Renee Seidman 2018 ISBN: 978-0-9914626-2-9, $30
This newest book from the ladies at Gone Stitching is an answer to the prayers of many stitchers, including me. So often when we stitch we want something that will fit well in the space we have.
But our stitch books rarely give us this information.
The result is that we count, we test, and we fuss. Often our choice does not even work out. So we go through the whole process again. Or we end up picking the same stitches over and over again.
This book gives us a wonderful start for the process and one that is thoughtfully and helpfully designed. The stitches are divided into chapters by stitch family and subdivided by size (small, medium, and large). This gives you an outstanding start for finding a stitch.
Once you get to the stitches themselves you will see the real cleverness of the book. Each stitch has three things for it: a colored stitch diagram, a color picture of a stitched sample, and signposts about size. The colored diagrams put each part of the stitch in a different color. The solid lines make the diagrams easy to read and use, even though they are not numbered. (Numbering assumes that there is only one correct way to make a stitch, leaving out numbers allows you to make the stitch in a way that makes sense to you.)
I love the stitch samples. Here too contrasting colors are used to show the different parts of each stitch. I also really liked that they used only two kinds of thread, which gives the samples a nice consistency even though the colors vary.
The signposts have the size of area for the stitch each size with a different color. Some stitches only work for one size of area, others for two. Within each family you will see, in order: small, small + medium, medium, medium + large, and large. This makes it so easy to find stitches that will work for you.
It is also a very handy size, small and slim enough to fit in a project bag, but with two stitches per page full of great ideas. I love this book and the ideas it presents so much I am trying to figure out how to hack my other stitch dictionaries to present similar information.
Buy this book, it is great.
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
I can’t find it anywhere for purchase on the web. If my local needlepoint store doesn’t carry it, I guess I’m out of luck.
Give it a little time, it just came out. i expect many shops will be stocking it soon.
Any needlepoint shop can order it for you. Many shops do not put all their inventory on their sites, so it makes sense to call or email.
You can also get it, as I did from the shop owned by the ladies who wrote the book. It’s Gone Stitching in Bergenfield, NJ.
Keep stitching,
Janet