Jane Davis (1) (1959–)

This is great! Jane Davis starts out with a fairly complete overview of embroidery stitches - all my favorite techniques are included, and some I don't do (yet) showing how they can be enhanced with beads. Then specific beading stitches are shown. The Projects that follow are conceived in such a way that they invite creativity, and not just following the directions. Wonderful book!

A far more accurate title would be "The Basic Guide to Some Beading Techniques". Brick, Ladder, and Square stitches are fairly detailed, with written instructions and diagrams. Bead crochet and knitting have a minor amount of written instructions. Bead embroidery has virtually no instructions, but wastes a full page to a diagram showing the layout for a bead fringe, i.e. strung beads (page 119).

Most of the projects with instructions are pretty, but are things that intermediate to advanced show more beaders have, probably, already done. The best part of this book are photos of some gorgeous beadwork, but there aren't instructions in the book for these creations. I was an advanced beader when I purchased this book, and I did not garner any new knowledge from it.

I strongly recommend checking this book out from a library before you purchase it. I wish I had. show less

Lots of instruction in various bead techniques, plenty of patterns, and a surprising number of the patterns are attractive enough to inspire a person to make them, or at least to learn the technique.

Types of patterns: mostly accessories and clothing. Hats (4); Scarves/wraps/shawls (6); Bags (4); Jumpers (6); Men's Waistcoat (1); Tank (2); Cardigan (2); Cushion (5); Blanket (1)

Number of Patterns: 31

Split of patterns: mostly women, some household and a few others

Size Range: 36"-49", most go up to at least 46 and some go as small as 34

Colour/Black & White: COlour throughout

Schematics: yes for garments and complex patterns

Target Audience: This one strikes me as an intermediate book. There's show more one shawl that will be mine, oh yes, knitting it would be terribly simple, the embroidery would take a while. But every time I look at it I start drooling.

How to knit guide: yes and an how to embroider and how to embroider on wool guide.

Experimental/Classical/Modern: some suffer from using fun fur (look yes, I'm biased but if I'm going to embroider something it ain't going to be a fun-fur scarf!)

Comments: start looking at patterns from page 35, go back to the hats later. Trust me. This is a book that could start you doing things to more than just the patterns involved. There's a fair bit of swiss darning here and some of the ideas are quite good, and would spruce up a slightly worn jumper or cardigan. There's a pattern here that makes me think about playing with variagated yarn somewhat to get a different effect that looks good (and not too fussy), there are a few that will date badly but overall I would treat it as an inspiration book rather than a rigid book (except that shawl, it will be mine! It's the [Meandering Vine Shawl](pattern) and hopefully someone will have been mad enough!)

Buy/Borrow: I'm adding it to the wishlist.

Where found: There are copies on their way to some Dublin City Public Libraries show less