If you’re looking for holiday gifts for your needlework buddies, how about a new book to add to their collection? This isn’t actually a novel idea. My inbox is inundated with questions about holiday gifts for stitchers this time of year – where to find unique needlework-related gifts, book recommendations, shop recommendations, and so forth.
Invariably, I fall back on books as gifts, probably because I’m a book freak, and that would be my preference.
So, if you’re floundering about, wondering what to get a stitching buddy, or if you’re planning on buying your own gift and wrapping it and putting it under the tree and feigning surprise on Christmas morning, I thought I’d give you a list of twelve needlework books that are popular on Needle ‘n Thread. Just for ideas….
The Beginner’s Guide to Crewel Embroidery is one of the most consistently popular books on Needle ‘n Thread. I suppose a lot of people out there are wanting to do crewel work?! I think there’s also a growing appreciation of different types of wool threads available on the market, so maybe these interests go hand in hand. Here’s my review of The Beginner’s Guide to Crewel Embroidery.
Felt Wee Folk has received a lot of traffic on Needle ‘n Thread, and many copies have been sold through the Amazon affiliate link at the end of the review. This could be due to the fact that it’s been on the main page of the site for several months. (I forgot to switch it out with my last review!) In any case, it’s a great little book on embroidery on felt and making… well, wee folk out of felt. It’s really darling and lots of fun! Here’s my review of Felt Wee Folk.
The Embroiderer’s Handbook has been a top hit on Needle ‘n Thread for a long time. In the last six months, it has remained consistently at the top of the list, despite recent reviews on other books and the fact that my review of The Embroiderer’s Handbook is short and sweet (and no photos!). The makings of a classic?
Redoute’s Finest Flowers in Embroidery by Trish Burr has been on the site now for three years, but it still ranks close to the top in traffic, even over more recently reviewed books. For someone looking to branch out in their embroidery skills and try something new, this is an excellent book! Here’s my review of Redoute’s Finest Flowers in Embroidery.
Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches is another favorite. She just keeps popping up!! This is a good stitch dictionary to have on a reference shelf. You’ll find yourself going to it again and again. Here’s my review of Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches.
Stitch Sampler was next in popularity – it received a lot of traffic in the last six months, because the review is fairly recent, and I think the give-away heightened interest in the book. It’s another good reference for a variety of stitches, clearly illustrated, with a good index. Here’s my review of Stitch Sampler.
Funny how all the stitch dictionaries are lining up in ranking! The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion is quite popular, if I go by traffic indicators! If you’re left-handed, you need this book! If you have a left-handed friend who stitches, your friend needs this book! Here’s my review of The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion.
Long and Short Stitch Embroidery: A Collection of Flowers by Trish Burr comes next on the list. Another beautiful book of needle painted flowers by Trish Burr, this is one of those books full of good information, that looks great on the coffee table. So don’t leave it on the shelf! You’ll be inspired by it over and over again! Here’s my review of Long and Short Stitch Embroidery: A Collection of Flowers.
Stumpwork Medieval Flora by Jane Nicholas receives lots of visits here on Needle ‘n Thread. It’s a gorgeous book with gorgeous projects in it! My favorite part of this book is the illuminated panels projects. They are stunning! Here’s my review of Stumpwork Medieval Flora.
Ricamo Estense or Estense Embroidery (in English) by Elisabeth Holzer Spinelli has enjoyed steady popularity since it’s review in May, 2010. It is a unique book with beautiful embroidery projects in it. The designs are based on Italian pottery designs, and the combination of stitches and colors used to create this style of embroidery are really interesting. The book is a great resource for stitchers who are interested in combining stitches to create unique borders and fillings. Here’s my review of Ricamo Estense.
Jane Nicholas’s Stumpwork Tiles is also in the top twelve popular needlework books in the last several months. Like all of Jane Nicholas’s stumpwork books, this one is magnificent. There are heaps of projects to work herein, and lots of great inspiration on combining goldwork, silk, and beads for beautiful effects. Here’s my review of Stumpwork Tiles.
Finally, The Embroidery Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden is another very popular stitch dictionary, and one of the top twelve most popular books on Needle ‘n Thread right now. It’s a great reference book, and there are lots of features about it that I like: the spiral binding, the visual index, the stitch groupings, the carefully drawn stitch diagrams. Here’s my review of The Embroidery Stitch Bible.
So there you have it! The twelve most popular books on Needle ‘n Thread in the last six months – any and all of which would make a perfect holiday gift for a stitcher in your life! (Or for yourself, of course!) You can find lots of other needlework books reviewed here on Needle ‘n Thread as well, if you’re looking. At the end of the Books & Links page, you’ll also find some free online books featured. Feel free to browse!
What about you? What needlework-related goodies do stitcher’s want for Christmas this year?! Leave a comment and let the rest of us know. You never know. Maybe Santa reads Needle ‘n Thread, too! (Heh heh. Just kidding. We know he’s too busy for that….)
