3 comments about Simply Needlefelt: 20 Easy and Elegant Designs.

1. Jayne Emerson, author of Simply Felt was trained at Loughborough College of Art before completing her Masters at Central St Martins in 1997. Since then her work has taken a wide-ranging path that has allowed her to express her creativity from craft through to couture. Her work encompasses embroidery, patchwork, fabric manipulation and needle felting and has sold to clients ranging from Chanel to Topshop. She is the author of five books Simply Felt (with Margaret Docherty), The Impatient Patchworker, The Impatient Embroiderer, New from Old and the forthcoming Simply Needlefelt
   What I enjoyed about this book is the way Jayne has taken needle felting and fabric manipulation to a new level. She takes ordinary uninteresting objects and turns them into works of art by using needle felting and fiber to create stunning wearable's and household items. From her short biography above, you can see her experience with couture design and her imaginative creativity offers us amazing new ideas. As pictured above, the book and some of the projects in the book that I thought you would find interesting. If you want to take your felting skills to a new level I suggest you purchase this book "simply needle felt"!
   Jane has included 20 easy-to-follow and fun to do projects for us to follow in this uniquely understandable book. She has taken silks and then felted into the silks creating gorgeous items to wear or to use in your home. Some of her projects are fabric jewelry, flowers, coasters, scarves, cushion covers, blankets, book covers and many other projects that will encourage you to create new and fascinating fiber art. She offers instruction on the use of felting machines or how to accomplish the same look by hand. Jayne has beautiful photography and templates to please everyone who uses her techniques. This book is good for the needle felter, fabric artist art quilter or mixed-media artist. Felters will delight in all the newfound techniques that Jayne brings to us. She does three-dimensional effects, appliqué, leaving am breaking and things she would never think can be done with fabric and needle felting.



2. I was a little disappointed with this book. The directions and projects are good but if you already own other books on the subject I'd try to check it out first before you buy it.



3. This book contained all the information I wanted to get started on felting. The language was very understandable, and the projects were great.

5 comments about Complete Guide to Needlework.

1. I purchased my original book in the 80's and have thoroughly enjoyed learning new needlework. My granddaughters became interested in learning crochet and knitting so I brought out my book for them to look at, they were so excited about the prospects so I wanted them each to have their own resource book. My first search took me to Amazon.com and there they were! and at an almost unbelievable price! I ordered 3 of the books, they were in almost new condition. I am very pleased with my purchase.



2. WONDERFUL reference guide!!
   
   I LOVE sitting there listening to an audio book on my mp3 player and going to town knitting or whatever, VERY relaxing and productive!
   
   I recommend it to anyone who embroiders, cross stitches, Knits, crochets, does smocking, anything you would have to do with any sort of hand needle work. I recommend it to anyone! seasoned needle workers to beginners. I didn't even know about white work and others, and its fun trying new types of embroidery.



3. I have had a copy of Complete Guide to Needlework for many years, wanted another to give to gr/children...the copy from Amazon is in new condition and delighted with how fast it was to me, also the bargain price.



4. I've had a copy of this book since I was kid. It touches on lots of needlework subjects, and is a great reference book. It's a great book for beginners!!



5. I'm sooooooo glad I can still get this book because I lost my original. I purchased the book about 20 years ago and I've never found anything else comparable to this book. I've used it to help teach my girls when they were younger--they'd be able to see what their stitches would look like because the sample pics are close-up and clear shots. Anyone interested in learning the various types of needlework will find this a very good investment, indeed!

5 comments about My Favorite Felt Sweets.

1. This book is well written and full of pictures and everything turns out just perfect! Love this book!!



2. First of all, all the craft ideas are very cute indeed. I was pleasantly surprised when I looked up the ISBN and found this book had an English translation.
   
   I give this four out of five because of two things. One being that the instructions are slightly vague using mostly illustration (no step by step photos) and very little wording (my fist fortune cookie came out very, very flat). Nothing that a determined crafter couldn't over come.
   
   Second, there are a lot of very Japanese and a few Chinese confections that the average American would have no idea as to what they are, so to me personally, they are less cute than the easily recognizable sweets like cake and donuts but that is personal preference.
   
