5 comments about See and Sew: A Sewing Book for Children.

1. My granddaughter wants to make doll clothes but doesn't live close enough for me to teach her. So, I purchased this book with its clear photographs, explanations, patterns, and directions. I added all the things she needs in a sewing basket with a variety of fabrics, buttons, and bows. It won't be the same experience as learning from her grandmother, but sometimes you need to find a good substitute teacher. This is a charming book and just what I was looking for. And, it might even help grandmothers teach a little better!



2. Purchased for my 10 yrear old Grandaughter, she loves hand sewing and this is a great book of projects and how-tos for her.



3. Our children's sewing instructor uses this book for her guide. This is a wonderful book. It covers all of the basic bases. When the student is done with this book they can sew most anything and many stitches. Thank you for such a good product!!



4. Love this book. The feel of the paper and the illustrations are divine. This is one that lived up to the reviews I read and I am so happy to have it.
   Even though it is a children's book it is a treasure to me and looks great displayed in my sewing room.
   Evokes feeling of a bygone era and brings back a lot of wonderful old memories spent in the sewing room with my mum and granny.
   You will love it too!!



5. I have so many books but this one is the best by far. From the explanations, to the projects, the lovely pictures and cute cover. I will recommend this book to anyone, this book will make a great gift to any young girl. I just love it!

5 comments about The Needlepoint Book: A Complete Update of the Classic Guide.

1. This is a really comprehensive and well put together to help any embroiderer. However, I'm disappointed at the black-and-white photos of the stitches, which makes them harder for me to visualize. I would gladly have paid extra to have the photos of the stithces in color.



2. This was an excellent book on needlework when it first came out. Now it has been revised and updated and it is even better. She has included different and modern techniques as well as many excellent patterns of pictures to follow.



3. This book was advertised as a classic guide for all levels. I can only speak as a beginner, but the material I needed was covered well. Recommend this book without reservation.



4. If you want to learn on your own, this is the book you need. I bought the paper back, took it to the copy place to cut the spine and spiral bind it with clear plastic covers. Now it stays open to the page I'm working from. Her directions are clear for every sitch and they are organized approporiately by type. Charts tell what each stitch is great and poor for. Easy to use without reading; but all beginers and re-starters should thoroughly read the begining to learn the other how-tos of needlepoint. Great for working patterns (painted canvas) or on your own designs. It may be the only book you need.



5. I own both the first and second editions of this book. Of all the beautiful needlepoint books in my collection, this is the one I go back to over and over. There is information for the beginner as well as advanced stitcher. In eighteen years, I've never picked it up that it didn't learn something new or valuable.

5 comments about Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning (Teach Yourself Visually Consumer).

1. this book is one I consider the 'bible' of spinning. It breaks it down into easily understood directions and has pictures so that you won't be left without 'visual' help.
   
   excellent, excellent, excellent book.



2. I just wanted to chime and give my thumbs up for Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning. It has lots of useful information from fibers to yarn, this book takes you through everything you would want to know.



3. This book has been touted as a good hit the deck running book for spinners and potential spinners. That is true; however it is also very useful for people that have quite a bit of spinning under their belt.
   
   It really is the visual that make a difference. The only thing better are the now available DVD's. The descriptions at first may seem a little superficial or curt. However you cannot explain what it takes a book's worth of knowledge in one paragraph.
   
   One may look at page 15 and wonder want a bobbin driven wheel is but this is not a place to go into detail; it is just a preview of what will be explained later in the book.
   
   I can see where it would be easy to learn to spin one way and become an expert, yet still miss some of the finer points and even useful equipment. This is why you may want to read the book from cover to cover before investing time and money. I was glad to see that most of the pictures were of Ashford equipment as that is what I am most used to using.
   
   This is a must for your library. Also even when you know something is nice to have a different view on the subject. Be sure to supplement this book with articles from the author in "Spinoff" magazine.
   
