The Complete Encyclopedia of Needlework [Paperback]

Therese de Dillmont (Author), Rita Weiss (Author), Jean Leinhauser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996

With more than 250 alphabetical entries and 1,000 illustrations, "The Complete Encyclopedia of Needlework" is an authoritative reference guide to the art of needlecraft.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

Product Details

• Paperback: 700 pages
• Publisher: Running Press Book Publishers; 3 edition (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561387029
• ISBN-13: 978-1561387021
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.7 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #743,715 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Every single stitch and technique in detail, April 4, 2000

By 

Mw M. Van Buijtene "Marieka" (Den Haag, Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Encyclopedia Of Needlework (Hardcover)

If needlework is a serious hobby or your occupation, you need this most authoritative guide to the art of needlecraft. It covers every single stitch and technique in detail. However, the Encyclopedia does not allow for much fun and easy reading. The text is dense and the black and white illustrations are at first glance not always that much clarifying - they need studying. The language used is a bit oldfashioned and may occasionally be hard to understand if English is not your native language. The instructions are very strict and creative variations are not promoted. Furthermore, the index does not always point to the right page. Still, De Dillmont offers us a trusted companion for sorting out the right stitches and thorough introductions to a wide variety of techniques. The Encyclopedia has also proved to be of use to historians and translators in the field of art and crafts.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Info, Poorly Reproduced, January 5, 2003

By 

Sarah Bradberry (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Encyclopedia Of Needlework: Anniversary Edition (Paperback)

After 112 years the information in this book is still as important as it was when it was first published. However, the quality of the reproduction in the images is appalling. I also have an edition from 1910 in which you can clearly see sections of many of the embroidery images that are almost totally blacked out in the anniversary edition.

The anniversary edition does contain a few more items that are missing from my older edition, so I suggest purchasing both. Buy the new edition for everyday use and buy an antique copy from Ebay for the images and diagrams.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Must have for needleworkers, May 16, 2001

By 

Elizabeth A. Harac (New Albany, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Encyclopedia of Needlework (Paperback)

This book is wonderful for those particullary interested in historical needlework. The reproduction quality might have been able to be improved upon, but it is a great price for a good book. Some of the things do not have the copious instruction of modern books, assuming some knowledge on the reader's part. It is one book that will stay in my collection forever.