NewNeedlepoint > RARE Cross Stitch & Embroidery

Margaret Boyles' Designs for Babies

Margaret Boyles is an excellent needlepoint teacher, her Needlepoint and Bargello books are among the best ever written, in my not so humble opinion. Since I began listing other kinds of Needlework books I have discovered that Mrs. Boyles is also a wonderful Embroidery and Crewel Embroidery teacher as well. Now this book, which is about clothes and accessories for babies. The book has Knitting, Embroidery, Crewel, Cross Stitch, Heriloom Sewing and Quilting designs to make or to use to decorate already made clothing etc. Mrs. Boyles was about halfway through writing and stitching for this book when she found out she was going to be a grandmother for the first time. The projects include: Heriloom Pillow, a sewn and embroidered small pillow, mostly for show since babies do not sleep with pillows. This pillow also has some ribbon work. Heriloom Dress & Slip. Sew a very pretty dress & slip and add embroidery and ribbon work, very pretty Smocked Bonnet Sunday Suit for boys. Sewn with some embroidery and tucking on the front of the shirt. Embroidered Flannel Kimono, the perfect thing to wrap baby in after the bath Quilted Sacque & Bonner Set Christening Blanket or Shawl made from purchased white wool fabric that is embroidered and hemstitched with fringe Receiving Blankets purchased flannel simply embroidered Quilted Bibs 4 designs Shadow Embroidered Comforter These are just some examples of the 27 projects in this book. As always, the directions are complete, comprehensive and sensible. Templates for the sewn articles are included. Margaret Boyles' Designs for Babies has booties (of course) and samplers and stuffed toys, all you expect and more. This is a hardcover book published by Simon and Schuster in 1983. It has 144 pages. Designs for Babies is in very good condition. There is no dust jacket and a former owner has written her name on the inside front cover page. The pages are somewhat yellowed by age, the spine is tight. A very good condition book for it's age or otherwise. FREE DELIVERY IN THE USA

Needlework Patterns from the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Susan Siegler

Susan Siegler is the supervisor of Special Projects at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this handsome book is the response to the many requests that the museum has received over the years, for needlework patterns based on it's great textile and stitchery collections. All of the patterns in this book are adaptations of embroideries and tapestries in the museum's collections. The ones chosen are not necessarily the most famous or valuable, they were chosen to "delight, teach and challenge today's needleworker". The designs are for Needlepoint, Crewel Work and for Embroidery. They are very interesting. Each design has instructions including material needed but no graphs or templates. There is a black & white photo of the piece on the facing page. All the photos in this book are b&w, which is unfortunate except for 3 sections of full color photos throughout the book, of about 5 pages each. Each project is shown in a color picture. I do wish they had been able, back when this book was published, to put the color picture of the projects with the instructions. Oh well. At least they are there and the table of contents tells you where each one is. This book is not for a beginning stitcher, an experienced intermediate or advanced level stitcher is needed to be able to use these directions and replicate these designs. Published in 1976 by the New York Graphic Society in Boston. Needlework Patterns from the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a large hard cover book with 184 pages. This book is in very good condition. Even the dust jacket is pretty good, just with ragged edges. The spine is tight and the pages inside are very good. They are slightly yellowed, due to the age of this book. There is a bit of light foxing on the cut edge of the pages at the top of the book. This is a rare & hard to find book. 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

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

The Margaret Boyles Book of NeedleArt

A different sort of book from Margaret Boyles. Most of her books are more Needlepoint or Bargello Needlepoint reference books or workbooks. This book has designs to stitch and they cover a large range of types of needlepoint and stitchery. There are canvas work needlepoint designs, a number of Bargello Needlepoint designs, there are some designs done on linen and some frankly crewel work designs. Of course, all are done with Margaret Boyles' excellent instruction and clear graphs and diagramming. She really is a Master Teacher. This is a larger hardcover book with 160 pages. It was published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovitch in 1978. The Margaret Boyles Book of Needleart has become very hard-to-find and cost quite a bit more to buy now. I suppose this is bound to happen with these great older books. This book does not have a dust cover. I am sure it had one once, but not now. The book is in very good condition except for some wear & slight dings at the corners of the cover. Someone has written a price in pencil on the inside front cover and the letter P n the inside back cover. I found 1 (not an area, just 1 tiny spot) spot of foxing on the inside front cover. I checked the book carefully and see no more of it anywhere. The pages inside are very good and the binding is tight. 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

