4 comments about Scrap Quilt Sensation.

1. These are the same designs I've seen with regular calico and plain fabrics over and over again. The only difference are the batik fabrics. Maybe I've read too many quilting books in my day, but there's nothing fresh and exciting about these patterns. The projects are as follows: simple squares; squares and diamonds; Jacob's ladder; strictly triangles; triangle dynamics; galaxy of stars and scraps; dark stars; splashes of color; sampler quilt; cropped pinwheels; stars, pinwheels and color blocks; snail trail, and triptych wall hanging.



2. I love this book the quilts are beautiful and inspiring. I have read many many quilt books and I find this one very interesting.



3. I was excited when I saw this book. The cover was nicely done and the quilt looked very bright and modern but with some traditional elements. Also being done with scarps was a plus, as I have plenty of those. This book is chock full of patterns like one of the other reviewers stated. The only problem is although there are different patterns all these quilts look the same. All of the quilts are bright and busy and I can't seem to really distinguish between the patterns. On the plus size the book has beautiful photographs, and a good dozen patterns. On the negative side everyting is done in super bright colors that makes everything look pretty much the same. I would have liked to have seen a variety of cloth used. Looking back I wish I had bought a different book.



4. This book is really good and explains things very easily. Lots of good ideas and methods - a useful helpful guide.

4 comments about Applique 12 Easy Ways!: Charming Quilts, Giftable Projects, and Timeless Techniques.

1. With twelve different ways to applique, this book makes it very easy for a beginner to actually sew an applique project that really looks great when done. From needle turn, to reverse applique, Elly provides all the details you need to learn from the beginning, or to perfect methods you are already familiar with.



2. This was one of my first applique books.It is a charming book for beginner appliquers.Many heart constructs,as well as simple piecing.Each pattern is labeled by ease of construction according to the various method(s) used to applique.Elly explains 10 different ways to applique.The directions are clear.Each project gives you the best method of applique to use(of course you can use which ever you want) for ease of construction. This is a great little book to learn how to applique.



3. Another excellent book of Elly's. Highly recommend this wonderful source of applique techniques. You can learn so much from this one.



4. this book has come highly rated by a very good applique teacher I will be taking a class from in the near future.

4 comments about Elegant Tatting Patterns.

1. This is a dense book of patterns and information, not reccomended for beginners.



2. This is a nice tatting booklet - it is one of the dover series books, but this is a newer one, not a republished version of older patterns. I like this book because the designs are fresh and unique, and the instructions are easy to read. There are doilies, edgings, egg covers, and glass ornament covers. There are some doilies that look like crochet, and some that have almost solid centers of chains. I don't like some of them, but I do like others -- the point is that there are several different styles of designs, and you'd probably find more than a few that you would like. I am not a very advanced tatter, i know rings and chains and have been tatting for a year or two, and if I am capable of doing several of these designs, so are many beginners!

   Off the subject, but there is a nice picture and bio of the author in the back. It always make me like a book more when I know a little more about who created it.




3. This is a lovely collection of original designs by Janet Carroll. The book contains several very large doilies, a selection of edgings and other smaller items and a large collection of patterns for Christmas ball ornaments covered with lace.
   
   The instructions are written in longhand as are most of the Dover Publications books, and there are no diagrams so some people may find them difficult to follow especially for the larger doilies, which are quite complex.
   
   Although there are patterns here which will suit the near beginner it is really a book written for someone who knows how to tat and has learned the basics. That said, it represents good value for money and will keep you happy for quite some time once it arrives.



4. This has some failry simple designs, a few doilys are very modern. I bought it for the egg and Christmas ball ornaments. The Christmas ornaments looked very nice on the tree wwith tatted snowflakes.

5 comments about 60 Machine Quilting Patterns (Dover Needlework).

1. You may not use all of the designs; however, at this price, who cares. The patterns are easy to sew and are easy to transfer. Good combination of styles. This book has something for any beginner.



2. I've been making quilts--or rather quilt tops--for years. This affordable book gave me the info I needed to plunge into machine quilting. I just did my first design tonight and am very pleased with the results. There are probably books with more patterns and nicer patterns out there, but if you are just beginning, this book will tell you what you need to know and give you some patterns to start with at an unbeatable price. You can then experiment with this little volume and invest in more expensive books when you have "gotten the hang of it" and know which types of patterns you want more of. My appetite has been whetted.



