Thank,
Jeannie

I truly enjoy your site – thank you for the exceptional patterns.

Thank you so much!
Carrie

This book has something for everyone. There is a wide range of themes and since the designs are generally small they have a number of uses alone (keyfobs, bookmarks, placemats, ornaments, etc) or they can be combined with other designs for larger works.

The charts are very easy to read – they are large and are charted using both symbols and colored squares so you can get a sense of the color of the finished piece while still being able to easily tell which thread you should use for each stitch.

I do agree with another reviewer that the lack of pictures of the finished pieces is unfortunate but it does not prevent me from recommending this book (but it did ‘knock off’ one star).

This book will send your cross stitching mind awhirl with ideas. The book is based loosely on mosaic tiles. For experienced stitchers, it has some designs I’ve not seen in other books. For beginning stitchers, the designs aren’t difficult to stitch, but not enough color pictures of finished work to show how to put blocks together into a design. You will need some graph paper to make the best use of this book. The layout of this book is beautifully done with each two page spread color themed. My current favorites are the fleur-de-lis pillow and English garden designs. Happy Stitching!

I’m rather glad I did. The book is put together well, with a nice overview of the basics of cross-stitch before heading into the patterns. Colors and placement are suggested… but the idea seems to be take Heather’s initial plans and run with them. Some of the patterns are not in my own taste (frankly, I don’t see myself making a cross-stitched flyswatter, but hey, that’s just me.) but others will be motifs I’ll be using for years (her wind design is already going onto a well loved denim jacket for this spring). In addition to well written directions and clear cut graphs, the book has a ton of unique placement suggestions and even some MP3 playlists to keep you in tune with your stitching.

If you aren’t looking for cutesy sampler patterns (there are a few… but she does avoid the old standbys and tries for some new ground) and want to go beyond wall art needlepoint, this is a pretty good place to start. Patches, buttons, and hidden suprises for your favorite old pair of jeans are all supplied.

If you are looking for complicated color patterns however, I’d give it a miss. The author relies more on varigated threads and multi-hued backgrounds to add sparkle to her designs. A good way for begingers to get some extra bang for their buck when first stepping into the cross-stitch world.

The book has an obligatory cross stitch lesson in the beginning, but further on, she assumes that if you’re buying a book about cross stitch you’re either going to know a little bit about it or refer back to the guide in the beginning if you don’t – she doesn’t talk down to the experienced stitcher. The majority of the book is patterns, both small and large, and ideas about where to stitch. Not everything has to go into a frame. Her patterns are relatively simple, but still beautiful. There are a few that could be done in a few hours, and a few that would take me more than a month. She doesn’t cram her book with piddly little projects that just take up space!

One of the things I probably appreciated the most in Holland-Daly’s book was the DMC conversion on each of her patterns. She uses hand-dyed and threads and cloth (and gives some good advice on how to finish and care for work using these materials) and recommends her favorites for each pattern, but also gives DMC thread “equivalents” for those of us who might not have access to special materials.

This is a very accessible book for the beginning stitcher and a breath of fresh air for the stitcher who’s tired of making the same old samplers. Get brave with your cross stitch!

This book has designs that aren’t really any different than the other Kooler books. That said, I bought it anyway, to add it to my collection. There is a snowman alphabet sampler that is cute, but I’d really rather do the snowmen without the letters. There are the usual cutesy teddy bears, etc. Most of the designs would fall under the “cutesy” or “sweet” description. I hate to say it, but I’ve seen better designs. If you have a huge collection, this book probably won’t add anything new to your design portfolio. If you’re just starting, I’d pick something with a wider variety of designs.

i learned some of the basic techniques and how to finish a project for framing. i really enjoy it. i think it’a good book for any stitcher’s library who is interested in the basics to hardanger to the history of thier craft.

Charts include alphabets, fruit, animals, florals, sea life, borders and more. The book then presents more than twenty-five creative projects that include step-by-step directions and color charts, as well as a library of seventy-five embroidery motifs.

There are nice color photographs of the finished pieces and excellent instructions. The charts, however, appear as in an artist’s sketch book. They look like colored pencil on a yellow grid without symbols. Some of the charts are quite small and you would likely need to create an enlarged color working copy. But most of the charts are a good size, and the lack of symbols should not be a problem.

This looks like a nice introductory book that can take a stitcher from the beginning to intermediate stages of counted thread work.

Just beautiful. Im making projects already. Big and little, huge color charts color coded. Huge book, lots to do. I’ve been cross stitching for 25 years and I can tell you this is a winner.

I ordered this kit and it was received in about 5 days. Then my trouble began. This is a kit with split dowels through which you pass your canvas then it is tightened. The longer dowels were 1/16″ smaller (doesn’t sound like much)and fit too loosely. The side stablilizers could not be tightened enough to hold the canvas.

Another thing, small wing nuts are used as tighteners and, as a senior, caused pain to my hands when trying to screw them tightly. When I tightened the stabilizers, it caused the cross pieces holding the canvas to bow and the canvas slipped out of the center area.

I checked this out from the library to get some new ideas for gifts. The designs are gorgeous– lots of color pictures of each design and how they can be used as gifts. Most of the designs are fairly simple (or quick) even for the beginner, but are also beautiful and well-illustrated.

If you are a beginner, (I’m an intermediate stitcher)get this book! I learned some new stitches I didn’t understand how to do. Now I’m going to buy it!

From x stitch fanatic!!!