) makes it ideal to keep in your stitching bag.
   
   Do those ever-changing airline rules make you unsure whether or not you'll be able to stitch on a plane? No problem! With Needlepoint Trade Secrets at hand, you can read about our favorite obsession when you're 50,000 feet up. Be sure to have a pen and plenty of Post-Its handy! You'll need them to mark your favorite tips for easy future reference.
   
   Michelle Hufford, Owner
   Come to the Point!
   [...]



2. I have been waiting for months for this second edition to come out, having missed out on the first printing. If you are a needlepointer you will love reading this book! It is fun and easy to read and packed full of great ideas. Keep your highlighter handy!



3. Perry is a gifted teacher and designer and writes an entertaining and educational on-line column, but this book is a waste of money unless you're a beginning needlepointer.
   
   Anyone who has been needlepointing for more than a few months can pick up these tips from fellow stitchers, from their local needlepoint shop and in classes.
   
   And anyone with an ounce of sense can figure out an organizing system that is more efficient and less expensive.
   
   Perry should stick to what she does best!



4. The title of this book is very misleading. Are utilizing a paper cup while travelling for ORTs or storing needles in an empty mint tin trade secrets? Pathetic and so not worth the price of the book.



5. Some good ideas but not enough to be worth the price of purchasing the book.

3 comments about Gifts Galore in Plastic Canvas (Leisure Arts Craft Leaflets, Bk. 4).

1. I found this book to a definite value for the money spent. It has patterns for even the hardest person to make for. The patterns were differant, and beautiful. It was well made and packed with content. I wish I had all the series to go with this one. Other books I enjoyed to go with this one was Looney tunes in plastic canvas book 7.



2. The book is filled with lots of ideas. I have made seven items from it already (as gifts of course)and they are very well received. Plastic canvasing is my new addiction!



3. It is easy to understand & follow. I have made like the big bear it turned out lovely. I really enjoy doing plastic canvas crafts. I some times add little things to the lovely patterns. It sets them off.

1 comments about Needlepoint Stitches: 52 Stitches Explained and Illustrated.

1. 
   
   The book is well done--good examples and good directions to follow.

4 comments about Erica Wilson's Needlepoint: Adapted from Objects in the Collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

1. THE source for not-treacly sweet designs -- everthing from Tiffany to Ming Porcelain to do, and clear instructions and materials lists. My first experience with working from charts and now I fear I'll never find a better source!



2. This is an outstanding needlework book.What sets it apart from others (I have a large selection) are the wonderful working charts, they're the best I've seen.



3. Beautiful designs. Charts are clear, concise and very easy to follow. I plan to make two patterns..quinces into a round foot stool and a tabacco leaf pattern..very beautiful. I have a lot of books which I never made projects from. This one I will. A must have!!



4. The book has some very pretty designs in it. The brand of yarn used for the designs may not be available now as some years have passed since it was written. However, the book has conversion charts for two other brands of yarn. Some of the yarn she uses there aren't some of the colors available in the other yarns. It might be hard to use one of those other yarns and the designs would naturally be different than the pictures.

1 comments about Miniature Needlepoint Rugs for Dollhouses, Charted for Easy Use (Dover Needlework Series).

1. This book contains charted graphs for 37 rugs but contains photos of only 8. I need to be able to see a completed rug design; I can't visualize how a rug will look from the graph alone & for this reason I found the book to be disappointing.

5 comments about Shay Pendray's Inventive Needlework: Techniques & Inspiration for Gold Work, Painted Canvas, and Shading.

1. For the serious needleworker, Shay Pendray's Inventive Needlework is a must-have book. Included are discussions on materials and on techniques, clearly drawn diagrams, and excellent color photographs. Examples of various techniques are drawn from both the author's own teaching pieces and from other pieces which have been exhibited at ANG National Seminars. I was particularly excited by the close-up photographs, which show stitching details clearly. (Many of the goldwork photographs were stitched on a black ground) Note that this book is about techniques, and is not a catalog of diagrams for specific stitches - there are many other reference books which fill that purpose.

   For needleworkers who are interested in advancing their skills, or who have wished for opportunities to examine advanced-level stitching in detail, the excellent photographs and elaborating text of this book offer a great deal of inspiration.