Better Homes & Gardens 2001 Cross Stitch Designs

Below the title on the cover it says "The Essential Reference Book". In general I try to avoid books such as this, sponsored by a magazine or an association but sometimes they are such good books that I bend my own rules (like the American Needlepoint School's The Great Afghan Book). This is a large, comprehensive book packed with full color cross stitch patterns all shown on a graph background. There does not seem to be any style or taste influence, the designs cover it all. Each page of designs hasa materials lists using DMC and Anchor floss color numbers. Each page also has a color placement guide for each design. it is indeed all here. On pages 302 to 305 there are tips and techniques for cross stitch and for choosing and combining motifs and how to plan for some specific projects. There are beginner level patterns on pages 312 to 319 and on pages 306 to 311 there are 48 speciality stitches. The book also has a sensible chapter structure and a detailed index to help you find what you are looking for, among so many patterns. Published by Better Homes and Gardens Books, an imprint of Meredith Books in 1999. This is a large hardcover book with 335 pages. 2001 Cross Stitch Designs is in very good condition. The dust jacket is very good, with minor edge wear. The hard cover inside is the same as the dust jacket, glossy and printed with the same pictures and info as the dust jacket. This book is very close to gift quality condition. There is a small ding on the edge of the hard cover at the bootm, front. The book is unmarked, the pages are white and clean. The spine is tight. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

Embroidery Techniques From East and West by Munni Srivastava

The subtitle for this book is : Texture and Color for Quilters and Embroiderers. This is a handsome book full of gorgeous and original designs and ideas. Some of the quilt designs require a sewing machine. It begins with a chapter on: EQUIPMENT NEEDED HAND EMBROIDERY featuring mirror work, embroidery motifs and other embellishments MACHINE EMBROIDERY, PATCHWORK AND QUILTING with free motion machine embroidery, applique, carzy patchwork, cathedral window patchwork, strip patchwork, tumbling blocks, quilting and inspiration and design THE PROJECTS with cushion making, wall hangins and framed pictures, presentation and conversation. Wonderful designs using rich colors that seem to glow even from the page. The designs are unusual and often lavish. A good book for embroiders or quilters. Embroidery Techniques From East and West was first published in the UK by B T Batsford in 2001. This edition was published in the USA by Trafalgar Square Publishing in Vermont in 2003. This book did not come with it's dust jacket. I assume it once had one but it is not here now. Except for the missing dust jacket, this book would be in gift quality condition. As it is, it is very good. Very very good. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

Cross Stitch For The First Time by Donna Kooler

I did a search for books by Donna Kooler, just out of curiousity. I knew she was a prolific author but I had no idea. I stopped counting at 29. Her books range from knitting & crochet to needlepoint and many of them are Cross-Stitch books. I would imagine she knows her stuff. Cross Stitch For The First Time is a beginner's book. To quote from the back cover "Take a wonderful, all-inclusive beginner's course in cross stitch from Donna Kooler, one of the world's best at this very popular needlework" (they used the work craft, I dislike calling the needlearts "crafts" so I changed the word). "The question & answer format guides you through all of the techniques. Even if it is your first time, you'll soon find out how to: cross stitch on linen and other plain weave fabrics create speciality stitches extract a portion of a design or extend a border add solid beading and include treasures sign your peices" This book is comprehensive and the directions seem easy to follow. All the pictures, drawings , graphs and stitch examples are in full color. In the back of the book there is a Gallery of finished cross stitch by different designers like Emie Bishop, Sharon Cohen, Janelle Giese and more. Published by Sterling Publishing in 2000. This is a hard cover book with 112 pages. Cross Stitch for the First Time is in excellent condition. It has a paper dust jacket that is a bit beat at the edges but the cover inside is glossy and exactly the same pictures & text as the dust jacket. If you remove the dust jacket, this book is in gift quality condition. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

