BACKGROUNDS & SUCH, JULIA KEY H. SNYDER, self-published, 2007.
I hate to say it, but I bought this book because I was so taken with two of the stitches in the “& Such” portion of the book, Baby Blanket and AA Variation. I haven’t used them yet, but I’m looking for a place.
Snyder opens the book with a short section of useful tips. Then she has a page of stripe patterns which should get you started on these particularly useful backgrounds.
The next section is “Patterns” which are the main backgrounds in the book. These are backgrounds which are done in Tent and Reverse Tent with stitched patterns in them using a different color or thread. I call them Needlepoint Damask because the end result looks like damask fabric. The patterns, range from simple to complex, small to large and include corners and borders. If you haven’t tried this, do I think you’ll love it.
Before going to the decorative stitches (many of which will also work for backgrounds), there is a short section on stitching plaids.
About half the book is devoted to decorative stitches. Some of these will be familiar, some are unique. The book is very useful too with open grids on all the right-hand pages for charting your own stitches, and with a spiral binding to lay flat. There are lots of ideas packed into this little book.
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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