   
   The Intentional Spinner: A Holistic Approach to Making Yarn



4. Have to say - I only WISH this book had been available when I began my own Spinning Odyssey some four years ago! The simple TEXT & particularly stunning PHOTOGRAPHY are both easy for the Novice Spinner to grasp & MASTER without getting bogged down & drowned in the mechanics of Spinning.
   
   THIS book should be kept within EVERY Spinner's grasp & considered a Beginner Spinner's Bible & terrific Spinner's mini-refresher course at ANY skill level! Simply put - a MUST NOT MISS addition to any Spinner's reference library!



5. I think the "Teach Yourself Visually" series isn't well-named. I have "Teach Yourself Knitting" and couldn't learn knitting from the book. I think it's because knitting is a great solo hobby, but it's also fun to share.
   
   It's fairly tough to learn handspinning without a teacher. I started with a drop spindle and roving. I was able to spin a bit, but it was hard to troubleshoot the process. Am I using too much roving? Why is my yarn falling apart? Am I twisting it enough? Not enough?
   
   As with the "visual knitting" book, I think it's a great resource for the intermediate beginner to advance his/her skills, but it's too difficult to use to learn from scratch.
   
   Ultimately, I decided to pass on handspinning and develop my knitting skills.

5 comments about Knit with Beads: Stunning Shawls and Wraps: Easy Techniques, 15 Beautiful Designs.

1. this book has some lovely gift ideas and several items I would wear myself. I was looking for more specific instruction on how to incorporate the beads into the knitting; although there was some explanation I could have used more details on all the specific techniques. Overall I'm glad I bought it. Can't wait to try some of these patterns out!



2. I ordered this book about a week ago, and I love it. I think the shawls, wraps, etc are lovely. My daughters would love several of the patterns to wear. There are a couple of modern designs like a beaded shrug and a top that is just a wrap around the bust line perfect to fit over a tight fitting tee. Then there are some more formal designs that would be great for Sunday such as a lace shawl with beaded edge and a little pearl edged capelet. Then there are some older "mother in law" type designs like a pull over cabled and beaded poncho, and a large shawl wrap, and a double breasted capelet. Anyway, I have several projects I want to try out of this book and I now know how to bead and knit thanks to this book.



3. Scarlet Taylor's KNIT WITH BEADS: STUNNING SHAWLS & WRAPS is for knitters who want to embellish a knitted product with something different. The author's a knitwear designer who was inspired to adorn her own knitting from the offerings of a local bead shop: her creative shawls and wraps offer up something quite different from the usual knitter's guide, making KNIT WITH BEADS a fine addition to any knitting library.



4. This book is great for learning the various ways of adding beads to a knitted item. Each technique is explained and its applications discussed briefly.
   
   The projects are so so, mostly poncho type circular things that look like sausage casings, but you can really learn beaded knitting here and make some lovely things.
   
   If you want fashionable projects, this is not the book. If you want a technique book for your own ideas, get this book.



5. I am a huge fan of knitting with beads but this book is not for an advanced beading knitter. It is however a great book for anyone who wants to get started with this wonderful technique. The tutorials are excellent and the projects are not hard at all and this is really a huge bonus because often times a beginner will pick up and advanced book and will get very frustrated but again this book would be a great starter for anyone wanting to learn knitting with beads.

5 comments about Mary Thomas's Book of Knitting Patterns.

1. While not as glitzy as newer stitch guides, this is a great book to add to your knitting library. While I enjoyed Mary Thomas's Knitting Book more, this is also filled with great information. I feel like she actually explains how the stitches work, and why they are knit the way they are. Definitely more technical knowledge here than in the average stitch pattern book. For the price, it's definitely worth picking up.



2. I knitted a lot in the early 1970s and must have bought this book soon after the 1972 Dover release which was a reprint of the original. I took up knitting again recently and I love seeing how dog-eared the book is from years ago and I still refer to it frequently. I loaned it to a friend a few years back and she promptly bought herself a copy. This is a classic and makes me feel connected to knitting as an art that transcends time and place.



3. This book is very thorough and informative, but highly technical. It almost feels like doing homework to read it, but at the same time it has a lot of information I've been wanting and unable to find anywhere else. I am very happy with it, but if you're looking for some light reading or easy patterns, this will not be the book for you.



