The Needlecraft Shelf
Midwest Book Review
KP Books/F&W, dist.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990-0001
Learn how to create your own 'picture knits' and learn from over fifty
designs and motifs in a knitter's guide which tells how to produce
unique knitted giftware incorporating pictures from flowers and animals
to alphabets and themes. Betty Barnden 's PICTURE KNITS: EASY DESIGNS
FOR THE NOVICE KNITTER (0896891534 $24.99) provides patterns, ideas,
options, and assembly instructions for sweaters, hats, panels and all
kinds of motifs. Beginners will love the idea they can produce
something custom and unique with relatively few skills. Cindy
Crandall-Frazier's SINGLE CROCHET FOR BEGINNERS (0896891763, $22.99) is
the perfect guide to begin with if you have no prior experience
crocheting. Easy bags, hats, scarves and useful small pieces accompany
step-by-step easy instructions and plenty of color photos throughout.
Materials lists, skills levels and size of project all are quick to
discern.
Compassionate Knitting
Tara Jon Manning
Tuttle Publishing
Airport Business Park, 364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT
05795-9436
0804837074 $14.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com
Twenty original knitting projects within are meant to convey a special
meaning to the project, whether it be a good luck symbol, serenity, or
imparting confidence, and noted knitwear designer Tara Jon Manning
shows how to tap into this compassion blending Buddhist philosophy with
knitting objectives in a unique blend of spiritual and knitter's guide.
Knitters will appreciate the unusual blend which fosters both creative
and soulful projects.
Colorful Stitchery
Kristin Nicholas
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCa Way, N. Adams, MA 01247
1580176119 $19.95 www.storey.com
Embroidery projects usually focus on clothing, but they can be used to
personalize a home, too - as embroiderer Kristin Nicholas demonstrates
in COLORFUL STITCHERY: 65 HOT EMBROIDERY PROJECTS TO PERSONALIZE YOUR
HOME. From dragonflies on pillows to lap blankets, egg cozies, and
more, these colorful embroidery projects lend to gift-giving as much as
home embellishment. Each comes with a full-page picture and easy
details on fabric choice, notions and stitches.
C&T Publishing
PO Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
www.ctpub.com
Three lovely new titles provide quilters and embroiders with new
project ideas. Becky Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins' NEW APPLIQUE SAMPLER:
LEARN TO APPLIQUE THE PIECE O'CAKE WAY (157120265X, $26.95) tells how
to become a hand applique expert, whether you're right-handed or left-
handed. Beginners and those with some applique background will find the
instructions easy - and packed with secrets of how to combine pieces,
applique effectively, and choose designs. With a new Spring Sampler and
updated Applique Sampler paired with step-by-step color project photos
throughout, THE NEW APPLIQUE SAMPLER is a winner. Joen Wolfrom's A
GARDEN PARTY OF QUILTS: 7 PIECED PROJECTS FOR FLOWER LOVERS
(157120301X, $24.95) comes from a color expert who shows how to blend
flowers into quilt designs, from tulips to clematis and more. Seven
flower quilt projects demonstrate the techniques, using flowers which
are completely machine pieced and presenting projects for all skills
levels. Step-by-step instructions on piecing, patterns, and color
illustrations of everything make it easy to understand how the projects
are put together. Ann Fahl's COLORING WITH THREAD: A NO- DRAWING
APPROACH TO FREE-MOTION EMBROIDERY (157120296X, $24.95) tells how to
use any sewing machine with feed dog drop to create embroidered
fabrics. From a student gallery of works by students to step-by-step
project instructions packed with color photos throughout and color
sidebars of tips and tricks, COLORING WITH THREAD provides a fine new
approach to creating enhanced fabrics.
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com
Five new crafter's guides are top picks for any interested in quilting,
crochet or knitting. Kirstin Spurkland's CROCHET FROM THE HEART: QUICK
PROJECTS FOR GENEROUS LIVING (1564776069, $22.95) combines 18 crochet
projects with tips on how to make a difference in the lives of others.
