5 comments about Mimi Dietrich's Baltimore Basics: Album Quilts from Start to Finish.

1. Our Applique Society is teaching classes based on this book for all the blocks. It is easy to read and photos follow the text well. She even goes over fabric selection. I highly recommend the book.



2. This an excellant book on needle turn for anyone beginning this craft or someone already versed in this method, I am looking forward to starting a progectfrom the book very soon. Barbara



3. What a delight for the appliqué enthusiast! Mimi, a Baltimore native and lifelong resident, is an authority on this amazing quilt form that has hooked so many of us on appliqué.
   
   Mimi begins by presenting food for thought in planning your quilt, considering options, making decisions, and getting organized. This is not your quick-and-easy type o' deal. These are more like thoughtful, measured, long-range projects that you should enjoy all along the way.
   
   Next comes a great idea -- printed layout mockups! You can photocopy the block thumbnails, cut them apart, and try them out in several pre-printed arrangements to see what you like best. Very cool.
   
   Then there's a whole beautiful section giving fabric yardage and cutting instructions for a wide variety of sizes and settings. Mimi really helps you design your own quilt.
   
   After giving information on fabrics and supplies, Mimi takes you step-by-step through several methods of preparation for hand appliqué. She encourages you to try them all to see which is your favorite. Then comes detailed information on hand stitching, plus sections on the stems, circles, baskets, and bows that we see so commonly in Baltimore Album. Since Mimi also knows dimensional appliqué, she throws in folded rosebuds and ruched flowers.
   
   Then, of course, there are the 12 beautiful block patterns reminiscent of old, each one accompanied by a color photo of the stitched design.
   
   The book ends with how to sew your blocks together, how to make appliquéd borders, and quilting and finishing your big or little masterpiece. A comprehensive guide for those wishing to learn just what the title says... Baltimore Basics!
   
   Kay Mackenzie
   Author, Easy Applique Blocks: 50 Designs in 5 Sizes (That Patchwork Place)



4. My book came as promised in the time that it was promised. I could not be happier. Brand new.



5. i bought this for my mother she loved it said it had great things in it. it arrived on time just like it said and was in great conditions

4 comments about Not Your Mama's Stitching: The Cool and Creative Way to Stitch It To 'Em.

1. I liked the sassy style of the author. It made the information engaging and accessible. This was the A to Z of needle arts! She talked about everything from the history of stitching to what you do if you get red wine on your work. She gave terrific instructions as well. I would highly recommend this book to stitching virgins. However, it must be supplemented if you are also looking for hip cross stitch patterns, as there were only two. I recommend Subversive Cross Stitch as a supplement.



2. I bought this book for my DIL who would like to stitch but doesn't have a lot of free time. She also likes more contemporary decorating tips. The pictures are great, and the ideas are really clever.



3. Kate Shoup Welsh, Wiley, 2008, ISBN 978-0-470-09516-4. $14.99
   
   Don't you just love this title? It's lways bothered me that needlework, especially needlepoint, had such a stuffy reputatio. I kee[ thinking about Cosmo's wife in the movie Topper.
   
   So I am as happy as can be with the developments which are making stitching unstuffy.
   
   And this book really delivers on its promise, starting from the very beginning and delivering instruction and great projects in an engaging style.
   
   The book is divided into two sections. The first covers the basics including what to buy, a history of needlework, techniques, and stitches. It's outstanding at showing the different types of materials, how techniques differ, and what supplies to buy. Something I rarely see in any beginner's book are the charts which display coverage of different threads, different types of fabric & the techniques used on them, and what size needle to use. It's one of the most useful parts of the book, With this you won't end up with huge mismatches in materials.
   
   In the chapter on techniques you will learn more useful stuff like how to tape and mount fabric, ways to start your thread, and finishing techniques. The stitch chapter has enough different stitches to get you started.
   
   The second section of the book has 24 projects, including ones from well-known stitchers like Amy Holbrook of AMH Designs and Jenny Hart, author of Sublime Stitching: Hundreds of Hip Embroidery Patterns and How-To. Each project tells you up front the technique, the cost, and the skill level needed.
   
