Cross-Stitch Books

Easy Cross-Stitch Pattern-a-Day: 2009 Day-to-Day Calendar

Accord Publishing

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $14.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Craft - Model: PLANT-BT9780740771651 Amazon Marketplace: 17 new & used starting at $10.08

Buy at Amazon.com

Features:

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Cross-Stitch

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Wow! What a great set of patterns! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Every year for the past three years, I have bought myself the Cross Stitch Calendar. At first it was because I was just looking for more patterns to add to my collection, and last year it was because I was already used to having a new pattern a day to look at. However, I was very disappointed by the 2008 calendar. Many of the patterns were complicated, sometimes requiring as many as 25 different thread colors (Expensive on a college budget) and many of the patterns were too `Country Chic' for my tastes.

Happily, I decided to try one more time and I bought the 2009 Cross Stitch Calendar. Immediately I opened it and looked over all the images, and I was blown away. Firstly, many of the images are visually stunning. Many of the images are more modern than previous calendars. There are flowers, alphabets, samplers, and images for all holidays. In particular, Halloween has a skull and cross bones that is just plain cool, and perfect to add to a messenger bag! Also, most of the patterns only require about five colors of thread, making them much more financially possible on a budget.

As always, there is a full color image of the completed cross stitch on the front of the day, and the back contains the black and white pattern key. The weekend card tells you which colors of DMC thread you will need to complete the work. In the front of the box is a key showing the colors of all the DMC threads if you want to make substitutions, and it has cards with the months so you can write down important dates and birthdays.

This is the perfect calendar for anyone who is interested in cross stitch and it would make a great present. It has patterns for all levels, but the vast majority of these would be suitable for a beginner or anyone who is pressed for time (most of us are these days).

Highly recommended for cross stitch and craft fans!

Editorial Review:

Easy Cross-Stitch Pattern-a-Day Desk Calendar: With wonderful new designs each day AND the patterns to actually create them, you'll enjoy beautiful Cross-Stitch Art and the thrill of knowing that you can stitch a new design every day, or simply save

Subversive Cross Stitch

Julie Jackson

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Chronicle Books Amazon Marketplace: 43 new & used starting at $5.97

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Cross-Stitch
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Needlecrafts -> General AAS
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Needlework

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 72 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Perfect for the non-traditional with a foul mouth 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

While wandering through an antique store one day, I saw an aged, framed cross stitch pattern which said "No one likes a smart mouth" surrounded by the usual flowers and patterns. This caused me to wonder if there were any available patterns with similar or stronger sentiments. After an internet search, I stumbled upon the author's website and was immediately in love with the concept and the designs.

Simple to the point of annoyance for anyone beyond beginner level, this book presents more of an attitude towards cross-stitching than a compendium of patterns. A beginner (or someone like myself who learned in home economics 20+ years ago) will find everything they need to begin cranking out cranky designs which will find hilarity with like minded people. Advanced stitchers will still enjoy (if that is your type of humor) the dichotomy of traditional fluffy-bunny designs with road-rage sayings and can apply the ideas to more complicated patterns of their choosing.

All in all, this may not be for everyone, but for a dude looking for something to occupy his hands after quitting smoking, this was perfect. I know what everyone is getting for the holidays from me! Well, not Grandma...

Editorial Review:

In this wicked little book, Julie Jackson reinvents the age-old craft of cross-stitch, finally putting an end to all that saccharine sentimentalism and giving modern stitchers the chance to say what's really on their minds. Stitch up Bitch in Kitchen for a heartfelt housewarming gift. Spread cheer with the ever-festive Bite Me. Or whip up This Place Sucks for a cherished co-worker. This fully illustrated book includes 33 of Jackson's best patterns and easy-to-follow directions. Jackson outlines the simple tools and techniques needed and even offers encouragement and tips on how to create one-of-a-kind revolutionary designs from craft-store patterns with subversive sentiments all your own.

The Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs: 500 Classic & Original Patterns

Linda Schapper

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Lark Books Amazon Marketplace: 48 new & used starting at $15.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Crocheting
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Cross-Stitch
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A very good stitch book, with one flaw. 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book features many stitch patterns and their variations. It doesn't delve too deeply into post stitches or textured stitches, although there are enough I think for most readers of this book. However, it does thoroughly cover everything else. It's a very large & thick book and has been proving itself a very good reference. I find it helpful to see the variations on a basic pattern, as I most often like those better and it's interesting to see how changing just one stitch in a pattern can alter the whole look.

I'm grateful the editors decided to use one color yarn for all the swatches & a similar color layout for all the pages. I find even the color of yarn can change the appearance of a swatch, so having all the swatches in the same yarn/color provides the brain an easy comparison with all the patterns. Recently there seems to be this push to make the stitch reference books colorful and happy, with this abject fear that if any two pages are uniform in appearance, we're all going to get soooo bored we'll fall asleep reading it. That's great for kids or if you need to be inspired by pretty things, but I'm choosing a pattern for a design and I want my stitch reference to be my workhorse in that endeavor & not a distraction. And I'm really happy there are written instructions AND charts.