   I bought regular synthetic ( A.K.A cheap) felt and the first projects I made (fortune cookie aside) look good and I had no trouble with the felt being too weak. Some of the felt colors are hard to find, like mint green, but other than that the supplies are fairly cheap and easy to find at the usual craft stores.
   
   If you want to make something super cute and can hand sew a bit this is a good book and the techniques are much faster to learn than other revenues of cuteness, like crocheting amigurumi etc., and with some supervision a craft that kids can enjoy and play with the end product. I'm glad I bought it!



3. Good things come to those who wait! If you are a crafter, I am sure you have seen the adorable Japanese craft books on crafting blogs and sites on the Internet. People like you and I question if we can create a project from instructions written in Japanese. Some have been able to use these wondrous books and complete the projects. I did an article about a kit out of Japan and I had many questions and interest in the kits. Sadly the sources of these kits dried up and were not available outside of Japan. The article is ¡°Felt Deserts¡± and the Japanese site is Patisserie Soleil.
   
   I am sorry to make this intro for a book review so wordy, but I want you to get as excited as I am over this book ¡°My Favorite Felt Sweets by Joie Staff¡± and translated into English by Yoko Ishiguro. This fabulous book cost less than one of the kits I mentioned above. Yoko has done a marvelous job translating this perfectly delightful book. The ideas and the sweets are perfection confections for you to create for gifts and yourself. The pictures are works of art and each project has a life size template and instruction sheet. You will not have any problem understanding these patterns. Each charming designs is a feast to the eye and although your mouth will water, please to not eat these little delectable¡¯s. There are 106 different projects. Sheets of colored felt and basic sewing skills (and sometimes a little glue for the final, decorative touches) are all that are required to whip up these luscious-looking and guilt-free I have a friend who owns a bakery that makes delightful deserts like the ones in this book and I think that these sweets would create a charming display for her shop. I have scanned some of the delights in this book the temp you and I hope you do rush over to Amazon or the book shop of your choosing and pick up this book and then let us know what you think and please leave a review here.
   
   If you are thinking of buying this book you may wish to get some supplies so when you get the book you can get started right away. There are two thicknesses of felt, for rolling and shaping you will want 1mm thick felt and for item such as cookies 2mm felt. These projects require very little fabric so you want to purchase some basic colors and the embroidery floss in the same color for stitching the pieces together, following are some resources. ¡°Save On Crafts¡± Carry Craft Felt Rectangles at discount prices. (9¨ö¡± x 12¡È) sizes. Here is a list of books that Yoko Ishiguro has translated. Art Girlz Felt
   
   http://felting.craftgossip.com/2008/08/19/my-favorite-felt-sweets-by-joie-staff-translated-by-yoko-ishiguro/



4. I enjoyed the book and tt has very creative crafts ideas that can definitely be used by everyone. The pictures of the felt sweets look delicious. I can't wait to try and make one!



5. Please ignore the other review (amazon, remove that already would you?) The book is a English translation and an amazing one at that.
   
   I've only just started attempting to make playfood for my daughter, of course one can only have so many felt fried eggs and pancakes so when I saw this book I had to buy it.
   
   The book itself is stunning, the photos will have you drooling and every turn of a page leaves my daughter yelling "mommy make me that one, oh and that one, can you make me that one too?"
   
   Every pattern has a very detailed photo, a written instruction and FULL SIZE PATTERNS (photocopier needed, they are part of the book). There are also hints on which type of felt to use, how to sew the stitches (all are handsewn), etc.
   
   For a beginning sewer all the detail is greatly appreciated. I've only attempted one little cake so far (awaiting a delivery of some wool blend felt, see below) and while I have a learning curve as I've never done hand sewing before it still came out pretty cute, the stawberry & whipped cream were especially easy and adorable.
   
   Regarding the felt, while you can use the craft store variety be warned that it doesn't sew very well, or last very well. For the amount of effort these little pieces of art will require you'll want to invest in a wool blend or solid wool felt, which can be quite pricey... and some of the cakes use a great deal of wool so be awake that while adorable the creations will also be time consuming pending your level of experience and a bit pricey to make. That said, even if I never make anything else in the book I'm happy with the purchase, it's a gorgeous book to just look at!

5 comments about Baby Knits for Beginners.