   The instructions are clear and really complete. Diagrams, line drawings, and charts are large and easy to read.
   
   Best of all each project has one variation. Sometimes this is an coordinating project, sometimes it's another project using the same technique, and sometimes it's a variation. But they all capitalize on the information presented with even more to spark your imgination.
   
   Do you know someone who wants to learn to stitch but thinks it's too hard? Are you looking for fun projects? Do you know someone who takes an unstuffy approach to needlework -- Get them this book, they'll love it and so will you!



4. I was looking for a book to learn some basic embroidery techniques, and for some simple, fun project ideas that were not too "old-fashioned" or flowery. But this book went too far in the other direction, and was too trendy and sassy for my liking.
   
   Although I did like some of the project ideas and designs, this book mostly spent more time trying to be cheeky and hip (with project titles like "Laptop Dance" for a laptop case design, or "Tie Me Up" for a man's tie project that no man I know would ever wear, or "Wash Your Damn Hands" on a hand towel) than just teaching skills and techniques. It was way too wordy, trying too hard to be fun and funky. The instructions were not very concise or easy to follow, and there were hardly any photos or diagrams to show techniques.
   
   I returned this book, and found a book in my library that is exactly what I was looking for, and will be ordering that instead: "Embroidery Basics" by Betty Barnden.

5 comments about Brazilian Three-Dimensional Embroidery: Instructions and 50 Transfer Patterns (Dover Needlework Series).

1. Ample supply of transfers for Brazilian Embroidery. A beginner could probably use more stitch examples and explanation of process. Purchased to replace a book that was "lost" and am glad to have it restored to my collection.



2. Need a person to guide me through this craft . . . the book is really a good book



3. I have not tried the patterns or instructions in this book. I collected it to place in my hobby library and look forward to studying it at a future date. S. Robertson



4. where is the book gone ?
   will i get replacement ?
   thanks



5. Got excited about this one when I saw it, but found the designs WAAAAY to intricate. This may be a matter of taste, or the nature of Brazilian embroidery, but the book is definitely full of very similar-looking designs. It just wasn't what I was looking for in transfer patterns.

5 comments about Designs and Patterns for Embroiderers and Craftspeople.

1. This book has a lot of patterns that can be used as is, or easily edited to suit your own purposes. Easily translates for embroidery, but can be used for many other mediums as well.



2. This book is filled with 512 different patterns to trace and embroider to your hearts content. Designs with sizes in inches and suggested uses for the patterns. A fantastic collection!



3. Although I did not get the book to use for hand stitching designs, it would be great for the person who does embroidery by hand. The designs are classic and simple. Books like these are great for those of us that cannot draw great designs outselves. I got the book for inspiration for designs for machine embroidery. Some of the designs are quite large for machine embroidery but can be reduced easily enough for that purpose. It is a good book.



4. If you think this is what you're looking for, trust me, it is. Just superb - lots of great, clean, perfect designs - clear instructions.



5. I bought this book several days ago and was not disappointed. There is so much to choose from. I haven't been able to decide what to do first. The illustrations are basic line drawings. They are ready to go for tracing right out of the book or scanning into your computer to reduce wear and tear on the book. The front of the book displays a whole bunch of embroidery stitches and the directions on how to do them. The majority of the book illustrates hundreds of flowers in many different patterns and the rest consists of creatures, quilt squares and many beautiful intricate medallion patterns. The only thing that will hold you back is your own imagination. I recommend this book highly.

3 comments about Fairies and Elves Iron-on Transfer Patterns (Iron-On Transfers).

1. These were more detailed and smaller than I anticipated, and likely too much so for some needlework. Still, the fairies, which tend toward the child-like, are nicely done.



2. New grand-daughter and my daughter want this childs quilt to be fairies. I search ALLLLLLL over for fairy pattern with out success and was sooo happy to find these on-line. They are beautiful.



