Customer Reviews

Donna Kooler's Cross-Stitch Designs: 333 Patterns For Ready-To-Stitch Projects

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is wonderful. The color choices are beautiful and soothing and the small items make the projects enticing to start. I bought the book and immediately made 3 things (bookmark, stitch-a-clip, and keyring). Usually I plan to make items and it takes a while to find the time to start or finish. This is a great book for any crafter!

Donna Kooler is the most wonderful of all for cross stitch projects. I just love this new book, I can't wait to do some of these projects that is this book. I think Donna is the best of all of the other I tried. Each projects are easy to read and fun to do.

This is a collection of small cross-stitch projects, many of which are perfect for gifts. The book's chapters are organized by type of project--eg, Designs for Baby, Designs for Mugs, Designs for Towels, Designs for Bookmarks, etc. Although not all of the designs are pictured as finished products, the charts are clear and simple enough to allow you to imagine the finished version. The designs are beautiful without being complicated (ie, not a lot of half-stitches or backstitching). Some basic alphabets are also included to customize your projects. Overall, this is an excellent book for beginning and other cross-stitchers who enjoy small, manageable projects and who like giving their work as gifts.

Book condition was better than expected - looked brand new! I also received the package faster than expected. Lots of nice patterns.

Published in 2000, this book is now 10 years young and delightful as the day it was written. It focus' on small and simple BUT colorfilled patterns with the Kooler shading that contours and makes pieces come alive. Donna Kooler designers seem able to capture this necessary technique for all who want to develop dimension in their work. And, what I particularly like is that they start integrating the stitcher from the very first encounter with Kooler Designs. There is no partonization here, no assumption that you need to wait until your work is farther developed before trying to stitch dimension through color placement. They do it for you through wonderful and clearly marked color charts for all the designs, be they beautiful florals or a slice of juicy pink watermelon on the vine, or a "King" Dog, Cookie mouse, hummingbird, bookmarks linens, table accesories or children's objects. And yes, there are lovely christmas ornaments, jar lids, pillow motifs, baby items, border motifs and a seemingly endless choice of ideas for you to put together as you see fit. Now, if you are looking for a large Sampler design or elaborate picture, this is not the book for you. If you are in love with the lifelike work and brilliant color of Kooler Designs, may I suggest one of these titles; "Donna Kooler's Seasons in Cross-Stitch," and "Donna Kooler's Cross-Stitch Flowers." If you are at the point of designing your own Samplers and want a few suggestions and a lot of patterns try, "Donna Kooler's 999 Fabulous Cross-Stitch Patterns"(which is a later version of her "555 Cross-Stitch Patterns" not an additional 999 patterns.) AND, NOT OR, get a copy of "Donna Kooler's 555 Cross-Stitch Motifs (Home*Family*Children*Animals)" also not to be confused with the above "555 Cross-Stitch Patterns." Why her company likes these numbers, I don't know, but they are as confusing as her designs are wonderful. I have close to 90 books now in my Cross-Stitch library and all have something useful about them but all are far from equally useful. Donna Kooler's books are among the most desireable books I own. Here, you find lots of quick and beautiful motifs for all occasions, particularly good when you are short on stitiching time and want something memorable for a gift. For small scale projects and variety of styles and themes I would rate this one a 10 but I'm limited to a 5. So that is what it gets, a 5 star rating.

This book has a variety of designs. The patterns are very easy to follow. Designs range from tiny to large. I'm very happy with this purchase.

After reading the other reviews of this book I was expecting something more, more creative designs, fresher designs . . . just something more. After thumbing through the book I didn't really find anything I was super-excited to get started on. I have another of Kooler's books (555 Patterns for the Young at Heart) which has some adorable designs so I was expecting something more along those lines. This book has some nice designs, though nothing struck me as being really fresh, new or inovative. I would look into some of her other books before purchasing this one, or check out 2001 Cross-Stitch Designs: the Essential Reference (Better Homes and Gardens) for a great book with a huge variety of motifs that can easily be stitched on a weekend project.