3. i can agree with some of the other reviewers that these are not necessarily the most stunning machine quilting patterns available (for stunning, try joyce mori's books, the newest of which includes continuous line designs).
   
   however, there is a nice balance of traditional, contemporary, and cutesy patterns, and the bonus of directional arrows for some of the patterns so that the quilter doesn't have to waste time tracing the correct pathway. these patterns may not be useful for an heirloom quilt, but they will be a great convenience for baby and childrens' quilts which are expected to disintegrate eventually. some are shown in one or two combinations and directions to demonstrate how they could be changed.
   
   any beginner who works her way through these designs will definitely be ready for any machine quilting she wants. more experienced quilters will be able to find useful patterns and ideas.



4. The patterns are wonderful,they are just what a person is looking for to make a template from for quilting. They are just what I was looking for.When it come to quilting patterns for a quilt top it is hard not to find what your looking for, you will find that you will use this book over and over again.
   
   Thanks so much for looking



5. Nothing continuous offered here, although a few could be altered. I would say a good purchase for a quilter without much reference yet and looking for quilting designs.

5 comments about Simple Knits for Sophisticated Living: Quick-Knit Projects from Beautiful, Chunky Yarns.

1. This is a great book. I wouldn't recommend it for first-time knitters, but for those with a little more experience, it rocks. The yarns are a little on the expensive side, but they are so beautiful, and I would rather spend more money on a better yarn, especially for a pillow or throw that will probably be around for years to come. All the yarns in this book are chunky, so the projects knit up quickly (and who isn't short on time?).



2. The subtitle of this book, "quick-knit projects from beautiful, chunky yarns," describes quite a few books that are out right now. This is my favorite of the group.
   The projects include many of the popular "hip knit" designs -- beaded wire napkin rings, wine bottle covers, cell-phone holders, felted bags, welted baskets, a chenille throw -- as well as classic sweater, afghan, scarf, hat, and cushion patterns. There is a wonderful bath set (I will never go back to store-bought washcloths) and a couple of beautiful piano bench cushion designs. You will also find the ubiquitous dorm boots and hanger cover pattern familiar from church bazaars. There are a few toys and kitchen things as well.
   The mix of trendy and classic patterns and the wide variety of items means that this really could be your only knitting book. (Well, maybe combined with a good sweater pattern book). Many of the designs would make excellent gifts.
   All the patterns are simple, as promised. I haven't found any errors yet, but most of the patterns consist of a couple of rows and then "repeat till piece measures X", so experienced knitters shouldn't have trouble adjusting. The photographs are sometimes so soft-focus and arty that the finished item is a bit of a surprise, but the things I have made have all been beautiful. There are many interesting suggestions for ways to adapt the patterns (the wire napkin rings, for example, might be made with hemp, or leather strips), and useful tips for working with particular materials. Finishing instructions are detailed and thorough.
   There are beginning how-to-knit instructions with photographs, an abbreviations glossary, a good discussion of how to substitute yarns (as well as further suggestions with most projects), and clear explanations of all the finishing techniques required for the projects.



3. I had very high hopes for this book after reading all of the good reviews, so maybe that's why I was so very disappointed in the patterns. It does have a couple of nice pillow designs. But for a book that claims to be for 'sophisticated' tastes, the wine wraps and purses are downright tacky. And the trivets, pot holders, welted baskets, and hanger cover are all straight from your grandma's knitting books. Then there's a host of projects that look good, but are really just very simple designs that use expensive yarns to make their statement. Replacing the yarns with less expensive versions (as I usually am forced to do) that have different textures and shading patterns would effectively ruin the look of the pattern since that look is almost entirely supplied by the yarn itself. Those patterns include most of the patterns for throws and adult's clothes. Also, the slippers 'for anyone' look like baby booties. If you're looking for a sophisticated slipper pattern, the argyle ones in Weekend Knitting are really great.
   
