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Needlepoint Books

Needlepoint books can teach us stitches and new techniques. They can spark an idea or launch a project. When we can't stitch, they let us dream.

Find here a selection both useful and inspiring, that you can purchase directly from this site.

Stitch Dictionaries & Stitch Patterns

An emphasis on stitches and on needlepoint in general. At least one should be in every stitchers' library

101 Needlepoint Stitches - while not as comprehensive, this little book has lots of great information NEW
The Needlepoint Book, revised edition - the single most useful needlepoint book New
Needlepoint Stitches - a new book, looks at 52 stitches in depth. NEW
The Needlepoint Book, first edition - this edition is a great purchase for those on a budget
Sculpted Needlepoint Stitchery - one of the first books on textured stitches with great projects and a nice selection of stitches
Pageant of Pattern - Long out of print and one of the classics of needlepoint. Full of ideas and inspiration with the largest charts in print.
The New Dictionary of Needlepoint and Canvas Stitches - great stitch handbook
Decorative Background Patterns for Needlepoint - this book is the inspiration for needlepoint damask
Mira Silverstein's Guide to Slanted Stitches - great compact book of Slanted Stitches

Projects

These books are oriented towards projects with charts of either realistic of geometric pieces. There are lots of classics here and lots more great needlepoint books to find by using the search function.

Celtic Needlepoint - Alice Starmore - Lovely charted Celtic patterns
American Primatives in Needlepoint - classic folk art designs charted, great for beginners
Weaving Designs for Needlepoint - one of my favorites, it adapts many types of textiles
Ehrman Needlepoint Book - a wide variety of charted pieces from their designers, including Fassett, Bahouth, McCready, and more New
More Needlepoint Design - a classic using line-drawings to transfer outlines to canvas, a less well-known sequel to Needlepoint Design
Beth Russell's Traditional Needlepoint - William Morris & Arts & Crafts designs
Needlepoint from Great American Quilt Designs and the second collection of them - my all-time favorite project books
Susan Witt's Classics for Needlepoint
In Splendid Detail - charming 90's book with delightful designs by American Catherine Reurs
Hope Hanley's Patterns for Needlepoint
Ethnic Needlepoint
Exotic Fruits & Flowers in Needlepoint
Elaine Slater's Book of Needlepoint Projects
Elian McReady's Needlepoint - Ehrman designer, well known for florals
Walt Disney Character Needlepoint Book - books like this couldn't be done now because of licensing, so this is a great find

Project Books from the Biggies

The great needlepoint writers of the 70's and 80's often have multiple wonderful books. Here are their project books gathered together by author. Books on a specific technique are under "techniques."

Maggie Lane:

Maggie Lane's Needlepoint Pillows - Complex pillow designs from a great author
Gold & Silver Needlepoint - another Maggie Lane classic
Needlepoint by Design - Oriental needlepoint designs that continue to enthrall
More Needlepoint by Design - A second set of oriental designs. The cover project is one of my favorite designs ever.
Chinese Rugs Designed for Needlepoint

Carol Ambuter:

Carol Ambuter's Needlepoint Celebrations - classic book with charted and line-drawn patterns
Complete Book of Needlepoint
Even More Complete Book of Needlepoint

Lisbeth Perrone:

Needlepoint Workbook - Lisbeth Perrone - a classic project book in an oversize format
New World of Needlepoint - wonderful stitch patterns, especially if you ignore the 70's colors
Folk Art in Needlepoint and Cross Stitch

Glorafila (80's and 90's)

Glorafila - The Miniature Collection - small charted projects in a variety of charming styles, one of my favorites
Glorafila - The Venice Collection
The Impressionists in Needlepoint

Beginners

These needlepoint books are great places to begin your exploration of needlepoint. They will explain the basics, give you several stitches to get started, and have a selection of projects which cover a variety of techniques.

Needlepoint Stitch by Stitch - Anna Pearson
Needlepoint A Foundation Course - Sandra Hardy
Sunset Books Needlepoint - a classic beginners book from the 70's. There are several editions and printings (too many to list), you can do a search to find the others
Left Handed Needlepoint - not necessary (speaking as a leftie) but useful
Take Up Needlepoint - Jill Gordon (a former Ehrmamn designer(
Needlepoint: Potter Needlework Library
First Easy to See Needlepoint Workbook
New York Times Book of Needlepoint - the second needlepoint book I owned or get the left handers edition
Teach Yourself Needlepoint - covers more techniques than other beginners' books

Techniques

Focusing on a single topic or technique

Creative Needlepoint Borders - classic on designing, selecting and stitching
The Open Canvas - superb book on several types of open work on canvas
Blackwork Embroidery New
Finishing and Mounting your Needlepoint Pieces
New Canvaswork - the most inventive needlepoint book I've seen in years New
Geometric Designs in Needlework - a classic and the first book I know of to embrace using different threads
Pattern Design for Needlepoint and Patchwork - great book on repeating patterns
Your House in Needlepoint

Alphabets

Charted alphabets of various kinds.

97 Needlepoint Alphabets - Great basic alphabets and numbers in a variety of sizes
Needlepoint Letters and Numbers - another classic alphabet book
Charted Monograms for Needlepoint and Cross Stitch - classic monograms of all letter combinations, a great resource New
Letters and Numbers for Needlepoint
Cross Stitchers Big Book of Alphabets and Borders

Inspiration & History

Glorious Needlepoint Kaffe Fassett - projects, inspiration and tons of great pictures, choose from 1987 hardbound, or these paperback editions: (1989 edition), (1992 edition), (2000 reprint edition)
Needlepoint in America

Bargello

The easiest needlepoint technique of all, Bargello remains popular because it's easy, adaptable, fun, and beautiful.

Bargello Embroidery - Elsa Williams - This i sthe influential and classic book on Bargello

Four Way Bargello - The classic on Four way Bargello by Dorothy Kaestner

Bargello Antics - Four way and Traditional Bargello from Dorothy Kaestner

Bargello Magic - tons of great patterns and ideas in this book if you ignore the dated colors.

A New Look at Bargello - lots of fun ideas in this little book.

Relgious Needlework

Needlepoint and needlework with Christian and Judaic themes. These books work great when you are looking for projects that use the needlework traditions and symbols of these two great religions.

Christian:

Needlepoint for Churches - a classic for designing church needlework
The New Chruch Kneeler Book - eye candy as well as great instructions.
Clergy Stoles Needlepoint or Cross Stitch

Jewish:

Miniature Needlepoint

These books cover needlepoint done in the most popular dollhouse scale 1:12. But many of these designs, especially the rugs are stunning on their own.

Making Miniature Oriental Rugs and Carpets
Oriental Carpets in Miniature

More Miniature Oriental Rugs & Carpets

Needlework Designs for Miniature Porjects - a Dover Book running the gamut: rugs, pillows, blankets, quilts.

Miniature Needlepoint Carpets - Janet Granger - a book by a leading designer in the field

Plastic Canvas

Always popular, find books on the technique in general as well as chart and project books

This is just a small selection of the wonderful books available out there. Because most of them are out of print, you can build you library economically.

You can find all these books and more at:

Get some of these great needlepoint books today and build your stitching library.

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