5 comments about Freeform Style: Blend Knit and Crochet to Create Fiber Art Wearables.

1. Great pictures, great patterns, and great tips and techniques. Very happy I purchased this book. Hats off to Prudence and Jonelle, their work is lovely.



2. This is a truly wonderful book. Full of beautiful projects to make and a stunning inspiration for the creative person who likes to knit and crochet.



3. I LOVE love, love this book I expected it to be just another freeform book and since it only cost a penny thought it had to be a ringer no one else bid on it. Their loss and my STEAL I plan on setting on my bed a lot of hours and creating wonderful gifts for my friend that is brave enough to wear my designs and no one else has it!!She also tells me people ask where she gets her clothes to which nshe replies I have a designer in Philadelphia!! Imagine losing 150 pds and having a hot body and then having gotten a great body wearing wonderful designs to show it off to its best advantage.Another hint was that Prudence Mapstone co-authored the bookdesigns and use of yarns an d colors.American designers are so beige my definition for boring,colorless designers. I get truly discouraged looking for the latest newest ideas to move me to create.I am so happy to have found this free form expression of what we have hiding in the files at the back of our head WAITING TO SHOUT OUT HEY HERE i AM ! Give me a nudge,All I need is a nudge to start the gears roling and crank out the garment. Be sure to check out Libertad Artistica wow!!!On page 94
   
   
   



4. FREEFORM STYLE is for any knitter or crocheter seeking new projects exploring freeform knitting and crochet potentials. Some 10 patterns for clothes, each presented in three skill-level variations, makes for a series of fine step-by-step instructions building details on designs and options. A fine and different guide for any needlework enthusiast and libraries catering to them, this is packed with color photos and easy directions.



5. I have not yet started any projects
   from this book , but it
   looks interesting. However, it
   also seems to be simply adding
   embellishments to projects.
   I won't know that until I try.

4 comments about Creative Kumihimo.

1. This is one of my favorite kumihimo books. Ms. Carey presents all the basics, but she goes way beyond just the basics - equipment needed, working with the threads and cords (the warp), and patterns for a lot of different braids. The essential piece of equipment is a braiding stand or maru-dai. The threads and cords are wound onto bobbins (tama) which are then suspended across the top (or mirror) of the maru-dai. Ms. Carey discusses setting up the maru-dai and covers types of thread to use, the length to use, and how much thread per bobbin. This section includes some terrific photos that make everything very clear.
   
   The braid's structure is determined by a series of movements and the photos that accompany each braid type show exactly how to handle the threads in the braiding process. Plus - there's a discussion of patterns and how to read them. There are a lot a braid patterns included in this book and with each one there's a color photo of the of the finished braid, a diagram of the layout of the cords on the maru-dai, and a photo of what the cental brading point looks like (some braids have very distinctive center points and in any case, observing changes at the center can catch errors early).
   
   There's a lot of detail on finishing your braids (an entire chapter) with explanations and great photos of the various approaches (knotting, beads, tassels, etc.). I like the author's approach and concise style. The last chapter is called "Creative Effects" and it includes some wonderful examples of things you can do with your braids.



2. "Creative Kumihimo" is great. It has step-by-step, very clear, instructions to make oodles of braids. Very informative.



3. This book contains advanced patterns for the Marudai, using 4, 8 and 16 tamas (bobins). Once you understand that the kumihimos in the pictures are described at the end of the book you're good to go. The patterns let you see how the colors will affect the results and plan ahead to get the effect you desire.
   One thing I regret though is that the chapter on endings doesn't have enough details and would need more drawings.
   Highly recommended for intermediate level. If you are a complete beginner you should buy "The Beginner's Guide to Braiding: The Craft of Kumihimo by Jacqui Carey" first.



4. I wouldn't recommend this book for beginners because it is so full of information and braid patterns, however, once a person has learned how to do the braiding with the beginners book by Jacqui Carey this book is a great in the fact that it does have different patterns that are more intricate. I would recommend this book for people who already know how to do Kumihimo braiding and want to expand their braiding abilities.

3 comments about Simple Silk Ribbon Embroidery by Machine: Step-by-Step Techniques for Beautiful Embellishments.

1. I cannot express how thrilled i am that i got this book.This Book is full of information and techiniques that even a beginner would love to try.Clear directions on how- to do is shown.The best book in Ribbon embroidery i have ever comne across...Love it.



2. I just got this book. I have not done any of the exercises in the book but can hardly wait to start! Very clear instructions. Lovely color pictures clearly show how to do each step. Written directions add clarity. She makes use of clock settings for exact placement of ribbon for each element in silk embroidery designs.



3. This beautiful instructional book has clear, concise directions for "machine" embroidery with silk ribbon!!!!!! Since I do not own, nor can I afford a NEW embroidery machine, imagine my delight to discover this book that I can use my 30-year old Kenmore zig zag machine!!!!!!!!
   
   The photographs are gorgeous! And there are many ideas for use of this technique.
   
   Thanks for may opinion.

5 comments about Knitting Nature: 39 Designs Inspired by Patterns in Nature.

