My Favorite Needlework Book and An Old Project Found

Pardon the blurry picture. The cover of the book may be old, but it is very shiny so I had to take it with no flash.

This is my, hands down, favorite book to learn sew-y, knit-y, needle-y things with. It covers almost any type you might care to do and has loads of pictures and patterns to go with it.

It came back to my attention while I was doing a bit of spring organizing and unearthed an old dining room tablecloth project from several years ago that I'd put aside before going on deployment.


I found it, shook it out and thought how very pretty it was and realized I had no clue as to what I'd been planning for the rest of it. I dug out my handy book and tucked neatly inside was my written and drawn diagram.

Of course, I changed it. I unwound all the scalloping and am making it more like the center so it will stay flatter until I get to the very edge, then I'll add the scalloping back in. The color on the picture isn't very even due to the flash, but it is simply ecru in color and uses size 10 cotton.

It will, upon completion, fit my big dining room table with all the leaves in it. Meaning huge. When projects get so big that I consider it a milestone to get another row done, I stop finding them as fun. This one will probably wind up being a test of willpower.

Right now though, I'm enjoying picking it back up again.


The book is long out of print, however a quick browse of the web and I found at least 2 copies for sale at various places. If you ever run across it while in a second hand shop, give it a look. It is a great one to get someone who'd like to get into doing such things, but doesn't like being hand taught.