2 comments about Glorafilia: The Miniature Needlepoint Collection.

1. As a needlepointer, I am always looking for quick projects which can be a gift. This book is packed with them. Using the things folks collect as inspiration, this book has everything from a needlepoint rendition of old lace to a needlepoint Staffordshire pottery dog. The charts and instructions are clear, and add to the charm of this little book



2. Stitchers like to do small projects. But finding good designs for them at an affordable price can be hard. This wonderful book by Jennifer Berman and Carole Lazarus has lots of them to suit almost every taste.
   Small projects are wonderful, they fit easily in your bag, get stitched quickly (so you have a feeling of accomplishment) and can bring beauty into every part of your home. The book covers all kinds of needlepoint objects from to usual pictures, pillows and pincushions (check out the lace pincushion) to bookmarks, jewelry case and a stuffed frog which would make a great frameweight.
   
   The projects all are tent stitch, with occasional stem stitch outlines for definition. The charts are large, clear and easy-to-read.
   
   One of the delights of a Glorafilia book is the text. Berman and Lazarus are always full of delightful insights into the objects which inspire their work. With an overall theme of collections, you may even find yourself deciding to begin collecting tartanware or majorca.
   
   With this book and some canvas, you can have plenty of small projects and never get tired or bored.

3 comments about Celtic Needlepoint.

1. Alice Starmore has written an excellent book on Celtic Needlework, that includes Key & Spiral Patterns, Knotwork, Bird & Tree and Animal Patterns. Each project is wonderfully illustrated with large colour charts and detailed technical advice. I enjoyed changing the colours and inventing my own special touch



2. This is the most thoughtfully laid out book of needlework I have ever seen--a friend and I wrestled for the only copy at a bookshop when it was between printings! Both the photos of Ireland and of the needlework "at home" are glorious. I've done a few of the designs and they've turned out wonderfully--my only caveat is that the graph colors can be difficult to distinguish, as is often the case with needlepoint charts, particularly British ones. Also, Appleton yarns can be hard to find in the U.S., but in these days of the internet, who cares? I'm confused by the other reviews as this is most definitely not a knitting book.



3. These are just some of the words that will come to mind when you see the patterns in this book. Alice Starmore is a genius at bringing simple patterns to life with vivid colorways. Many of the patterns can be used for other projects or crafts, for example, using variagated yarns and converting a cushion to a sweater. There are patterns for all skill levels, from a bookmark to a rug. The photography is wonderful as well, and all of the items are placed in beautiful still-lifes. Alice Staremore's Celtic Needlepoint makes as nice a coffee-table book as pattern book. Highly recommended for lovers of fiber arts as well as Celtic arts.

1 comments about The Complete Needlepoint Course: 25 Step-by-Step Projects: Traditional and New Canvas Designs.

1. I first discovered this book when I checked it out of the local library. After I had maxed-out my renewal priviledges, I realized this was a book I just HAD to have.

   The books offers a comprehensive discussion of the fibers, tools, and design possibilities available in needlepoint today (this isn't your grandma's persian wool floral). Techniques with metallics, beads, and pulled thread are included along with traditional canvas stitching methods.

   Several designs are provided, but the emphasis is on personalizing the designs to your own taste or, better yet, designing your own. As an experienced stitcher who is beginning to take baby steps into design, I found the "Design Your Own" sections to be helpful and reassuring as well as inspiring. Examples are plentiful -- many time the same project is shown in several different colorways or stitches -- and graphs are large and easy to read.

   Little hint boxes are scattered throughout the book, offering relevant information for the technique or project at hand.

   The only flaw in this gem of a book is the stitch glossary. The diagrams for the stitches would be improved by some designation of the stitching order.

No comments about Happy Holidays in Plastic Canvas.

No comments about Victorian Canvaswork.

2 comments about The Needlepoint Book: 303 Stitches With Patterns and Projects.

1. In print for almost twenty yesrs, The Needlepoint Book is by far the best and most useful book on needlepoint. Stitches are divided into chapters according to type (cross stitches, straight stitches). Each stitch has a diagram and a clear black and white picture. But my favorite tool in the book is the stitch tables which begin each chapter. Using these tables you can find great new stitches for backgrounds, heavily textured stitches, easy stitches, and so on. This kind of information is tremendously useful, but I've never seen another book which had it. If you never buy another needlepoint book -- buy this one



2. I found the book to be excellent in the amount of information given and the format. The black and white pictures sometimes failed to show those who are just learning the art a detailed view of the stitch. This would make a great bible of needlepoint for those who want to expand their craft beyond the basketweave and continental stitches. It is a tremendous reference tool for beginners as well as experienced stitchers in that it gives indepth descriptions of the materials used, including advatages and disadvantages of each kind. Materials covered include: canvases, fibers, colors etc. The only such book I have found so far!

