Today we have a wonderful guest post from Theresa, the owner of Homestead Needle Arts in Michigan. I loved this article from her recent newsletter.
All these books can be purchased or ordered through Homestead, but do remember that with the shutdowns this year publishers may be out of stock of some titles. Theresa points this out, but it is good to be reminded.
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A trend I’ve noticed in the past month is that BOOK SALES are way up. I’m sure that it’s because we can’t attend classes, guilds, and get-togethers where we swap ideas for our canvases. So where is it easiest to turn for stitch ideas? To our needlepoint books!
Books are easier to use than searching online for a stitch, hands down. You can hold a book, flip through the pages and think about where you could put each featured stitch. As needlepointers, we LOVE our stitch books. I thought it would be fun to feature a few of the books I carry at Homestead Needle Arts. [Look at Homestead’s site (linked above) to order each of these titles.] Again, this is just a sampling. To see all the books on my website click [the link above.]
Please note that some books may be on order due to the great influx of orders. I will get them to you as soon as I can…your patience is always appreciated!
Stitches for Effect Books
This is THE best set of books if you’re stuck for ideas. There are three books in the series…
Stitches for Effect
More Stitches for Effect
Even More Stitches for Effect
Each book has indexes where you can actually look up threads, stitches, and effects for areas of your painted canvas. Say you have a dog on your canvas and you’re stuck for stitch ideas. The index of each book captures the books published before it so if you have all three, you simply go to the index in Even More Stitches for Effect and look up the word “fur”.
There are several ideas in EACH book! The index shows page numbers and then you choose your stitch. Each stitch description also suggests threads that the stitch could be done in. Those threads are explained in detail in the front of the book. The detail is good because as you know, threads can come and go over the years but you will still be able to choose a thread based on the description. Each stitch is numbered or lettered so you can learn it easily.
Stitches to Go
Every stitch in the Stitches for Effect book is captured in Stitches to Go. HOWEVER, the indexes, explanation of threads, and ideas for the stitch [are] NOT included. These are stitch diagrams only and many people love this book for its size and ease of traveling with.
Grab -n- Go Stitches
The Lone Star Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild challenged each other to share their favorite stitches and did not duplicate stitches in the Stitches to Go book. These stitches are NOT numbered but you’ll be able to determine the best pathway for you to use. This is a very handy, well-priced book to have in your library.
Teeny Tiny Needlepoint Stitches
This is my go-to book for tiny areas. Of course you can use the stitches in larger areas too! This is the kind of book that you’ll want to read through at least once to understand the way it works. There are indexes that help you find the type of stitch you want…for example four-way stitches, stitches with beads, stitches for birds…very handy!
Stitch Ins & Outs, Interiors and Exteriors Plus
As you can see by the title, this is a good book for stitches for bulidings and items you’d find in and around your home. The stitches ARE numbered and the book is divided by type of architecture or item such as bricks, fabric, etc.
Stitch Landscape
This book is so popular it’s out of stock again! However, I do have them on order and can set one aside for you when they arrive. This book is the same as the Stitch Ins and Outs but this time, it concentrates on landscape items. We’ve all needed ideas for sky, grass, sand, and water. This book has all that and more. Again, stitches are numbered.
Got Stitches? Multi-Layered Stitches for Needlepoint
This is a favorite among newer needlepointers simply because the stitches are shown in color. Although not usually numbered, you can figure out the sequence based on the colors. Also you can easily see which area of the stitch where you can use different colored or weighted threads.
Got Stitches Too? Size Matters
Set up like the book described above, Got Stitches Too has colored photographs of the stitches completed in more than one color. Again, the graphs are not numbered but the colored photos are a very handy reference!
Mary’s Whimsical Stitches
If you don’t follow Mary Legallet on her Whimsical Stitch blog, you should. Every Wednesday she emails you a stitch with a nice description or idea for usage. Mary decided to put her stitches and diagrams in a book so you don’t have to print them out every week. She promises that this is just Volume One and there will be more to follow.
The Needlepoint Book
Your library is woefully incomplete without The Needlepoint Book by Jo Ippolito Christensen! Jo takes you through everything needlepoint from planning to stretcher bars to threads. She then continues on to the stitches that make up this art we love. Always suggested for beginners to intermediate stitchers, this book will answer all your questions – even those you didn’t know you had!
Patchwork of Peace
Although considered by many to be a “project book” this popular book can also be used for inspiration and stitches for your current projects. I’ve recently seen a lot more interest in this book and there’s even a Facebook page for those stitching the flag.
Let me repeat that these are just a few of the books here at Homestead Needle Arts. Feel free to come in and browse the shelves or just ask me to send those that look interesting to you.
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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