Donna Kooler's 555 Fabulous Cross Stitch Patterns

I always like books like this, ones with a huge number of patterns & ideas. Donna Kooler is a well-known needlework author and this book is full of nice design. The design style here is traditional, leaning to country. There are a number of juvenile cross stitch patterns for children. The book begins with 2 pages of General Information. The first section is Flora & Fauna, feauturing...flora & fauna including a wonderful floral alphabet. The next section is Friends & Family with a number of text designs and children patterns. Next is Heart & Soul, again with some wonderful text designs, hearts, angels etc. Then Hearth & Homewith some sampler type designs, quilt based patterns and objects in your home. Heaven & Nature is next. It is a very celestial section with a number of sampler designs and such. Last is Happy Holidays, which is self-explanitory. All the designs here are shown in a full useable size on a graphed background. Set in graphs like this, they would be easy to make bigger or smaller. Every design and picture in this book is in full color. There is a lot here. Published by Sterling Publishing in 1996, this is a hard cover book with 128 pages. Donna Kooler's 555 Fabulous Cross Stitch Patterns is in good condition. It would be very good except for one problem. Page 41-42 (the front and back of a page) obviously were wet, once. They are dried now and slightly crinkly but still useable. Other then that the book is very good. The dust jacket is a little scratched and worn at the edges but this is normal. I checked this book carefully, there is no other damage from the wet page and absolutely no foxing. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

Splendid Silk Ribbon Embroidery by Chris Rankin

The subtitle for this book is: Embellishing Clothing, Linens & Accessories. On the back of the dust jacket is a photograph of a black tee shirt decorated with small roses in various shades of pink on one shoulder. it is gorgeous. To quote the back cover blurb " If you're searching for an easy way to add elegance or pizzazz to existing clothes, bags, hats and more, look no further - silk ribbon embroidery is the answer. Use a combination of simple stitches to make: a vest blooming with fuschias a jazzy cap blushing with flowers a crazy quilted handbag and dozens of other delightful designs Add adornment to almost anything. Splendid Silk Ribbon Embroidery begins with a section on the stitches. They are well diagrammed and clearly explained. The projects are very good, many of the clothing embellishment designs are subtle. None of them is over the top. There are also designs for a Christmas stocking, boxes and pillows and even a greeting card design. Each project has clear directions and a materials list. You would not need to be anything like an expert embroiderer to do these designs, I think a stitcher with minimal embroidery skills could use this book. Published by Sterling Publications in 1996, this is a hard cover book with 128 pages. This book is in excellent condition, almost Gift Quality. It's only flaw is the edges of the dust jacket are slightly worn with a few very small edge tears. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

Gift Quality The Embroiderer's Garden by Thomasina Beck

I am beginning this listing by telling you this is a marvelous book, beautiful designs, great pictures, wonderful garden embroideries. This is not a project book. There are no step by step directions. There are templates that can be used to replicate some of the designs. This is a book for an experienced intermediate or advanced skills stitcher. From the back cover "Guided by acknowledged expert Thomasina Beck, reinterpret and recreate the beauty of the garden in embroidery, drawing inspiration from from embroiderers from the sixteenth century to the modern day.". The chapters are: Introduction Getting Started Choosing a Subject Choosing a Viewpoint Framing the View Knots and Knot Gardens Topiary Using the Herbals Flowers & Foliage Herbs, Vegetables & Fruit Water Gardens Greenhouses & Conservatories Paths & Paving Garden Ornament Postscript Gardens of Special Interest to Embroiderers I am looking at the Knots and Knot Gardens chapter. It begins with a little history of Knot Gardens. Then some samples of knot garden patterns in line drawings, then an antique print of the design for a Knot Garden. The next 2 pages are stitched Knot Gardens, in full color with discussion of how they were done and the effects achieved (they are wonderful). Then a few more knot garden design possibilities. Then 2 more pages of stitches designs then 2 pages of B&W Knot garden patterns to stitch and fill in with plants anf flowers. More patterns and more stitched samples, all in full color. More patterns and a template. As I said, this book is for an experienced stitcher. It is an amazing book. First published by Mohndruck GmbH for David & Charles in 1988, printed in Germany. Re-printed in 1989,1990,1993, 1997. This is the 1999 edition. The Embroider's Garden is a large glossy cover paper bound book with 192 pages. it is beautifully done & printed with handsome endpapers. This book is in excellent Gift Quality condition, it has no flaws and is like new. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

