Category Archives: Book reviews

Book review: Palestinian Embroidery Motifs

Posted on November 7, 2011 by

I found a wonderful cross-stitch book, “Palestinian Embroidery Motifs: A treasury of stitches 1850-1950, ” by Margarita Skinner and Widad Kamel Kawar. Melisende Publishing, London and Rimal Publications, Nicosia, 2007. ISBN 978-1-901764-47-5. It has over 150 pages of charts and … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, Cross-stitch, Embroidery around the world | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Book review: The Art of the Needle

Posted on September 30, 2011 by

This is a review of The Art of the Needle: Designing in Fabric and Thread by Jan Beaney. Pantheon Books, New York, 1988. ISBN 0-394-57303-X. The book is an introduction to design for embroidery. It’s written in a friendly and … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Turkish Embroidery

Posted on August 26, 2011 by

A while ago, I wrote a post about ISMEK, a craft and embroidery center in Istanbul, and its four gorgeous free Pattern Books, Pattern Book 1 Pattern Book 2 Pattern Book 3 Pattern Book 4. I finally, finally found a … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, Embroidery around the world | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Book Review: Decorative Boxes

Posted on August 10, 2011 by

This is a review of the book “Making Decorative Fabric-Covered Boxes” by Mary Jo Hiney. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., New York, 1996. Y’all, I haven’t been doing embroidery all that long, but I can already see that it won’t be … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, Finishing techniques | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Book Review: International Needlework Designs

Posted on June 15, 2011 by

This is a review of International Needlework Designs, by Mira Silverstein. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1978. I love this book! It has an enormous variety of styles in it, and Ms. Silverstein picks out really lovely designs. I flip … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, Embroidery around the world | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Book review: Embroidery designs from the sea

Posted on May 23, 2011 by

This is a review of Embroidery designs from the sea, by Barbara Snook. Taplinger Publishing Company, New York, 1977. ISBN 0-8008-2403-2. Embroidery designs from the sea is an inspirational design book – it is definitely not a step-by-step embroidery book, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, Surface embroidery | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Book review: Crewel Embroidery

Posted on May 9, 2011 by

This is a review of the book Crewel Embroidery, edited by F. Anderson. Octopus Books Limited, London, 1974. ISBN 0-7064-0319-3. A tip I picked up from this book, which will entertain my fellow Americans no end: remember the rainbow (red, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, Crewel | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Enciclopedia de las Señoras

Posted on December 18, 2010 by

I found a little something in Google Books: “Enciclopedia de las Señoras, que Contiene las Artes y Labores de Utilidad y de Recreo” (Encyclopedia of the Ladies, that contains recreational and useful arts and works) translated from French to Spanish … Continue reading →

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Revised Needle and Hook

Posted on December 15, 2010 by

Here’s another free book, the full title of which is Revised Needle and Hook: Instructions in Silk Embroidery, Knitting and Crocheting, Illustrated with cuts, half tones and color plates. It’s available online from the Antique Pattern Library, and originally published … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, books, Free resources online, Historical, Needlepainting | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

A treatise on embroidery

Posted on December 6, 2010 by

I’d like to recommend an amazing book on needlepainting. It is completely free because it was published in 1907 and is therefore public domain: A treatise on embroidery; with twenty color illustrations from original models by Hemingway & Sons Silk … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, books, Free resources online, Historical, Needlepainting | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment