Donna Kooler's 555 Cross-Stitch Motifs

by Donna Kooler

Book Overview

Celebrate weddings, births, holidays, friendships, families, pets, and houses with 555 designs created by the world-famous Kooler Design Studio. Cross-stitch aficionados can choose from a variety of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806937580
• ISBN13: 9780806937588
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Chapelle
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 2.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.9" x 11.3"

Customer Reviews

Great Ideas Simply Presented.

Donna Kooler's books are often the most colorful, complex and contemporary designs out there. And they are challenging. But this book and a few others are designed for those of us who are not that proficient but still want to create a piece that is unique. There are so very many ideas here that it would be hard not to be creative. These designs are rustic but they are lovely and there are many beautiful, but simple enhancements presented. I think of this as my first step in the Donna Kooler designs books. Motifs include but are not limited to homes (lighthouses to tepees), family members, animals, children's themes, alphabets, borders, flowers, samplers etc.etc.etc. Are there any sophisticated pieces? Yes, a few. But the simple designs allow for the development of increased proficiency with color, motif placement and design organization. Projects can range from a single motif to a combination of many as skills are gained. This book is a wonderful beginners book and can be followed with her 999 Fabulous Cross-Stitch Patterns book. But, don't be fooled into thinking that anything Donna Kooler publishes is simplistic. Donna Kooler designers treat cross-stitch as a fine art. Here we are being presented with the tools and necessary skills first. Just as we had to crawl before we could walk, this is the first step on one joyous journey of cross-stitch.

Great variety

I love to cross-stitch but have always bought kits. I like this book because while there are some cross-stitch pictures, like a family tree or jungle animal and alphabet sampler for a child's room, there is a little bit of everything. Some other reviews say that it is repetitive, but as the first cross-stitch book I bought, I like it. There are cottages, Victorian houses, cabins, animals (pets, circus, zoo, farm, ocean, woodland), flowers, windmills, lighthouses, and several alphabets. There are some put together in a picture, and some just drawn. The book is in full color. As a knitter, I was excited too. The designs do well as knit motifs. Go ahead and knit a village or a family around the edge of a sweater or knit a pair of sleeping kitties on a pocket. I also like to put an interesting seed bead onto the needle before the second stroke of the X to add some dimension to the work. All in all, a good book of good designs.

Doesn't break any creative barriers

This book is similar in style to the other "555" cross stitch pattern books by Kooler. While many designs are attractive and eye-catching, Kooler hasn't broken any creative barriers in this book. The use of color is good and there is a variety of designs for novice level to expert. However, the range of designs is more limited in this book as compared to others by this author. I have a large collection of cross stitch books and consider it a good addition. But, this is not the book to buy if you are new to cross stitch or looking for basic designs. This book should be one you'd get to supplement your existing collection.