Ribbon Embroidery: Flower Patterns & Projects by Yukiko Ogura

This is an English language book published in Japan in 1995. This is not a beginner's book. The designs here are lovely but would require a stitcher of intermediate or advanced skill to do justice to them. The patterns are all flowers, the designs are classic florals, there is not much Japanese design influence in them. There are single flowers, buds, sprays and bouquets. There are wonderfully stitched and very beautiful. The templates are in black & white but all the other pictures or stitch instruction pictures are in full color. There is a finished picture of each project. The are 12 projects in the Flower Embroidery 1 section and 18 in the Flower Embroidery 2 part. There is a chapter on Ribbon Embroidery Basics and a chapter on Antique Ribbon Embroidery. Again, this is not a beginner's book. The author graduated from Kuwazawa Design Institute and specializes in needlework, including embroidery. This is a lovely book, published by Nihon Vogue-Sha in 1995. It is a glossy cover paperbound book with 87 pages. This book is in excellent, almost new condition. There is a small area on the back where I had trouble removing a sticker of some kind (beware stickers on books). This is unusual, there is a dust jacket on this paperbound book. I have never seen that before. It too is in fine condition. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

The Art of Blackwork Embroidery by Rosemary Drysdale

Rosemary Drysdale is the also the author of Pulled Work on Canvas and Linen. This is another excellent book from her about Blackwork Embroidery. I must admit I am very taken with Blackwork, I always love the crisp contrast between black & white, in stitching and otherwise. To quote the back of this book" Here is everything the beginner or expert embroiderer needs to know to complete a wide variety of projects in Blackwork Embroidery. This old and elegant form of Counted Thread Embroidery was first brought to England by Catherine of Aragon and has recently undergone a new surge of popularity. Blackwork is usually worked in black thread on a white background but embroiderers today are adapting the geometrical patterns to all kinds of color combinations for table linens, pillows, pictures, book covers and trimming on clothing. This book explains the methods and materials used in Blackwork. It includes 45 pattern stitches, with complete instructions for 24 projects. The numerous illustrations and graphs make all the instructions simple to follow as you create beautiful and unique designs." Let's see, as I page through the book I indeed find that the directions are clear and easy to understand. The graphs are very good as well and each project is shown stitched in a B&W picture (why not? it is blackwork). There is a section of full color pictures of some of the projects. The book begins with the basics of Blackwork in a chapter called Learning Blackwork Embroidery. Then a chapter on Materials Needed. This book would be suitable for a beginner but would, I think, challenge a more experienced embroiderer, as well. There is also a section in the beginning with a short history of Blackwork and a few wonderful pictures. The Art of Blackwork Embroidery is a glossy cover paperbound book. Published Charles Scribner's Sons in 1974. It has 159 pages. This is a very rare book. The book is in good condition except for the ugly yellowed old name stitckers put on 2 places on the inside front cover. One of them has been partially and badly removed, the other has the name & address scribbled over (as if we care) Otherwise the book is good, the cover is slightly bent in one corner but otherwise fine, the pages inside are white and clean and 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

