NewNeedlepoint > RARE Needlepoint Reference Book

Gift Quality An Illustrated History of Needlework Tools by Gay Ann Rogers- VERY RARE

This it the "crown jewel" of my collection. This is an extremely rare copy of this interesting book by Gay Ann Rogers. This book is in Terrific Condition. It's rarity and condition make it a perfect gift for someone you know who loves to stitch. An Illustrated History of Needlework Tools is a comprehensive, authoritative survey of these wonderful objects. It is particularly valuable for it's coverage of of the Victorian & early 20th Century periods. The growth of interest in this area is reflected in the increased prices for these classic tools. This book is aimed at collectors who want a guide to help them identify a particular tool as well as those who want a more general history of needlework tools. This book contains hints for collectors, what to look for and when to avoid buying. There are hundreds of examples and pictures from Britain, Europe, America and Asia. All the tools are illustrated and fully described in the main index as well as in the captions. The main categories covered are: workboxes sewing cases chatelaines needlecases thimbles & thimblecases scissors tape measures emery & wax holders pincushions thread containers clamps tatting shuttles lace bobbins crochet hooks knitting & netting tools This is an interesting book, just to look through, I have enjoyed just looking at it while I wrote this listing. The pictures are wonderful and very good size, making it easy to see details. I am looking at the Scissors section right now, they are very beautiful and some of them are so unusual. Gay Ann Rogers has been studying and collecting needlework tools for many years on both sides of the Atlantic. She is a Needlepoint Designer as well as the author of several other Needlepoint Books. An Illustrated History of Needlework Tools was published by John Murray in London in 1983. This book is in very good condition. There is a clear plastic cover on the dust jacket, protecting it. The book came that way and I have left it on, to further protect this fine book. There are no markings of any kind anywhere on or in this book. All the pictures in this book, and there are many, many of them, are black & white photographs. In fact, I have not found a page yet without at least 1 photo on it, most have more. I have posted a lot of pictures to show you the great condition of this book. There is no yellowing, tears, anything. The Dust Jacket is a bit worn at the edges, under the plastic protective cover. THIS BOOK WILL BE SENT USING USPS PRIORITY MAIL WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION

Needlepoint and Pattern by Gloria Katzenberg

I have lost count of how many copies of this book I have sold, the first one sold fast. Often, the dust jacket is tattered to scraps, which I bravely tape up. This copy has a not too bad dust jacket. This book, in this condition, is rare. The book is subtitled: Themes and Variations. it has a full chapter on technique and a large assortment of beautiful patterns, all shown in color, with clear graphs on the facing page. Needlepoint and Patterns has many Bargello Needlepoint patterns as well as Needlepoint. This is a large, hardcover book published by Macmillan in New York and Collier Macmillan in London in 1974. There is a wonderful quote on the page before the contents: "In this rare art yet here they may discerne Some things to teach them is they list to learne" John Taylor "The Needles Excellency" 1640 This book is in very good condition, despite it's age. There is no dust jacket. The pages inside are very quite yellowed but otherwise fine. The spine is good. Free Delivery in the USA

The New Dictionary of Needlepoint & Canvas Stitches by Rhoda Ochser Goldberg

The cover of this book is loaded with information. In the upper right hand corner it says there are 630 stitches, all photographed & with diagrams with 48 of them in color. The bottom subtitle is: Basics, Tools and Accessories, Yarns & Threads, Needles, Measurements, Bargello, Finishing Touches, Alphabets. This book does seem complete. I like stitch books and find them useful, you never know what you are going to find in the way of stitches inside. The book is the perfect size & shape to slide into a needlepoint tote bag. The very first page I opened it to, at random, I found a stitch I have never heard of before, The Sprat Stitch. On this page are also The Smyrna Stitch: Alternating, The Smyrna Stitch: Linked & the Smyrna Cross stitch. The B & W pictures of each stitch clearly show the stitch's details, the graphs are very much to the point and easy to read, using more then 1 graph, if necessary. The directions are also very complete, going so far as to give you a mesh size and thread/yarn suggestion as well. The full color pictures, in the center of the book are of some of the stitches made up into projects and some of them close-ups of the stitch. I think I have found a good stitch book here. Again, the author claims 630 stitches and I now believe her. This book has become harder to get and more expensive. I regret having to raise my price for this, it reflects what I am having to pay to get it in decent condition. This is a paperbound book published by Crown Trade paperbacks , New York in 1994. It has 197 pages and a full index of the stitches. The new Dictionary of Needlepoint & Canvas Stitches is in good condition. Although it is not all that old, the pages are yellowed. it must be the paper they used. There is a stain on the outer corner at the top , back cover of the books. it is not large and only goes in a few pages. The cover edges are ragged but no rips or tears. The spine is tight. Free Delivery in the USA

