Carolyn Hedge Baird. 2004.

Whimsical and bursting with ideas, Carolyn Hedge Baird has written a book of stitch ideas
which covers much more than just Easter Eggs. It contains “ideas for borders and stripes,
backgrounds, details, threads, finishing, and displaying your needlepoint eggs!”

The book can roughly be divided into four sections; introduction, stitch suggestions, stitch
dictionary and additional techniques. Each section is packed with ideas.

The introduction is short and includes an introduction (and a great story about the Easter
Raccoon (who now lives at my house, I think), an introduction, some thoughts about
needlepointing, and a wonderful set of outlines of Easter eggs (for designing your own).

The second section is called Easter Needlepoint. It is divided by types of objects (straw
hats, bunnies, etc.) and lists stitch and thread suggestions for all parts of the object.
Needing to stitch some dots? This section includes suggestions for evenly spaced dots,
random dots, dots over 4 threads, and dotted areas. Along with some stitch diagrams,
there are list of stitches for all these areas, as well as hints and comments. Blank pages
and graph paper are included throughout this section to record your own choices.

The largest section of the book is the stitch dictionary. It is divided into sections including
tiny and small stitches, backgrounds, stitches for details, laid fillings and more. The
sections begin with a listing of stitches in them and then each stitch is diagrammed, and
many have additional information. In the tiny stitches section, for example, she has a great
description of Chottie’s Plaid. Once again idea, blank pages, graph paper and clip art are
interspersed throughout the section.

Specialized techniques, finishing and display information make up the last section of the
book. This included information which often is not seen in needlepoint books with
sections on silk ribbon embroidery, wired ribbon, and beading as well as finishing and
display information.

I love this book and find myself turning to it often for ideas, but I would add a small word
of caution. For people who have difficulty reading or who don’t like densely packed
information on a page, Baird’s style could be difficult. Her typeface can be hard to read
(especially in small sizes) and with clip art, text and diagrams on a page, it can be difficult
for some people to see what is most important.

But these are small problems with a book which is joyous, fun and full of ideas, even if you
never stitch and Easter Egg.

Related posts:

1. Backgrounds & Such – book review
2. Book Review — The Needlepoint Belt Series
3. SuZy’s Lite Stitches – book review
4. Backgrounds: The Finishing Touch – book review
5. Spooky Stitches- Book Review

You can think of the main stitch, the light stitches in the sample, as Hungarian Stitches. Between rows of them, small straight stitches in a different color or thread are inserted, making a stripe, but not an obvious one.

You can also vary the stitch by making the individual stitches longer as long as the relationship between the stitches stays the same. Another great thing about patterned straight stitches like this is that they are really fast to stitch.

Many needlepointers don’t like to do straight stitches. I think this for a couple of reasons. Initially they look odd when combined with diagonal stitches. Diagonal stitches go over intersections while straight stitches go over lines between intersections. The places where they meet look different because of this. The other reason is that you may not be using enough strands of thread. Always bulk up your thread when making straight stitches

Tray Parisian Stripe, it’s a great stitch.

Related posts:

1. Roman Stripe – a Little Needlepoint Freebie
2. Random Stripe Generator
3. Arrowhead -Great Scotch Stitch Variation for Needlepoint
4. Leaf and Straight Stitch Index from Stitches for Effects
5. Great Stitch & Background Tips

Suzanne Howren & Beth Robertson, ISBN: 0-9663024-3-5, 2004.

I have to say I resisted buying this book for quite awhile, largely because I own all of the
Stitches for Effect books, so why would I need to get this small summary of the books.

But the book is wonderful. It’s small, small enough to fit in my stitching bag. It is packed,
just packed, with numbered diagrams of the stitches. No text, no explanations, no
suggestions for use — all of that is in the bigger books.

In the past when I’ve needed to remember how to do a stitch, I needed to go upstairs (to
my studio) to find a book, look up the stitch and maybe bring it back down to my stitching
chair. With Stitches to Go, I don’t need to do that. It can sit in bag, basket or even on the
table shelf which has my tool box. I can find the stitch, add it to the canvas and go on with
my work.

I’m like many stitchers, I know more stitches than I tend to use on a canvas. In the past,
since I didn’t have a stitch dictionary small enough to keep with my stitching, I tended to
use the same stitches over and over. Looking at Stitches to Go I found old, half-forgotten
friends, new stitches I wanted to try and new ways of looking at stitches I already knew.

The diagrams are large, clearly numbered and easy to see, they are presented in
alphabetical order, with six stitches per page. A separate section near the back of the book
presents Bargello and darning patterns, which are larger. There is an index at the back and
several blank pages for a Stitch Journal where you can record information about your
pieces.

