Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a must have book for all crafters., 24 Mar 2001
If you have never picked up a needle and applied coloured thread to fabric, then you will after reading this book. Kaffe's enthusiasm and designs lead the unwary on a path of constant design possibilites and maybe down the path to needlepoint addiction. Kaffe has taken the simple shell, played around with size, design and texture and from that designed a lamp shade. There are also roosters, ducks, broken pieces of pottery and many more wonderful everyday items that have been used. Kaffe's use of the ordinary and turning it in to the extraordinary by using simple stitching and basic shapes is a great gift, but a gift that any one can work on. The colours in the book are bright and vibrant and they really make you want to start working on a project just so that you can see if yours would look like that. The us of text and explanations of how and why throughout the book are also great. This is not so much a "you must do" book, but an "if I can do it,so can you" book. I think the book is a great reference item and I will happily spend time just leafing through my copy and picking up ideas for other designs that I am doing. In the back of the book there are helpful tips on fabrics, yarns etc., so even a beginner should be able to do the basics in next to no time. Steve Lovi's photography is clear and shows every piece as well as any photograph is able.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A bit of a disappointment., 5 Jun 2003
The book is great as an inspiration source. Lots of photographs of completed projects together with interiors for which they were designed. It is also interesting to see what inspired particular design. I really admire author's imagination and talent.
But as for stitching from it... It will be difficult. The colours in the charts are not clear. It is not easy to distinct between the shades, because they were coloured with pastel pencils. They look so. An editorial idea?
(For the perfect example of charts see Elian Mc Cready's Needlepoint - clear colours and graphic symbols to recognize shades)
Not all the projects presented have the chart printed. The ones I liked the most (generally the ones more elaborate) were without. And many of those presented charts were simplicistic, as if a child made them. Smart guy to keep the lovliest projects to himself!
To sum up - beautiful book showing needlepoint in its glory, great for looking at but not many interesting projects to choose from. Certainly good inspiration for proficient stitcher/designers (which I am not).
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
an inspiring, colourful classic, 10 Mar 2005
This is my favourite Kaffe Fassett book out of the many craft forms he has turned to - rugs, painting, mosiac, murals, knitting etc. Although he gives several patterns including - pear cushion, plum cushion, flower pyramid cushion, rooster tea cosy, shell motif, cabbage cushion, cauliflower cushion, striped knitting bag, geometric flower carpet bag, lichen frame, buddha cushion, plaid cushion, blue-and-white pot cushion, kabuki face cushion, flower shoulder bag and circles spectacle case, the real value of the book is as a source of inspiration for my own designs. He gives lots handy hints on how to look for source material, how to translate it into a design and what simple but effective techniques will really bring it to life. He even gives a list of stockists of top quality wools etc. It's so inspiring. A real feast for the eyes and the imagination. A must-have for all artists who are serious about pattern and colour, not just needleworkers.
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