My only problem (and reason for giving 4 stars, not 5) is the yarn used to stitch up the samples. It's a fuzzy kind of yarn. In the pictures you can make out the stitch textures a bit, but the fuzz factor obscures those details and almost makes the photo look out of focus. I can only assume that a person not familiar with photography decided on the yarn and thought it looked pretty or gave the swatches a softer appearance. It just plain doesn't work & was a really dumb move on the editor's part. If you're looking to see what a pattern would look like in a mercerized cotton, you might be frustrated. Basically, you have to view these patterns with a softer eye in order to get over the fuzz factor.

For the shear number of stitches and variations, I would definitely recommend this book. For most people, this book will serve very well, both as a reference for designing and for clarification of certain stitch patterns in purchased designs.

Editorial Review:

A classic of stitchwork, The Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs has now been updated with all-new diagrams and full-color photography, and showcases 500 designs—from traditional favorites to originals found nowhere else. There are soft and lacy patterns; some that mimic knitting, weaving, or patchwork; and others that use large openwork and popcorn stitches. And every stitch design features a photo, reader-friendly instructions, and a diagram showing each stitch and its placement—so it’s easy to understand the entire design at a glance. The guide also includes a pictorial index, which displays the complete pattern, and directions for all basic crochet stitches. Both beginners and experienced crocheters alike will turn to this invaluable reference for years to come.

A Main Selection of the Crafter's Choice Book Club.

Stitch Graffiti: Unexpected Cross-Stitch (Unexpected Cross Stitch)

Heather Holland-Daly

Amazon Price: $14.93 List Price: $21.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Interweave Press Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $10.93

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Cross-Stitch
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Needlecrafts -> General AAS
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Needlework

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Old-fashioned ABC samplers are nowhere to be found in this collection of 26 stylish and witty designs that give cross-stitch a forceful new look. Unconventional wall hangings fill the first section of the book and dazzle with their bold colors, unusual lettering, and offbeat quotes from songs, books, movie dialogue, and even truck stop bathrooms. A second group of patterns features intriguing, small designs called "tattoos" to sew on T-shirts, jean jackets, bracelets, and handbags, and a final section shifts to the decoration of household items such as pillows, dish towels, and a cloth-wrapped money jar. Each project is accompanied by commentary explaining the inspiration behind the design, and sidebars offer tips for personalizing the final product by adding beads, dyed fabric backgrounds, or frames made from hardware and found objects. Basic technique demos teach beginners how to form cross-stitches, mix cross-stitch with other embroidery, choose and use embroidery thread, stitch on linen, and work out designs on blank graphs.

Cross Stitch Antique Style Samplers

Jane Greenoff

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: David & Charles Amazon Marketplace: 33 new & used starting at $5.85

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Cross-Stitch
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> General
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Beautiful Book 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 11 people found this review helpful.

I am a cross stich freak and I absolutely love this book. Very well done with lots of ideas.

Great for Antique Cross-Stitch lovers 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Overall a great book that would be perfect for any fellow antique cross-stitch lovers. Also, nice history sections and examples.

Editorial Review:

Historically authentic sampler designs inspired by the author's own collection. In recent years, embroidered samplers have become highly collectible. Jane Greenoff uses her own historical sampler collection as the inspiration for over 30 unique antique style cross stitch designs so that you can begin a collection of your very own. Each project chapter is inspired by a popular sampler style. Samplers were traditionally used to teach young girls a variety of skills: darning samplers improved mending skills while alphabet samplers helped with literacy and samplers with improving mottoes instilled morality. Band and spot motif samplers were used to record the stitches they had learned. Many of the superb designs are complemented by additional counted thread stitches to encourage you to extend your stitching repertoire, including drawn and pulled thread techniques.

New Cross Stitcher's Bible (Cross Stitch (David & Charles))

Jane Greenoff

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: David & Charles Amazon Marketplace: 34 new & used starting at $12.50

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Cross-Stitch
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Embroidery
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Needlecrafts -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

FABULOUS designer, get the book, be wary of repetitive publications 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I LOVE Jane Greenoff. As a designer, she gets 6 stars. Her patterns are so prolific and popular that there is a cross stich magazine devoted entirely to her in Britain.
I took a class from her a couple years ago in Wisconsin and it was wonderful to spend a weekend with her learning new stitches on several special projects, speaking with her and her husband about their home in England, her designing and the nuts and bolts of how her books are published. I brought several of my own books there and purchased a few more which she graciously signed....
The only reason I gave this book 3 stars is that her publisher keeps printing the same books every year or so with few changes. I have a huge library of books and I need to be very careful to look at my list when shopping to make sure I'm not buying duplicate copies of virtually the same books. (Yes, this is true of a number of her many publications.)
So order this wonderful, jam-packed volume because it is FULL of an expert's myriad stitches. Just be sure to get only the most recent publication.

