Tisiket, Tased Lots & Lots of Baskets Book Review

Sandra Arthur, Duo Designs, Lexington, KY, 2021

The fourth book in Sandra’s Pocketbook Series, Ticket, Basket will give you tons of ideas for stitching baskets. The book is divided into eight chapters, seven of them cover techniques and stitches for the body of baskets. The final chapter covers stitches for handles and rims. In addition, there is a short introduction.

Except for the chapters on Coiled Baskets and on Stumpwork, a single stitch is covered on each page. A large numbered stitch diagram is included for each. There are notes for each stitch and a stitched sample. Many of the samples are done in two colors of thread. I really liked this because it gave me such a good idea of how they would look as baskets.

The chapters on stitches have great stitches that are well within the skill level of intermediate stitchers. Those wanting to try something more challenging, look at the chapters on Stumpwork and Coiled Baskets. Coiled baskets are traditional Native American baskets. The technique covered in that chapter use cords that are covered completely with stitching, a technique I call “wrapped cords.” This technique is easy to do and creates beautiful results.

Stumpwork techniques are in the last pages of the book. They include actually weaving, detached buttonhole stitch, and creating a basket using an appliqued piece of canvas. While these are more advanced techniques, they are all clearly explained through pictures and text.

I like this the best of Sandra’s small books so far. I like that it has clear instructions and pictures and that stitchers at all levels are going to find great ideas that they can accomplish.