Beth Russell's Traditional Needlepoint

Rating:
Summary: Love the designs, not crazy about the charts
Review: I really like Beth's design's, since they are much more interesting than what you find at craft stores. If you know how much her kits cost you'll teach yourself to read charts. The main problem I have is the charts. She uses alot of similar shades and unlike some authors she doesn't use markings to differentiate them andit can cause a problem. Also it helps to get an Appleton shade card.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful designs, difficult charts
Review: I'll start by saying that I LOVE Beth Russell's interpretations of Arts and Crafts designs in this book as well as her other two. She's chosen wonderful motifs and arranged them into lovely, unique needlepoint projects. I speak from experience, as I'm now working on my third project from her books, the orange border design shown on the cover of her latest volume, worked on large canvas to make a rug. I highly recommend all three books for lovers of needlepoint, other charted needlework, arts and crafts design, or William Morris.

This book is beautifully laid out and lovely to page through and read, but its loveliness is one of its downfalls: The charts are printed in full color, without utilizing symbols to indicate yarn colors. Although this choice makes the charts pleasant to look at, the subtle differences between yarn colors are sometimes very hard to see in the charts, making working from them difficult. I spent too much time squinting at the latest chart, making little pencil dots on it to differentiate between LIGHT grey green and MEDIUM-LIGHT grey green!

I'll be proud of the resulting product, and will forgive Russell's editorial choice. Do consider buying this book, but be prepared for some challenges in using it.

Rating:
Summary: Love the designs, not crazy about the charts
Review: This is not a new book. Don't be fooled. It was published in 1992, and has been released with a new cover photo. Good as it is, don't buy it twice!

Rating:
Summary: Warning!
Review: This is not a new book. Don't be fooled. It was published in 1992, and has been released with a new cover photo. Good as it is, don't buy it twice!