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TITLE: THE MAGIC OF CRAZY QUILTING
AUTHOR: J. MARSHA MICHLER
HEG # 632

By now all the bru-ha-ha of the holidays is finally behind us and I hope you are all ready to get back to our
"normal" lives which these days are definitely lived in the fast lane. This is especially true when you think back
to the beginnings of the "CRAZY QUILT" era during the reign of Queen Victoria. For it's time the years between
1838 and 1901 were the fast lanes of their day as they were characterized by massive and significant social
changes. The "Iron Horse" made it's debut during this time, as did the flushable toilets, telegraph cables, and
even electricity! For us "stitchers" the great innovation was that silk became more affordable and readily
available, the color mauve was discovered and sewing machines were invented. Painters were studying the
effects of light on color and juxtaposing colors in ways that the eyes would mix them. Needlework even
underwent a dramatic change as women reacted to the changes around them. One of the ways women "broke
out of the mold" was to attempt unconventional methods of quilting. Part of this was achieved by playing with
the colors and textures of the quilt top and uniting them with decorative stitches ; which were every bit as
artistic as the painters.
The Victorian crazy quilts often feature ribbon embroidery, monogramming, embroidery stitches of all types,
painting on fabrics, as well as other forms of needlework. There is no "inventor" of the crazy quilt, but like
today's fads seems to have been congruous with the era in which it was born. In America it's momentum started
about 1860, culminated by 1880 and then proceeded to fizzle out by 1900.
This book can be used in a variety of ways. For those of you familiar with crazy quilting you can use it as a
reference guide, while beginners can read it through to become familiar with basic procedures and options. This
book covers all the necessities for making crazy quilts . From how to use tools such as they laying tool and iron
and even the sewing machine, how to choose color schemes and shop for fabrics. Foundation fabrics and
piecing as well as patching methods are discussed in great detail. All the Victorian stitches are shown and
beautiful detailed drawings accompany them to show what they should look like and how to achieve them.
There is even a section covering punch needle embroidery, which can be used to add dimension to your quilt. (I
thought it was a unique idea, but then again I am not a quilter.) Paintings , stenciling, and dyeing silks are also
covered. I especially enjoyed the chart, which covers the Meaning of Flowers as Victorians attached great
importance to them and used them as a communication device.
For the over achievers there is a projects section, and for the non quilter, just browsing through the book and
looking at the beautiful color pictures, that are heavily sprinkled throughout, is an achievement in itself.
This book was purchased by the Guild in memory of long time member Carol Mifflin.
Norrene Trama
Liberian

TITLE: QUAKER SCHOOLGIRL SAMPLERS FROM ACKWORTH
AUTHOR: CAROL HUMPHREY
HEG# 539
Ackworth, Yorkshire is in the north of England approximately 250 miles from London. It is home to the
Ackworth Quaker School which dates back to 1778. This boarding school was founded for Quaker children
"not in affluence" and was part of a movement to re-integrate Quakers more fully into the society from
which they had become estranged.
This book is an attempt to cast a limited light on one aspect of Quaker education. Most of the girls at
Ackworth were taught 'plain sewing' as their future was servitude and they needed to be adept at
mending and clothes making. Being Quakers, these girls were even less likely to be familiar with the
frivolities of fine hand sewing that is prevalent among samplers of this time. Most darning and marking
samplers from the late 18th C. display exquisite workmanship and beautiful colors. Even the more
mundane marking samplers of this era tend to be brightly colored and frequently include decorative
motifs and patterns. They are quite a contrast to the Ackworth samplers from this time period; as these
samplers have a limited or monochrome palette, undyed linen or wool for the ground and ivory, white,
black, or occasional red stitching threads.
Simple and austere are best used to describe the samplers-similar to the lives of their makers.
The oldest sample is dated 1782 and "was up to date" as it was around this time the 26 letter modern
alphabet became generally accepted. The only decoration is in the form of repeat patterns between the
lines of marking and framing the border. A year later 2 girls produced samplers and one had a hort
maxim. Later samplers while still monochromatic tended to include maxims.
This book goes on to trace many of the family records and give new insight into the lives of Quaker girl
scholars that tend to be overlooked. It is the richness of the context that surrounds these samplers that
makes them important social documents. The distinctive and beautiful patterns were to influence sampler
throughout the U.K. & USA.
There are two mysteries surrounding these samplers. First, there is the intricate medallion samplers
which appear to emerge fully formed from no where, around 1790. The other mystery is why these
samplers simply disappeared and what was the causation. No one seems to know the answer to either
of these quandaries for sure.
Full of exquisite plates of many of the Ackworth samplers held in the archives of the Ackworth school,
along with a detailed history of the school, the samplers, and the lives of the students; this book is a
must read for anyone interested in samplers and the history of sampler making. It can stand by itself as a
detailed history of a specific area of an era that has been long overlooked and forgotten .

