No comments about Fresh Cuts (Leisure Arts #5114).

5 comments about Netted Beadwork: A Beadwork How-To Book.

1. this book was cool, a good use of some beads i had collected and had close to no idea how i was going to use. i have yet to tackle one as a project but this book gives me hope!



2. I've been a fan of Diane Fitzgerald's almost since I started beading, and so it came as no surprise that this book was really fantastic, inspiring, and gorgeous. What did surprise me was how inspiring it was. It starts with a lovely gallery and history of netted beadwork around the world. From China to Egypt with beautiful pictures and text to explain a bit about the pictures.
   From there it goes into a project section with well written, and beautiful projects. It never fails to amaze me what all can be done in netting, and this book has such wonderful examples and instructions. It explains the different forms netting can take, and shows very well the possibilities within this fast working technique. There are projects to inspire anyone, and the diagrams are clear and easy to understand, it's a great book for beginners just learning how to bead, and an inspiring book for more advanced beaders who want to learn a few more techniques to add to the repertoire. The great thing about netting for new beaders is that it's fairly simple to learn, for more advanced reader, the great thing is the nearly instant gratification of a netted project.
   I think what inspires me the most is the very loose, very organic looking random netting,it's a lot like freeform peyote in the manner it's constructed.It's shown in a few different ways so you can really get an idea of how you can use it in your own designs to create something completely new.
   I'm so impressed with this book, it's definately in my personal top 5 books list.



3. I ordered the book and it will be great for new beader's. It's worth buying. It shows you how to net the rows and then use your own iders.



4. The book is fine, I just get frustrated when I have difficulty with the techniques.



5. Very detailed directions for all sorts of netting; if you can't learn from this book, you won't learn at all. However, there are only a few specific projects included so you need to be able to take the basics from this book and use your own imagination and creativity to actually produce jewelry, home decor objects and the like. The photos of netted objects from all cultures are facinating; there is even a netted window valance!

5 comments about Borders The basics & beyond.

1. It arrived in a very timely fashion and in good condition as advertised. I would order again.



2. The book is just what I was looking for and the transaction could not have been better.



3. A hardcover book with a spiral binding enabling it to lay flat for easy reference, Borders: The Basics & Beyond is the latest in the award-winning "basics & beyond" series. Borders: The Basics & Beyond focuses on border designs, and how to create borders with eye-catching color and contrast. Featuring twelve projects and dozens of suggested border designs, Borders: The Basics & Beyond is a superb mix-and-match resource for quilters of all skill and experience levels. Full-color photography of each of the step-by-step instructions makes Borders: The Basics & Beyond extremely easy and helpful to use. Highly recommended.



4. I was very excited when I saw this book. I am always looking for suggestions for borders. The four chapters provide a lot of great information but I found some of the information to be repeated several times over which was disappointing. I felt that once it was stated, it didn't need to be restated twice more in later chapters. If I wanted to review that information, I could look back.
   
   Chapter one goes over the basic tools and contains large photos of the items described. Things like tools, appliqués, making corners and a vocabulary list are included. Chapter two jumps right in and let's you start creating a border. It also describes sixteen types of blocks you can use to create borders.
   
   Chapter three is where it becomes repetitious. The first half of this chapter has new information and even three wall hangings to create. Then it repeats itself with describing the same sixteen borders and how to put them onto a quilt. In all fairness, it describes the size block to make to place on a particular sized top but since there is a Size Chart on page 90 and 91, all you would need to do is the math to figure out the block size for the border you need. All the appliqués talked about in the book are given at full size which is very nice since you don't have to run out to the copy shop to enlarge them to correct size.
   
   The final chapter is almost the best part because that is where you will find four wonderful projects that you can create to practice your new border techniques. One quilt and three table runners let you use the borders/blocks you learned about to make gifts or home decoration.
   
   The best part of the book is that it is spiral bound so you don't have to weigh down the pages or lose your place because the book closes when you walk away to sew. In my opinion, all sewing books should be bound in this fashion.



5. This book does not go beyond basics and barely covers borders at all! It is more about piecing BASIC blocks such as 4 patch, sawtooth, and flying geese and using these as a border. She uses several borders of basic blocks to add variety to the overall quilt. Not very creative. Her projects are also unimaginative. The one useful inclusion is tables which provide optional sizes for 10 blocks. This book is definitely OVERPRICED with information found in most beginner quilting books.

2 comments about How to Weave Hawaiian Coconut Palm Fronds.

