Maggie Lane (2) (1924–)

There are lots of books on needlework designs but none as carefully researched and passionately and intelligently written as this one. Ms Lantz has studied patterns wherever she could find them all around the world, on buildings, on pavements, on pictures in museums, on textile, wood, ceramics, christian and islamic. She has patiently collected them, and designer Maggie Lane has turned the patterns into diagrams. It is a nearly inexhaustible mine of ideas. In my opinion there is no other show more book on the subject to compare with it. The author can well apply to her own work the last lines of a XVI° century French poem which she translates:
Prince, I declare in good faith
That my task was accomplished with minute care
"For the benefit" as we have heard recited,
"Of all who work with the needle". show less

Lane offers eleven gorgeous designs, with beautiful, full-color plates to tempt you. There are complete written instructions for each design, including color suggestions, thread quantity for each color, and enlarged stitching graph. I executed a section of the "Pony Rug" on petit point to use as a doll house rug. It was so lovely that I framed it instead.

Two lovely beetle patterns but without colour key.

Has some nice patterns with oriental designs and themes.