A book like The Needlepoint Book can be one of your handiest tools when you are stitching. While this book is like a college degree in needlepoint between covers, most people (even experienced stitchers) turn to it because of the wealth of information about stitches included in it. These kinds of books are called stitch dictionaries.
In a stitch dictionary you will find many different needlepoint stitches diagrammed for you. Often, as is the case here, there are also pictures of the stitches worked on canvas.
The diagrams tell you how to make the stitch. Sometimes, as in my diagrams, the stitches aren’t numbered, sometimes, as in The Needlepoint Book, they are. Although for most stitches you don’t need to follow the numbering diagram for making the stitches, it is good to do so until you understand how to make the stitch. Then you can work them any way you like.
Often the stitches in stitch dictionaries are divided into families of stitches. Some of the families are diagonal, cross, box, straight and compound. Each family of stitches consists of stitches which share common characteristics. In the case of diagonal stitches, all the stitches are made up of diagonal lines, which do not form a definite box.
A unique feature of The Needlepoint Book is the table of stitches which appears at the beginning of each chapter of stitch diagrams. It lists along the left side each of the stitches which appears in the chapter. Then it gives information about the characteristics of each stitch. It tells you about possible uses (border, background, accent, etc.) whether it will work for areas which receive lots of wear (backing, snag-proof), how much texture and pattern it has, and whether it uses a ton of yarn.
I love these tables because I can use them to find a perfect stitch for a particular use.
Other stitch dictionaries, such as the Stitches for Effect books, will have lists of stitches for particular areas, which are divided by area (sometimes even in different books), or will say something in the text itself.
I also make notes about the stitches in the margins of my stitch dictionaries. Sometimes I note when I use the stitch, sometimes I comment on whether I like the stitch or not. And when I’ve done classes exploring threads, I them as opportunities to try new stitches. That way my stitch dictionaries become records of my needlepoint experiences.
When I’m planning a canvas I look at my stitch dictionaries to get ideas for stitches. Often seeing a picture of a stitch will spark your imagination -- what about Encroached Gobelin for the mermaid’s hair? How about a nice, knobby cross stitch for that gold patch? Every stitch dictionary I own (and I have dozens) has unique stitches in it.
As you become more familiar with different stitches and threads in needlepoint, you will find your own favorite stitches. Some teachers like particular kinds of stitches so much they become trademarks. For example, Jean Hilton has invented and is identified with wonderful “string art” stitches. She uses them in most of her designs and they are so associated with her that people call the “Jean Hilton stitches.”
Janet M. Perry is one of the leading writers of needlepoint stitch guides in the world. She writes innovative guides for needlepoint canvases from over 20 designers. She puts into practice her motto to make needlepoint fast, fun and affordable.
She is an expert in needlepoint, both on the Web and through her writing as the Needlepoint Pro for Cross-Stitch & Needlework magazine. She works with deigners, shops, and thread manufacturers on new products and regularly reports on trends in needlepoint.
Her newest book, Needlepoint Trade Secrets, will be available in the summer of 2007 on Amazon. Visit her website (http://www.napaneedlepoint.com) or blog (http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com) to learn about my newest products.