Donna Kooler's 555 Fabulous Cross-Stitch Patterns

I thought along with the stitches would be instructions! No instructions, no nothing... just patterns which I could get anywhere!

There are 555 designs in this book. Donna Kooler is one of my favorite designers. These are great for little crafts such as tags or ornaments or you can combine a few or a lot together to make a collage type stitching or to use on an aida afghan.

Oh, my! This is a fabulous, fabulous book. Every stitcher should have it in his/her library. Charts in color (not my fave) but easy to read. It is loaded with motifs. They are arranged by month. Substitute them for an expensive button. Group similar ones together for a large, original piece. (I used 4 of the "monthly mini band-samplers" for the 4 seasons - tho I did have to rechart spring; and I revised the others. I also took 4 of the quilts to make another 4 seasons piece. I'm squarely in my 4 seasons period. The ark became the anchor for a teeny band sampler.) The set of teapots is wonderful; so are the fairies with birth-month jewels. There are little houses for each month, a button, wreaths (these wreaths are outstanding - my next project! - I'm doing all 12), etc. All your favorite designers are here: Sandy Orton, Barbara Baatz, Linda Gillum, Donna Yuen, Nancy Rossi... One reviewer said they were too simplistic. I have to disagree. They're not ultra-sophisticated, certainly, but they aren't simplistic! You really must have this book! Yes, yes, yes! (I think the "flora and fauna" exerpt shown in the 'look inside' is from another book - a 4 seasons one - these are sophisticated ones and aren't really motifs, either. Naturally, I can't lay hands on my copy to check for sure..... The cover examples are accurate, however.) Martha Beth Lewis

This was one of the first books that I bought when I began to cross stitch again, and it has been wonderful! The variety is excellent, and the patterns always delight me!

Yet again, Donna and her team have managed to put together distinctive charts, this time using six themes : Flora & Fauna, Friends & Family, Heart & Soul, Hearth & Home, Heaven & Earth and Happy Holidays. All the designs manage to be straightforward to stitch without being boring, and all are vibrant, colourful and effective. As usual, she excels with her Christmas designs - I'm on my third 'If you see Santa, tell him I've been good', its so good on blue. Add one or two different small designs (there's so many in this book) and you have another special picture for someone's Christmas (and it doesn't have to be a child!) This book is yet another goldmine. Like all of Donna's books, its a joy just to look at the pictures !

I have both books by Donna Kooler and can not wait for book 3 and 4 to come out. I have made some beautiful items for myself and gifts from these books. Love them. Wish she didn't continue to the next page on the graph. I haven't been stiching long and I got lost once. Love these otherwise. Also the Sam Hawkins books, I have 5 of his books and can't even begin to say enough about his books. Love them.

This is a wonderful book! Every chapter has hundreds of designs to choose from and something for every occasion you would ever need. It is truly a stitchers dream book.