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The delicate art of tatting requires only a shuttle to produce elegant creations such as those displayed in this volume. Prize-winning tatting expert Monica Hahn provides patterns for 51 lovely projects―many with a Christmas theme. Intricate but not difficult to master, the designs for these miniature heirlooms include a variety of Christmas tree ornaments: Clover-Leaf Bell, Evergreen Christmas Tree, Star of Leaves, Five-Pointed Star, Rose Ornament, Poinsettia, Spider Web Ornament, and, of course, two splendid Christmas Angels. Additional patterns in this attractive collection include lovely edgings such as Grape, Crown, Happy Talk, and Merri-Go-Round for «dressing up» napkins, placemats, handkerchiefs, and other items. Still other patterns are perfect for creating lovely collars, bookmarks, picture frames, and a variety of domestic accessories. Easy-to-follow instructions and over 60 sharply detailed black-and-white photographs and line illustrations make it easy to create these tatted masterpieces.

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After over a century of relative obscurity, lacemaking is enjoying a revival as more and more needlecraft artists are intrigued by its creative possibilities. Dating from the 15th century, bobbin lace is prized everywhere for its intricacy, delicacy, and decorative richness — and couldn't be easier to do!In this modern, step-by-step approach to the craft, noted lacemaker Brigita Fuhrmann shows you how to create every kind of bobbin lace — from the simplest stitch to the most challenging pattern. In addition, she traces the history of bobbin lacemaking in Western and Eastern Europe (including Russia) and relates these two distinct types to contemporary trends.For all its intricate, elegant appearance, bobbin lace is based on only two different movements of bobbins — the cross and the twist. Essentially, it is the technique of winding threads on bobbins around pins attached to a firm pillow. The pins hold the lace in place while you cross and twist the bobbins over each other in varying sequences to form a wide range of stitches. The richness of the lace depends on how you combine the stitches into a pattern.Ms. Fuhrmann provides expert advice on the tools you'll need — pillows, bobbins, pins, and thread — and easy-to-follow instructions for a variety of exquisite stitches. Clear, accurate diagrams accompany stitch directions, beginning with the braid and Brussels ground and ending with the maiden's net and spiders. Learn how to make stunning straight lace and tape lace; construct fans, corners, edgings; draft patterns; finish your creations, and care for your lace.Needleworkers at all levels of expertise will welcome this comprehensive volume. Experienced hands will discover endless challenges and inspiration here; beginners will find this an excellent introduction to the beauty and elegance of a time-honored art form.

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Create airy and delicate lace designs for table, bed, and wardrobe using the time-honored technique of Irish crochet. This handsome handicraft, known for its raised floral motifs and intricate background patterns, probably originated in the convents of Ireland, where diligent nuns prepared beautiful ornaments for use in church services. Today, this stunning form of lace-making has been adapted and simplified for dozens of day-to-day uses: decorating curtains, tablecloths, pillows, bedspreads, lingerie, collars, children's clothing, doilies, and more.Rita Weiss, a noted needlework designer and bestselling author, has collected the finest, easily workable examples of Irish crochet from rare American thread company booklets of more than 50 years ago. Step-by-step instructions, stitch and hook charts, metric conversion charts, and 40 clear illustrations allow you to make magnificent accessories in these lovely patterns: My Wild Irish Rose, Popcorn, Rose of Sharon, Cinderella, More Than a Touch of Blarney, Beauty Rose, «Smilin' Through,» Tournament of Roses, Wedding Ring, Dublin Beauty, Irish Springtime, and others. No skills beyond a familiarity with ordinary crochet technique are needed to create these beautiful patterns. In addition, expert tips on blocking and finishing make it certain that your final product will be nothing short of a work of art.With this versatile, inexpensive guide, the beauty of Irish crochet — once thought too difficult to achieve by any but the most experienced needleworkers — is now within reach of even beginning crocheters.

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One of America's most ingenious and creative knitters presents 23 patterns in this beloved classic of knitting lore. Elizabeth Zimmermann's bestselling guide includes Aran sweaters, mittens, socks, and patterns for other items that can be followed by intermediate to advanced knitters or adapted into original works.This commemorative hardcover edition celebrates the centenary of Elizabeth Zimmermann's birth and the 50th anniversary of the founding of her company. Its new features include color photos of the finished patterns, many of them reknit using contemporary yarns, as well as a frontispiece by Andrew Wyeth, a preface by the author's daughter, an introduction by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, instructions for the February Lady Sweater, and other bonus items.

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Few objects evoke the spirit of Christmas and a holiday atmosphere more effectively than light and airy snowflakes. Now, with this unusually extensive and comprehensive collection of patterns, crocheters can add exquisitely shaped «snow gems» to their treasure chest of festive ornaments.Delicate snowflake patterns, infinite in form and amazingly symmetrical, are among the most popular designs with today's needleworkers. The 60 motifs in this collection, based on photographs of actual snowflakes from the book Snow Crystals by W. A. Bentley and W. L. J. Humphreys, include simple shapes for beginners, as well as intricate and challenging motifs for the more advanced. Eye-catching patterns include star-shaped wheels, exotic flower-like webs, six-side jewels of intricately worked threads, and a kaleidoscope of lacy arms and elaborate fern-like compositions.Ideal for decorating Christmas trees, windows, and packages, or for framing, the snowflake patterns included here come with complete directions and finely detailed illustrations; and unlike nature's fragile, short-lived crystals, these inexpensive ornaments will be a joy to behold for years to come.