Needlecrafts for Dummies [Paperback]

Cheryl Fall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 2000 | Series: For Dummies (Computer/Tech)

How did Betsy Ross know how to sew those stars and stripes together? As part of the fabric of the tradition of this craft, Needlecrafts For Dummies explores the art of putting needle and thread to practical use with a touch of grace.

Needlecrafts For Dummies author Cheryl Fall helps you jump through your first hoops, from filling your sewing basket with the necessary needles, floss, and frames to working with patterns and designing your own creations. Cheryl then keeps you in stitches -- freestyle embroidery, cross stitch, satin, and needlepoint -- even guiding you through machine embroidery. If you're a beginner, Cheryl's handiwork shows you the steps to creating your first sampler, until your fingers begin to fly through the finishing steps. Try any of the sixteen projects included (with patterns and illustrations), such as a crewel placemat and napkin ring or a needlepoint pillow featuring pears, and get started showing off your stitchery wizardry. And don't forget to sample a few of these extra goodies from Cheryl's basket: tying French knots, mounting and framing your work, or adding a tassel to your treasure! Needlecrafts For Dummies is a stitch in time, showing you what Cheryl learned from her mother and passed on to her daughter, for all time.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

15 stitch-by-stitch projects, from basic to breathtaking, each pictured in a color photo.

Clear illustrations of all stitches, from French knotting to smocking.

How to modify designs, choose the right tools, preserve the final product, and more.

From the Inside Flap

Cheryl Fall has been quilting for more than 15 years, but she's been sewing ever since she could hold a needle without putting out her eye. She learned to sew from her mother, grandmothers, great-grandmother, and aunts -- all of whom were accomplished stitchers. Her educational background includes fine arts and architectural design studies. Possessing such a wealth of stitching and design skills and always being drawn to color and texture, it's no wonder Cheryl turned to quiltmaking!
Since beginning her professional quilting career in 1986, Cheryl has designed more than 1,000 projects for publication. She's a regular contributor to many popular quilting, women's, and craft magazines, including Traditional Quilter, Country Living, Quilt World, Family Circle, Creative Quilting, Craftworks, Woman's World, Crafts, and McCall's Needlework. She also designs projects for manufacturers such as Coats & Clark, Pellon, Singer, VIP Fabrics, and P&B Textiles. Cheryl lectures, dabbles in textile design, and makes periodic television appearances. She's the author of seven quilting-related books in addition to this one, and she's in the process of designing Web pages for her quilting and embroidery designs.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (March 27, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764552015
• ISBN-13: 978-0764552014
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,274,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Cheryl Fall has been one of America's favorite needlework, craft and quilting designers since 1986, creating designs designed for other major companies including DMC, Coats & Clark, HTC, Zweigart, Pellon and others.

In the Fall of 2011 she introduced her new NeedleKnowledge.com web site. This online resource "for all things needlework" features free porijects to make, tutorials, videos and useful information for needleworkers and crafters, as well as kits and patterns exclusive to the site.

In addition to 13 published book titles Cheryl is also the author of several thousand articles for publication in craft and needlework magazines including Woman's Day, Country Living, Traditional Quilter, Crafts and many more. She has also hosted a nationally-distributed PBS Series called "The Creative Life," which featured over 78 episodes full of creative ideas.

Cheryl remains an active member of the Needlework and How-To Communities, has served as Guide for About.com's Needlepoint and Embroidery sites, and as the Social Media Liason for DMC Threads.