>From baby booties and blankets to a pet bed, gifts can be made easily
to those in need or charities - and there's a list of such charities
which will help share crocheted donations. Sophie Britten's BIG
KNITTING: QUICK AND EASY DESIGNS WITH CHUNKY YARNS AND FAT NEEDLES
(1564776174, $28.95) presents nearly twenty designs for beginners and
experienced knitters alike which rely on the latest colorful yarns and
the largest knitting needles available. Sophie Britten is an
experienced knitting teacher and knitwear designer, so her designs are
original and her directions quite clear. Quilters will learn how to get
their spaces more efficient through Lois L. hallock's CREATING YOUR
PERFECT QUILTING SPACE: SEWING-ROOM MAKEOVERS FOR ANY SPACE AND BUDGET
(1564775690, $26.95). You don't need to have a large space or a
designer's budget to use CREATING YOUR PERFECT QUILTING SPACE: here are
dozens of ideas for transformations based on efficient spaces which
have worked for others; from considering shelving and drawer pros and
cons to before and after photos of makeovers for small, medium and
large spaces. Storing scrap and fabric and patterns for quick access
and neat appearance can challenge even the most dedicated of quilters:
CREATING YOUR PERFECT QUILTING SPACE offers many design solutions.
Janna L. Sheppard's COURTSHIP QUILTS INSPIRED BY THE VICTORIAN LANGUAGE
OF FLOWERS (1564776328, $27.95) explains the Victorian tradition of
sending messages via flowers - and shows how such may be incorporated
into a quilt project. The 11 projects here feature machine applique,
strip piecing and lovely borders suitable for framing, and explains the
meanings behind various flower choices. Shelley Lynne Robson's SEEING
STARS: 16 QUILTED PROJECTS (1564776301, $4.95) provides sampler blocks
which can be stitched together month by month, with 15 companion
projects ranging from place mats to a mesh tote and the usual quilting
choices. From piecing to finishing choices, SEEING STARS provides easy
start-to-finish projects.
Cheaper Than Therapy
Annie Modesitt
ModeKnit Press
PO Box 813, South Orange, NJ 07079
0975421980 $10.99 1-973-769-3472 www....@anniemodesitt.com
Knowledgeably edited by Annie Modesitt, Cheaper Than Therapy: Joy,
Healing And Life Lessons In Fiber is an impressive and memorable
compilation of poems and writings drawn from a large selection of
writers revealing the essence of the therapeutic nature sewing,
knitting, crocheting, and spinning. The reader will discover hidden
secrets as to why so many people take the needlecraft arts as such a
popular and widespread hobby. Cheaper Than Therapy is a strongly
recommended read for fiber artists and needlecraft hobbyists for its
definitive ability to engage the reader from beginning to end.
Traditional Irish Embroidery
Sandra Counahan
Mercier Press
c/o Irish Books & Media, Inc.
1433 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2101
www.irishbook.com
1856354857 $24.95 1-800-229-3505
Written by a teacher of Irish embroidery and needlecraft, Traditional
Irish Embroidery: Mountmellick Work is a "how-to" book for beginners to
highly skilled embroiderers, with especial emphasis upon Mountmellick
Work, which originated in a small town in Ireland in the 1820s and is
known for its use of bold motifs, a variety of stitches, and
imaginative designs. Traditional Irish Embroidery offers basics for
getting started, a stitch directory, ideas for use, and finishing
techniques along with a range of patterns and assorted tips & tricks.
Black-and-white photographs and diagrams round out this definitive and
user-friendly guide to creating professional-quality Mountmellick Work.
Panels & Patchwork
Janet Wecker-Frisch, artist
Landauer Corporation
12251 Maffitt Road, Cumming, IA 50061
www.landauercorp.com
1890621935 $21.95 1-800-557-2144
Featuring best-selling fabric collections by artist Janet
Wecker-Frisch, Panels & Patchwork: Quick Quilts For Kids presents 22
fast-finish quilting projects that make use of pre-printed fabric
panels. Packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for mixing and
matching quilt blocks and panels, Panels & Patchwork spells out
instructions for quilts, stockings, pillows, crib bumper pads, crib
toppers, and more creations ideal for furnishing children's rooms, all
in step-by-step detail. An excellent project guide especially for
novice quilters or those with little spare time.