4. This book is the Swiss Army Knife of knitting - many tools for many purposes in one compact package, and still coming in useful after all these years - a real classic.
   
   Mary Thomas explains how all knitting stitches and patterns work. Her description of increases and decreases (and their uses, both decorative and functional) is the clearest I have seen anywhere.
   
   There aren't "projects" here, chiefly techniques, but learn the techniques in this book and you'll not only be able to knit almost any project anywhere, but you'll be able to modify existing projects and design your own.



5. I was lucky enough to find this book in a library sale, and I love it. It has expanded my knowledge of knitting as well as the possibilities of knit wear. It has charts as well as written directions for patterns, which is a great help for those of us who are visual learners. Even as a novice knitter, I found it easy to use and understand. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to design their own patterns.

5 comments about Pretty Little Felts: Mixed-Media Crafts To Tickle Your Fancy.

1. What a great book! Full of wonderful little projects with easy to follow instructions. Super clear photo's make these projects easy to complete. Great resource list makes it easy to find all materials for completing projects as well. Julie Collings has done a great job with this little book!



2. This book is beautiful!!! Full of lovely felted projects that I am anxious to try out!



3. It did!
   It felt good to absorb all of the inspiration this book has packed within it's delightful covers!I will use it over & over again to jump start my creativity!
   Thanks for asking!



4. I have been lucky enough to participate in collaborative art projects with Julie Collings and have seen some of her delightful work in person. Her book, Pretty Little Felts, showcases her unique design sensibility, attention to detail and love of the tiny and the whimsical. Pretty Little Felts shows us how to deconstruct, dye, or felt old wool clothing and transform the recycled materials into sweet little mixed media creations - many of which would make lovely gifts. Even if you are not interested in felting, the techniques, projects and details shown will inspire any craft, textile or mixed media artist.



5. I've always had a deep admiration for sewers but feel like it's not something I can really do. Julie Collings' book has opened the door for me to try my hand at it again with lovely little projects that seem like they would make the perfect gifts. I'm giving it another shot and this book has been a real inspiration.

3 comments about Stitch, Cloth, Paper & Paint: Mixed Media Ideas & Inspiration.

1. innovation abounds
   great inspiration as well as good techniques
   gets you out of the box
   thoroughly enjoy having access to this book



2. I liked this book, but I didn't love it and would have been OK with just reading it once, instead of buying it to refer to again and again (which I doubt I will). It did cover a good list of supplies needed and how to use them. There was also a decent amount of instructions on how to do machine work, such as free motion embroidery and couching. However, I honestly couldn't tell the difference in some of the step-by-step photos the author included. I'm not sure what the photos were supposed to be showing, as everything was the same color (white) and looked the same to me.
   
   Later on in the book there were clearer step-by-step photos, but they're really only useful if you want to know how this particular author created that particular piece of art. It's more of an "Oh, so that's how she did that" than a "Great, I can take these steps and apply them to my own work" thing. I wanted to find this book more useful and interesting, I really did, but it's more of a compendium on the author's work than a how-to book.



3. Angie Hughes is a gifted mixed media artist and here in her first book she shares her techniques for creating rich, textured colorful surfaces. There are three projects included in this book and each combines a variety of different techniques to produce a unique result. Start by learning Angie's technique for creating a stiffened interlining base that you'll add texture and color to with stitching and paint. Then use this base textile to create the projects included in this book. Learn how to create embellishments from paper clay, painted paper and chocolate foils along with techniques for couching, hand stitching and free motion machine stitching. Full color photographs illustrate the step by step instructions making it easy to re-create each project with success.

5 comments about Elements of Style: Knit & Crochet Jewelry with Wire, Fiber, Felt & Beads.

1. I found this book very stimulating for the creation of new jewelry and other items. The instructions were relatively easy to read and the finished projects are elegant. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to go a new direction (and make items that people really want) with their knitting and crocheting.



2. The book was intriguing and as I read it, I thought it doable, but after going
   through all the patterns, they seemed repetitious and not as easy as
   promised.



