4 comments about Fashions of the Gilded Age, Volume 2: Evening, Bridal, Sports, Outerwear, Accessories, and Dressmaking 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. Frances Grimble shares her meticulous vision with us once again. A great two book series full of facinating information and patterns galore. I cannot wait to clothe many a pretty lady using them. Not for the faint of heart. The patterns are period correct and I would advise an advanced skill level, or a great deal of patience. Always do a mock up. Remember these are patterns of the age. So start at the skin and work your way out to a glorious new costume.
   Enjoy.



3. This is a great book, but you should know that it is not a second edition of Fashions of the Gilded Age, Volume 1. It is the second volume of the anthology, and a different book with all different patterns. The title is actually Fashions of the Gilded Age, Volume 2: Evening, Bridal, Sports, Outerwear, Accessories, and Dressmaking 1877-1882. It's just as good as Volume 1, none of the information is the same except the intro on how to use the patterns, and the dressmaking manual is really unique.
   
   I heard both volumes were published but it took me awhile to find the second one on Amazon because it was mislisted. So I thought I'd warn other people.



4. I just reviewed Volume 1, where I said the book contains a huge selection of patterns. Volume 2 focuses on patterns for evening dresses, bridal wear, sports wear, and outer wear. The chapters on accessories and trimmings contain some needlework patterns, embroidery and so on. I figure if I don't do the handwork I'll still have learned a lot about buying appropriate materials.
   
   I bought both volumes, but they are organized so you can use them separately. Both contain the instructions for using the book and the special rulers that allow you to draft patterns to fit you. They also both have a big glossary, a bibliography, and two indexes.
   
   Volume 2 has something really special though--a dressmaking manual. The book says it was rewritten from numerous rare original sources that are listed in the bibliography. But it's been rewritten so it doesn't read that way; you can't tell where any source begins or ends. That makes the manual a lot easier to use. And it's so long it could have been published as a book by itself. I'm glad to have it, because I've never been able to find a comprehensive sewing manual for this period. It even has corset-making instructions (the corset patterns are in Volume 1).
   
   Both volumes are very well edited and produced. This is not a cheap printing job.
   
   Anyone who does Old West reenactment or Victorian teas would love these books!

5 comments about Dolls' House Needlecrafts: Over 250 Projects in 1/12 Scale.

1. The book is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS and actually makes a wonderful coffee table book. The patterns are fairly straightforward and useful. My only critique is that, for crafters, the organization is confusing. It's not easy to connect the pictures to the patterns - I find that I have to go through the index. The effect, however, is that the book is even more gorgeous.



2. Just like her other books this is a great book. If I had any problem it not being able to find some on the canvas counts (23 ct coin net.HUH? I'm just going to use 22 ct (hope no ones counting) But seriously this is a great book. Easy to understand with beautiful pictures



3. This is a book every miniaturist/needlework lover should have in his/her library. It's full of great projects for every room of the dollhouse. I highly reccomend it.



4. simply wonderful. I spent hours just looking at the pictures showing the samples. i'm looking forward to begin my first work. Great expectations for tiny masterpieces



5. This is a wonderful book, but I'm a little wary of giving it too good a review. The projects all look great, but I found a mistake in the first project that I tried. If you work the Turkoman rug exactly as the chart, it will not turn out the same as the picture. The border, in fact, will not even be symmetrical (as the picture is). As an experienced crafter, I picked up on this and was able to correct it, but I was disappointed to find the error in the first place. I look forward to trying other projects and hope they are error-free.

5 comments about The Tatter's Treasure Chest.

1. There are so many patterns that I could own this book for years and still not try them all. I'm working on the pattern shown on the cover, and it's turning out to be an attractive piece that's easy to handle. I haven't found any pattern errors in what I've tried so far. There are also many edgings, baby caps, and collar/cuff sets, should the tatter get bored with table mats.
   
   My reason for giving 4 out of 5 is that the photography doesn't show as high of pattern detail as I'd like. It probably couldn't be avoided since these are reproductions of black and white originals. I'm also finding it more difficult than usual to keep my place in the pattern, likely due to the small print size. I have started making my own charts and diagrams on separate pieces of paper and refer to the pictures for motivation--imagining how nice my table will look when I've finished--rather than pattern guidance.



2. This was my first tatting book. I used it to teach myself tatting, and in retrospect the longhand directions were crucial to that. This is still my favorite tatting book because of the wide variety of basic tatting patterns. The black and white photographs reveal enough detail to visually help me through my occasional confusion with the directions. I love looking at the old fashioned collars and cuffs, and I have made many of the edgings. This is my go-to book when I want to start a new project.



