2 comments about Fabrics for Interiors: A Guide for Architects, Designers, and Consumers.

1. Jack Lenor Larsen's name should be widely known and respected throughout the textile arts community. He was originally a hand weaver trained at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He saw the commercial and aesthetic potential of ethic handwoven fabrics from India, Africa, etc. He designed exquisitely beautiful and original fabrics, some of which were based on traditional folk weaves, hired others to produce them by hand and marketed them to the architecture and design community. That was the start of the Larsen empire. His fabrics today are still uniquely original--he produces fabrics from wire, plastics, synthetics and natural fibers, and the construction of the fabric is always a surprise. Because of his originality and the depth of his understanding of textiles, he is especially well suited to creating a book of this type. There is nothing about textiles that Larsen doesn't know! I have used this book as a text in a Textiles class (in an Interior Design department). It is better organized and more clearly presented than any other textile book I know. It's easy for students to understand the construction of different weaves; the text is clear and the illustrations (both photo and line drawings) are excellent. Larsen has also targeted just the right information (including a chapter on professional practices) and just the right AMOUNT of information, for students of design, architecture and textiles. This is not a book for handweavers to learn from--it is intended for the interior design student--but even long-time weavers will have a better understanding of their craft after reading this book. I recommend it without hesitation.



2. This book is very dated with mostly black & white photographs and some colour shots that show 60's interiors. It is a technical manual which is of little use in planning an interior in the 21st Century. I would not recommend this book as it is also poor quality paper and considerably overpriced.

1 comments about Blendable Curves: Stack, Slice & Sew Unique Quilts in a Weekend.

1. I just got to talk to Peggy and now I know why I love her book - Blendable Curves. She takes basic blocks that are simple for any quilter - like nine-patches - and cuts them in half with a free form curve. THEN, she has you sew the curved sides back together to complete the block.
   
   I know what you're thinking - I don't sew curves. Well I didn't either, until now - because once you've sewn the curve, the block is re-sized! Nothing has to match - shoot, it's not SUPPOSED to match - so this is the perfect beginner project. You can just have fun with color and design. And while you're at it, you can take all of those blocks that WEREN'T perfect - and transform them into works of art!
   
   Our local guild just hosted a nine-patch exchange. As you know, not all seam allowances are created equal, so the blocks are not all exactly the same size. Peggy has the perfect solution. In "A Leap of Faith" she used the "blended nines" to create a breathtaking backdrop for an applique quilt.
   
   Pleasantville is my favorite quilt in the book because it is very graphic - reds, whites and blacks - or if you are in Buckeye country, we swear it reads as Scarlet and Gray! But, for those of you who cheer for the wrong team, this quilt would work just as well in other school colors.
   
   In this particular quilt, Peggy inserted red piping between the curved sides of the black and white log cabins. It gives the whole quilt an "art deco" look with a very masculine feel - and as a mother of four boys, I love finding a quilt that the men in my life appreciate!
   
   For those of you who loved Piping Hot Curves by Susan Cleveland, this is a natural progression.
   
   Peggy describes this as a transitional book. First, beginning students can learn to make the traditional blocks - half-square triangles, nine-patches, quarter-square triangles, etc. There is no pressure because if their points don't match, they will learn how to "curve them up" in the next class! She has totally eliminated the intimidation factor!
   
   Once the students have learned the basics, they can bring those blocks to a "Blendable Curves" class and let their imagination soar! Now that they have learned the rules - Peggy can promptly show you how to break them - with absolutely stunning results!
   
   And, PLEASE take the time to read her instructions!!! I know it is more fun to skip to the projects, but this woman knows what she is doing. I especially like her explanation about how to press seams. AND, she actually gives instructions - with graphics - on how to bind a quilt the right way! Keep this book by your machine so you can pull it out every time you finish a project - you'll be glad you did!
   
   Once you have explored her techniques, you will want to play with all of those loose blocks in your stash left over from other projects. Remember, the blocks are resized after the sewing is complete so you are free to mix and match to your heart's content! The skies the limit!

3 comments about Filet Crochet (Dover Needlework Series).

