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.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
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