1. I hardly know how to rate this book. So I'm compromising between its best & worst features. If it weren't for the errors in it, I might have made it a 4.
   
   So here are the not so good things:
   1) the plethora of errors, especially important in the quirkier designs.
   2) the disjoint between title & contents, which seems a trend in knitting books lately. The book is purportedly about the connections we observe between math & nature & knitting. To an extent it is that. However, in too many of the designs, any connection between math in nature & the project is tangential, at best. The work of fiber artists has always reflected nature's inspiration. One expects something more than a wavy line reminiscent of twigs in a book that promotes itself as looking for math in nature.
   3) I truly hated some of the projects. Too many were baggy, boxy, no fitting, looked to be poorly knit in terms of fit & drape. My problem was not that they were "over the top". To the contrary, a lot of them were just nothing great.
   On the other hand, some of the projects were just bad, awful designs, for garments neither functional nor beautiful.
   4) I really, really hated the colors.
   5)The knitting techniques were pedestrian, to say the least. designs that could have made good use of circular knitting, various cast ons, etc., do not.
   
   OK, so now for the good things.
   1)There were 3 designs I liked a lot, just as they were shown in the book:the basalt tank, the Hex coat, & the roundabout leaf tank. I also liked the spiral scarf, though not in the color or yarn shown. Still, that design has promise. To my mind, the book is worthwhile just for those.
   2)I also liked some of the design elements, especially in the fractals chapter.
   3)Finally, the book was thought provoking. I like designs that had unusual constructions, and the book does have a few of those. Some of the ones that I found otherwise ugly did make me think of possibilities.
   4) The basic theme of the book, reflected in a few of the designs, was an interesting one that I'd like to pursue.
   
   It is a shame that the book could not have been more carefully put together. The starfish shawl, for example, has an interesting basis (though hardly original). It could have gone places. Instead, it resulted in a garment that surely no one would wish to wear--both impractical & ugly. The swirled pentagon pullover is a fairly traditional sweater, with an interesting yoke. But it is shaped badly, doesn't fit the model well, & the neckline is surely no knitter who doesn't want to be accused of the "loving hands at home" look would produce. The ogee tunic is a lovely design--but the unshaped, baggy garment with ill-fitting shoulders obscures the design possibilities.
   
   Truly a shame.



2. This is an interesting book. Some of the garments are a little "out there", looking like stuff you'd only see on a fashion runway, and not something anyone would choose to wear in real life (unless they lost a bet), while others are stunning and have me itching to cast on right away.
   
   My one major complaint with this book is that most of the patterns have the smallest size at 36" bust or larger. I don't consider that an extra-small. For a coat, that's okay, since you usually want a bit of positive ease for it to fit over your other clothes, but for a pullover, it's just too big. If you're a petite woman like me, you'd better be good at being able to resize patterns, or you're going to end up with a lot of pretty tents. I'm a fairly experienced knitter, so this is not a problem for me, but it would be very frustrating for a beginner.
   
   Most of the patterns are charted, so again, not for a beginner. I was also surprised by the lack of waist shaping, or with the fact that the round-yoked sweaters had the lower pieces knit flat and seamed (why not just knit the whole thing in the round?) Many of the sweaters also had no finishing on the lower edges, but were left to roll, a look I find unflattering on nearly every body type. Again, all these things are easy to modify if you're an experienced knitter, but would be very frustrating for a beginner.
   
   And as others have mentioned, there are a lot of pattern errors. I found an errata page on abebooks website, and it was mindboggling how long the list of errors was. When I purchased this book new from Amazon this year (December 2009), I got the second edition, so most of the errors had been corrected, but there were still a few. So definitely search out the errata before you begin to avoid frustration.
   
   All in all, I'm glad I bought this book, as there are at least four garments I definitely plan to make from it, and perhaps more in the future, but I'm also glad I didn't buy it at the beginning of my learning curve, before I learned how to downsize garments, or I would have been very disappointed.



3. This is a great book to have in your collection. Norah Gaughan has some very interesting patterns and there is something for everyone.



4. A beautiful, but very frustrating book due to an abundance of errors. Buy it only if you have tons of time and money to burn from these errors. By the way, if I, an average knitter can easily discover these errors, how come the professional knitters and editors can't fix them prior to putting out their defective product? Not for a beginning knitter unless you want to turn them into an ex-knitter.



5. Norah Gaughan never fails to satisfy. Innovative, pretty and challenging. I've made two skirts from this book. I get compliments whenever I wear one. I do agree with one review that there are errors but I've learned that most books and magazines do have errors. I always check on-line for corrections. I've also found that I sometimes like to alter the pattern a smidge. That does not take away from this brilliant, stunning book.

2 comments about Ribbon Treasures from Celia's Garden.

1. I am a sucker for ribbon flowers and try to add them to my applique work whenever possible. I found this book beautiful and the instructions were easy to follow. If you are a fan of Baltimore Album-style quilts, this is a book you'll want to add to your collection. It is a wonderful companion book to Elly Sienkiewicz's "Romancing Ribbons" book, which is out of print.



