I knew the name Jean Hilton as a great former needlepoint teacher and author.  What I did not know was how many very rare, specialized needlework books she had written.  

Borderlines, first published in 1994, is one of them.  In her introduction, she says that any needle work may be enhanced by a border just like a crown of gleaming hair surrounding a face.  

"Design, function, and harmony are principles that must be considered when you plan borders."

"Design: What size border does the needlework require? "

"Function: Does the border serve a purpose other than as a place for anchoring threads?  Does it unify the needlework?"

"Harmony: Do the selected colors and stitches complement those in the central portion of the design?"

She concludes her introduction with "You will see the real Jean Hilton in this book, as if you were designing and stitching with me at my kitchen table."    Sounds pretty good to me.

The first page  explains the Terminology used in this book,  The next 20 pages are about Corner Turns (which is something I have always had difficulty with, myself).

The next section is Opposite Corners,  then Special Corner Treatments, followed by Borders Within Borders, Narrow Borders.

Then 4 pages of full color photographs of stitched borders.  Next is Dividing Borders, Straight Borders, Curving Borders, Heart Borders, Diagonal Borders, and ending with Miscellaneous Borders.

The stitch graphs are full page and easy to read and use.  All diagrams are in black and white but there are 4 pages of multiple borders stitched in full color in the center of the books as well as on the front and back covers and inside cover pages.

This is an amazing book, many border examples,  that I have seen, seem *forced* to me.  Not these, they are borders I can visualize and would use.  I am not sure if saying that these border designs appeal to me is much of a recommendation but there it is.

Self published in 1994 by Jean Hilton, this is a 1994 First Printing.  It is an 8.5 X 11 inch glossy cover paperbound book with 152 pages.

Jean Hilton's Borderlines is in Very Good, almost new condition. The is very slight bending of the corners on the front cover.