3. For anyone like me, who not only loves to tat, but is fascinated by the ideas and styles of days gone by, this book is excellent. I like to study the patterns, which are, of course, very old fashioned to our eyes, and often make items which are my own interpretation, brought up to date. I make many small items to raise funds for my charity of choice, and a book like this gives me lots of ideas.



4. This lovely book is a reprint of patterns from several books from the 1930s and 40s. There is a wide range of items including a huge selection of edgings, some lovely doilies, collars and baby wear and some exquisite table linen.
   
   The patterns are written in the old fashioned longhand style of their time. The reproductions are of reasonable quality considering the book was published in the late 1980s. There are no diagrams though most of the photos are quite clear.
   
   Most of the pieces are fairly simple though some are quite large, and most people will find it fairly easy to work them once the instructions have been deciphered. I recommend this book.



5. This book consists of reprints of patterns from thread company pamphlets of the 1930's, 40's and 50's. The reprints are well done and clear, and the original instructions have not been altered (In addition to the many patterns, readers will enjoy a nostalgic visit to an era when luncheon cloths, chair sets, and even roller shade pulls were supposed to exhibit a housewife's skill and elicit the envy of her neighbors).

   This book would be a good choice for a novice tatter who is looking for more patterns. Not only are the instructions written out in longhand, but there are hundreds of patterns to choose from (some tatters find longhad instructions difficult to follow because you can lose your place; they have a point! I use a Post-it Note as a marker, which helps).

   Tatting patterns from mid-century were marketed with a focus on novelty and "modern" styling. They also tended to be simpler than older patterns. Was this a reflection on tatters' decreasing skill level, or an acknowledgement that modern women had less time to devote to handwork?

   I give this book five stars a) for the number and variety of the patterns and b) for the quality of the black and white reprints, which are very clear.

5 comments about Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Needlework (Leisure Arts #15861)(Donna Kooler's Series).

1. I've been needlepointing for a couple of years, and my mother has been doing all kinds of needlework for decades, and we both love this book. It's beautiful to look at, clearly organized and laid out, and full of useful and inspiring information. My favorite parts are the stitch guides, which are really well done -- each stitch is illustrated with a how-to line diagram as well as a color photo of the stitch itself, along with a written description of the pros and cons of the stitch, directions for stitching, suggested uses, etc. (You can see examples of these pages in the "Click to Look Inside" link on the Amazon page.) I looked at a lot of stitch guides (trying to find some new ideas to add to my continental/basketweave habit), and the ones in this book were really the best I've seen, by far. Besides the stitch guides, the sections about supplies and the history of the crafts are fun to read, too. I would highly recommend it to anyone who needlepoints, cross-stitches, or does any kind of embroidery (or wants to learn how!)



2. The price was so right. I was interested in content only
   and didn't mind that the cover was not perfect because that
   issue had already been covered in the description.



3. I am the proud owner of a very extensive craft library, of which probably one quarter is devoted to embroidery reference books from authors of the calibre of Mary Thomas, Jacqueline Enthoven, Moyra McNeil and Mary Gostelow and the like. The problem with that is these books are stand alone units and one can spend a large amount of time scanning through these various publications for the answer to a query.
   
   That's where this new publication comes into play. Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Needlework is a fantastic reference for all crafters. It is THE book to have in your craft library that will answer just about any query you may have for many many genres of needlework. Not only does this publication offer extensive information on history and materials, but a very fine stitch gallery in each of the genres of needlepoint, embroidery and counted thread.
   
   I am in awe of the research that has gone into putting such a ultimate publication together. There must have been many man hours spent finding the information and then many hours spent in getting that information into such easy to understand form. And the photography and diagrams are second to none.
   
   I would thoughly recommend this book as a great reference book to find a home in any crafters library. It is exceptional.



4. It seems to me that an encyclopedia of needlework is one of those things which sounds like a great idea, but ends up being not very useful in reality -- sort of like a home repair manual when your drain is clogged. But Donna Kooler's brand new book (just appearing on-line and in shops now) is certainly the exception which proves this rule.
   
   I am so excited by this book I hardly know where to begin. Donna and the staff at her design studio are wizards of design and stitching and they have brought their love of needlework and their depth of knowledge onto every page of the book.
   