Trianglepoint by Sherlee Lantz

Another great needlepoint book by Sherlee Lantz, the author of A Pageant of Pattern for Needlepoint Canvas. This book is subtitled "From Persian Pavilions to Op Art with One Stitch. Ms Lantz does seem to like the idea of a "pavilions". The book was published by Viking Press in 1978. This book has become harder & harder to find. I have sold many copies of it here and it is now almost impossible to find one in both good condition and not too expensive. I List this book in both the Bargello & the Needlepoint Reference book categories, it belongs in both. TrianglePoint is a new idea in needlepoint. I have stitched this pattern, using it for a border on a Bargello Design of mine. This is how that limited size border looked I found TrianglePoint very easy to stitch, with great results. This book has many color pictures and very clear stitch graphs. In fact, it is basically the same stitch, just different sizes. The design charts, how to put the triangles together to make the designs shown, are in the back of the book. Trianglepoint is in good condition. There is no dust jacket, which has become par for the course. The hard cover is in good condition, there are some dirt or ink smudges on it I could not clean off. The pages inside are good, only slightly yellowed by age. There is an issue with this book, however. There is some foxing on the cut edge of the pages at the top of the book. I see no foxing anywhere else Usually, I would hesitate to sell it that way but this book has become so rare that I cut it some slack, in terms of condition. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

Finishing and Mounting Your Needlepoint Pieces by Katharine Ireyss

Although this book's focus is finishing and mounting finshed needlepoint projects, it also has 40 original needlepoint designs. Covered are blocking, lining, mitering corners etc. There is complete information on how to make trims of braid, cord. fringes and tassels. The book has many pictures illustrating these techniques. A useful book for any needlepointer. This book, too, is another I sell almost as soon as I list it. This is a hard cover book, it was published by Thomas Y. Crowell Company in 1973. the book has 232 pages. Finishing and Mounting Your Needlepoint Pieces is in very good condition. The pages inside are very good, hardly any yellowing at all. The spine is not as tight as I might like but it is far from actually loose or falling pages. There is no dust jacket. The hard cover is good, just some dings around the edges. A store that once sold this book has stamped their name on the inside front cover. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

Creative Canvas Work by Elsa S. Williams

Elsa Williams was an innovator in the needlepoint industry. Her kits were locally produced using fine wools and canvases in Townsend, Massachusetts and shipped all over the world. She wrote 2 books, her famous Bargello book and this one. This book is almost forgotten and was very hard-to-find. Williams treats needlepoint as a means of creative expression. Her book ranges from beginners designs to those suitable for expert stitchers with emphasis on unusual use of traditional stitches. There are a 14 full color pictures in the book which has 64 pages, but as always, her color use is wonderful. You have to see her fish on page 49. Published by Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. There is no publication date but I think it was 1971. Creative Canvas Work is a paperbound book with 64 pages The book is in very good condition. If you factor in the book's age, it is in very, very good condition. There is a flattened down fold on the lower right hand corner of the cover which I have taped to keep it flat. The spine is tight, it does not look like this book was read much, a waste of a good book. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

The Encyclopedia of Canvas Embroidery Stitches by Katharine Ireys

This is a popular book, here on NewNeedlepoint.com. Although published in 1972 I find it an easy to follow book. The stitches are well explained. Each time I have to replace it it gets harder to find. This is a wonderful needlepoint reference book featuring 170 stitch patterns. The subtitle calls it "the most complete collection ever published" I will not argue with that claim. The stitches are clearly and carefully diagrammed, for many of them multiple graphs are used to show how to stitch them. While there are many of the usual stitches here there are also a number of very interesting and advanced needlepoint stitches. This is a large hardcover book. Katharine ireys is a well-known needlepoint teacher & author. She is also a charter member of the Craftsman Branch of the Embroiderers Guild as well as a charter member of National Standards Council of American Embroiderers. The Encyclopedia of Canvas Embroidery Stitch Patterns was first published in 1968. This is the 1972 edition. This is interesting, in it she credits Mary Rhodes book Ideas for Canvas Work as well as Hope Hanley. The Encyclopedia of Canvas Embroidery Stitches is in good condition. The dust jacket is very worn at the edges with a few small tears, which I have taped up. The book is unmarked and the pages inside are very good, slightly yellowed by age. The spine is tight. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

Walt Disney Characters Needlepoint Book by LIsabeth Perrone

At first I thought this was a book of needlepoint designs featuring Walt Disney wonderful characters, it is and it isn't. The book does feature full size, in varying sizes, patterns to stitch Disney cartoon characters but they idea is you place them in whatever designs or settings you want. The designs the book does offer are basic, at best. These are not Needlepoint Graphs , they are line drawings of the characters you can copy to canvas and stitch. The only directions are simple colors and amounts (done by the ounce) The full size drawings were provided by the Walt Disney Co. artists, so they are not "needlepoint ready". Still, my bibliography calls this an A difficulty level book which means it is suitable for beginners and on. If you are looking to add an authentic Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy or more to a needlepoint this is the pattern book you need. This is a large hardcover book. it was published by Random House in 1976. it has 28 designs. The book is in very good condition. I don't know if it came with a paper dust jacket, it does not have one now and the cover is very nice as it is. The pages are very good. The spine is not as tight as I might like but there are no loose of falling pages. I don't know if you can tell from my page picture but the Duck Family on the left is needlepointed. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

Canvas Embroidery by Diana Springall

This is another of the amazing English needlepoint books. Canvas Work or Canvas Embroidery is the more common name for needlepoint in England. There is often some confusion with the titles of these interesting books in the USA. This book has some very modern, very innovative mixed stitch and mixed media Needlepoint stitches, designs and ideas. Some of the designs are very "regular" and handsome and some of them remind me of these wildly expensive textile works of art you sometimes see. This is a quote from the dust jacket "Diana Springall believes that necessary though technique is, the most rewarding element in embroidery lies in a conception which is individual and so, unique. Not only should the design be a personal one, but the stitches also should be used in an appropriate and characteristic way. Here technique, stitches, pattern and application are considered a single entity." I think this says it all. There are many photographs and illustrations but only 8 in color (or should I say colour?) My bibliography gives it a B for moderate experienced stitchers. (with A for beginners & D for advanced). i think it more a C, myself. There is a bit of Bargello and 135 stitches shown stitched & graphed. Canvas Embroidery is another fine Batsford book, published by B. T. Batsford Limited, London and Charles T Branford Co. in Newton, Massachusetts (where I grew up, not that it matters) in 1969. This is the English edition. The book and dust jacket are in good condition. The dust jacket is worn at the top, bottom & edges but there are no holes or rips. The book inside is good, the pages are slightly yellowed at the edges, from age, but there is no foxing and no stains. The book has obviously been read & consulted but the spine is still good. I think the condition is surprisingly good for a 1969 book from England. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

The Ups & Downs of Needlepoint by Fannie Highsmith

This is a very rare, almost unknown book by Fannie Hillsmith. I think I have bought every copy out there, this is the 3rd. The other 2 sold very quickly. Each time I replace this book it costs me more, go figure. As far as I can tell, this is her only book on Needlepoint. It was published in South Brunswick and New York by A.S. Barnes & Co. and in London by Thomas Yoseloff LTD in 1976. The book appears to be a "soup-to-nuts" needlepoint reference. The first chapter is titled "What Is A Stitch? and goes for 56 chapters more including a chaopters on the wools used, a bibiography and an index. This really does look like an interesting book by someone who knows of what she speaks (rare enough these days). The book has very few full-color pictures but it does have many, many B&W charts and drawings, each thing she talks about is well illustrated. There is even a chapter on Left-Handed Needlepoint. An interesting book that I suspect is ahead of it's time, plus I love the title. "The Ups & Downs of Needlepoint" indeed. There is a great section in here on the basics of doing circles in needlepoint. We all know how difficult your first few stitched circles can be. Fannie Hillsmith was born in Boston and at the time this book was printed, 1976, lived in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. She was trained at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School, The Art Students League and Atelier 17. She is a painter, a jewelry designer, a printmaker, as well as a needlepoint designer and teacher. The Ups & Downs of Needlepoint is in good condition. The dust jacket is quite worn. A careful previous owner has put the dust jacket inside a clear plastic cover, to prevent any further damage. I have left it that way. The book inside is in very good condition, the pages are slightly yellowed by age but that is to be expected. This is an unusual and hard-to-find book. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

Ideas for Canvas Work by Mary Rhodes

I have lost count of how many copies of this book I have sold here in the past years, It has become a very hard to find book. Even harder to find in good condition. Mary Rhodes writes very interesting Needlepoint books for the more experienced stitcher. I have a copy of her Dictionary of Canvas Work Stitches for sale here and it has many wonderful and unusual stitches I have never seen anywhere else. Mary Rhodes' modern approach to canvas work covers the striking effects achieved through the selective use of varied stitches, textures & colors in needlepoint. The book also covers design sources, adaptations and materials. The book is clear, concise and full of pictures, mostly B & W but very detailed. This is for a more experienced or advanced stitcher. It is a hardcover book published by B.T. Batsford Limited in London and the Charles T. Branford Co. in Newton, MA. in 1970. The book is in very good condition. The dust jacket is also very good, the edges are worn but no rips or tears. The pages inside are very good and the spine is tight. This rare book has become very hard to find. I am glad to have found such a good copy. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

Decorative Alphabets for Needleworkers, Craftsmen & Artists edited by Carol Belanger Grafton

The 2000 letters in this volume comprise a useful and versatile resource. Selected from late 19th & early 20th century sources, some of them rare and out of print. The letters make 79 complete alphabets in an array of styles. These will be useful to Needlepointers, Cross-Stitchers, Embroiderers & Ribbon Embroiders plus Punch-Needle people. The list is long. This is another of those very good Dover Needlecraft publications from Dover Publications in New York. Published in 1981 it is a glossy cover paperbound book with 120 pages. Decorative Alphabets is in good condition. The front cover has a bend at the upper right hand corner that goes almost all the way through the book. The edges are a bit worn, that is just the book's age showing. in removing another pesky sticker (why do they put stickers all over these books) I took the very top layer of paper with it. I have taped over it. It is a surface problem, only. The pages inside are white and unmarked (except for the slightly bent top right corners) and the spine is tight. This has become a hard-to-find book. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

79 Decorative Alphabets for Designers & Craftspeople edited by Carol Belanger Grafton

I am not sure if this is an undated version or a companion book to Carol Grafton's other book with a similar title. I do have a copy of the other book in stock, in paging through them I can't see any differences, except the title and cover. Although this is a used/rare book, it is in almost new condition except for a few dog eared pages (a turned corner to mark a page). The Alphabets included in this book are very nice, I would call them ornate or decorative rather then basic. Perhaps that is what this is, a fancier collection of alphabets. I found a clue. This book is a Dover 2001 re-publication of Decorative Alphabets for Needleworkers, Craftsmen and Artists from 1981. I suppose the updated title is to be more inclusive and less sexist (craftsmen to craftspeople). The back cover says this book has 2000 unusual copy-right free letters selected from late 19th and early 20th century sources. This book is in very good condition, except for the few dog-earred pages. Published by Dover Press in 2001, this is a glossy cover paperbound book with 120 pages. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

The Joy of Stitching by Elsa S. Williams

When I first found it, this book was a complete surprise to me, I had no idea it even existed. I had not previously seen any reference to it, anywhere. This book is very rare. Here something else I did not know, Elsa William used to have a syndicated newspaper column. In her introduction, Mrs. Williams says that "the pages for this book are my selections from the syndicated columns I have written during the past several years" This book is, as the dust jacket flaps claim "a treasure trove of knowledge and ideas about everything and anything that can be done with a needle. Elsa Williams discusses the nature of Embroidery and Canvas Work as well as many variations on these basic techniques". BTW, she means Needlepoint when she refers to Canvas Work. This book contains 102 chapters, I am not sure what else to call them. Each has a different topic, tip, instructions or stitches. Most are one page. The contents seem comprehensive, more then comprehensive. So much of Mrs Williams vast needlework knowledge is here. As an example, Chapter 27, on page 27 is about Signing Your Work. The author feels strongly that embroidered (or needlepointed) pictures should be signed by the person who worked it. She also confesses that sometimes she gets so carried away with a design she has created she forgets to sign it. She reminds us that a stitched picture sometimes outlives us. She goes on the say at the very least, add your initials and the date (my own preference). She recommends taking your time to decide where to place your "signature or initials". Choose your colors carefully as well, these things matter. This little chapter pretty much says what needs to be said about the subject. This is a very "personal" book. Mrs Williams talks about herself, her work, her experiences etc. It is a very warm book, if you know what I mean. This is a small hardcover book, published by Van Nostrand Reinhold Co in 1978. It has 102 pages. This book is in very good condition, considering it's age or not. The dust jacket is very good, the edges are a bit bent but otherwise, this is a good copy. Almost Gift Quality The hard cover book inside is a rich metallic gold color. I have not seen another needlework book this color. The pages are very good, white and unmarked, the spine is tight. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

The Batsford Book of Canvas Work by Mary Rhodes

Mary Rhodes is a well-known and expert English Needlepoint instructor. This is the 4rd copy of this Mary Rhodes book I have listed here on NewNeedlepoint.com. As I buy these books to sell here some of them are becoming harder to get and more expensive. I have sold a lot of copies of this book, in fact a surprising number. I am sorry about the rise in price, it only reflects what the book cost me. It can be very difficult to find general needlepoint reference books aimed at the more experienced of advanced stitcher. That seems to be Mary Rhodes speciality. Canvas work or needlepoint is one of the oldest types of traditional embroidery. It has remained popular through the centuries. In this book she approaches Canvas Work historically. She has chosen examples to illustrate the changes in this art, through the ages. The back sections of the book discuss materials, stitches and effects. it includes several stitches I have never seen before. The book is loaded with pictures including a section of full color pictures in the center of the book. Unlike Mary Rhodes reference books for more advanced stitchers, this book is for anyone who is interested in Needlepoint, from beginner to the most expert stitcher. Now I want to read it too. The Batsford Book of Canvas Work is a hardcover book published by B. T. Batsford Ltd, London in 1983. It has 240 pages. This book is in very good condition. The dust jacket shows signs of age but has no serious problems. The book is very good and the spine is tight. There is a small round embossed name plate on the inside back page. The pages are white and clean, a great copy of this book. Almost Gift Quality. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

The New World of Needlepoint by Lisbeth Perrone

When I ordered this, I assumed it was a book of varied needlepoint stitches. I was surprised when it arrived. The subtitle for this books is: 101 Exciting Designs in Bargello, Quickpoint, Grospoint, and other repeat patterns. Interesting combination, not just the usual. This book is" Lisabeth Perrone's own workbook", she shares the designs, colors and technique of an expert stitcher" (from the dust jacket). Every pattern is shown in a full color photograph, a B & W or color photo detail and a multicolor work chart. Ms Perrone is (or was) the director of the American Embroiderers Guild as well as a teacher there. There are many beautiful designs and stitched patterns in this book, and indeed many with a Bargello Needlepoint feel. Some of these patterns are truly outstanding. In all, not the usual Needlepoint Stitch book. This is a large hardcover book published by Random House in 1972. It has 142 pages. The New World of Needlepoint is in very good condition. The dust jacket is lightly worn at the edges but otherwise the book is very good. The pages inside are clean & white and the spine is OK. There is one spot near the beginning of the book where the spine opens flatter than I would like but there are no loose or missing pages. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