1. If you own Filet Crochet from Yesterday, do not order Filet Crochet: Projects and Designs. The book Filet Crochet: Projects and Designs is the same as part 2 of Filet Crochet from Yesterday.



2. The book has a lot of ideas in it - many of them from historical or antique sources. Charts were included for some items - but it was mostly photos. Charts would have been nice - but as the book said, they aren't really needed for this type of crochet.



3. This small, inexpensive book has the best designs among the hundreds of books for Filet. Contemporary designs are too often in bad taste or not very pretty. Back in the early 20th Century there was more contact with Nature, more poetry in everyday life, and this album reflects this with lovely floral designs of all kinds, graceful cherubs and goddesses etc. I have made a lot of them for the past three years, and I still have a lot left in the book that I want to make. The absence of diagram in some cases is not a problem because the photos are very clear. At worst, use a magnifying glass. The explanations are easy to follow. This is the best investment in Filet Crochet you can make!

No comments about Case Studies in Merchandising, Apparel and Soft Goods.

5 comments about Crochet for Tots: 20 Fresh and Fun Designs.

1. This book was full of great crochet for kids, with well written instructions. Full color pictures of each project really inspired me, and I've already created several of the outfits for my grandchildren. Excellent addition to any crocheter's library, and a super gift for anyone who enjoys crochet.



2. Love the designs and the yarn that is used. I had a hard time finding
   the yarn at first, but finally found it at a local place.
   I made the sweater with the hood and It came out very well.



3. I bought this book because it said fresh and fun designs but they were very simple and not all that fun. Good designs if your starting out and want to start a nice project.



4. I crocheted many years ago and wanted to get back into it to make some gifts. This books has a lot of cute projects and the directions are easy to follow. I've made several of the designs with plans to make more.



5. The sweaters here are pretty basic. Boatneck, dropped sleeves, boxy construction, oversized styling, not much variation between patterns. But I did make one using Lion Brand microfiber yarn and it is one of my son's favorites.

No comments about Make It in Minutes: Felt Accessories (Make It in Minutes).

1 comments about A Fine Finish: New Bindings for Award-Winning Quilts (The Joy of Quilting).

1. Excellent, wonderful, grandious, awe-inspiring, inspiring, challenging, tremendous, terrific, gorgeous, superb, and super.

5 comments about Knitting Pretty.

1. the concept for this book is fantastic - a knitting book for beginners that provides row by row instructions all written out very clearly with no abbreviations. the photographs are beautiful but it was an immense disappointment to find that out of the 30 projects in the book, 7 of them have absolutely no photograph of what they look like. how could you choose to do a pattern that you have no photograph or even a line drawing diagram of??? especially if you are a beginner (which i was when i bought this book), which this book is geared toward! worse, there are no diagrams for the finished projects at all except one. the one project that does have diagrams for it has no measurements on it. the early chapters in the book are hit and miss with the illustrations for the basic techniques. i agree with the other reviewers in that many of the projects are pointless - the knitted paperweight/rock cozy (can you imagine the dust this will collect?), the simple square (uhhh, it's called a gauge swatch), the beer cozy (yuk - wet, itchy acrylic, just what i want to hold in my hand)... the beginner's projects are good though: the garter stitch bookmark and dishcloth (both useful), and the garter stitch "plain old scarf" which you can choose to make a solid color or striped. these three projects are good to learn on and the instructions could not be more clear. i would not have been able to do them though, had i not had another knitting reference book to show me how to do the knit stitch, cast on, bind off, and all those other good beginner techniques.



2. but don't hold your breath. I liked the concept of a book with a variety of good basic patterns in it, as I am a kind of advanced beginner. So I ordered this despite the fact that I knew it lacked come pictures.
   But the lack of pictures for the most intriguing-sounding projects is just inexcusable.
   
   So I emailed the publisher, and suggested that they provide a *website* with pictures of the pictureless projects, since presumably the projects were actually knitted, and someone must have a picture or two. The customer service folks emailed me right back that they were sending my suggestion along to the editor in charge, and I mentioned that otherwise I would be adding my voice to the chorus of negative reviews, but I have not received a response.
   