   Instead of being comprehensive, the book deals with only the three major groupings of needlework: needlepoint, embroidery, and counted thread. Each section is identified by a color and small tabs on the side of every page let you know the major section you are in.
   
   Each of the major sections is dived up into three parts. The first part provides introductory information, history, a breakdown of materials and basic information on the technique. Even if you are an experienced stitcher, don't skip these sections, they are full of great information, wonderful tips and the best and biggest material pictures I've ever seen.
   
   The bulk of each section is given over to a Stitch Gallery, which is wonderful. Each stitch is pictured and has a large chart (two stitches per page). The name and alternate names are given along with a description,stitching instructions and suggested uses. In places where seeing the back is important (for example in the three types of tent stitches) the back is shown. On every diagram a red dot indicates where to being stitching. In addition the stitches are broken up into families so related stitches are found together.
   
   The final part of each section has a small selection of lovely projects to introduce you to the technique. For needlepoint there is a traditional floral, a charming Bargello kimono, and a textured stitch sampler in white.
   
   You have probably heard that many embroidery and counted thread stitches also work for needlepoint, but you may have felt uncertain about stitching them. With this book, especially with the counted thread section you will find lots of exciting ideas you can apply to your needlepoint. The stitches for pulled work, is particularly good.
   
   Not only is this book full of great information, it is beautiful as well. The entire book is designed to be visually appealing as well as very useful. Each page has the section name along the edge of the page as well as the printed tab. Throughout the stitch galleries, a heading at the top of the page tells you the particular technique (bargello, hardanger, edgings, etc.). All the stitched examples are done in a single range of pastel shades and in the pictures the threads are color-coordinated and the accessories are artfully arranged. This makes it a book which will draw new stitchers into our art, largely because it is beautiful and makes needlework look easy and fun.
   
   I am so happy with this book that I'm going to recommend it to everyone in my beginning needlepoint class I'm teaching soon. It may be required reading for the class after that!



5. I love this book. It is a great book to learn by. Very easy to follow!
   I've learned a lot of new stitches with this book!

No comments about Redwork with a Twist (Leisure Arts #5112).

5 comments about Fast Knits Fat Needles.

1. WHY agree to allow a peak into the book, and not actually show anything??!!??
   I purchase knitting books based upon wanting instructions for one or more of the items pictured.
   NO PICTURES - NO PURCHASE !



2. Well, as a potential buyer, I find it annoying that the author would give permission to Amazon to let you "search" inside her book and then come to find when I "searched" she wouldn't give permission to see photos. So, nothing is viewable! How insulting. Wouldn't buy due to that alone.



3. I like this book. I'm a basic knitter so this has lots of ideas for different ways to make scarfs, bags, rugs etc. I can see how it would not be of interest to a more experienced knitter though.



4. This is a great book for beginners (like myself) who have already mastered the garter stitch. The projects for the bags are very clear. Being a beginner though some of the abbreviations can be confusing, but they are very easy to figure out once you look at them again. You can always look up what the mean online or in another knitting book.



5. Did not like this book. Returned. As an experienced knitter, who teaches and designs, I found this book unusable. I do buy alot of book online with out seeing them first. This was the first time a ever looked at a book that was terrible. The pictures of the items that were to be knitted only showed you part of the item. The layout was bad. It didn't draw you in to want to make any thing. This was the worst knitting book I ever saw. Did not give me any ideas, as I a usally get from any book and/or magazine. All my student felt same way. We all could not figure out want items were being made.

5 comments about ENCYCLOPEDIA OF KNITTING: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide, With an Inspirational Gallery of Finished Works.

1. This book is not an encyclopedia! It is not organized like one, and is not nearly comprehensive enough. It is definitely not THE reference book for a serious knitter.
   
   It is, though, a very pretty book. The photos are in color & just lovely. It has nice discussions of some techniques. There are lots of lovely stitch patterns, & that is the main reason I bought the book. I like looking at it, & I like the text,& the comments next to the patterns. I also like the pictures of the finished projects, & I don't miss directions for them.
   
   If you want step-by-step project directions, this may not be the book for you.



2. I was hoping to find what I did not already know, and did not. Did this make a bad choice, no.
   I will look at the finished works one of these days and explore a couple of them for future christmas projects.



3. After searching for this book for so long, I was delighted to see it listed on Amazon. It arrived in excellent condition and record time. Since it was ordered during the 'Holiday' rush, I was totally surprised to receive it so quickly. The quality and customer service can not be beat! Very happy with the purchase!!!



