The Cross Stitcher’s Bible

I spied a copy of this book at my favorite local used/new/swap book store, and bought it. I think all good stashes include at least a couple of books and a few magazines. This book won the mental tug-of-war and made it to the checkout mostly because the physical size is convienient. Also, this book appeared to have good how-to explanations, and includes quite a few pictures and images.

I would recommend this book as an addition to anyone’s bookshelf, but not as a sole reference. There are some types of needlework and stitches that are not explained in a way that makes sense to me; and there are some areas that could have used more explanations or drawings to expand on the brief nugget given. I think a beginning stitcher would be overwhelmed if this book was the only one they had to read.

That said, Ms. Greenoff has done an excellent job of giving an overview of the many types of cross stitching, the materials used, and includes a wide variety of needlework projects which can be stitched. The back portion of the book with the extensive Stitch Library is what redeems the beginning portion’s confusing layout for me.

This is a timely addition to my own bookshelves, because one of the pieces which I am about to begin stitching, incorporates Hardanger, which I have not done before. Ms. Greenoff’s book has excellent descriptions and illustrations of the Hardanger stitches, and will prove invaluable for me as I stitch my Lorri’s Needlecase kit.