Complete Guide to Needlework (Hardcover)

~ Editors of Reader's Digest (Author) "Embroidery offers an enormous variety of finished effects, and that calls for a wide range of yarns and threads..." (more)
Key Phrases: upright cross stitch, reverse working direction, oblong cross stitch, Simple Star, Baby Blocks, San Blas (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Embroidery, needlepoint, knitting, appliqué, quilting, patchwork, crochet, rug-making, macramé, and lacework-all taught through step-by-step instructions and photographs and drawings. A reference for the beginner and expert alike.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 504 pages
• Publisher: Readers Digest (January 1, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895770598
• ISBN-13: 978-0895770592
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #329,274 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Readers Digest comes up trumps again!, October 18, 2000

By	Megan R McConnell (CHERMSIDE SOUTH, QLD Australia) - See all my reviews

I actually bought this book in the mid 1980's and have usedit constantly since!

As the Embroidery Host for BellaOnline, you will understand that I look at lots of "how to" books. This one is one of the best of the bunch if you are looking for a general Needlework book.

This is not a small book - it is large and packed to the gills with information.

This information is beautifully and logically set out, with lots of stitch diagrams that are easy to follow.

The book also covers fabrics, thread, needles and just about everythingthing that you may want information about on Needlecraft.

One of the big plusses is the section on mounting your work, and the one on transferring patterns to fabric.

Buy it - you will not be dissapointed.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reference for a beginner stitcher, October 21, 2003

By	"bumbiebea" (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This book is packed full of information - from projects, hints and tips, and techniques for creating your own designs. The best part: detailed embroidery stitch guides which guide you though each stitch with a combination of pictures (usually 6 per stitch) and instructions. While looking for a needlework instruction book, none of the other books could compare. Either they lacked a variety of stitches or they did not have enough pictures to serve as a self-teaching guide for a visual learner with little sewing experience. Although I was primarily interested in the embroidery section, I love that this book covers a breadth of needlework crafts to explore.

I keep a tightly pruned bookshelf - only purchasing and keeping books that I will refer to again and again. This book made the cut!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete Guide to Needlework - Readers Digest, March 27, 2000

By	Deborah K. Polk "deborah77484" (Waller, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was so lucky to find this book! It's an older book and I was so afraid that I'd never find it in print, but here it was! It's the most complete crafts book I've ever seen. Lot's a photos, diagrams, examples, easy to follow. If you went into a craft shop and bought the small instruction books, you'd spend 10 times this just to gather all the information included in this book..yes, it's that good. Great for beginners and pros, everyone can find something.