1. Debbie Bliss makes so many beautiful and simple baby garments. I love that the book starts off with a simple garter stitch scarf and on to pullover sweaters. I am planning to knit through the book and blog about it. The patterns are simple but become progressively more challenging. That is great because I get to improve upon my sweater making skills. Can't wait to start my first sweater!



2. I don't think that the measurements in this book are always right. I find that I have to make my own adjustments. For example, I have the right gauge, right type of yarn, and follow the instructions exactly - yet when I measure the piece, it is already over the size the directions say it should be. When the directions say to "complete instructions until X number of stitches are left, and then to work until the piece measures X inches" you find that you have completed the directions until you have X stitches, but it is already X inches without going on to working even. I end up not measuring from the cast on row like the directions say, but measuring after the end of it to have the directions and measurements make sense.
   Also, other things don't make sense too. I, like another reviewer, am working on the Eyelet Dress pattern. That's where I found the problems I just stated. However, I have also found that the directions for working the neck can be VERY confusing and I am not a beginner, either. I'm annoyed enough with this project to think about giving this book 2 stars. This is supposed to be an easy little dress that's mostly stockinette stitch. I keep having what I think are unnecessary problems. I'm unhappy with the fact that I have to sit down & really think about what exactly the directions are saying sometimes because they aren't specific enough (especially for a book that is intended for beginners!). Keep in mind that you have to go to the Debbie Bliss website to write-in corrections for pattern mistakes as well. The patterns are cute, and many are simple, but I had the same issue with measurements on another pattern I did from this book. This book isn't a bust, but isn't a 5 star book, so I give it 3 stars for simple and attractive patterns, but mark it down for lack of clarity on some instructions and what I think are iffy measurements.



3. This is a very good book. The patterns are simple but stylish and timeless. The instructions are clear. The photos are beautiful and helpful in choosing a pattern and the knitting work as well.



4. I am a beginning knitter and have now made several sweaters from this book. The patterns are easy and beautiful and I found the directions and accompanying illustrations easy to follow



5. I only became an avid knitting fan recently, and I've found the patterns in this book to be, for the most part, fairly easy to follow, resulting in some very nice results which family members ooh and aah over. However, I don't think the knitting basics as covered in this book would be good for complete beginners, or people who need some refreshing here and there and are looking for a reference. You should definitely have a knitmeister on hand to help you interpret the instructions, or another good reference book (I had an aunt and the Complete Idiot's Guide; together they both helped me make sense of some pattern and technique instructions).
   
   But still, I would recommend this book to knitting newbies! You can definitely make some very nice knits out of this book - you just might need a little aid interpreting the instructions!

5 comments about The Artful Ribbon: Beauties in Bloom.

1. Fast informative and to the point. A travel thru time with comprehensive and flawless instruction. THE RIBBON WORK BIBLE should be its name. Candace Kling does a masterful job of walking you thru the work of beautiful ribbon work. If you get no other book buy this one its 5* plus. I was totally enthralled by this book. I am experienced in ribbon work and it enhanced my knowledge. Having learned the art as an 11 year old it brought back great memories of me and My Grandmother making flowers of a bygone era.



2. I have not found too many things I could duplicate in this book. This kind of ribbon art is a little more complicated than I expected.
   It's still a nice book. A person more experienced with working ribbon would probably enjoy it more than I.



3. I hsve not tried any of the projects yet but the directions are incredibly clear and the book is also beautifully illustrated. This is new to me but with the great instruction and stunning pictures, can't wait to begin creating these blooms.



4. Great book that I would recommend to anyone wanting ideas to make flowers out of ribbon.



5. This is the first time I've tried ribbon work and had no difficulty following the directions. It was so easy to understand what to do, and how to do the flowers. Mine all came out lovely at the end!
   
   The illustrations are beautiful and inspiring and there are no set projects and directions as to which color/size of ribbon to use and how to put your finished flowers together, it will really work your imagination and creativity - I really like that aspect of the book! I also like her Ribbon Width formula (RW) better then if I was given a specific width of ribbon, because I can use any ribbon from my stash to make flowers out of.
   