4. This book has a great number of stitches; I believe that there are 250. They are organized in a logical way: ribs, twists and lace. Although, I bought the book specifically for the stitches, I discovered that it contained very useful information that a knitting newbie could easily benefit from, including the importance of checking your gauge.
   
   It was definitely worth every penny, particularly if you bore of using other people's patterns, and want to go beyond stockinette or garter stitches.
   
   HOWEVER, there is one negative is that there is a critical piece of information missing. There is also no corrections/errata page found on the publisher's website. However, I did manage to track down the correction simply by using my sleuth-like nature and annoying every contact on the publisher's website LOL. I did manage to find the correction on someone's blog, I think it was webigail's. Anyway, I would have given the book 5-stars, but I had to put in too much work to find the correction.
   
   I have heard that the error is going to be fixed with the next batch of books, which doesn't help those of us who already own it. Thank goodness someone did have the correction.



5. Either I don't know what an encyclopedia is, or the pages of my copy of the book are mixed up. The subjects are not alphabetical, but are nonetheless logically organized.

   The strengths of this book are:
   1. Its stich collection (I especially like that the patterns are all named).
   2. Its clear diagrams demonstrating techniques.
   3. Its multiple techniques and styles of knitting (especially casting on, casting off, increasing and decreasing).

   The weaknesses of this book are:

   1. Most topics are only touched upon, not described in length.
   2. It is almost entirely about flat knitting (with knitting in the round only mentioned on one page!)
   3. Its lack of any projects to demonstrate why you might want to use a technique. I suppose someday I might find a reason to use bias or chevron knitting, and I will be able to do it using this book, but the authors gave no reason why I would want to.

   I wouldn't say this is extremely comprehensive, but a lot of subjects are touched on, and the photos are beautiful and inspiring. I got it when I first took up knitting, and while it was not very useful in teaching me knitting, it is a handy reference and a nice source of inspiration.

3 comments about Two-end Knitting.

1. Twined knitting is a new interest for me and I wanted to learn as much as possible about it. This is a fascinating book in explaining the history and various aspects of the technique, so it gave me exactly what I wanted. However, if you want to have some easy, yet stunning, patterns for twined knitting, see New Twists on Twined Knitting: A Fresh Look at a Traditional Technique. My suggestion is to start with "new Twists", then read this book if you want to know more.



2. TWO-ENDED knitting told me every thing I needed to know. Able to understand, no guessing.



3. this is a good affordable book on twined knitting, the other two are expensive, but perhaps more comprehensive. this covers the techniques and gives patterns for those who need them.

3 comments about The Encyclopedia of Sewing Techniques.

1. This book has many sewing techniques that are useful and informative. Both beginners and advanced sewers will be able to make use of this book. The photos and text are clear and concise. If you're looking to have several sewing techniques on hand this is a great book. Anyone wanting to take their sewing projects to a higher quality level will also find this useful!



2. Very good general information. Currently using it to teach a 12-year-old to sew. Gives lots of appropriate basic information for the novice sewer. Quality illustrations.



3. I am learning sewing and this book is a huge help. I have other books that talk about fabrics threads, machines etc but this book is all about techniques and how to. It does not have projects. But will certainly be a help with other books and their projects. This book should be in the shelf. Very helpful.

5 comments about The Hat Book: Creating Hats for Every Occasion.

1. I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone who wants to make a hat. The actually millinery section is very small, with few patterns included. Most of the book is about embellishing & decorating hats with some pretty over the top examples. Definitely not what I was looking for(a millinery technique book).



2. I agree with other reviewers that this book is not for the serious miliner. However, if you want to dabble a bit, or have a fun hat that you'd like to spruce up - this will do the job for you. As usual with Juliet Bawden books, it's beautifully photographed and designed.



3. I have this book and I like it. You can get some nice ideas from it, but if you make hats for a living...it's not for you. It is really for someone who plays at hat making.



4. I beg to differ with others comments that this book wasn't as helpful as they would have liked. It gave great examples of what was possible in design. I found it more interesting than the 'from the neck up book' which was too technical. First off, the photography is great. The examples of hats are awesome. I loved the project for the appliqued garland straw brim. Overall,it's a great book to have if you're interested in millinery.



5. This book has wonderful photos of all kinds of hats. However, it only contains instructions for making a few of them. I tried to make the Water Lily hat but found the instructions confusing and could not figure it out. However, if you are browing for hat embellishment suggestions or just want to look at nice photos to get ideas for hats the book is great.