1. Looks like a good book. Have had some 1:1 experience, so book is helpful to have us continue.



2. Really wanted this book to help me make a palm leaf hat. Although the pictures and text are VERY clear, I get about 3/4 of the way through and can't get any further. I have spent HOURS trying. Still, I did manage to make the roses and fish, so it's a start.

1 comments about A Cuff Above (Leisure Arts #4784).

1. This book has a great combination of socks to knit in it. All the instruction are clear and easy to understand and the baby socks are soooo cute.

5 comments about Fashions of the Gilded Age, Volume 1: Undergarments, Bodices, Skirts, Overskirts, Polonaises, and Day Dresses 1877-1882.

1. This book (series, really) is awesome! I am intermediate in my sewing abilities, and found it very easy to decipher and use. I am making a wedding dress from a mix of patterns found in these books. Very period-accurate, nice fashion plates, well written, clearly explained. You could not ask for more. I recommend that you make your first attempt or few from cheap/recycled material, until you are comfortable with how pieces of this time are made, as it is far more complicated than most of today's simplified and streamlined patterns. Be prepared to put in some hours on a good piece. If you are just want to educate yourself on fashion's of the Victorian era, this is a great series for you!



2. I am very pleased with this book and I think it gives a load of information for a very reasonable price.
   
   The book (together with vol.2) is overfilled with all kinds of garments you can imagine and for each sort of garment there are always many styles.
   
   It is not directly a drafting book, it does not tell you how to draft your own bodice etc. by using your measurements, but the method of using the patterns and the enlarging rulers is very close to that and, as I think, it might produce a very good substitution for a custom-drafted dress with saving a lot of your time and being very simple to do. It is something between custom drafting and pre-sized patterns, because you create the garments by using your bust and back length measurement, which are the two most important measurements for making a garment suited to your proportions and it will probably need only little easy modifications like adding/substracting from waist and hip width and maybe some changes for the front length. But all possible and most frequent modifications are very well explained in the book.
   
   It is all written in such a way that even with no or little knowledge of drafting, you'll be able to produce a probably very well fitted garments.
   
   For a drafting professional, it's a good help when doing things like skirts, especially draped overskirts and all garments creating a shape or silhouette that is hard to figure out. Even if you won't use the patterns for enlarging and draft the things yourself, you can very well keep to the shape of the patterns as you can see, unlike in so many pattern books, NUMBERS.
   
   I think this book has the best ratio of the price and the information given of all costume book I've come through. It's a pity that there are no such books for earlier periods:-(



3. This is a great book for seamstresses with some experience(I think it would be too hard for beginners.It would be good if you have some comprehenesion on sizing(drafting patterns yourself for example)but that isn't even necessary.I think it would be easier though:)
   
   Frances Grimble gives clear instructions for changing patterns to size and even to different body shapes(large bust, short back etc.
   You do need to take some time for this, but well, you'll have an authentic pattern in your hands, how great is that?;)And there are so many in this book! I was having a very hard time finding real historical patterns in The Netherlands(so far found one french journal from 1902)and I feel like a kid in a candystore now.:)I <3 this book already.
   
   You can make a complete outfit, from undergarments to overgarments.
   
   If you have some sewing experience and you love this period it is really a great book!
   
   
   
   Amazon's service is excellent too. It didn't take very long for the item to arrive(from US to the Netherlands)(with one step faster shipping, expidited?)it was even a lot faster then the estimated arrival time.



4. This book is wonderful. I believe I own every book Frances Grimble has written and anxiously await more. The variety of patterns is amazing and allows the experienced sewer to create their own designs from various components, like sleeves and collars. This sure beats trying to decipher the patterns in an original 1890's issue of Harpers!



5. This book contains patterns for the following:
   corsets, hoopskirts and bustles (some)
   underclothing and negligee wear (quite a few)
   day and evening skirts (only about four)
   day bodices (quite a few)
   evening bodices (some)
   overskirts (some)
   polonaises (some)
   day dresses (quite a few)
   
   some = around ten
   quite a few = over 20
   
   I would recommend this book for anyone who likes victorian costuming. It not only works as a pattern book, but as a source book, having lots of pictures you can use for reference. Even if you just look through it, it really can help you understand the styles of that era.

5 comments about 50 Heirloom Buttons to Make.

1. This book is a great way to learn how to make buttons for just about any project that you would like to make, especially historical clothing.