The Margaret Boyles Book of Crewel Embroidery

Anyone who has read any of my reviews of Margaret Boyles' excellent needlework books already knows I consider her a consummate stitcher and Master Teacher. The Margaret Boyles Book of Crewel Embroidery is a very well written book. it begins with a chapter on the Materials you will need for Crewel work. Then there is a chapter on the Basics of Good Embroidery, a chapter on Starting Crewel. A chapter on the Stitches and a Portfolio of Designs to stitch. There are 20 projects and finally a chapter on Finishing. The book is suitable for a beginner, all the information is there from the length of yarn (or floss) used to types of hoops and more. The stitches are close up pictures of the actual stitches and very clear. The projects range from the easiest to designs that will challenge even an experienced Crewel Embroidery stitcher. Mrs. Boyles always sets up her books this way, with the easiest projects first. Most of the pictures and templates in the book are in B&W but there is a section of color pictures showing all the projects stitched. Below is a close up picture of one of her designs. This is a typewriter cover (remember typewriters?). The Margaret Boyles Book of Crewel Embroidery is a large hard cover book. Published by Simon and Schuster in 1979, it has 145 pages. The book is in very good condition. The dust jacket is a bit worn but that is to be expected at it's age however there are no tears of damage to it. The book inside is in very good condition. The pages are white and unmarked and the spine is tight. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

Treasury of Cross-Stitch Samplers by Sharon Perna

The books from Sterling Publishing are, in general, very good needlework books. This book is no exception. It is from Blandford Press in Dorset England and released here in the USA by Sterling. The Treasury of Cross-Stitch Samplers is just that, 29 original design samplers by the author. While some of these designs have a "vintage" look to them, many are quite modern. The sampler designs are easy to personalize by incorporating names, dates, etc. You can add your home, a pet, anything that you like. Some of the samplers celebrate weddings, anniversaries, births, graduations etc, others are sayings, blessings or verses. A variety of print styles is used, as well. In skimming the book, I find the directions to be very complete and to the point. Each design includes a thread key tied to J&P Coats six strand floss or DMC six strand floss. I recommend you be careful here, over the years DMC colors numbers change. I don't know anything about J & P Coats floss. Each design has a B & W picture of the stitched sampler and a full size chart of the design. Sadly some of these charts are on two pages. This would best be remedied by removing the pages and taping them together. I don't think copying them or scanning them would give you a true chart. Of course, I suppose you could stitch them right from the book. The chapters are: Materials & Techniques Family Record Samplers Alphabet Samplers Verse Samplers Alphabets & Numerals These designs would easily adapt to Needlepoint. There is a section of full color pictures showing each sampler. This is an impressive book. Published by Sterling Press in 1987, this is a large hard cover book with 128 pages. The Treasury of Cross-Stitch Samplers is in very good condition. The dust jacket is somewhat worn, which is no surprise given it's age but not torn or ripped anywhere. The book inside is like new, it is perfect. FREE MEDIA MAIL DELIVERY IN THE USA

Subversive Cross-Stitch by Julie Jackson

In a universe of gardens, flowers, kittens and such, all lovingly stitched I was amazed to find this book. I had never heard of it. I bet no one has heard of it. It is unusual, to say the least. This is a rare book I want to add to the above, I love this book. The subtitle is: 33 Designs for your Surly Side. The book is 33 "Text Sampler" designs. The designs are simple and very effective. They are designed for cross stitch but could easily be adapted for needlepoint. There are some "bad words" here, all used with humor and some genuinely cranky sentiment (similar to my own. occasionally). Many designs, however, are swear free and appropriate for all the rotten things you have to do at work or at home. Have I mentioned I love this book? I want to quote you something written by the author about herself and this book" The patterns in Subversive Cross-Stitch were born out of workplace frustration and are meant to be fun. They are a reflection of past and present views of the Author who, contrary to popular belief, is not a foul-mouthed ex-con nor a sufferer of Tourette's Syndrome. The Author will not be held responsible for any personal misunderstandings, so use your best judgement when stitching these patterns." Published by Quirk Publishing in 2006, this is a small hard cover book with 95 pages. Subversive Cross Stitch is in very good condition. It is, in fact, in Gift Quality condition but I do not see giving this book as a gift unless you are positive of the receiver's sense of humor. There never was a dust jacket, the book has a mat finish hard cover and the pages inside are perfect, as is the spine. 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

