55 Flower Designs: For Cross Stitch, Canvaswork and Crewel Embroidery

Cross stitch entusiasts of all abilities should find this collection of 55 flower designs useful. Each design can be worked in three different ways, giving potential for variation. The projects are both large and small, from cushions and bellpulls to pictures and pincushions, and offer readers scope to use their imagination and develop their own ideas. With detailed drawings to trace, full-colour charts, easy-to-follow instructions and photographed finished projects, this book should inspire both novices and experts to give free rein to their talents.

In the course of teaching classes on counted cross stitch, canvaswork (needlepoint), and crewel embroidery, Greenoff and Hawkins observed that most of their students also had a passion for gardening. From this observation a book was born. The authors' aim is to encourage stitchers to expand their repertoire of techniques and to use these techniques to create a variety of appealing projects, from simple greeting cards to an ambitious rug incorporating many of the floral designs featured in the book. Designs charted for cross stitch or needlepoint can easily be interpreted in crewel embroidery by tracing their outlines, with each technique giving identical designs a different appearance. Both experienced and novice stitchers will enjoy these floral designs, all of which are charted with color photographs and drawings as well as step-by-step instructions. Recommended for public libraries.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The world is littered with floral designs for decorative stitchers. If this book first appears to be yet another collection to add to the heap, browse again. Greenoff and Hawkins, both savvy authors and business owners, have twisted the convention of pattern-after-pattern-type explanation by showing designs worked in three or sometimes four different techniques. So a brilliantly colored fuchsia becomes a cross-stitch greetings card, a canvaswork pincushion, or a crewelwork picture. Directions for each project include graphs, a finished color photograph, sometimes lengthy written instructions, and, when appropriate, partly worked examples. Also featured are explanations of and patterns for a newly coined technique, "woolworks," a combination of simple crewel embroidery and needlepoint. Barbara Jacobs