   There's nothing to stand in the way of your imagination here, yet you'll get enough guidence as a beginner to know what to do, what supplies to buy and what they look like! The only thing I had to research on the internet is the type of ribbons and where to buy them from (she has a list of suppliers at the back of the book but they are all mailing addresses, no websites because the book came out in 1996). It took only a short time to find suppliers on the net who sell a variety of good quality ribbons like Soft Edge: silk, velvet, pleated and hand dyed ribbons and Wire Edge: rayons in variegated, ombre, organdy. But this was only a small inconvenience.
   I was sorry to see this book is out of print - buy a used copy like I did, you won't regret it!

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

1. I was very disappointed in this book. I have many others than offer more information. Yes, this book isn't expensive, but after reading the reviews I had hoped for more and this book fell short. If I had seen it, I wouldn't have bought it. Wish it wasn't such a pain to return it, but it would cost so much it would not be worth while. The print type is old and the photos are mostly hand drown. Like the one review stated, not very inspiring.



2. I scored my copy in my favorite junk shop here in town. At the time I was a beginning knitter, pretty mind-boggled by the information in this book. I used a few of the lace patterns to design dishcloths and put it back on the shelf.
   
   Now that I am designing my own patterns and have gotten to be a much better knitter, I've picked this book back up again, amazed at the wealth inside.
   
   Modern knitters not exposed to Mary Thomas might not be so pleased with the hand drawings, though they make perfect sense to me now. Also of interest are all the historical references and pictures and once accustomed the quaint, old-fashioned language there is an immense amount of technical information to be had for the designer.



3. This book is very clear and contains a lot of good knitting information. The drawn illustrations and charts are not always very easy to read and obviously somewhat antiquated, but there is a lot of knowledge in the book.



4. 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.



5. 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.

5 comments about Scarves and Shawls for Yarn Lovers: Knitting with Simple Patterns and Amazing Yarns.

1. I'm a fairly new knitter and really liked this book. The projects are very do-able, don't take forever and results are nice. What I like most:
   1) there are a couple of versions of each pattern in different yarns
   2) the book has little "lessons" to reveal some of the mysteries of knitting
   3) supply lists include the number-skein system for weight/type of yarn for easy substitution
   4) the book has clear instructions that enabled me to FINALLY master the seed stitch!!
   
   I know my list seems simple to some, but those things are really important to me as a new knitter. It's nice to have a book other than Teach Yourself Visually to turn to for an actual project for success - and good seed stitch instructions.



2. If you have progressed from making the standard scarf, this book is for you. Shows you how to incorporate different yarns and colors. I highly recommend it.



3. The book is great. The pics are beautiful and instructions are easy to follow!



4. I am a novice knitter (knit, purl, knit, purl). Even I could understand the instructions given in this book. I am on my second scarf and am really enjoying the time spent doing these projects.



5. This is a great book, with interesting pattern and the instructions and information is so easy to follow. Inspiring!!

5 comments about An Encyclopedia of Crazy Quilt Stitches and Motifs (4178).

1. Thanks to the positive reviews seen here, I ordered this book and have been very pleased with it. I do have a couple of other books showing crazy quilt stitches, but this one is by far the easiest to understand. The most helpful feature of this book is that it has very simple diagrams that are somewhat like dance step diagrams: showing the stitch numbered with 1-2-3 etc. and saying "come up at 1, go down at 2, come up at 3." As a result I was able to master several stitches that I had not been able to learn from other books. This may seem silly, but I have always had trouble with French knots--probably the most basic stitch there is. I learned from this book that my problem was that I was not holding the tension properly. That right there was worth the price of the book to me. My French knots look great now!
   
   Additionally, there is a small section on ribbon embroidery which covers several of the basic ribbon embroidery stitches in the same manner, which enabled me to embroider a basket of flowers very similar to the one in the lower left corner of the cover. Having previously managed a total of two uneven ribbon roses using another book on ribbon embroidery, I was extremely pleased with my results!
   
   Perhaps the second most helpful feature of this book is the demonstration of combining stitches. Illustrations and the photos offer a great many examples of how to combine two or three of the basic stitches to make completely different effects. I've used these examples to learn with, and they have helped to inspire me to expand on them with my own ideas.
   