   So I'm joining the chorus. For heaven sake, the bookmark is intended to be a beginner's first project, but instead of showing us the bookmark, they show a book with just the tip of the bookmark sticking out! We know what books look like!! We need to *see* the *knitted bookmark,* you sillies! And it just goes on from there. Plain hat--ok, here's a picture. Amazing sculpted hat? You guess what that might mean. Come on, what were you thinking? They even describe the colors of non-existent projects in non-existent pictures. "Sky-blue blanket." But you have to go outside and look at the sky, I guess, because you won't see it in the pages of the book.



3. This purchase was for my Daughter-in-law and she just loves it. I bought one for myself several years ago when I first started knitting and have made some wonderful projects. The company dish cloth is a great one and now I am making a baby blanket with the same pattern (size 11 round needles with 126 stitches at the largest part). It looks great!



4. I was initially discouraged from buying this book after reading the spotlight review above, which proclaimed it to be "the weirdest book ever."
   
   That review couldn't have been more misleading. If you are a beginning/intermediate knitter, I think you will find much to enjoy in this book. I dog-ear pages when I'm interested in a pattern, and I have dog-eared almost every page in this one.
   
   To name a few: the hats, mittens, slippers, change purse, cell phone cozy, skiing headband, shoulder bag, simple sweater (knit from the top down, in the round, no seams!) and daring halter all look fun and eminently wearable.
   
   If anything, this book is better than "Speed Knitting" by the same author, which received more positive reviews.



5. Unlike so many knitting books, I found at least 6 projects here that I could do and WOULD do! I loved the idea of the snake scarf, the headband and the tube top. They were simple but something that someone would actually like to receive as a present. The patterns were quite clear.
   
   A few things I didn't like---there were not pictures of every project. I really find it hard sometimes to think what a knit project will look like without a picture. Also, for a book that mainly features projects for beginners, there were WAY too many patterns that used double pointed needles. I have been teaching myself knitting for the past few years, and the one area I find impossible to master is using DPN. This might be just me, but I've heard others say the same thing. I don't think it's the kind of technique to use that much in book for early stage knitters!

5 comments about Paper, Metal & Stitch: Creating Surfaces with Color and Texture.

1. Had to work today, so I took this book into the gallery with me. This book is enticing, enthralling, and full of that extra effort and creative spirit -- it's my paper muse.
   
   Delicious!
   
   Additionally, it seems very approachable for someone new to paper arts (as I am) and yet was also enjoyed by someone who has taught paper arts.



2. i really thought that despite the beautiful cover and the name Maggie Grey, as she is quite the name when fabric is around, this book would be eye candy but not inspiring for me to "work on".
   oh boy was i wrong! Ms. Grey's techniques for changing paper to metal and metal to stitch is quite fun! i thoroughly enjoyed just savoring every page the first time around and then i started actually playing. this is a terrific book for inspiration, teaching, learning, doing, and of course, her handiwork is quite the eye candy. i will have this book on my shelves for many years to come.



3. Absolutely love the art in this book. It isn't a how-to book, but gives you so many ideas and inspiration, that if you've done mixed media for a little while you probably can get a lot out of it.
   
   I use it all the time to try new things and for inspiration.



4. I surely enjoyed this book and read and re-read it upon receiving my copy. the directions, list of sources, and photos were fantastic.
   I would recommend this for anyone considering using these techniques in their artwork.
   linda



5. This is a wonderful raw art book. It has some great textures in it with instructions. It is truly a mixed-media book. There are sections on fabric, paper, metal, and how to combine techniques. There are some techniques in there that I have never tried. I have and they turned out great. I do a lot of raw art collages. I was able to glean a lot of ideas from this book. The colors and textures are great eye candy. What I liked most about this book was that it showed you what you could do with the technique once you tried it. I think that is something that every art book should do since a lot of us artists are visual learners. I think that newbies can learn from the techniques and see what are some of the possible end pieces. More experienced artists can try different techniques and glean ideas from the picts.

No comments about Pants Etc: Draw Your Own Pants Pattern for a Custom Fit.