Plain & Fancy: American Women & Their Needlework, 1700-1850 by Susan Burrows Swan

This is a handsome book illustrated with the Special Needlework Collection from the Winterthur Museum. This is not a needlepoint project book, it will not teach you how to stitch but it is the history of American Needlework with some fine pictures of early work. To quote from the dust jacket " This is the story of early American women as they told it in their needlework." Well said. From the back cover: " Plain & Fancy is not only a comprehensive survey of American needlework forms from the late seventeenth century into the Victorian era, but also a social history of the women who did this needlework, their primary and most acceptable creative outlet." This is a valuable book to anyone interested in the history of needlework. It is full of pictures and the information here is good and easily accessible. My one complaint with this book and it is kind of a big one is how few of the pictures are full color. Most pictures are B & W and while they are good, they need color to really show the beauty of this work. This is a First Edition of this book. Published in 1977 by Rutledge books, a division of Holt, Rinehart and Winston. This is a hard cover book with 238 pages Since I first found this book and sold it and now, this book has jumped in price. I am not surprised it is becoming a rare book, it is a good book. Plain & Fancy is in remarkable condition, for it's age. The book is very good, the pages are clean & white and the binding is tight. Even the dust cover is good. The pages and edges of the dust jacket are slightly yellowed. this too, is from age. Someone has written a price on the top corner of the inside cover page. I do not want to risk trying to remove it. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

Canvas Work From The Start by Anne Dyer & Valerie Duthoit

The dust jacket text for this book is interesting. I want to quote some of it for you "Canvas work is the simplest form of embroidery and does not involve the complex stitching found in free embroidery. But it can be used to very great effect and imaginative design canmake the results most attractive." Clearly, this book was written before the overwhelming interest in decorative and complex needlepoint stitches became the fashion. This book was published in 1972 in the UK where Needlepoint is mostly called Canvas Work. Canvas Work From The Start is a very clear and comprehensive book for the beginner. It gives you the basics and takes you through the intermediate stages of needlepoint (or canvas work). The stitch diagrams are easy to follow and the text makes it all clear. All the pictures and diagrams are in black & white (another 1972 factor). There are some very modern designs and ideas here as well as the basics. The book covers everything, all the way to basic finishing. There are even some things in here not found in more recent needlepoint books for beginners. A book worth having, if you are new to needlepoint. This is a US First Edition. Published by Charles T. Brandford in Newton, MA in 1972 and printed in the UK. Brandford published is often associated with the better known Batsford Publishing in the UK. This is a hard cover book with 174 pages. The book itself is in very good condition. The dust jacket is less so. The dust jacket edges are bent and somewhat ragged and I did some taping to repair a rip in the back. Inside the spine is tight and the pages are white, very good. A previous owner has written her name on the inside cover in front. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

The Complete Needlepoint Course by Anna Pearson

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 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 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 published by Chilton Book Company in Radnor, PA in 1991. This is the 1993 re-print edition. The book has 175 pages. it is in very good condition. The dust jacket is bent and worn a bit at the edges, slightly crushed on one corner but has no tears. the book inside is excellent. The pages are clean and white, the spine is tight. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

The Needlework Doctor by Mary Kay Davis

I was amazed when I first found this book, I always thought there was a need for just this book but I did not know it existed. it is subtitled "How to Solve Every Kind of Needlework Problem". Mary Kay Davis is the co-author of America's Great Quilt Designs and More Needlepoint from Americas Great Quilt Designs. Both of those books are listed for sale here (or will be when I do them next, I already sold her Quilt book once). The chapters are: how to use this book preventive medicine PREPARATION Education Kits Design & Color Creative Problem Solving UNUSUAL PROJECTS Wall Hangings Upholstery Rugs Antique Needlepoint. In thumbing through this book it is all here. Not just how to fix a problem but basic questions like how many strands of thread do I use? etc. This looks to me to be the one book we should all have on our needlework book shelves and I am going to see if I can find a few more copies of it, I want one for myself too. Published by Prentice Hall in 1982 this is a hardbound book with 280 pages. This copy of The Needlework Doctor is in remarkable condition, for this book. It is a very popular book and I sell them almost as soon as I list one. It has been getting much harder to find and one in this condition is rare. There is no dust jacket but otherwise the book is in very good condition. The pages are white and clean, the spine is tight. A very good copy even without the dust jacket. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

101 Designs for Needlepoint & Cross Stitch by B. Bossuck

Another wonderful needlepoint book by B. Bossuck, the author of 97 Alphabets for Needlepoint and co-author of Picture Your Dog in Needlework. This book surprised me. I was expecting a stitch book but it is not. I should have noticed the title says "Designs" not Stitches. The book is full of needlepoint (also completely adaptable to cross-stitch) design motifs. There are hundreds of borders, corner treatments and over all graphic design ideas in here, indeed 1001. They are fanciful, graphic, floral, letters anything you can imagine. Some of them are quite unusual. This is a great needlepoint reference book, when you just need that spark of a stitch pattern idea or a border treatment. Published by Arco Publishing in 1977. This is a large glossy cover paperbound book with 180 pages. The book is in very good condition. The edges of the cover are somewhat worn but otherwise the book is very good. The inside pages are perfect and the spine looks like the book was rarely opened. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