   A truly advanced embroiderer would probably not benefit very much from this book, which I would say is intended for the beginning crazy quilter and beginning-to-intermediate embroiderer. In that regard perhaps the title is a little misleading. If you are really looking for a book that covers virtually every stitch known to man, you want Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches. But you will not find the diagrams in that book as easy to understand as the ones in this book. So if you want to learn basic embroidery stitches and how to combine them easily to great effect, this book is an excellent choice.



2. Everyone needs this book, it goes along with any quilt book...the instructions are easy to work out..I love it.



3. i bought this book as a gift for a friend. i have one of my own and enjoy it so much i knew she would like it also.



4. This is a wonderful soft covered book full of different kinds of embroidery stitches for those who love to hand sew. I bought the book for my daughter who loves my book and is always borrowing it. However, the book was supposed to be new. It had slightly worn edges and a bit of a tear on the spine. So I was disappointed as it's a birthday gift.



5. This book is great for beginner Crazy Quilters and embroiderers. Easy to follow diagrams and lots of ideas. Inspiring pictures. Good stitch refresher for everyone.

5 comments about Wild and Wonderful Fleece Animals: With Full-Size Patterns for 20 Cuddly Critters.

1. I only checked this book out from the library, but it is definitely worth buying. (i am actually afraid if i buy it, i will be requested by my kids to make each pattern, which would create huge overpopulation in my house of stuffed creatures--even though they are probably my favorite thing to make!) I made two of the penguins for my children for christmas. As others have said, the illustrated instructions are so clear, and the patterns are included (i traced them of course, since this is a library copy--but the heavy paper they are on and thick lines they are drawn with made this easy). The choices are varied and so cute. I am an intermediate sewist and each toy took me less than an hour after i had collected and cut my materials (it went especially quick making the second one). Such a great deal for so many patterns, too!



2. I cannot more highly recommend this book for people who enjoy sewing stuffed toys. It's also an excellent book for those who are trying to learn how to sew with a machine, as well as anyone who would like to try sewing fleece, or sewing stuffed animals.
   
   I have been making patterns and sewing stuffed toys for thirty two years and I would place this book among the very best on the subject. The full-size patterns are a nice plus. I photocopied them onto regular paper to keep the originals pristine, but the paper is sufficiently heavy for many uses.
   
   As soon as I'm done with this review, I'm going to look for other books by this author.



3. I found this book at my local library first, and simply had to have a copy of my own!
   
   The full-sized patterns are amazing, and the pictorial instructions easily followed. With the majority of the seams being machine sewed, these make practical children toys as well. I have tried the hedgehog and penguin patterns, and both took me less than an hour to complete.
   
   Simple additions of trim will further personalize the toys, making adorable gifts. (For example, a feathery trim sewn in the head seam of the penguin pattern makes a cute Mohawk-style punk rocker, while beaded tassels make a flirty necklace.)
   
   I would recommend this book to any one looking for sweet, fun projects that can be finished in an afternoon.



4. This will be fun to use for making gifts for my grandchildren. Arrived in good time and excellent condition. Thank you.



5. I have been sewing for about 3 years so I am in no way an expert. But, even if you are an expert or just starting out, this book is really great for you! The patterns are simple and straight forward, many of them have under 7 pieces total and some have just three or four pieces. The animals vary in size, so some are a great way to use up some scrap fabric (aka the smaller rabbit, centipede, etc).
   
   I recommend a couple of things: look at the actual pattern before you buy fabric, they are much bigger than I thought some of them were!
   
   Second, the patterns all come on four large foldouts; I just trace the pattern I need and save them so I don't lose the pieces.
   
   Other than those, great book! I have made 2 cats, the rabbit, penguin and the hedgehog.

1 comments about Donna Kooler's Second Edition Stocking Collection (Leisure Arts #4819).

1. I adore Christmas stockings, I make them as wedding and new baby gifts. They are greatly appreciated and remind the recipient of someone who loves them dearly. This is an awesome collection of stockings by Donna Kooler, the book is well written and the charts are very easy to use, even with my old eyes! My only complaint is that all the stockings face right, they are not the traditional left facing stocking. That is easily overcome by taking the chart to a printer and having him/her make a reverse copy for you. Not such a big deal as I always make a working copy so as not to ruin my original chart or book, it's just an inconvenience going to the printer as I usually make my copies at home.