Celtic Needlepoint

by Alice Starmore

Using her stunning eye for design and her in-depth knowledge of traditional forms, Alice Starmore presents 18 original needlepoint projects inspired by Celtic culture. She takes readers on a journey through the history of this ancient art famous for its nature-based motifs and mesmerizing geometric designs. Crafters will find inspiration and instruction in such gorgeous designs as key, spiral, knotwork, bird, tree, and animal patterns worked in beautiful yarns on a variety of canvases.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, Knitting, Reference

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1994

About the author

Alice Starmore (née Matheson) was raised in a traditional, Gaelic-speaking Scottish fishing village. She began knitting as a child, studying the folk knitting traditions of her native Scotland. Starmore later expanded her textile studies, traveling in Scandinavia in the late 1970s on a Winston Churchill Fellowship.

Broadly recognized as one of the world's authorities on Fair Isle and other folk knitting traditions, Starmore founded Windfall Press in 1991. Windfall produces knitting patterns and instructional manuals as well as a large number of Scottish Gaelic titles.

Starmore expanded her career beyond knitting in the 1990s, focusing on fine art and photography. She held her first major solo exhibition in 2008 on the Isle of Lewis.

Reviews

[Melaniedk]

Alice Starmore's books are just breathtaking. I completed one of the needlepoint projects in this book, following her color selection in appleton yarns, and it turned out stunning.

[Willa Guadalupe Grant]

A beautiful inspiring book for those who like to do needlework.

[Eithne]

I picked this up at the library what a lovely book. The patterns are stunning well presented and easy to follow. My favorite is the Spiral Chessboard. I will be adding this to my collection soon

[Rhonda]

good designs for plastic canvas

[Elizabeth]

definitely a worthwhile investment

[Bernie4444]

From the Author of "The Fair Isle Knitting Handbook"

This is Alice Starmore's first Needlepoint book, which shows her diversity of needle skills. As with all of Alice's books, there is, nothing skimped or overlooked.

This is not only an introduction to Needlepoint but also what makes it Celtic their history and culture. We are treated to a smorgasbord of color from great photographs of Irish landscapes to actual Needlepoint patterns in this oversized book

I am only interested in the patterns, however; the projects that are presented in this book are of useful items such as a hexagonal knotwork cushion and a circular bird stool cover.

Even though there is a list of tools and yarns to use for these projects some being out of date, you will probably have good substitutes and your existing stash.

Aside from its practical value, this also makes a good coffee-table book.

[Kathryn Baron]

Some nice patterns. Wish there were hints on where to get footstool etc.

[C2015]

6 I love. So many great designs, but really only one thing I’m likely to make maybe two.