Needlepoint for Everyone by Mary Brooks Picken & Doris White

The word "Comprehensive" is used often to descibe books that are not really comprehensive but this book is and then some. I would recommend this book to beginners who are serious about learning needlepoint. As well as practical needlepoint instruction and encyclopedic information the authors highlight examples of Needlepoint from places as diverse as Gracie mansion, home of New York's Mayor, Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts, Boscobel on the Hudson, Mount Vernon, Williamsburg, Virginia and Blair House in Washington DC. The chapters include Our Heritage, with the above mentioned examples Needlepoint Essentials Design & Color Canvas Stitches Left Handed? Blocking, Mounting & Finishing Rehabiliation & Recreational Therapy (I have to go look at that one) Interior Design Fashion Accessories House & Home Samplers, Mottos & Monograms Devotionals (this is rare, a full chapter on Church & Synagogue Needlepoint) Teaching For Children Men & Needlepoint The Hobbyist & The Collector Advertising & Publicity Via needlepoint Museum Treasures Cutting & Sewing Fashion Accessories Symbolism Bibliography National Directory of Art Needlework Shops (circa 1970) Acknowledgements & Index Whew! See what I mean by comprehensive? The "rehabilitation" chapter is about manual dexterity, the recreational is about the benefits of needlepoint for confined (due to health) people. But there is, I found, a Woman's Prison in Ohio that is doing a Rehab & Training Needlepoint project. This is indeed a complex book, 216 pages filed with pictures and information. Needlepoint for Everyone is a hardcover book published by Harper & Row in 1970. Besides Mary Brooks Picken & Doris White there is a title page credit to Clare Valentine, as well. The beautoful dust jacket is sadly missing from this copy of the book. Otherwise it is in good condition. There is a small "bump" on the bottom right of the hard cover, it is hidden behind the lip of my easel. The pages inside are somewhat yellowed from age but there is no foxing and the spine is good. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

Hope Hanley's Needlepoint in America

This is an interesting book by Hope Hanley. it is not a Needlepoint design and instruction book, it is more a history of Needlepoint here in America. This book was published by Weathervane Books in New York in 1969. Hope Hanley has done a detailed and carefully researched study, using old needlework books and ladies magazines, as they were then known, as well as worked pieces in museums and private collections. Ms. Hanely traces the European origins of early American Needlepoint (then called embroidery on canvas). This art began in England in the 16th and 17th centuries. It then developed as an American art in the colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. The book includes diagrams and directions for a dozen long-forgotten old stitches. This Hope Hanley book is not one of her better known and easily available books, it is indeed a hard-to-find book. Needlepoint in America is a hardbound book, it is in very good condition. The dust jacket is pretty good and the book inside is in excellent condition. Someone has put a "book plate" on the first page but there is not name written on it. This is a little known and hard-to-find book, so many of these wonderful books are almost forgotten now. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA Due to the weight of the books, International Air Mail Delivery is $12.00 per book

The Fiber Book by The Ridge Needlepoint Chapter

This is a completely unique needlepoint book and I challenge anyone to find a copy of it anywhere else. It is written and self-published by The American Needlepoint Guild's Ridge Needlepointers Chapter in 1983. It is written by Virginia Dubenetzky and edited by The Rev. Robert E. Blackburn (Father B's Book). This book is very self-published. It did not come with any sort of binding, just glued together pages. I tried a heavy paper notebook but the text was too thick so I have put it into a 3 hole notebbok I had (the 3 holes were already in the manuscript, I did not add them). I printed a picture of one of my own designs for the cover. This is the second edition, second printing. The book addresses "what is fiber and how do I use it in needlepoint"? The Ridge Chapter did not find a book so they wrote one. Each fiber has it own page. In reading several of these chapters, the information is very complete. I wish someone had mass produced this book. The book is in surprisingly good condition. The edges of the pages are slightly yellowed by age. Other then that the book is very good with 96 pages. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

Pulled Work On Canvas & Linen by Rosemary Drysdale

I should not admit this (but here I go). The name Drysdale reminds me of the old TV show "The Beverly Hillbillies". The banker and neighbor was Mr Drysdale with his hysterical wife, Mrs. Drysdale. With deepest apologies to Rosemary Drysdale. Pulled work has it roots in English and Danish embroidery. Pulled Work is the pulling of threads stitched so tight that the ground material, canvas or linen, come together to form artistic holes in your design. This book shows 100 different stitches which can be used to create Pulled Work. I think mixing this with needlepoint (and I have seen it done) is just wonderful. Piublished in 1978 by Charles Scribner & Sons, this is a hard bound book with 127 pages. This is a former library book, it is in incredible condition. Except for the Library stamps on the inside front cover and a small sticky area on the inside back cover where they must have removed the library card holder, It is in perfect condition. The pages are clean & bright and the binding is perfect. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