Lisbeth Perrone's Folk Art in Needlepoint & Cross-Stitch

This book by prolific needlepoint author, Lisabeth Perrone is based on a years work at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. the designs are from Folk Art traditions in Europe, Asia, The Americas and Africa. Each design has directions and easy to read charts using 3 or 4 colors, not just black & white and symbols showing the color placements. There are many color pictures throughout the book. All graphs & directions are easily adaptable to either needlepoint or cross-stitch. The designs are for a more experienced Stitcher. My bibliography gives this book a D (for experienced stitcher) rating This is a large size hardcover book. Published by Random House in 1978. It has 96 pages. Folk Art in Needlepoint is in very good condition. The dust jacket was a mess, all torn and awful so I tossed it. The book inside is very good, clean covers & pages, tight spine. This is often the case, a good book in a bad dust jacket. I try to save them but sometimes there is no point. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA Due to the weight of books, International Air Mail Delivery is $12.00 per book

American Needlework 1776/1976 by Leslie Tillett

This looks to be an amazing book, the subtitle is "Needlepoint and Crewel Patterns Adapted from Historic American Images". It also has a foreword by Rose Kennedy (yes, that Rose Kennedy). The designs and charts are based on early American pictures, styles and icons. There is a color picture of each design completed and complete instructions included materials needed and a very readable chart for each. I think the best way to describe this book is to list the patterns: An Alphabet Sampler General Washington and his Ledy (not a typo) Martha Washington's Needlepoint Martha Washington's Ballgown Bicentennial Medallion 1776-1976 Do Not Tread On Me George Washington Driving the Chariot of State Whale Paisley ( I had to look at that) Benjamin Franklin Bouquet Tea Chop (not a typo) Patchwork Quilt John Hewson Bouquet Confederate Flag Crazy Horse and General Custer Heart Flag The Spirit of '78 Stenciled Fruit Shaker Tree of Life Washday Rose Kennedy's Piano Bench Cover American Rose The Sailor's Farewell Molley Russell Sampler The Boston Tea Party United We Stand Clementine Bouquet Mules in the Pasture Eagles All Over As well as basic instructions, tips and stitches. Leslie Tillett has a long history as designer/colorist/author/lecturer. He designed what was, at the time, the largest piece of needlwork in America, a huge 4-Way Bargello hanging. He was asked by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis to add needlework to the The Design Works of Bedford-Stuyvesant in New York. Published by the New York Graphic Society in Boston in 1975. This is a hard cover book with 144 pages. American Needlework is in very good condition, even considering it's age. It looks like the last few pages were damp once, they are a bit crinkled, otherwise the inside is great with a tight spine. The book is inside of a clear plastic overcover. It does seems as if this has protected the dust cover. 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

Embroidery Designs From The Sea by Barbara Snook

When I bought this used book, sight unseen with no description beyond condition and that is very often untrue, I was not sure what it would be. It could have been graphed designs or just traceable shapes. I suppose I should have known it would just be shapes to trace for embroidery. And so it is, but I am listing it here anyway. Design books with shapes and designs for fish, marine plants & animals are hard to find and someone may find this book very useful. There are no graphs, embroidery instructions, not needlepoint directions but a medium to experienced stitcher should be able to transfer these designs unto canvas and stitch them. The book is full of well done hand drawn designs. My bibliography lists it as a C in difficulty (with A the easiest and D the hardest). it says it is a great source for unusual designs. It was published by Taplinger Publishing Co, New York in 1977. The book is hardcover and has 94 pages. This book was Hard-To-Find. This book is in Fine condition, I would be Gift Quality if a previous owner had not written her name on the inside cover page. The book, the pages and the dust jacket are all in excellent condition. Free Media Mail Delivery in the USA