Pattern Books

Phil has done a great job capturing and relaying his highly successful patterns and techniques. I've followed his instructions and have enjoyed fly fishing success from Colorado to Alaska, on Trout, Grayling, Dolly Varden and even a few panfish in the mid-west. See you on the San Juan, my friend.

Folk art, with its simple lines and bold colors is an outstanding source of ideas for needlepoint. This beautifully produced book takes as its sources all kinds of items from the museum, from hooked rugs to weathervanes and delivers them up as lovely needlepoint.
The projects are mostly stitched in Basketweave, with commonly available threads such as floss, pearl cotton, and Persian wool. This is fantastic because it makes the projects accessible to stitchers everywhere. The reference section at the back of the book has instructions on making all the stitches and a color conversion chart.
The projects, designed by Karyn Gerhard, are divided into five sections: Daily Life, Beasts & Bugs, Flowers, Hearts, and Geometrics. Each section begins with a listing of the projects. The projects each have a picture of the original piece and have the needlepoint photographed in a room setting that showcases more folk art (for even more inspiration). The introduction to each project talks about the project and the other folk art in the setting. Each project also has a material list, information about stiching and finishing it, and some lovely and inventive ideas for variations. That seems like a simple thing, but many books lack it and you can tell from the variations that Ruth and Karyn are needlepointers themselves.
The charts are large and in full color with synbols as well, making them easy to read. The color key not only lists the symbols in the chart with the thread and color number, but it also lists how many skeins are needed. If you want to stitch one of the projects in the book, you can take this and buy everything you need all at once. Another useful, but often neglected item.
Also in this section is extensive information about the objects used as inspiration, additional information about needlepoint, finishing instructions, and a list of sources.
A inspiring book, beautifully produced. I'd love to see more like it.

"This useful book contains detailed patterns for 68 beautiful weather vanes, each modeled on an original American folk art masterpiece.

THE COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS FOR ENLARGING AND REDUCING the patterns, making the weather vane, and putting together the standard that supports the weather vane - make it easy to know which way the wind blows...

But that's not all..."
[from the back cover of the book]

In Foolproof Curves, needlecraft expert Barbara Barber simplifies the quilter's task of producing curved seams, updating her prior out-of-print title Really Sharp Piecing and showing how to use foundation piecing to make accurate curved designs. This covers sample projects and her latest methods for creating curved piece appearances without piecing a curve. Beginners will find these projects most accessible.

Just try choosing which project to do FIRST - they're all so pretty!!

If I'm counting correctly, there are 10 birdhouse designs, 7 bird feeders, and 5 filler blocks. All blocks are shown with FULL color photographs, and the birdhouse/feeder blocks are shown as completed projects, with borders/sashing/binding, so you get great finishing ideas, and great color suggestions.

The patterns each include a color photograph, a chart with the fabric key, sewing order, and suggestions for block embellishments. The pattern itself is full size, but does not include the seam allowances, nor are the multi-piece patterns already separated for you. The author has used dashed lines to delineate the different pieces in the multi-piece patterns (in comparison to other books just showing BOLD lines, which are hard to differentiate from the other pattern lines - at least - for ME). The individual sections of each pattern are clearly labelled with the section number and the fabric key. If you have NOT done paper piecing before, there is a large information section at the front with LOTS of instructions and drawings - even people experienced with paper piecing will find these instructions helpful!

In addition to the 20+ block designs, you will find 6 "Individual Block Wall Hangings" - with full color pictures, clear and detailed instructions with drawings - even a Christmas design!!

My hat is off to Jaynette Huff - what a fabulous book :). (But please, consider putting block sizes and seam allowances on your patterns, lol).

Topics include What is tole and decorative painting, supplies, cleaning brushes, terminology, dry brush blending, paint consistency, basic brush strokes with round brush, line work, basic brush strokes with flat brush, double loading, basic leaf, basic dry brush blend leaf, daisies, lemons, strawberries, dimensional apple, transferring a pattern and much more.

I have Never seen a book like this one. It is Largeer than most, The patterns are very easy to see, Clear Instructions, AND WORD CHARTS for the pouches. Around 12 pattrns for earrigns included too. I have found other uses for the beaded designs other than just the pouches. Try one and add it to a jewelry box or any number of crafts. True art work in this book! A very beautiful Peregrine Falcon, Great Horned Owl, Wolf, Love Birds, A Castle, Roses, Santa, A Toy soldier and One of a 20' Girl. Nice Earrings too. Chickadee, Blue Jay, Robbin, Cockatiel, Cardinal, Swan, Light House, Toy Soldier, Great Horned Owl, and the 20's girl.

A great resource for the paperpiecing enthusiast. From the editors of Quilts with Style magazine, this is a collection of patterns from their first magazine, The Foundation Piecer. The patterns range from beginner to advanced and include a block of the month series.

I like this book lots and have already made 3 labels. It is exactly what I wanted and ordering it helped me avoid lots of searching. It got to me quickly and was exactly as described by the seller. This experience encouraged me to order more things on line. Thanks.

This book has beautiful patterns for any time of the year, holidays and everyday. There is a Canadian Goose doorstop pattern that is beautiful, I made one and had enough orders within a day to pay for the book 10 times.A Great investment