Needlepoint: The Art of Canvas Embroidery by Mary Rhodes, signed

I have become a devotee of these excellent books by Mary Rhodes. I consider her to be one of the best of the "Master Teachers" and an authorities on Needlepoint. This book emphasizes the creative aspects of needlepoint. The chapters on design and color & texture are extraordinary. There are ideas and variations here I have never seen before. Mary Rhodes books are most often for the expert or advanced stitcher and this is not exception. The book is full of pictures, many of them full color showing the possibilities. There is unique needlepoint in this book, no same old here. There is a chapter on the history of needlepoint, stitchery & and a fully illustrated dictionary of stitches, materials and equipment, starting and finishing, all the usuals plus a chapter title I have never seen before "What to make" beginning on page 109 with some ideas. Check out the purses on page 119. This book is signed by Mary Rhodes on the title page. Just her name, no inscription. This is a large hardcover book published by Octopus Books Ltd in London in 1974. It has 144 pages. This is an unusual book. Needlepoint: The Art of Canvas Embroidery has problems with the spine. it is a stitched spine and the last 2 pages of the book have almost come loose. There are other sections where the stitching is loose but no others nearly as bad as the last 2 pages. But, the spine stitching is a problem, I do not want to down-play it. Otherwise the book is in very good condition. The dust jacket is clean & intact, just slightly yellowed at the edges but with no foxing. The pages inside are very good. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

Needlepoint Stitchery by Margaret Boyles

I know I have often mentioned Margaret Boyles many excellent book on Bargello Needlepoint. As far as I know, this is Ms. Boyles only book on regular needlepoint. This is an interesting and very forward thinking book. When it was published, in 1974, few if any other needlepoint books mentioned Decorative Stitching. Needlepoint Stitchery discusses it, in depth, as well as putting 2 versions of the same design on it's cover. One is stitched in *plain stitch* and one is done in a variety of Decorative Stitches. I suspect Ms. Boyles was always an innovator. There are some unique subjects here. "Basic Tent Stitch is demonstrated in relation to the 4 techniques for creating it". with an explaination of why and where each technique should be used. What she goes on to descibe is the difference between the accepted version of the *basic Stitch*. The ahlf cross stitch, the Continental or Tent Stitch, Basketweave Stitch and Diagonal Stitch. I had not seen diagonal stitch before. All her decorative Stitches, here called *fancy Stitches (I love that name) are shown in full color pictures and 3 color graphs, blue on the black & white. This type of graph makes it much easier to duplicate a stitch. There is a Design Portfolio with 9 designs shown and graphed for stitching. A small Chapter on Bargello Needlepoint and a glossery of embroidery stitches that can be adapted to needlepoint. There are also a number of Bargello Needlepoint instructions as well as 4-way Bargello. This is a valuable book by a Master Teacher. This will be third copy of this book I have listed here. Needlepoint Stitchery was published by Macmillan Publishing in New York and Collier MacMillan in London. The is not publication date noted but this books is a "First Printing". This hardcover book is in very good condition. The dust jacket is very good if not better and the inside pages are very good. Someone has written a date and some numbers on the inside cover page, other then that the book is unmarked. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

Needlepoint and Beyond by Edith Anderson Feisner

This book is subtitled: 27 Lessons in Advanced Canvas Work. On the dust jacket the author states that the lessons in this book are for anyone from beginner to expert stitcher but I think this book is for an experienced stitcher who is looking for more. More techniques, more stitches, more complex and interesting ways to enhance their needlepoint projects. The book is arranged point by point like a series of lessons with practice exercises suggested for each one. After thumbing through the book, it is indeed full of ideas and techniques. It was published in 1980. I think some of the things in this book that were "cutting edge" then are much more commonplace now. Still, it is am interesting book for someone who wants to expand their needlepoint skills. This is a large hardcover book. Published in 1980 by Charles Scribner's Sons. This book is in very good condition. The dust jacket is very good and the book inside is fine. The pages are clean and unmarked and the spine is tight. The only flaw is a former owner wrote her name on the inside front cover (in lovely handwriting, no less) Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

Mira Silverstein's Guide to Looped and Knotted Stitches

This is the third copy of this book I have ordered, it is the only one that has been in any way good enough to sell here. This book is barely in good condition. The official book sellers term for it would be "acceptable". of course, it was sold to me as "good". I am listing it in this condition because it is an fairly unique book. I know of no other book on the subject of Looped and Knotted stitches. Most books have a page or two about these stitches, if that. it is up to you to decide about the condition. Mira Silverstein's Looped and Knotted Stitches is a comprehensive look at these special stitches. She begins at the very beginning, threading the needle and anchoring the yarn. That seems silly to me in a book featuring such advanced stitches. The book has 11 Looped Stitches, 5 Knotted Stitches and 11 project designs. The end is finishing techniques and information. I can find only 1 color picture in the book but the stitch guides and instructions are clear and understandable. My Needlework Bibliography gives this book a C for difficulty (based on A for easy and D for hardest). Mira Silverstein is a noted needlepoint teacher and author of many other books. Published by David McKay Co in 1977, it has 107 pages. Again, this book is in not so good condition. It is a smallish paperbound book. The covers are faded and scratched. There is a big yellow mark on the inside front cover page, like a piece of paper was there for years. The pages are yellowed at the edges and the whole book looks and feels it's age. The best thing about the book is the spine, it has hardly ever been opened. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