3. I bought this book because I wanted to transfer the pictures on to fabric so I could do needle work with them. I found about 100 other uses as well. The Pictures were very clear and had bold lines that made it easy to see when tranfered. The faries themselves were very pretty, and even though there were about 50-75 different fairies, they all seemed to have their own personality. I found I was able to use them on fabric, wood, and even on my wall! I transfered some to my wall to make a mural and it worked great! You can use each picture more then once, but I found that the image started to fade, and it's best if only used once or twice. They would make very cute t-shirts if you wanted to transfer them, and then paint it. I can't think of anything you couldn't use them for, as it says in the book, transfers to anything that can absorb ink!

5 comments about Greetings from Knit Café.

1. This was my first ever knitting book, super fun patterns, and I can actually follow them! :-) Enjoy!



2. Let's face it, no book ever has a list of patterns that everyone will knit. We pick the ones we like from a book and enjoy it not only for the patterns, but also the looks and the readability. It's also true I probably wouldn't use nice yarn from Japan to make a horse blanket but I do like the blanket.
   
   The photos are very well done in this book and the layout is excellent. It's a pleasure to re-read beyond studying the patterns. It also definitely fits the friendly, relaxed yet high class southern California life style (I grew up there).
   
   I enjoy the extra tidbits, like recipes and ideas. If I want to get only a list of patterns, I look online. If I want a book to enjoy for many reasons, something like Greetings from Knit Cafe fits the bill.



3. This is one of those recent knitting books that seeks to be more than just patterns. I would say it succeeds in creating a pleasant and unique atmosphere by providing not only patterns but a lot of miscellaney having to do with Knit Cafe (recipes, their top 10 CDs, popular events, the author/owner's dream of what this store would be and has become, etc.). Of the 30 patterns, only a few piqued my interest: baby shirt, women's shaped polo, La-La trianular shaped scarf. I would definitely never make the skirt on the cover, the boxer shorts, the evening dress or the bikini, just not my thing and I'm suspecting true for most knitters. If one were a beginner and didn't already have similar generic patterns, there is a basic long-sleeve roll neck pullover, a zip front hoodie, and a relaxed looking cardigan with stylish touches (flared sleeves & body and rolled edge finishing). For Amazon's current bargain price, this book would be a nice addition to one's knitting library.



4. What I like about "Greeting from Knit Cafe" is that Suzan Mischer is creating a aura of comfort while you are not only reading but also knitting to this book. I have read a lot of reviews saying that this book is geared towards the "Californian" asthetic, and that it has mostly patterns for thin people, but I would have to disagree. A lot of the patterns you see in this book are geared towards the younger knitting crowd who want to knit more than bulky philosopher's cardigans.
   
   A list of the patterns include:
   Architect scarf
   beret
   boxer shorts
   hiking socks
   Chanel-ish cardigan jacket
   classic sweater for guys
   comfy socks
   computer keyboard cover
   felted saddle blacket
   baby blanket
   messenger bag
   huge shawl
   baby sweater
   pink dress
   kid's club skirt
   basic hat
   lacy skirt with bows
   lala scarf
   love blanket
   lush hoodiw
   peace pillow
   polo shirt
   pompom awning
   recycled scarf
   red carpet gown
   slouchy alpaca cardigan (my favorite)
   terry bathrobe
   weho bikini
   yarmulke
   yoga mat bag
   
   So as you can see there is a huge variety in patterns. I know the reviewer before me said that the skirt she wants to knit is on the front cover and I do agree it's not a great picture of the said skirt. However there is TWO pictures of that same skirt in the book, one is full frontal of the whole entire skirt on a model and the other is the close up of the lace panels. I measured myself and even though I am a good medium sized girl (and trust me I AM), I qualified for the small in this skirt pattern.
   
   Now you must know that this is a very contemporary knitting book, there are even a couple of baking recipes and other tid bits in here and I can understand how someone who is used to regular knitting books might not be used to a book like this. To some in the knitting world it could also be seen as a breath of fresh air.