This book has been placed in our library in memory of Art Taylor, beloved husband of Peg Taylor.
Norrene Trama
Librarian

TITLE: THE PROPER STITCH
AUTHOR: DARLENE O'STEEN
HEG# 191

IT'S BAAACCCKKK! For those of us who have been denied a copy of the original book this is a great day.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the original edition; it will not come as a surprise as it did me to
see this volume back in print. Out of print since about 1996 this book has been a sought after gem with
some willing to pay a gem of a price to obtain it. Well, look no more and be grateful if you are one of
those who like myself refused to pay robber prices the book is back in print as a revised and expanded
edition and at an affordable price to boot!!
This beautifully and clearly illustrated books is a must read for anyone who enjoys counted work of any
kind. Covering stitches from every stitch group, i.e. cross, satin, buttonhole, etc., the clear concise
directions make it easy for even a novice to master the techniques. Beginning with how to use "away
waste knots" and how to change threads correctly this book continues on to things like turning corners
and how the back should appear. Each chapter contains a section that discusses difficulties and hints
--which can help you evaluate your own progress in a given technique. One suggestion as a way to
assess your overall progress was to keep a notebook or practice cloth of newly learned stitches. This
way you could help build an overall library or sampler to which you could refer back to at a later date.
Another section discusses how you can use the stitches that you have learned or are shown in detail; to
transform a plain piece of cross stitch into a richly detailed or embellished work of art.
Many of the designs that are beautifully interpreted come from varied places in the art world; tapestries,
ceramics and even architecture. Darleen O'Steen also shows how the adapted designs can be used for
many venues from fairy story pieces to church embroidery. There is also a detailed discussion as to how
to use and change ideas to fit the different pieces you are working on.
The pictures alone are worth making the effort to check out this book as they can transport you into that
realm just outside your imagination without too much strain on the brain. This book is a true must see for
all those who are involved in any kind of counted work.

This book has been placed in the library in memory of Ann Cosgrove.
Norrene Trama
Librarian

TITLE: THE QUILTERS DIRECTORY OF EMBELLISHMENTS
AUTHOR: SALLY HOLMAN
HEG# 634

This book is designed to introduce those not familiar with embellishments on how to properly apply them.
While it deals mostly with quilting many of the ideas and techniques contained here can be easily applied
to other forms of needlework. There are lots of reasons for adding embellishments to a project. Some for
purely esthetic reasons, some to help cover unwanted seams, or if you are like me some to cover boo
boos!
Embellishments can vary greatly and are not just limited to buttons and braiding. They can include beads,
sequins, bows lace and anything else you might want to conjure up to make a piece stand out and
become more interesting.
This "Directory" gives one a complete course in "how to" and starts with a chapter on equipment and
progresses on to chapters discussing the types of fabrics, threads, beads, fabric painting and photographs.
The sections covering tassel making and ribbon appliqué flowers are ones I found extremely interesting;
especially since I am working on a needlepoint project that will involve appliqué flowers.
Beautiful color photographs are in abundance throughout the book, along with easy to read step by step
instructions. There are numerous "Galleries" sprinkled throughout the book that allow one to view
finished pieces using specific techniques.
Thus........ wheather a quilter or not this book has something in it for everyone. I recommend it as a must
read for anyone contemplating some extra "something" for their next piece or for those who truly want to
add some razzle-dazzle to their work.

