The subtitle of this book is: Develop and perfect your stitching skills with over 20 step-by-step projects featuring traditional and innovative designs on canvas.

The cover of this book is interesting for an interesting reason. This book was first published in 1991, most instruction books then used and show wool yarns mostly or exclusively.

This book's cover has skeins of both wool and cotton floss. That is a good sign, in my opinion.

Quoting from the back cover
"Teaches a multitude of designs and techniques though projects such as chair seats, pincushions, doorstops.

Many Needlepoint Books claim to be suitable for Beginners. They will have a page or 2 of basic instruction but nothing close to teaching you the real skills for Needlepoint.

This book will take you from the a very beginner to an accomplished stitcher. Plus many of us stitchers (myself included) could use with some refresher instruction.

Step-by-step instructions for each project

Over 200 color photographs and 200 charts and diagrams

Projects graded for every level of ability

Comprehensive stitch glossary"

In looking through this book, I find that the directions and instructions for each project are very complete, each project has a materials list, a full color picture of the finished project and whatever graphs or charts are necessary.

The book is perfect for beginners, with the basics clearly laid out and taught. The first projects are simpler, beginning with a tent stitch design. Then there is a simple Bargello project.

As the book goes on the projects get more complex, at the end they would be a challenge to even an experienced stitcher (see the Hydrangea Rug on page 130).

There is a section in the back with each stitch pictured in both a graph and a full color picture. This part is also very well done.

I think this book is all that is says it is, a very good Needlepoint book.

The Complete Needlepoint Course is a large hard cover book first published by Chilton Book Company in Radnor, PA in 1991. This is the 1993 re-print edition The book has 175 pages.