Celtic Cross Stitch Designs

I received this book as a birthday gift along with Celtic Art In Cross Stitch by Barbara Hammet. Although both are good, I can tell already that this one is going to be the source of many more projects. There are nearly 70 designs in this book, most very adaptable to a variety of uses. Phillipson provides a refreshingly wide variety of designs, not just a few variations on a few primary themes, plus a wide variety of ideas for utilizing them -- and they're all stunningly beautiful and well-done. There's a wide range of color variations between projects, and the colors chosen for individual projects are very appropriate, both historically and aesthetically, for their motifs. She also provides plenty of detailed tips and interesting background information on where the designs originated. All in all, this is an excellent book, and I'm definitely going to get a great deal of use out of it!

This is a book for both the cross stitch beginner as well as more experienced stitchers looking for inspiration. There is a lovely mix of simple motifs, as well as more challenging pieces inspired by the Book of Kells. The book is a delight to leaf through, and many of the designs (especially the knotwork) lend themselves to other projects. For example: I've worked a number of the knots (in silk on linen) as bookmarks for gifts. Highly recommended. Jennifer Cameron-Smith

To me, this book came as an esthetic relief. Tired of flowers, I was thrilled to discover elegant minimalism of this book. All designs are tastefull and come accompanied with a discription of where the design came from - helmets, scabbards,torques. It includes apstract borders and small images for stitching where you please, along with several more complicated images of celtic animals, human faces and such, that look marvellous when framed. Recommended for beginners (charts are in color and easy to read) and for more experienced stitchers because this collection is far from dull.

Carol Phillipson has put together a wonderful book full of craft ideas. Her patterns are based on many different examples of Celtic art. While you will find knotwork and other borders here, you'll also find animal forms, an illuminated alphabet and various unexpected designs taken from jewelry, manuscripts and stonework. Phillipson includes several ideas for the use of each pattern, as well as giving the reader an idea where the pattern came from. All in all, a delightful, as well as useful, book for any stitcher.