Wool Rug Hooking
Tara Darr
KP Books
700 E. State Street, Iola, WI 54990-0001
www.fwpubs.com
0873498933 $22.95 1-800-258-0929
Primitive designs to modern patterns alike are the feature of Wool Rug
Hooking: Tradition In The Making, a collection of patterns for pillows,
footstools, rugs and more which includes a back section of oversized
patterns. From examples of different styles to step-by-step
instructions on how to begin to hook, finishing borders, and project
planning ideas, Wool Rug Hooking revives an old art and is the only
guide you'll need to produce polished results.
Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
www.watsonguptill.com
Two excellent crafter's guides offer details and projects suitable for
all levels of talent. Judy Belcher's Polymer Clay Creative Traditions
(0823040658, $21.95) offers tips and techniques from more than 90
contributing artists - including top names in the industry. Polymer
clay is versatile and colorful: learn how to create clay pieces ranging
from ceramics to ethic influenced creations using inspiration derived
from metalworks, painting, quilting and glasswork. Step-by-step color
photos abound. Jane Davies' Collage With Color (0823007979, $19.95)
tells how to create beautiful collages in full color using self-created
patterns on paper rather than commercial stock. Paint collage papers
using different techniques, enjoy exercises which inspire more designs,
and use combing and other techniques to create unique works of art.
Both are attractive, fun project-oriented crafter's choices.
Martingale Company
20205 - 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com
Martingale's lovely quilting 'how to' titles are highly recommended
picks for avid quilters always seeking new projects. Judy Hopkins' Big
N Easy: Supersized Quilts For Queen Beds (156477550X, $24.95) tells how
to stitch bed-sized quilts using traditional blocks and easy techniques
tailored for bigger beds. Fifteen quilt patterns fit larger beds and
thicker mattresses and use many classics in patterns but with different
fabric choices. Step-by-step instructions cover unit assembly and
techniques. Kristin Spurkland's Crochet From The Heart: Quick Projects
For Generous Giving (1564776069, $22.95) provides a wealth of projects
-some 18 - which can be easily and quickly created for charity or
family alike. From baby items to hats and bags, the focus is on items
which lend to donation. Mary Sue Suit's Crazy Eights: Fun With
8-Pointed Stars (1564776018, $24.95) provides projects for eleven
quilts which feature 16" blocks. The projects are thus very quick to
finish yet offer some spectacular quilts simplified by big pieces and
easy-sew triangles. Add a Triangle Ruler template to be found within
this book and you can't get any quicker - nor smoother - with colorful
results. Lesley Stanfield's First Crochet: Projects For Beginners
(1564776204, $24.95) provides newcomers with a wonderful workshop-in-
a-book format packed with clear directions on basic stitches and
progressive techniques. Color photos of finished projects embellish
close-up color photos of step-by-step crochet directions. From scarves
and handbags to blankets and purses, First Crochet holds a wealth of
practical ideas. Pauline Turner's Crocheted Lace (1564775763, $24.95)
explores the most popular types of crochet lace: fillet crochet,
motifs, and Irish crochet, pairing step-by-step instructions with a
library of patterns and over ten projects. An introduction uses
drawings to cover the basics of stitches needed in producing projects,
with later chapters offering projects and applications. Sophie
Britten's Big Knitting: Quick And Easy Designs With Chunky Yans And Fat
Needles (156-4776174, $28.95) provides nearly twenty easy designs for
knitters at all levels of the art, focusing on a range of colorful,
chunky yarns using some of the largest knitting needles available.
While beginners in particular will relish the easy projects, even more
advanced knitters will find plenty of interest here, from a hooded top
to a 'shrug' - a cross between a scarf and a cardigan sweater. All are
outstanding project guides.
Luxury Knits
Amanda Griffiths
Barrons
250 Wireless Rd., Hauppage, NY 11788
0764158236 $24.99 barronseduc.com
Over twenty designs show off yarns such as cashmere, merino, mohair and
more in the knitwear project display Luxury Knits: Simple And Stylish
Projects For The Most Desirable Knitwear. Amanda Griffiths trained at
the Royal College of Art: her collection of stylish projects blends
classic designs with unusual yarns and different embellishments to
create a set of gorgeous projects - all embellished with full-page
color photos of models displaying the results.