1 comments about Glorious Needlepoint: Extraordinary Stitchery Designs from the Author of Glorious Knits.

1. A wonderful book that stimulates the senses. Stretches the imagination to find the design elements and color in our natural surroundings and commonplace objects. Provides instructions, materials needed and graphs for many needlework pieces. Excellent photos showing the practical use of the various finished needlepoint projects. This is a delightful and informative book that even non-stitchers would enjoy. Needlepointers will revel in it

No comments about Needlework and Crafts - Every Woman's Book on the Arts of Plain Sewing, Embroidery, Dressmaking and Home Crafts.

1 comments about Glorafilia: The Ultimate Needlepoint Collection.

1. If you're looking for an historical book on needlepoint then this book is for you. Otherwise I would not have purchased it. Since I was looking for a book of reference in how to do certain needlepoint stitching.

4 comments about Flowers, Birds, and Unicorns.

1. The designs in this book are wonderful and not difficult to follow, even for a beginner. My only disappointment was that several of the designs in photographs are not charted in the book. I wish she would do another book with some of them. I have made several pieces from this book as gifts.



2. Bahouth's sense of color and composition are outstanding, and her knowledge of the period make the designs not only beautiful but true. Charts are clear, and color numbers are given for both Appleton and Paternayan wool, depending upon what a stitcher has available.

   My one criticism of the book, and the only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars, is that Bahouth includes pictures of finished projects for which she does not provide the charts. This is maddening, because it seems that the one which really grabs you is the one you can't stitch. This is not the only book with this characteristic; reviews of her other books have indicated the same problem.

   Other than that, anyone who enjoy medieval design and would like to create rich, beautiful pieces should consider adding this book to the library.




3. If you love to do needlepoint, this is a wonderful book to have. I've done several projects using DMC wool, and they all turned out beautifully. I always work on 10 point penelope (double thread) brown canvas, just because I find it turns out so nicely.

   If you've never done needlepoint before, I think it's one of the easiest of the needle crafts, it just takes a bit of practice to master. I find working from a book like this one much better than a kit, because you can choose your fabric and wool, and you don't have to worry about a slightly off set pattern printed on the canvas. Though if you're a beginner, you may want to start with a simple kit to get the hang of it. This book does have a how-to section that discusses technique, materials and how to finish each project.

   Most of the patterns in this book are based on medieval tapestries. I did the lion and the unicorn, making both into pillows that look beautiful together on my couch. They work wonders on adding a touch of elegance to any room. One issue I had about this book is that it shows a lot of projects that it doesn't have patterns for, and I haven't yet found those patterns, though I've seen kits. For instance, there are really neat little Zodiac patterns, but only four signs of the Zodiac signs are included.

   My only other complaint is the mottled colors used in the patterns made it hard to distinguish between two of the colors on one pattern, but the projects are beautiful, and this wasn't a general problem throughout the book.

   Getting supplies for needlepoint can also be difficult. There is a conversion chart in the back, however, that works well. I used DMC wool rather than the Appleton that was suggested, since it was all I could get. Though there were a few instances of colors no longer existing or being too close a match to another color in the pattern, it was easy enough to substitute.

   I have several books of needlepoint patterns, and this one is by far my favorite. Some other good needlepoint books with patterns are "Graham Rust's Needlepoint Designs," "The Ehrman Needlepoint Book" and "Beth Russell's William Morris Needlepoint."




4. This hardcover book is remarkably well put-together, looking almost like a coffee-table book and not a pattern omnibus at all. Inside there are lush patterns with flavor text about how the author thought up the project and historical notes about why she chose this or that positioning or border.
   
   The patterns are simple and easy to make, though it does make me crazy that the author doesn't include patterns for all pieces depicted -- I wonder if these were included as teasers to make readers seek and purchase additional patterns. Many of these neglected patterns were ones I'd dearly love to make, but there's lots of other stuff here for embroiderers. The lion tapestry, in particular, is graceful and looks genuine for its period, and I adore her unicorn even if what she came out with as a pattern bears next to no relation to the "inspiration" she says she used. Her fleur-de-lys pattern, as well, is magnificent and would make a splendid seat cushion (a project which she actually recommends), floor mat, or hanging -- definitely suggest to readers.
   
   Overall I'm very happy I got this book and would recommend it, especially as a gift, for any embroiderer, especially for those who enjoy fantasy or medieval-style patterns.