5. This book is disappointing. It's beautiful with the bright colors and scrapbook style and the skirt on the front and the baby sweater handed down from someone's grandma is interesting. But that's it.
   The story is very Fairytale. To start your own yarn cafe just cash in your stock, call old friends who happen to be known designers, and oh, yeah--the address on MELROSE doesn't hurt either. Bibbedy Bobbedy Boo, you have a yarn cafe.
   This book was seemingly made by a california clique who have the cash and connections to make their own book.
   
   Added 3/09: I'm eating crow (kinda). I've had this book for about a month now. My daughter landed on it so I was unable to return it. Determined to get my $25 worth out of it, I made the baby sweater. Actually I made 2 of them. I love the pattern. I'm a big fan of Debbie Bliss and Erika Knight, and this is one of the coolest baby sweaters I've ever made. Kudos to grandma.
   
   The Architect Scarf is beautiful and masculine. Look closer at the chart in the background. Most of the men's patterns out there are either bulky or very feminine, aka: Metro Sexual. This scarf is perfect for the masculine man who appreciates art (or architecture).
   
   The recipes and over-all idea of the book are helpful if you are starting a knitting group. Inspiring, if the author doesn't mind you copying her ideas. If that was the purpose of the book it would have helped for the author to say so.
   
   I still have to say the rest of the patterns are not that great if you are buying this soley as a pattern book. If you are buying it for help starting a knitting group then you may want to try it.
   
   Whether you spend the money or just check it out from the library, look through the book slowly, let the over-all ideas sink in. And definitely try the baby pattern.
   
   Call me hypocrite, but I'd be an even bigger one if I didn't admit it publicly.

5 comments about A-Z of Stumpwork (A-Z Needlework 09).

1. This book has excellent pictures and instructions so you can teach yourself stumpwork. It also has some interesting projects to test your skill. Well worth a look!!!



2. If you're looking for a great tutorial on Stumpwork Embroidery, this is the book for you. The written instructions are very clear, with great pictorials showing you exactly how a particular technique is done and supposed to look like. I am a beginner in the technique of stumpwork and found this book to be an invaluable help to me. I would highly recommend this book if you're interested in doing Stumpwork Embroidery.



3. Well... This book I expect with high hopes. I am sorry to say it was packed very poorly and came totally crunched up. PACKAGING WAS TERRIBLE!!
   Info was good so I kept it. SORRY HALF THE PAGES ARE WRINKLED!!



4. This is almost two books in one: the first half is a superb, thorough instructional manual of stumpwork embroidery techniques; the second half, a detailed collection of stumpwork projects from designers which have been featured in Inspirations magazine, arguably the most prestigious embroidery publication in the world. You really get the A to Z!
   
   Despite the carefully photographed, step-by-step technique section, I would rate A-Z of Stumpwork as a book for the intermediate stumper. True, it is published in a spiral-bound format, which in my opinion is invaluable for a working reference guide of any kind. But even experienced stitchers do forget stitches from time to time. And let us not overlook the elegant, gorgeous designs that are laid out for us to duplicate, designs from the likes of Anna Scott, Jan Kerton, Wendy Innes and Janet Luce. Their elaborate embroideries are given complete materials' lists and instructions, but not illustrated step by step.
   
   Everything in the A-Z series is so beautifully photographed, so carefully organized and detailed, and so charmingly illustrated with whimsical prints and retro-Victorian artwork, that of course I have to award A-Z of Stumpwork five stars. I recommend that a beginner get a copy of Kay Dennis' Beginner's Guide to Stumpwork to get started and this lovely A-Z reference to use and keep for a lifetime of usefulness and inspiration.
   -Andrea, aka Merribelle



5. In my humble opinion this is one of the best books on stumpwork on the market! But if you are familiar with the A-Z series of books this wont surprise you. Amazing detailed pictures of each step with crystal clear instructions and sumptous projects! The only drawback I found was its lack of any figures. It's flowers, berries, mushrooms and animals. If you are just starting out in stumpwork I would recommended this book with Kay Dennis' book "Beginner's Guide to Stumpwork". Plenty of wonderful projects to keep you busy for quite a while!

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.