As a quiet assistant, Stitches to Go is an essential part of a needleworker’s toolkit.

Related posts:

1. SuZy’s Mini Stitches — Book Review
2. Categories for Needlepoint Stitches, second edition – book review
3. Background Stitches vol.1 – book review
4. Landscape Stitches — book review
5. Spooky Stitches- Book Review

Thread Candy Studio’s Simple Stitches has volume 1 on the cover. It begins with a section on thread use information that is organized by mesh size for 18 and 14 mesh canvas, 28 or 32 count linen over 2, and 7 + 10 count canvas. There is also a little box that has some general guidelines for choosing threads. While most of this information is correct, some of it, especially the suggestions for linen are only appropriate for cross stitch but this is never noted. The next page has an explanation of different types and sizes of needles. This is followed by a few pages of stitching tips, including specific tips for left-handers.

The stitches in this book are in alphabetical order by name with large numbered diagrams. Many stitches have two versions, one for right- and one for left-handers. By careful if you are learning a stitch to use the correct diagram. Each stitch has the stitch family listed, stitch tips, and, for many stitches suggestions for effects or threads.

All the stitches are listed in the index.

Needlepoint Inc’s Simply Stitches is designed to be a quick reference book of frequently used needlepoint stitches. It has no text, just one stitch per page with large clear diagrams. They are also in alphabetical order but a Table of Stitches at the front of the book allows you go directly to the stitch you want.

The stitches cover many beginning stitches as well as some unusual and more advanced stitches.

I prefer Needlepoint Inc’s approach to this kind of book, it has the information I need but in a compact format that will continue to be useful whether I am just learning to stitch or need an easy reference to carry with me.

But both are great little tools for any stitcher.

Related posts:

1. Stitch Journal from Thread Candy Studio – Product Review
2. Threadworx Journal – product review
3. The Stitch Starts Here – Book Review
4. Stitch Notebook – Product Review
5. Pansy Portraits – Product Review

BACKGROUNDS: THE FINISHING TOUCH by Ann Strite-Kurz

The choice of a background which is both appropriate for the design and beautiful is a decision which often perplexes stitchers. But all stitchers agree that the right choice can really make the design.

Ann Strite-Kurz’s teaching projects project packs and stitching are well known for their wonderful open backgrounds. No matter what the design, you will find innovative open backgrounds enhancing her work.

In this book Ann has taken canvases (of her own and by many others) and used them as the basis for a book about open background techniques. It is comprehensive and dense with information.

The first chapter opens with a short history of needlepoint and then has what I think of as the heart of the book. Well over 100 canvases are pictured and the backgrounds are analyzed. Each design is pictured in black and white in the book and then in color on the accompanying CD. A second picture of a detail section of the background is also on the CD. Each canvas is analyzed and information is given about how the background was developed or why it is an appropriate choice. In the section Ann classifies the different types of backgrounds into classes such as mat backgrounds, painted backgrounds or partial backgrounds.

Following this chapter are six chapters of techniques which show you how to do many of the techniques seen in the pictured canvases. The second chapter covers planning and execution of open backgrounds including detailed suggestions for starting and stopping threads so they won’t show and how to plan a background to work with the design.

The remaining chapters are all devoted to specific techniques. In each chapter there is an explanation on how to work the technique (if needed) and then the patterns are discussed. Anyone who has read Ann’s previous books knows how thorough her diagrams and explanations are, and this book is no exception. For example, Pattern 11, Diamond Outlines in Tied Oblong Crosses has a large diagram of the over all pattern, a detailed explanation of the pattern and when to use it (it is a large scale pattern with oblique stitches, so it needs to be planned carefully). then there is another explanation with diagrams of how to stitch the pattern. The section ends with some suggestions (accompanied by diagrams) on how to make the pattern more dense.

Because the book is packed densely with information it is a book to be savored and read over and over again. Pick a canvas, page through the CD to find ideas, then through the book to find a background you like, everything you need to know to make these open patterns an asset to your canvas is there.

We are so lucky to have Ann and her wonderful way of analyzing patterns available to us.

Related posts:

1. Backgrounds & Such – book review
2. A Background Stitch Reference Book — Book Review
3. New Canvaswork – Book Review
4. Diaper Patterns – book review
5. Book Review – Bargello Christmas Medallions

Jane Zimmerman, self-published, 2005, ISBN:0-9646219-3-2.

Jane Zimmerman is a teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge of all types of needlework.
She has decided to create a comprehensive collection of stitch variations and patterns. It
will be a collection of three books, of which this is the first. It covers Mosaic, Cashmere,
Scotch, Gobelin, Eyelet, and Plaited Stitches.

