The Needlepoint Book: New, Revised, and Updated Third Edition

by Jo Ippolito Christensen

The Needlepoint Book is the only needlework guide you’ll ever need—now including 436 stitches and 1,680 illustrations.Since its original publication in 1976, The Needlepoint Book has become known as the bible for all stitching enthusiasts—the one resource for every needlepoint aficionado. Whether you’re new to the craft or have been practicing for years, this guide covers your stitching journey from inspiration to achievement with specific guidelines on how to make the painted canvas yours. Featuring all-new projects and stitch patterns for every level of expertise, you will learn practical skills, such as how - Choose your project with purpose - Tell its story with stitches and fibers - Create mood with color and texture - Fill that blank background - Select and use embellishments such as beads and sequins Included in this revised and expanded edition is a crash course on how to use new fibers; updated information on materials, as well as how to work with and care for them; dozens of new stitches; and diagrams and stitch guides for select projects included in book. Also featured are thirty-two pages of color photographs with all-new projects; dozens of new stitches explained with photos and drawings; and a new ribbon stitch chapter. The Needlepoint Book is the one book to own on the topic. In one comprehensive volume, it has everything you'll need to create your own artistic, high-quality heirloom.

Genres: Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference, How To, Textbooks

1467 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Brandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me just start by saying that I was blown away by this book - whether you are new to needlepoint or have been doing it and just want a reference book on hand, this is the book for you. I have never read the original version of this book, but quickly appreciate the fact that they have updated this book. I imagine even in it's original state, it was a well-rounded needlepoint book!

I won't lie ... I was expecting a book with a few pages on how to get things ready, and then a list of stitches. But this book is so much more!

The first half talks about the materials you need, the type of canvas you can stretch in, the type of yarn to use, design elements, etc, etc. The list goes on and on. Each section is pretty comprehensive as well.

I especially enjoyed the section on design - what to look for a good pattern (or how to design your own). I loved the section on color theory as well. As someone who has stitched before and not needing a primer on the basics, these sections that provided more deeper knowledge for someone like me were quite welcomed. And yet, the information was presented in such a way that it isn't overwhelming for a someone new to stitching.

The second part of the book is a comprehensive stitch encyclopedia. The stitches are separated out by type: straight, diagonal, box, cross, etc. With pictures and word explanations to go along with each one.

This is definitely a book I would want to add to add to my library! And I think any stitcher of any level would appreciate having it too. Whether you need to turn to it to see how to get started and work on basic stitches, or you're an experience stitcher who needs to look up that one complicated stitch you know you've done once before but can't quite remember this is a must have book in craft book collection!

Note: I was given an e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for reviewing it. As always, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE turn-to book for everything you need to know about needlepoint. And I mean EVERYTHING. As a complete newbie to needlepoint I will admit I found this book a bit intimidating. It's a hefty tome, and for a crafter who is used to seeing simplified tutorials and colour-picture-laden books, I wondered if I would enjoy it as much.However, once you get past the old-fashioned style, what you get is a real gem. Some of the great things in this book include: art tuition, tips on colour tones (including a very handy chart on specific skin tones recommended for different nationalities), DIY projects for handy aids, ideas for multi-media, charts on fibre content and construction and even dyes. This book has a whopping 544 pages, a good 300 hundred or so dedicated to all the different stitches you could possibly imagine! Photographs and diagrams show how to achieve them. Despite being in black and white, and with the diagrams being hand-drawn, they are perfectly clear.

[Anne Hawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't exactly read a book like this in one setting, but I find myself turning to it constantly. Some have called it the Bible of needlepoint, and I agree. Everything you need to know about needlepoint is there, from choosing a project, design elements, basic procedures, stitching techniques, color theory, and decorative stitches to blocking and finishing. There are hundreds of stitches each with a picture and chart showing the order they are worked. The charts are easy to read and comprehensive. They are grouped so that the reader can easily choose among similar stitches without having to flip back and forth.

[Kidsbookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring! A must own for one who does needlepoint.

[Lindsay Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great information, but the quality of photos coupled with the fact that they are in grayscale makes it really difficult to see the stitches properly. A good resource, but very dated.

[Ally Holland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is cross-posted on StoryGraph & Amazon.

A wonderful, incredibly thorough, resource for both beginners and seasoned needlepointers. The book covers everything from supplies to starting  and finishing, designing and color, to the 400+ stitches available at the time of publication.

However, there is one major thing that is missing and if it were included would make this book the ultimate resource.  

Part 4: The Stitches is organized by chapters for each stitch type (straight vs diagonal vs box, ect). At the beginning of each chapter is a list that details each stitch and it's attributes (good for borders, shading, good backing or poor backing, whether it distorts the canvas...) which is incredibly useful, especially since it's alphabetical.

However, when you go to the next page to start sorting through actual stitch diagrams, you find that they are not listed alphabetically. If the list included the page number next to the corresponding stitch, that would be easier but instead you have to hunt for that stitch.
 
Docking two stars for this very reason because I genuinely think this is a major organizational flaw that makes using this section rather difficult.
 
Aside from this, I would still recommend the book 100%. Just be prepared to flip through every page to find the stitch you want.

[Malki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a great format for Kindle

I think it's a good practical book, but not great for Kindle. The photos don't enlarge, and it's difficult to maneuver pages with the Kindle

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very extensive stitch library and detailed information about materials and methods, plus lots of inspiration with colour photos of projects.

[Wendy Cato · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hope this would be project ideas, but it really has directions for stitches. There are pictures of completed projects. Most are horrific. One is from Jude designs which has a Tabasco theme.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an update, revised edition this is fairly disappointing. I've had the second edition for quite a while, and there is nothing earth-shaking about this new one. There are more color plates of needlepoint projects than before, but they are not very inspiring. They tend to be achingly cute.

I have not been able to find the "FREE APP" mentioned on the cover anywhere, and the old black and white photographs and diagrams of stitches have not been updated, although there are supposed to be more stitches covered.

The book is still wonderful for its detail about the many aspects of learning to do needlepoint properly, and the old tables with best uses for and characteristics of each stitch are still there and invaluable as ever.

I'm disappointed in the update, but this is the same wonderful book.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to find some new stitches and to read about blocking my own canvases. Bottomline after reading her suggestions? I'll let the professionals help me--learn new stitches and handle my finished canvases! She does have diagrams for stitches however and I am going to try a few on my own. I'd like to see & read her newer edition...

[Erika Mulvenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really comprehensive book cataloging hundreds of needlepoint stitches with black and white photos of each stitch as well as clear illustrations. This book makes me want to get started on a needlepoint sampler RIGHT NOW!

[Diane Lithgow · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favourite needlepoint book of all time.

[Stacey Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reference book on needlepoint stitches.