Compl Ency of Needlework

You substituted, you sent me a 1975 Encyclopedia of Needlework order number 116404285 instead of the 1900 one with color photos oreder number 16709785 I want my book and The Complete Encyclopedia of Needlework in not the book I order same name different book, mine is The Complete Encyclopedia of Needlework Anniversary Addition

This is an awesome book & a great reference companion to Beeton's Needlework, altho the reproductions for the Kindle edition are slightly less than perfect...

Those of us who love needlework, whether as practitioners or admirers, will find this encyclopaedia very useful. Its 20 chapters include Plain Sewing, Mending, Knitting and Crochet as well as Gold Embroidery, Tatting, Filet Lace and Pillow Lace. Each skill or craft is clearly explained and supported by diagrams. These are timeless crafts, and the techniques explained in Therese de Dillmont's book (first published in 1884) are still in use today. The illustrations were originally steel engravings and while part of me would like to see colour photographs, a larger part is pleased to see reproductions of the originals. I own many books on different needlework techniques, and most of them are quite specific to a particular technique or style. This book starts with the basics (needles, scissors, threads etc) and then progresses through each of the techniques in a way which has me wanting to learn and practice each of them. Lace making and tatting in particular appeal: I have pieces made by my grandmother early last century and I'd like to imagine that she too had a copy of this book. If she did, it would have certainly been a hardcover. The paperback is fine for my purposes, but I would love to own a copy of one of the early hardcover editions as well. Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Glad I bought this book , it has a lot of info on a huge variety of needlework & it's even got patterns !

There are so many techniques here I don't know which one to try first.

While you may not set down to do Arabic-style embroidery or do fine handsewing, if you belong to historical recreation societies such as SCA or others, this book is an absolute must. The best chapter, in my opinion, is the one on handsewing, teaching the reader how to stitch as if they were a sewing machine. You need a cushioned lead weight to pin the piece out on--this holds it taut while you do a backstitch seam. Picking a hem, mattress stitch and other hand techniques are drawn in an old style of steel plate but very visible. While this is not a modern text, the pictures are good for those who are interested in historical needlework such as embroidery, and for those who just like reading about needlework.