2. This book does offer insight into shading and goldwork techniques, but has few, if any, practice projects. The pictures are very lovely, but I was led to believe that there would be more patterns to practice on.
   
   If you are looking for a book with projects, minimally practice projects, this book is not the one to buy. No projects, thus no materials and fibers listed, no patterns.
   
   As a non professional needlework enthusiast, I need a head start on any project, because I don't have time to design a project from start to finish; books with projects offer the headstart I think most people in my position need: the hard work is done (which is why we pay for the book) and it is left to the individual needlework enthusiast to tweek it here and there to fit his or her decor/color favorites/personalization, etc. This book does not save any time or give any headstart to any project, which is the reason people pay money to the professional needleworker for their efforts. These efforts have not been made in this book.
   
   I would say a person looking for a book in goldwork or embroidery (shading, with silk or wool) would be much better off buying "A Victorian Floral Alphabet" "Redoutes Finest Flowers in Embroidery"; "The Art of Painting with a Needle"; these books make beautiful, individualized embroidery projects a possibility for those of us who don't have the time to start from scratch.
   
   This book is the equivalent to buying a pair of stamped pillow cases or a tablecloth to embroider, but when you get the pillowcases or tablecloth, they are blank, there is no design stamped on them, and the manufacturer includes instructions on how to embroider them.



3. This is "the" book for the serious needleworker. It has the most comprehensive technique instructions of any book, ever, for gold work, painted canvas, and shading; it isn't a cutesy book of simple projects. The illustrations are excellent. The color photos are to die for: closeups of step-by-step work in progress and examples of finished work will enable you to strive for excellence in your own work. This is a teaching book with important information about threads, fabrics, frames, tools, framing up, tips ... the list goes on and on. I can't recommend this book any higher.



4. For people who have watched her Needlearts show on PBS, Shay and her wonderful way with all forms of needlework needs no introduction. For those who haven't let's just say that Shay is one of the nicest and most innovative needleworkers around.
   
   This beautiful book distills much of Shay's wisdom covering Goldwork, painted canvas and shading. Each section is lavishly illustrated with detailed explanations of techniques. I'm not very familiar with Goldwork, stil I found Shay's explanations clear enough so that I would feel confident tackling a beginner's project. There is a charming one, a dove, in the book.
   
   The section on painted canvas has a good overview of threads and
   techniques. It includes detailed instructions on techniques which
   often aren't covered, stripped threads, using a laying tool, and
   properly starting and ending threads. A wonderful part of this
   section talks about choosing the right canvas. Further information
   covers how to change colors on a painted canvas as well as several
   techniques for optically mixing colors.
   
   Following this chapter about painted canvas is a chapter which goes
   into depth discussing how three different painted canvas Christmas
   stockings were stitched. Several pages are devoted to each canvas
   with a picture of the entire canvas as well as close-up pictures of
   the details. Even if these three Tapestry Tent designs aren't your
   cup of tea, you will find many ideas for using on your own canvases.
   
   The section on shading covers two different techniques to create
   realistic shading. While the techniques were developed for surface
   embroidery, a part of this section shows how they can be applied to
   canvas. In fact, the shaded canvas piece is photographed on the
   cover of the book.
   
   The book ends with a gallery of designs. Each of the pieces in the
   gallery shows Shay's consummate skill as a designer and stitcher.
   They provide much food for inspiration.
   
   While this book is not a book for beginners. Every stitcher will
   learn useful information and find plenty of inspiration in this
   wonderful book.



5. this is the first I have heard that Shay is a published author. the only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars, is that I haven't seen the inside of the book. I haven't read this book, but I will buy it, even if there were no reviews. Shay has had a show on needlework arts in the tampa bay, fla Area for years. Just to watch a few minutes of her show convinces you beyond a reasonable level, that this lady KNOWS HER STUFF. I would buy this book, especially, because she does ALOT of goldwork on her show-a technique that I didnt know was taught in modern times. I think she studied at the Royal School of needart in England, so......It is an ancient, ancient kind of detailed needlework. Keep up the good work, shay!!!