Mother Of Purl
Edith Eig
Collins
10 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022
0060818271 $19.95 harpercollins.com
Edith Eig is a knitting teacher to Hollywood's biggest stars and here
shares her tips and techniques for knitting the latest designs. Mother
Of Purl: Friends, Fun, And Fabulous Designs At Hollywood's Knitting
Circle covers all the basics, from using and choosing different yarns
and patterns to ribbing and professional finishing tips. Diagrams of
pattern examples for each project accompany a facing page color photos
of the completed project and numerous smaller step-by-step color
photos. Sidebars of information cover such topics as keeping track
during a difficult pattern or adding length or shortening a finished
sweater. A top pick for all types of knitters, from beginner to
advanced.
Mary Black's Family Quilts
Laurel Horton
University of South Carolina Press
1600 Hampton Street, 5th floor, Columbia, SC 29208
1570036101 $19.95 www.sc.edu/uscpress
Laurel Horton is an independent folklorist and textile scholar who
examines the family quilting traditions of six generations in Mary
Black's Family Quilts: Memory And Meaning In Everyday Life. Sixteen
quilts here tell the story of the family, a South Carolina legend - and
reveals the trunks full of quilts Black left to her descendants. Don't
expect a quilter's handbook here: this is local history at its best.
Vintage Knits
Kim Hargreaves, et. al.
Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com
1570763127 $25.00 1-800-423-4525
Vintage Knits: Thirty Knitting Designs From Rowan For Men And Women is
a fantastic collection of knitwear designs drawing inspiration from the
fashion, simplicity, and charm of the 40's, 50's and 60's. Full-color
photographs, extensive row-by-row instructions, black-and-white
diagrams, pattern keys and more make the projects for various knitted
tops easy-to-follow. Vintage Knits does presuppose that the reader is
familiar with basic knitting skills and written knitting notation;
there are no express tutorials. A superb sourcebook for intermediate to
advanced knitters.
Storey Publications
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
Two excellent solution-oriented "Answer Book" guides go beyond most
craft titles, providing answers to common questions and problems. The
Crochet Answer Book by Edie Eckman (1580175988, $12.95) covers
problems-solving techniques for all kinds of efforts, from following
pattern instructions to placing hooks, turning chains, and making
repairs. Margaret Radcliffe's The Knitting Answer Book (1580175996,
$14.95) achieves the same for knitting tangles, from handling twisted
knitting and increase/decrease directions to controlling fabric
qualities. Both are oriented to common problems crocheters and knitters
experience, and both are highly recommended picks.
Moon Over Mountain
2 Public Ave., Montrose, PA 188801-1220
$16.95 each www.QuiltTownUSA.com
Two wonderful new quilt titles from Moon Over Mountain provides a
treasure trove of simple productions and are top picks for avid
quilters. Christiane Meunier, Shelley Knapp and others provide nine
quilt patterns in Cheerful Quilts (1885-588712, $16.95), a gathering of
spirited quilts for all skill levels. Beginners especially will welcome
a guide which focuses on easily-followed directions, accurate pattern
pieces, large color photos of each quilt, and material selection and
cutting hints. Betty Neff's Quilts To Treasure: Patterns For 8 Heirloom
Quilts (1885588690, $16.95) provides the same attention to useful
full-size patterns, step-by-step, easy directions, and color photos of
each quilt. All are excellent guides avid quilters will adore.
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3200, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.americanquilter.com
Choose from a range of designs and techniques to provide a professional
finishing touch to a quilt in Bonnie K. Browning's Borders & Finishing
Touches 2 (1574328913, 22.95), a collection of ideas which uses an easy
paper-folding technique to make all borders fit perfectly. Designs
created by Browning use novelty bindings, scalloped edges and more to
provide lovely quilt borders. Patterns, color photos, and suggestions
for alternate uses of the bindings make for a 'must' for any quilter
who wants to add polishing touches. Gwen Marston's Needlework Designs
(1574328980, $22.95) packs in over 70 designs inspired by 16th and 17th
century motifs from museum collections around the world. These
full-page patterns can be hand or machine quilted or stenciled and
provide a versatile range of applications: two quilt projects reinforce
the designs, while tips and ideas provide options on handling
transfers.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to
promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We
accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to
post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites,
newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational
newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book
Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines
"Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch",
"Reviewer's Bookwatch", "Small Press Bookwatch", and "California
Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review
website at http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them
to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to
mwboo...@aol.com (Be sure to include title, author, publisher,
publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 10-digit ISBN
number, and price).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com