   I kept the book because I want to make the bath set. Even that I don't think is really something special but I already bought bath salts & such for a gift basket so I'll toss in the knitted bath set as an accompaniment.



4. Well, almost. I know how to knit and can do some basic things, but I was looking for a book to take me a little further on in my skills, but to date I haven't found the book that can do it. I was also looking for some things to decorate my home with, as always, and this book gave me that. The patterns are simple for the most part, easy to accomplish, and simply explained. I'm looking forward to doing several of the throws for my furniture. One of the things I wish authors wouldn't do so often is include baby items all the time. There are just too many books on the market already on knitting for baby, it's not needed in every book that comes out. The title is excellent for the book.



5. the patterns are just "so so" looking. Don't waste money on this book. Just download similar pttns from the web.

5 comments about Diana Vreeland.

1. I too, waited on pins and needles as Ms. Dwight's book was delayed and delayed. I had preordered it and it was a considerable wait. It was worth the wait. I bought it and read it in a couple of sittings, loved it so much I bought copies and sent to dear friends. One sent me a thank you card which read "WHY DON'T YOU hire a jet plane and fly to see me so I can thank you for this wonderful (struck out) NO, DELICIOUS book. Id' say that pretty much sums it up.

   It was great to read about her lower profile, but still dramatic homelife. Her husband was equally style conscious and quite the fashion plate himself. Their children grew up remarkably well adjusted. I wish we had more Diana Vreelands in this world. She spurned a half loaf. She did it her way!

   You will love this book!




2. Immediately after finishing D.V., I ordered this book. I will warn you that reading both of these books will make you absolutely besotted with the divine Mrs. Vreeland. On the face of it, it doesn't seem possible that a book mainly about someone's professional life could hold so much interest. You are happily wrong if you thought that. There is just something about Diana V that gets under your skin and works it's way into your psyche, until you are absolutely mad about the woman. She is absolutely fascinating, entrancing, and possibly one of the most aggravating women of all times. But that is all part of her considerable charm. Even years after her death, she continues to fascinate. The story itself is first rate, and the stuff of dreams and motion pictures. Homely girl marries handsome man, lives beyond her means, and becomes one of the most influential people in the worlds of fashion and culture. I read the book in two days, but the day I recieved it, I spent a good hour devouring photographs. The one quibble I had with Vreeland's autobiography was that there weren't enough pictures. There are almost enough in this wonderful book to satisfy even the most diehard Vreeland fanatic. And oddly enough, the writing and pictures are more personal and informative than in Vreeland's book. She influended nearly all the fashion people of her time and beyond. I am only sorry that I finished the book so quickly. I would have been happier had the book been longer and not found it the least bit tedious. Despite the fact that many of the pictures are from definite time periods, you can see people today that dress the same way. Vreeland's taste was impeccable, classic, timeless, and iconoclastic. She knew what suited her, and she knew what she suited. What a fabulous character. Vreeland is like a fine wine in that she grows better with time. The presentation is wonderful. When you open the box, you see a bright red book that almost looks like a lacquered box. Then after you sigh with pleasure over visual impact, you open the covers, and are lost in her fascinating world. This book is worth any price you have to pay for it. I suppose some people might consider this a coffee table book, but I wouldn't. I would never put this out where people would see it, because then they would want to borrow it, and that is never going to happen! Engaging, well written, and perfectly executed. I am going to see what other Vreeland books are available. Too much is never enough of this delightful woman. Her friends and acquaintances would fill a who's who of American culture in the 20th century. While certainly not classically beautiful, she was attractive, and her face had great charm, intelligence, and nobility. She was vain, theatrical, and always the little girl who revered beauty and created her own instintice and personal beauty. It will last forever. Her mother told her that she was a very ugly little girl, and when I read that, I wanted to shake her nasty conceited mother until her teeth fell out. Definitely that incident shaped Diana for life, and probably went a long distance towards making her what she was. But all the same, her mother was a monster, and I can not think of her with less than contempt. Vreeland herself noted that it took her many years to come to terms with her mother. I applaud her for making the effort, and being gracious and truthful at the same time. That's a difficult feat at best. What a wonderful, delightful woman. While living a very public life, she was an intensely private person. A delightful enigma. Nobody will ever know the real Diana Vreeland, but this book will help get you as far as you can go.



