Graham Rust's Needlepoint Designs: Over 20 Original Patterns, from Pincushion to Seashell Rug [Hardcover]

Graham Rust (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1998

English artist and muralist Graham Rust exchanges his brush for a needle to create more than 20 beautiful needlework patterns adapted from his popular watercolors. Rust's interests -- in nature, decorative art, and sculpture -- are reflected in the fully charted projects, which include a sunflower chairback and seat, a cheetah footstool, a frog pincushion, a tortoise doorstop, and two clever designs for evening bags. All display his delightful signature style.

Each of the projects is shown in clear, full-color charts, making it easy to achieve the nuances of color and pattern in the finished works. More experienced needleworkers will enjoy the variations on the main patterns, which they can further personalize through alternate color and thread choices. Diagrams illustrate basic needlepoint stitches and there are conversion charts for various yarns and threads.

The lush color photographs were specially commissioned to show the finished projects in close-up or in attractive room settings.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A superb draftsman with an exquisite eye for detail, Graham Rust creates needlepoint designs that are true works of art. Terrific color photos and full-color charts present 17 projects, including a monkey cushion, a cheetah footstool, a sunflower chair, a seashell rug, a Chinese vases pillow, and a mouse-in-a-teapot tea cozy. Although not meant for the beginner, these designs are so clearly presented that most readers shouldn't require more than intermediate skill and a certain degree of patience. Rust's talent as a watercolorist is manifest on every page, making this book not only a practical guide but a visual treat as well. --Amy Handy

From Library Journal

A well-known British painter of murals, Rust (The Painted House, Knopf, 1988) uses adaptations of his own watercolors in this first venture into needlepoint design. His designs of plants and animals with architectural elements show the painter's touch, having complex shading and balanced composition. The projects have large, full-color charts keyed to DMC Anchor or Appleton yarns, plus a reproduction of the original and a photograph of the finished piece. There is a general section on working and finishing. For arts and crafts collections.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 135 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; First Edition edition (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810937832
• ISBN-13: 978-0810937833
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 10.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,144,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something to everyone, April 6, 2000

By 

Jacqui (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Graham Rust's Needlepoint Designs: Over 20 Original Patterns, from Pincushion to Seashell Rug (Hardcover)

From the tiny frog pin cushion to the elaborate tea cosy, rug and cushions, Rust's designs offer something for everyone. Graphs are printed in a large format with quantities for yarns clearly stated, as well as options for what to do with the finished article. A bonus is the final section which provides some pointers on how to construct your masterpiece into a functional houshold item.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, January 26, 2006

By 

Denise (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Graham Rust's Needlepoint Designs: Over 20 Original Patterns, from Pincushion to Seashell Rug (Hardcover)

Please do not mind the French bulldog on the cover not being given as a pattern inside. Graham Rust explains the difference between a regular watercolor and interpretation for needlepoint by using this work as an example, which was embroidered from his watercolor, by two experts in five months, using 95 colors.

There is a lot of petit-point in the book. This necessitates the use of crewel wool, which I am unable to find in my country.

The attention given to the implementation side is truly excellent. Suggestions are given for thread thickness, which I have not found in other books. The charts are color and symbol coded which makes a huge difference in usability and are large enough for easy following.

Thread brands used are Appleton, Anchor and DMC and an alternative -- usually into DMC for each chart is given at the back. This is truly appreciated.

Information on various brands' thread thickness and skein lengths can be found at the back of the book, again, a detail not often found.

Aside from the excellent designs, this level of implementation specific information makes this book a source of projects that *can* be implemented with ease.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational!, November 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Graham Rust's Needlepoint Designs: Over 20 Original Patterns, from Pincushion to Seashell Rug (Hardcover)

Graham Rust's book is comparable to Kaffe Fassett's. Sometimes patterns may be a bit too too much for the average stitcher, but use it (like Fassett's) as a jumping point -- use a border or small element. This book is gorgeous!