This book contains 385 stitches. Each stitch has a photograph or a stitched sample. and a
diagram. Many diagrams have numbering, and virtually all have noted about the stitch, the
type of variation, or the name.

Each chapter is devoted to a type of stitch (Mosaic, Cashmere and Scotch are grouped
together). The chapter have a brief introduction which describes the type of stitch and
something about the variations.

One aspect which is different about this book, the stitches are not titled. Names of stitches, if any, are found in the notes under the stitch diagram. This makes the book great for browsing. There’s also plenty of space under the photos for your notes.

Needless to say, there is not index, but there is a list of reference sources at the end of the
book.

Related posts:

1. The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Canvas Embroidery, vol. 2 – book review
2. Ultimate Big Book of Finishing, Needlework Knowledge and Techniques – book review
3. My Canvas Embroidery Notebook – book review
4. The Embroidery Stitch Bible – book review
5. Bead Embroidery – Book Review

Categories for Needlepoint Stitches, second edition, Julia Key H. Snyder, self-published, 2008

When it comes to stitch dictionaries, there are two schools of thought. One group organizes the dictionary by the structure of the stitch. The Needlepoint Book is probably the best know of these. The other group organizes the dictionary by the area to be stitched. Categories for Needlepoint Stitches is an excellent addition to this type of stitch dictionary.

The great strength of this type of book is that when you are searching for a stitch most of the time you want a stitch for something specific. For example on my current project, I need a stitch for some clothing. In the chapter on fabrics, I find more than 20 pages of stitches, covering many techniques including laidwork, pattern darning and basketweave patterns for needlepoint damask. Other stitches are meant to leave areas of the canvas showing through.

Each section of the book has stitches and, sometimes, tips for the different areas commonly seen in needlepoint. My two favorites are in the section on Faces & Skin, with great tips for two perplexing areas, eyebrows and moths. Clearly Snyder has brought her long experience as a shopowner helping customers stitch canvases to this book.

There is only one small issue with the book and it is in all stitch dictionaries organized by canvas areas. Some stitches appear more than once. This is only a small problem and then only if you are reading it from cover to cover. If you are using the book as intended to find a specific stitch for an area, this is no problem at all.

I highly recommend this book as a great little stitch dictionary for your workbasket or project bag.

Related posts:

1. Landscape Stitches — book review
2. Stitches to Go – book review
3. SuZy’s Mini Stitches — Book Review
4. SuZy’s Portable Stitches – vol 2 – Book Review
5. Spooky Stitches- Book Review

Barbara Bergsten has given us stitchers such a wonderful gift. She has created an on-line index of all her stitch diagrams.

Barbara’s diagrams are wonderful, about as clear as you can get. They are numbered, use two colors and are large.

Right now there are almost 30 on the site, but the number will grow.

The page is easy to navigate with eight stitches in thumbnails in each row. The names are below. Click on a diagram and get a page which has the diagram quite large, some of them are more than 3″ square.

What a fantastic resource, thanks Barbara!

Related posts:

1. The Stitch Starts Here – Book Review
2. Stitches Vol 1 & 2 in printed form – book review
3. Stitches CD – review
4. Background Stitches vol.1 – book review
5. The Embroidery Stitch Bible – book review

from Rittenhouse Needlepoint

It has a wonderful rhythm both to view and to stitch.

One of the things I love best about Rittenhouse’s stitch of the week series is how easy they are to use for learning new stitches. The pictures of stitches are clear and show several variation and the diagrams are great. Creating a stitch sampler for yourself using these stitches ia a wonderful way to learn.

Related posts:

1. Arrowhead -Great Scotch Stitch Variation for Needlepoint
2. All Those Lovely Canvases!
3. Take a Look at Some Lovely Needlepoint!
4. Another Lovely Bargello Ornament
5. Medieval Silkwork – Great Site, Lovely Pattern

When stitched it looks like a woven basket. I’ts similar to Woven Plait, but it has two parallel stitches in each set, not one.

It looks more complex than it is because the sets of stitches are diagonal stitches over three intersections. The change in direction comes because each new set of stitches goes over the ends of a previous stitch.

One problem I often have with needlepoint is that many of the stitches have a strong direction to them. This can often fight with the image being stitched.

There are lots of ways to minimize this tendency, like alternating the direction of the stitch, reversing the stich direction in some areas, or offsetting the stitch.

But probably my favorite is changing the direction of the stitch constantly. Double Woven does this.

I’m using it right now on the border of a piece from Sandy Grossman-Morris.

Related posts:

1. Great Stitch – Double Stitch
2. LAS Mini-sock Double Cross
3. Stitch Direction & Needlepoint – Part 2
4. Stitch Direction in Needlepoint – Part 1
5. Open Water Stitch