From folk hearts and roses to ballet shoes and butterflies, inside this book there are motifs galore, plus dozens of project ideas to please every cross-stitch crafter.
Welcoming newcomers to the craft, this book clearly explains the stitches, shows how to prepare the fabric, includes more than 800 illustrated step-by-step instructions, plus supplies directions for a traditional cross-stitch sampler from start to finish. Seasoned stitchers can skip ahead to hundreds of motifs, including numbers and letters. Covering a wide range of themes, each motif is accompanied by an inspirational photograph, easy-to-read color pattern chart, materials list, thread key, and step-by-step instructions. Plus you’ll find a useful size guide accompanying every motif, which allows you to tailor each pattern to the dimensions needed.
This easy-to-use resource is organized into three parts: Part One offers hints and tips for choosing the best fabrics and the differences between threads, as well as simple techniques of basic cross-stitch and its variations. Part Two teaches some ways to spruce up your projects with embellishments, such as tassels, sequins, beads, and fringing. Part Three provides a library of more than 900 motifs.
Crafters of all experience levels will find a motif to suit any occasion. |
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 love it |
| Review Date: January 12, 2008 |
| Reviewer: topbook, USA |
| Just beautiful. Im making projects already. Big and little, huge color charts color coded. Huge book, lots to do. I've been cross stitching for 25 years and I can tell you this is a winner. |
An Excellent Book!
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| Review Date: August 3, 2009 |
| Reviewer: MidwestMom, USA |
| I was hesitant to get this book because of the negative review, so I went to the bookstore to check it out in person, and I loved it so much I purchased it right then and there! I am fairly to new to cross stitch, and I have not found this book to be hard to follow at all. I have this book as well as the other book that the other reviewer mentioned, the Better Homes and Gardens Book, and I have to say that there really is no comparison. To compare the 2 books is not really comparing apples to apples---the Better HOmes and Gardens book is mini motifs, and it is an excellent book, but so is this book, and it is not filled with mini motifs but larger designs that could go on pillows, etc. This book has truely beautiful patterns with everything from flowers to alphabets and everything in between. Each project has a full color photograph with a project idea, as well as suggestions for other project ideas. A lot of cross stitch books can be quite kitschy, but I have not found this book to be kitschy at all---many of the patterns are very elegant and modern. Sure there are some cutesy patterns, but those are the patterns that are meant to be cutesy --- like baby and children stuff. I love the variety, the photos, the clear diagrams, everything about this book. Another wonderful feature of this book is that for every project there is a list with DMC and Anchor floss#'s, and also a table that tells you what size your project will be stitched on different size fabrics. That is so awesome! LOVE THIS BOOK! |
GREAT BOOK--even for a beginner
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| Review Date: September 27, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Gini Tucker, Mississippi |
I checked this out from the library to get some new ideas for gifts. The designs are gorgeous-- lots of color pictures of each design and how they can be used as gifts. Most of the designs are fairly simple (or quick) even for the beginner, but are also beautiful and well-illustrated.
If you are a beginner, (I'm an intermediate stitcher)get this book! I learned some new stitches I didn't understand how to do. Now I'm going to buy it! |
Very Good
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| Review Date: August 19, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Kelly L. Delp, |
| This book is filled with a variety of patterns and designs. The patterns range from simple and sweet to complex and detailed. The designs range from country to modern. With so many designs, it should be easy to find the exact pattern you're looking for. I'm very happy that I purchased this book. |
Not very comprehensive - leaves a lot out!
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| Review Date: April 10, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Seeford, Northern VA |
This book is worth getting only if you are an intermediate/advanced stitcher who is interested in the pattern library in the back of the book. There are some nice patterns in there, especially floral, but nothing you can't find some other place. HOWEVER: they don't give you stitch count for any of the designs, only 'design size' on different fabric counts (like 25!@!), so you'd first have to convert it or count it yourself if using any regular sized fabric. I recommend getting it from a library, or just skipping it altogether.
A *much* better reference book/pattern library is "2001 Cross Stitch Designs: The Essential Reference Book" (Better Homes & Gardens Crafts) by Better Homes and Gardens (Paperback - Sep 7, 2004)
My biggest problem with this book is the first half - all the text. Obviously written in the UK, this book pretends to be instructive and comprehensive but leaves a ton of stuff out! Seems to be a tie-in with the materials of only a certain chosen few manufacturers, everything else is apparently not 'worth mentioning'. If this was a David & Charles publication I'd understand, but this is Readers Digest people! Not worth spending your money on if you are looking for a real survey of what is out there today, especially in the U.S. - which is all also available world-wide through online shops.
The sections lacking the most?
--Threads: limited types listed - no mention of the variety of silks, overdyeds and other specialty fibers (bamboo, etc.) out there.
--Fabrics: limited types listed - no mention of the various evenweaves (everything is either aida or linen - no lugana, jobelin, etc. Tells readers that aida is only available in 2 counts (it comes in five.) Absolutely no mention of the overdyed fabricss available from established firms like Silkweavers, PictureThisPlus, etc.
--Needles: doesn't tell you all the sizes or types (petites, gold-plated, etc.) available
--Frames: doesn't mention Qsnaps or a bunch of the different kinds/sizes of scroll frames
--Tools: No mention of tools like magnetic needleminders, Star DeTailor, tacky bob, seam ripper, thread snips, tweezers, needle puller, FrayCheck, etc. All the little things that can make stitching even easier.
Besides the lack of information about products not being sold by their 'sponsors' (listed in the back of the book), I didn't like some of the instructions either.
My biggest beef was with the fact that they instruct you to measure and select fabric only 2 inches larger in each direction than the design. That is terrible! Leaves you with only 1 INCH on any side of the design. Generally accepted is a MINIMUM of 2 inches on each side (so 4 inches larger), while most stitchers go with a 3 inch per side increase (6 inches larger than the design.) I would hate to be a beginning stitcher following these directions! You have no room to put the design in the frame to work it (even in-hand would have a problem), and absolutely no room for error and very little for framing allowance.
Argh!
As you can see, I pretty much detest this book.
Definitely don't reward the publisher by buying it, there are much better ones out there - for both beginners and pattern libraries!
For the most comprehensive online source of 'how to' for beginners, go to: http://home.comcast.net/~kathydyer/
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