2. I'm reviewing the Kindle edition.
   Period costume makers specializing in the 1700s to 1800s and dressmakers today can learn a lot from this book, it's also an excellent resource for lace makers and crocheters who want to try something new.
   There is a great deal of information in this book. It's about how to make very intricate buttons using threads, cording and fabric in a variety of techniques. It's meticulously researched and fairly exhaustive in the things it covers.
   Needleworkers will find ideas in here for ways to make buttons and inspiration as well. Many of these techniques could be applied to jewelry.
   Where original button molds are now fairly inaccessible, the author offers suggestions to use instead. After reading this I went to the hardware store where I found nylon washers that work very nicely for many of the thread weaving techniques.
   Styles covered include thread weaving, lace making techniques, embellishing high quality cotton tulle, embroidery, coiled fabric strips, woven ribbons, simple fabric buttons and knots. My favorite techniques are the thread weaving and the whole chapter on making frog closures that goes well beyond the simple and common cloverleaf frog.
   These are not quick projects while your first learning the techniques because of the precision necessary to make matched sets of buttons, but it is very portable. The techniques themselves are simple, it's the scale and trying to get everything exact that make them challenging. I recommend practicing with thicker threads and bigger washers or even yarn on cheap bangle bracelets while you're first learning the technique.



3. Attaching the perfect button to a handcrafted piece makes the piece totally complete. 50 Heirloom Buttons gives examples and directions by which perfect buttons may be made. The style of writing is easy to follow, the directions are nicely illustrated and the finished product is great! Once the basics are mastered, the possibilities are endless. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK!



4. For creating made buttons, there is no better book. However, for absolute novices, it is a bit confusing.



5. This is a wonderful book for a historic costumer. Especially if antique buttons are out of your means and modern buttons are not period enough. Whether you are doing a garment from hundreds of years ago, to more recent Victorian and Edwardian, there will be something for you in this book. The buttons included are timeless styles. Attractively and concisely portrayed, the author separates them into appropriate skill levels. There are instructions on many needle made buttons, including tenerife lace types. There are even instructions on making frogs (common cape closures made from cording). The photos are large and in color. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. A super book!

5 comments about Bag Boutique: Making Fabulous Purses And Totes (That Patchwork Place).

1. I am very particular when it comes to purses and totes that I make as gifts or carry myself. I was disappointed to find there were only four of the eighteen patterns that I would consider making. The other bags/purses are either too small or too exotic for my tastes. They are odd shaped or just not a useful item for me.
   
   The book contains templates if they are needed to create the bag/purse. Graphics are included along with the written instructions. There are materials and cutting lists and sections that explain handles, straps, closures and image transfers.
   
   All in all, if you are as particular about your purse/bag as I am, you will do better to grab an individual pattern than to be disappointed with this book.



2. Very disappointed with this book. You have to enlarge the patterns to use them. And it isn't just a little enlargement you have to enlarge some to 111%. Would have been nice to have this in the description before I spent money on it. I like the design of the purses.



3. Bag Boutique: Making Fabulous Purses And Totes (That Patchwork Place)
   The book offers some cute designs, but the explanations aren't always simple [inserting linings, for instance]. I made some simple changes to the bags that I made but I think it turned out well.



4. I received my product in an amazing short time and in perfect condition! Thank you



5. I had higher hopes for this one. If you like the crafty look, you'll love these as is. I prefer a "real" looking handbag, but by steering away from their cutesy-crafty fabric & embellishments, I found some cute bags in here. I am not a novice sewer, but I felt the directions were a bit lacking here & there if you are new to sewing handbags. Directions for the zippers & such could be better, at least if it had more pictures...which is always a plus when you are flipping & turning fabric this way & that.

4 comments about Beaded Felt Jewellery (Twenty to Make).

1. This book shows simple, beautiful beads made of felt, embroidery thread and small beads. I love it's conciseness. There are no wasteful chapters with useless information about the materials. Just pictures and simple instructions --no fluff.



2. If you love making your own beads with minimul supplies, this book is for you. I love that it's a compact size so I can slide into my purse for waiting room events. The pictures are gorgeous and the handmade beads are very clever and inexpensive to make. If you've ever done hand sewing you can make these great beads in very little time.



3. Got this book originally at the library. A good addition to the creative aspect of my "how-to" bookshelf. Especially good for jewelry makers looking to use other materials.It does not go into detail, so you need to think some of the projects through.



4. For such a relatively small book, it's certainly not small on great ideas! I just wish the publisher would add a list of materials suppliers. I own several books by this publisher. Not only are the published artists talented, but the ideas are really interesting. It's another good book for your library! It's one of those books that you look at and decide you can't wait to try out your own version of ideas!

No comments about A Text-Book of Netting and Net Making.