Hope Hanley's Patterns for Needlepoint

This is an interesting variation on the usual needlepoint reference book. It does not have a collection of stitches. It does not show interesting or unusual techniques. It is a book of patterns. Exactly as the title says. There are 78 very interesting patterns in here, some expected and some unusual. Each pattern is shown in a good size full color picture of the stitched result of the patterns with a minimum of 4 repeats of each pattern and usually more. Of course there are very clear and easy to follow graphs for each patterns, this is a book by Master Teacher and well-known Needlepoint Author, Hope Hanley. Some of the patterns are 2 colors, some 3 and the most I found in the book is 4 colors. Her color use is fabulous and many of these patterns are wonderful. This book came in my first shipment of books but I kept it for a while. I have enjoyed looking at it and trying a few of her patterns. Anyone who enjoys graphic design needlepoint or is looking for interesting border treatments will find this book very useful. Hope Hanley's Patterns for Needlepoint is a medium size hard bound book. It was published Charles Scribner's Sons in 1976. The book is in good condition, even the dust jacket is in good conditon with a pretty big exception. On the inside cover page on both the front and the back is a dark beige stain running the whole length of the book, at the spine. On the back the paper covering is slightly torn at the top of the spine. The back inside cover is worse than the front. I have no idea what could cause this. The book has no other signs of wear and only slight yellowing, mostly on the dust jacket, from age. As you can see, the inside is very good. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

Handbook of Needlepoint Stitches by Mary Meister Walzer

This book is an oddity. I thought about not listing it but then I thought I should. This may be the worst Needlepoint Reference book I have ever seen and that is saying something. The graphs are simplistic and the B & W photos of the stitches stitched are incomprehensible. It is even hard to see what the fully stitched designs are in the small B & W pictures of them, They look like they were stitched by someone who has no control over tension and does not correct any errors as she stitches. So, if you are thinking of doing a needlepoint stitch or reference book, buy this book and see what not to do. There is a picture of the author sitting in one of those "stressless" chairs that were IT in the 70s. She has an "oh so knowing" look and and they describe her as a skilled needleworker. Ha! Published in 1971 by Van Nostrand Reinhold who should have known better. This is a small hardbound book is good enough condition. This might be the worst listing I ever wrote. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

Floral Needlepoint for Beginners by Stella Edwards

Stella Edwards is the author of 2 other needlepoint book, the excellent Wildlife in Needlepoint and The Needlepoint Home Collection which I have not seen yet. At first I thought this was a design book but it really is not. it does have simple designs for a novice needlepoibnter to stitch but the emphasis here is the instruction. You might think the designs in a beginner's book are simplistic. They are not, there are some very nice designs in here. it starts at the very beginning, in the introduction, explaining everything you will need to know to stitch these projects, types of canvas, yarns or threads, how to form the stitches and how to adapt the designs for use on different items. The projects are divided into seasons, which is really perfect for a floral based needlepoint book. Each project has a full color stitch chart and color key. Information on materials and step-by-step photographs. These are mostly all smaller projects, not too daunting for a beginner. This is a very good 1st introduction to needlepoint from an experienced needlepoint designer and teacher. This is a hardcover book. Published by Chartwell Books in 1993. Floral Needlepoint for beginners is in very good condition. It would be Gift Quality except for some dust jacket flaring at the top and bottom and a bit of dirt on the ust jacket back (that I could not get off). The book inside and the pages are perfect, like new. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA

97 Needlepoint Alphabets by B. Borssuck

Each Alphabet or Number in this book is graphed full size, so the graphs can be easily transferred to your canvas. They are not all one size, the vary in size from as large as 24 threads to as small as 5 threads. They are organized in order with the smallest in the front of the book, ranging to the largest in the back. The variety of letterings is amazing. This book is intended for needlepoint but the charts are also perfect for cross-stitch. The book contains many patterns not found in most needlepoint books. This is another book that is not hard-to-find but very rare in good condition. I have sold one here, ordered 2 others that came in in terrible and unsalable condition. This 4th copy I ordered came in great but that is with one pretty big caveat. Plus, it cost a lot more. A previous owner wrote in the margins, the upper left hand side, of the pages. In a few cases she made marks on the graphed letter patterns as well. I have gone through 97 Needlepoint Alphabets page by page. Here is the "count" 8 graphs have marks on them, in most cases they are done in orange so you can easily tell the difference between the stitchers marks and Ms Bossuck's graphs. 6 pages have notes written on the upper right corner of the page. On 2 of these pages the notes go down the whole left side of the page. So, this is the trade off, this hard-to-get in good condition book with these marks or a terrible condition copy (which you will not find here) with no marks. A previous owner of this book has embossed her name on the inside title page IN going through the book, page by pages, my impression that these were creative and wonderful alphabet designs was reinforced. 97 Needlepoint alphabets is a large size glossy paper bound book in very good condition There is a little wear on the edges of the book but other then that, it is in very good shape. As you can see, the spine i tight,. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA