The Needlepoint Book: A Complete Update of the Classic Guide

by Jo Ippolito Christensen

Book Overview

The Needlepoint Book is the only needlework guide you'll ever need--now including 436 stitches and 1,680 illustrations. Since its original publication in 1976, The Needlepoint Book has become known as... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684832305
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 2.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 7.4"

Customer Reviews

Description said, “Like New.” Nope. It’s not in bad condition. It’s ok. But it’s not like new.

Haven’t read it. Gift for a friend.

A MUST FOR THE "NEEDLEPOINTER"!

I have loved needlepoint now for over thirty years. Probably one of the greatest things my mother gave me was a beginners needlepoint class when I was eight years old. I basket-weaved away for many, many years. Then, I discovered this book. It took my love for needlepoint to new levels of creativity. There are so many easy to follow directions for stiches that I had never seen before. This book brought out a new and creative aspect to my stiches. From the brand new beginner to the heartend veteran, this book is a must have! I have several other guides in my needlepoint library, yet I always come back to this one.

A new and improved Black Book!

Like most stitchers, I've used "the Black Book" for years. The new edition is a must-have for anyone who does needlepoint. All the good stuff you've used in the past is still there - lessons on how to begin, the tools of the trade, hundreds of stitches and how to use them, and fnishing instructions. Part of the reason that Christensen has been such a universally used resource is that her step-by-step instructions on how to do different stiches are easy to follow. As wonderful as the old edition was, this new one is even better. Not only are there more stiches - and very useful ones - but the information on tools and materials has been drastically revised. One of the most significant changes that caught my attention is that unlike the previous edition, Christensen is now recommending routine use of frames. Of course, this is consistent with what most of us have been doing for years. Christensen makes some general observations about the new types of threads available and how to use them, but she doesn't discuss them in detail. This is probably a wise choice since the vast variety of threads has been constantly changing and will no doubt continue to do so. My one complaint is that when selecting projects to show in the book, Christensen has very deliberately chosen to drastically limit the number of projects that have holiday themes, particularly Christmas. This seems like a strange choice since you only have to walk in to any needlepoint shop to know that Christmas projects make up the bulk of the business. Other holidays, including those of different religions and traditions are also popular. Personally, I almost never stitch anything but Christmas stockings and ornaments, and most stitchers I know are the same. Other than this personal bias, however, I have found the new edition to be an excellent improvement on an already great book.

Excellent Reference

This book is like a bible to a needlepointer...I keep it right by my side, especially when starting a new project. Good pictures, lots of them, and easy intructions...I'm self taught and this has been a valuable tool.

Superb, with lots of detail!

I had borrowed the 1976 edition from the library and found it very helpful and a useful reference. But a friend gave me the 1999 edition for Xmas. It is superb! 1) The photos are great -- all the needlework looks like true works of art. The 1976 edition pieces photographed look hopelessly amateurish by comparison -- not to mention garishly 1970's! 2) The author goes into much greater detail about the varieties of yarns and their properties, as well as stitching techniques. There are also MANY more photos on the various steps: blocking and finishing, evaluating your designs, colors, etc.3) Finally, the author has further annotated the stitches section to include her comments (in addition to the stitch diagram, photo and stitch properties chart (yarn hog, good backing, etc.). She had notes (e.g. "this is a stand-alone stitch") in the prior version, but she does this to a far greater extent in this edition, which I find helpful.One thing, however, I would have liked to see in this book (perhaps alongside the bibliography) is a resources list, perhaps listing the American Needlepoint Guild and its classes for design and color, etc. Perhaps also a point made that ideas can be gotten in needlework classes at your local shop, etc.All in all, though, this book is truly an investment for anyone doing needlepoint!

The absolute best book on needlepoint stitches

In print for almost twenty yesrs, The Needlepoint Book is by far the best and most useful book on needlepoint. Stitches are divided into chapters according to type (cross stitches, straight stitches). Each stitch has a diagram and a clear black and white picture. But my favorite tool in the book is the stitch tables which begin each chapter. Using these tables you can find great new stitches for backgrounds, heavily textured stitches, easy stitches, and so on. This kind of information is tremendously useful, but I've never seen another book which had it. If you never buy another needlepoint book -- buy this one