3. This book could easily have become another banal coffee table "picture book for grown-ups"; big on visual display and short on commentary. It did not. The author has expended a great deal of effort into capturing the essence of a woman who single-handedly revolutionized the concept of fashion magazines.
   
   The book simultaneously chronicles the events in Ms. Vreeland's life among the international glamor set and showcases her astounding professional achievements. Dwight's prose is so evocative that we feel that we are in the Vogue office or at a fashion shoot, while Ms Vreeland makes her trademark dramatic pronouncements with theatrical gestures. As madcap as her ideas seemed, they captured the imagination of the fashionistas and people in the industry, sky-rocketing sales of the avant garde Vogue (previously a staid, niche publication).
   
   Ms.Vreeland comes across as someone who approached everything she did with wholehearted passion. Shown in the book are photographs of Ms.Vreeland with her suavely attired husband and sons, with friends, models and designers. In every photograph we see her totally in the moment, a larger-than-life but also very human diva. She was a genuine original, a woman of extraordinary talent and vision. It would be hard-put to do justice to her life and spirit, but Dwight has stepped up to this demanding task. Bravo!



4. She was,is and still to this day considered an Icon in the Fashion industry.



5. Diana Vreeland was born homely into a family where beauty was rife. So what did she do? She invented herself! This is the most important lesson on style that she has bequeathed us: we are not born with style, we can acquire it. Diana Vreeland is an example of self-improvement, of how to do the most of your poor features and blow yourself up into a lady through the sheer force of your uniqueness. She taught herself poise and class and strived hard to render the world around her more beautiful in her personal, exquisite way. Apart from that, she led a very interesting life. From long sojourns in Europe as a child, where she had the chance to attend performances of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes to our times, where she hobnobbed with the rich and famous and was privy to the backtages of the fashion world as editor of Vogue magazine, in this all-out, thoroughly researched and profusely illustrated biography we get to know better this inspiring woman whose positive outlook on life and strong personality make her a role model of style to women from all walks of life. Very entertaining reading and very thought-provoking.

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.

No comments about El gran libro del crochet / The Great Book of Crochet.

5 comments about Tudor Costume and Fashion.

1. great book. detailed descriptions of clothes, accessories and court day-life related objects such as chariots. And it has a small biography of the tudor kings as well.



2. I bought this book as a christmas present but I am sure she will love it since she asked for it.



3. One of the bibles of Tudor Era costuming! Lots of detail and research went into this book. The only problem is the organization could have been a little clearer. But I can overlook that due to all the wonderful infomation included.



4. It is great book to learn more about Tudor era clothing. You are able to learn the details of the costumes that is wore in Tudor era. Learn more about Tudor fashion. Good to make some copy clothing to attend Renaissance Festival. Help me to design some tudor costumes for some party or for halloween or for Renaissance Festival.



5. I love the Tudor era, its clothing most of all. Herbert Norris's book comes in handy in helping me visualize the characters whenever I read one of the Tudor-themed historical novels that I have. The only drawback is how the information is arranged, but that's a minor complaint. Norris had so much data that I don't think he could have organized it any other way.

5 comments about Nancy Crow.

1. Amazing book. great information, stories. Lots of pictures of striking quilts show-casing the progress of this wonderful artist. Also shows pictures of Nancy Crow's studio and timber frame barn - must be an amazing place to create. This book is a wonderful value and very inspiring to any artist regardless of preferred media.



2. Nancy Crow is the ultimate quilter's quilter. Her advice, thoughts and pictures of her work and projects are more than any quilter could hope for. This book will enhance any quilter's library.
   It was one of the best b-day presents I've ever received.
   Diane



3. For anyone in art quilting or wanting to be, this book gives an in depth look into the thoughts and creations of Nancy Crow. The color in the book is excellent and there is an abundance of pictures. This is a "Must have" for anyone who loves color and fabric and original art.



4. Everyone else who has reviewed this book say is great. Maybe it is, but because I haven't received anything I guess the only thing that I could say is "don't buy anything here, you'll get nothing".



5. Fabulous. Love all the pictures and the artists description of her process in creating her work.