3. I was pleasantly surprised when I started looking through this book. It's filled with some of the most beautiful and original knitted and crochet jewelry I've ever seen. You don't need to be an expert at knitting, crochet or jewelry making to be successful with the projects in this book. Each one is easy to understand and follow with detailed supply lists and helpful "need to know" tips included with each project. You'll find an extensive list of resources in the back and something that I found very helpful that I've not seen before: a list of sources by project. This book definitely elevates the art of knit and crochet jewelry to a new level.



4. This is not your Grandma's knitting, crocheting or designing jewelry book. The instructions are clear with lots of illustrations. I never heard of silk stainless steel yarn, but am actively Googling to find out where I can purchase a skein. The projects are very modern and fresh...and you won't find this jewelry in the open air markets. A good choice!



5. bought book cuz i liked her patterns on knitty but the ones in the book were not as interesting to me, maybe i just need to try some projects. as a reference to materials its great

5 comments about Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space: Sewing-Room Makeovers for Any Space And Any Budget.

1. This is a fabulous book! The pictures alone are worth the cost of the book to me. I am going to reorganize my sewing room as soon as our contractor installs an egress window in it. (My sewing room is in our basement.) I can hardly wait to use the suggestions in this book to help me have a neater, more usable and attractive sewing room. I highly recommend this book for anyone who sews.



2. I really enjoyed this book. I got a lot of great ideas and I immediately put some of them into use. I do like that the author gave examples of different quilting room makeovers and added up the cost of each. They ranged from very inexpensive to expensive. By using the worksheets, I was able to pinpoint what I wanted and needed in my own area. I was able to do what I needed for around $200, but I bought new cabinets from Home Depot and put them together myself. If I had been able to find something similar at a yard sale, I am sure it would have been even cheaper. The reason I went to Home Depot is that I already had another piece from there and the cabinets were an exact match which now looks great.
   
   One of the best ideas I got was to make an ironing space higher than my regular ironing board. I got a board cut to my cabinet's top and covered it with padding and fabric. It really looks great and my husband even uses it, too.



3. Enjoyed the book and the pictures, which are worth a thousand words. The prices for doing these rooms, however, can be reduced with some thought and the thrift stores.



4. It's not the author's fault, but the products used in the book are already out of date. Ikea doesn't sell some of the cabinets I like in the book, and several vendors listed are out of business already.
   However, there are very good information and ideas in this book, for example, how high and wide sawing, cutting, and ironing tables should be, and how to fold fabric for storage. It's easy and fast read and I used Ikea's office planner software along with it to plan my sewing room. One thing this book can't change is that I can't put everything I want in my 9x10 spare bedroom! But this book made me think how to use the space efficiently.



5. We used it for helping us put together our sewing room. The book contained lots of detailed information and suggestions for how to put a room together. It was well worth the cost.

5 comments about The Beaded Garden: Creating Flowers with Beads and Thread.

1. I enjoyed the design techniques. I am new to beading and it was easy to follow and made your mind think of other ways to improvise the flowers.



2. If you are not an experienced sead beader then you might have some trouble with this book. I have made a few of the projects and had to really think how to start or end the project. Over all I really like this book.



3. The Beaded Garden: Creating Flowers with Beads and Thread
   This book is a little treasure trove. Diane is known everywhere as a great beader/designer/teacher.
   I have long admired her work but had never tried any of her projects. This book is mostly peyote and square stitch and is an excellent guide to really beautiful beaded flowers. This technique is entirely
   different than the French beaded flowers I've always made and a nice change. I just finished my first beautiful flower and am making it into a broach. Being me, I had to add a bit of sparkle. This book is a delight.



4. I love all the different types of beaded flowers in this book and am very pleased I decided to buy it. The instructions are easy to follow.
   Diane Fitzgerald seems to know just what the beader needs.



5. The Beaded Garden: Creating Flowers with Beads and ThreadThe directions are easy to follow. Some pieces are a little over done and I would prefer a "little less". You will not be disappointed when you get it and your knowledge base will have been increased.