2. Learn how to create three-dimensional blossoms working with ribbons with Ribbon Treasures from Celia's Garden, a guide to decorative flowers which can be created to enhance quilts, hats, home decor and more. Step-by-step full-color directions make it easy to follow specifics on creating flowers from ribbons, with enticing and inspirational finished results presented. Any quilting or needlework library needs this.

2 comments about Stitch Sampler.

1. Nice reference book for stitches. I was looking primarily for needlepoint stitches; this book includes stitches for embroidery and crewel, but does have a fairly good selection for needlepoint. The colored pictures are wonderful to show the entire stitch and the explanations are included. Very nice book.



2. This is not a new book, but is one which is new to me. I have to admit I ignored it because
   I figured it was embroidery on cloth, not on a counted ground. But there is lots here which
   is worthwhile.
   
   First off, there is a needlepoint section, which has about 75 stitches divided into groups.
   
   Then there are dozens of other stitches, grouped by function (border, filling and
   openwork). Every stitch is photographed in color, showing not only the completed stitch,
   but one or more photos showing construction.
   
   From a needlepointer's point of view. even the non-needlepoint stitches are useful. They
   are all stitched on evenweave fabric. To adapt them to needlepoint, just count threads.
   
   At the beginning of the stitch dictionary there is a gallery which pictures every stitch, lists
   it name and tell the page where it can be found. This makes looking for a stitch so easy.
   
   I keep thinking of great ways to use these new stitches.

4 comments about Early American Embroidery Designs: An 1815 Manuscript Album with Over 190 Patterns (Dover Needlework Series).

1. I got this book for ideas for machine embroidery. It is an excellent book with designs I can easily translate into a machine embroidery patterns for digitizing. It is a good book with the old fashioned inspiration I needed. Note this book would be great for hand stitches also.



2. All of the designs are either borders or small in size but could work fine if enlarged slightly for crewel embroidery. Not very good for goldwork though.



3. This book has a wide variety of borders suitable for linens and hand towels and for use in hand embroidery. There are a good variety of sizes, shapes, motifs, and density to satisfy many needs. Inking in book dense enough to copy on light weight fabrics, but will require retracing for linen weight fabrics. I would highly recommend this book for the hand embroiderer interested in early American and Victorian embroidery.



4. The album containing drawn designs by Elizabeth M. Townshend in 1815 provides a wonderful moment captured in time. The drawings allow the viewer to observe authentic designs drafted by a women during the early nineteenth century. Since there is no background information about the artist, the publisher offers possibilities concerning the uses of the patterns in the book, which helps establish documentation for those readers searching for such. What makes the images so great is knowing they are authentic and unaltered. Many of the designs appear to be for borders on bed linens, petticoats, and waistcoats. The designs are easy to reproduce and appear to be to scale. For those who re-enact the Revolutionary War and look for documentation, you will find what you need in this book.

5 comments about Embellish Chic.

1. Excellent reference book with specific details about techniques. Some of the examples are lovely, some a bit strange, but the point is to learn the techniques, and then apply the lessons to your own original ideas. I had no idea that one could put thin silk cord in the bobbin of a sewing machine -- just one of many things I learned. I checked many embellishment books out of the library. This was the best, and one of the few I'm actually purchasing. It's a keeper.



2. This is an excellent book for explaining many many techniques of the common and not so common variety. The descriptions and instructions are exceptionally well written. The pictures take you completely through each step leaving little room for error. The only word of warning I would give would be to those wanting wacky techniques that go out of fashion before anyone realizes they're in: this book isn't for you! It gives many wonderful ideas that will clearly inspire those that want to create something that will be stylish and wearable for longer than one fashion season. It's an excellent book for anyone's sewing library and I highly recommend it.



3. 
   The title of this book says it all: EMBELLISH CHIC Although there are a couple of denim ideas, this book is not geared toward the jeans and T-shirt crowd; there are already plenty of those books on the market. EMBELLISH CHIC caters rather to the person who loves boutique clothing. Following the ideas/instructions in this informative book will result in beautiful and beautifully-finished clothing; I especially appreciate the author's attention to perfect detail. The very best use of this book, however, is not to slavishly copy the ideas presented, but to use them as a springboard for your own creativity. That is true Art.



4. Just received my copy today and really love the basic beading instructions. Many books don't provide detail how-tos and easy-to-follow beading illustrations, so I appreciate this book. A solid reference for those interested in learning embellishment techniques.



5. The author is very detail oriented and explains each technique well. However, there are no unique or inspiring examples. They are extremely common and plain. This book is definitely not for the artsy and creative person looking for that one new and inspiring method to express and create. I want to pack it up and ship it right back.

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.

1 comments about Quick Quilts for Home (Leisure Arts #4995).

1. This book has lots of dark, ugly colors--made me think of 70's when browns, golds, and dark green were in vogue for kitchen appliances. Did not care for it and would definitely not have bought it if I had seen the colors and backgrounds selected Select a review type
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