TITLE: COMPENDIUM OF FINISHING TECHNIQUES
AUTHOR: NAOMI McENEELY
HEG# 1907

From braids to cords, trimmings to edges and don't forget knots and seams, this book covers it all.
Finishes are what make textiles so interesting and beautiful. Whether simple or complex it is the attention
to detail that can make the mundane sublime. While most stitchers possess the skills to finish a project
they often do not because they don't have the total understanding of how to do it. This is just the book
that provides the how to, to overcome our lack of understanding and our fears.
Chock full of beautiful illustrations and how the finished edge should look, this book also has clear concise
directions every stitcher should be able to understand. Another useful tool in this book is the table of
contents. Unlike most books, this one has 2! You can look up the finishes by techniques i.e. embroidery,
crochet, or you can look up the type of finishing you want to do i.e. edges or seams.
I found the pictures of the finished projects extremely helpful because they gave me strong clues as to
what the project should eventually look like. If you are like me, and usually go about a project with one
idea in your head, only to find out your hands had a totally different set of instructions and there was a
snafu somewhere along the line in communication and the end project is nowhere near what you were
expecting. Be assured you won't be "clueless" any more, if you follow the simple straight forward
instructions contained within the covers of this book. You will know what you are trying to achieve and
have a project that turns out to be what you envisioned. Another added benefit of using this book is that
you will save lots of money by finishing yourself so then you can have added funds to indulge yourself in
new projects!

SCULPTURED NEEDLEPOINT STITCHERY
(HEG #1106) by Ella Projansky

The history of needlepoint as we know it, is centuries old, but that of needlepoint stitchery is
somewhat younger, and sculptured needlepoint is even more recent. Some of the earliest
designs
were inspired by knitted fisherman's sweaters and a simplified version of Irish crochet lace
appearing in a 1970's McCall's magazine, which makes this a very short history indeed.
Sculptured needlepoint stitchery is embroidery on canvas carried into the 3rd demission, beyond
the limits of conventional needlepoint stitches. This concept utilizes the 3rd dimension "depth" in
such a way that neither color or pictorial design is essential for it's creation. Not only can one
augment or enhance a conventional needlepoint design; it also allows you not to need one; as
this medium comes to life entirely on it's own. The fascinating play of light and shadow is a
challenge unto itself and one that is a lot simpler than it sounds.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced needlepointer, some of what is stated may be a
bit redundant, but you never know when something will shed new light and turn up something
new and useful to you. The designs in this book are a mixture of naïveté and sophistication,
simplicity and complexity. There is no orderly progression from easy to advanced as these
decisions are left up to the stitcher. The designs were meant to be impressive to the beholder,
but easy enough so that a beginner could be taught by written instruction alone. For each
design in the book there is a color or black and white plate of the finished project. There are a
series of stitch guides for all the stitches in that particular design, showing how each stitch is
constructed and how to technically execute it. A graph shows one where on the canvas the
stitches are to be made and even how many to make, along with the number of plies that
should be used (Now that's definitely my kind of instructions!!!).
The projects included make good starter pieces and if you stretch yourself a bit you may find
yourself reaching new heights. For someone who has never even held a needle before, it
should be possible for him/her to follow the stitch guides with good results; they are just that
good. The author is very aware of how many of us have been "turned off" by a particular
project or technique because of poor stitch guides and she seeks to avoid this at all costs.
Each design section has all the stitch guides it needs, no matter how many times they have to
be repeated. This way one does not have to go hunting through the book to find the stitch
guide for a particular stitch that was used on a prior piece. All this help should not only make
for a delightful stitching experience, along with the ability to create something to behold and
enjoy for a very long time.
This book resides in our library because of a gift made by Lorraine Meyer.

Norrene Trama
March 2008