Editorial Review:

This is a completely new and revised edition of the best-selling "Cross Stitcher's Bible", from one of the world's favourite cross stitch designers, Jane Greenoff.This essential guide to cross stitch and other counted thread embroidery techniques includes an extensive illustrated stitch library.Inspiring new projects present exciting stitching challenges, ranging in size from cards to cushions. Versatile motifs and sampler picture designs are all clearly charted and can easily be adapted for other projects.This is the must-have, easy-to-follow companion for all cross stitchers to bring them up-to-date with the latest trends, techniques and materials.

Card Calendar: A Year's Worth of Celebrations: 2009 Day-to-Day Calendar

Accord Publishing

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $14.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Andrews McMeel Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 23 new & used starting at $9.91

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Cross-Stitch
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Papercrafts -> General
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Papercrafts -> General AAS

Editorial Review:

Don't throw yesterday away--Just Gift It!

Master paper engineer Jeff Cole brings his innovative paper craft to everyday celebrations, with whimsical designs for every special card-giving occasion throughout the year. Includes:

* More than 100 original cards

* Template to create your own envelopes

* Seasonal and holiday cards

* Custom 3-D pop-up cards

* Occasion cards, notecards, post cards, gift cards and tags

Patent # 6,925,739 B1 Copyright Accord Publishing, a division of Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.

Cross Stitch Art Nouveau

Barbara Hammett

Amazon Price: $15.63 List Price: $22.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: David & Charles Amazon Marketplace: 30 new & used starting at $14.44

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Cross-Stitch
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Needlework
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> General

Editorial Review:

Cross Stitch Art Nouveau revisits the timelessly popular Art Nouveau style with a fantastic new collection of cross stitch designs inspired by the period’s most instantly recognisable artists. Each of the ten chapters features designs inspired by the work of a well-known Art Nouveau designer translated beautifully into cross stitch. Projects include framed pictures, cushions, bags and even a table runner.

2001 Cross Stitch Designs : The Essential Reference Book (Better Homes & Gardens)

Barba Sestock

List Price: $34.95 By: Better Homes and Gardens Amazon Marketplace: 57 new & used starting at $2.98

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Cross-Stitch
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Knitting
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Textile Arts

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 44 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Fantastic reference 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I simply *LOVE* this book. Its a reference I have returned to again and again for little motifs, alphabets, borders... I've made ornamets, full framed wall pieces... its simply excellent. There are pages for each season and holiday (including Hanukkah), state flowers, babies, toys, kitchens, pets, professions, and more. If you enjoy cross stitch, you cannot go wrong with this full-color easy-to-read book. Every graph has a finished photo. Can't praise it enough!

Editorial Review:

This golden encyclopedia of needlework complements the library of every cross-stitcher.

Designs for every occasion and category of stitching—holidays, alphabets, florals, nature, sports, children, babies, Christmas, animals, and numerous others.

Each motif collection accompanied by a clear and accurate color chart and color key.

Tips for end uses for the designs.

Includes 50 specialty stitch diagrams with instructions.

Cross-stitch tips and specialty stitches to accompany the designs.

Builds upon the success of 501 Cross Stitch Designs.

Unique cross-stitch designs, project ideas, and tips.

The Art of William Morris in Cross Stitch

Barbara Hammet

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Readers Digest Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $9.62

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Cross-Stitch
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Sewing
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Textile Arts

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A brilliant interpretation of William Morris's Work 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Barbara Hammet has created a wonderful tribute to William Morris in this work. For those unfamiliar with William Morris, she provides a work biography of the master artist. Though short, she gives examples of his work, and explanation of his background. Once this is explained, she launches into the rest of the book, where she offers more than 40 charts that are Hammet's interpretations of Morris' style. Pillows, bell pulls, small motifs, wall hangings, broaches, bookmarks, and even a full alphabet are some of the items she offers. She even gives the design and instructions for a 3-D treasure box! There are small motifs in a few colors, or larger items in less than 4 colors which would be very well suited to the beginning stitcher and many things that are large and complex for the experienced stitcher.

Another reviewer said these are poor examples of William Morris's work. I must disagree. These items are beautiful, and they are Barbara Hammet's art she BASED on William Morris. Still, any of these finished works would be the perfect compliment to Morris's art.

Because of the wide variety of skill levels and project scales I would highly recommend this book to any level of cross stitcher. Even those needle artists not interested in Morris might find a few projects they find enjoyable in this diverse volume. Hammet does offer instructions for finishing the projects and a few basic cross stitch instructions, but I would recommend purchasing the Cross Stitcher's Bible in addition if you have NEVER cross stitched before, as you will probably need more instruction than is provided here.

Highest recommendations!

Editorial Review:

A collection of over 40 cross stitch designs inspired by William Morris, the famous 19th century decorative artist, whose designs are as popular today as they were during his lifetime more than a century ago.