Darlene O'Steen

Practically a "bible" if you do any counted thread work. I wore out both of the older editions so was delighted when this was reprinted in 2012. One of few books that illustrate clearly both front and back side (the original edition in 1994 one if the few that actually diagrammed anything actually so quickly became an "industry" standard). Not just diagrams but clear explanations on some of the order or methods in which the stitch is "properly" done.

Boy, I managed to avoid explanation marks but wound up with a lot of quotation marks. The one minor complaint about this edition is that I did find the 2006 release in hardcover spiralbound format sturdier and I did like the way that one lay flat when opened.

My top, go-to stitch reference is always this book. [b:Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Needlework|1562189|Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Needlework (Leisure Arts #15861)|Donna Kooler|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347627733s/1562189.jpg|1554741] follows a close second then an internet search for "animated stitches" or "animated stitch diagrams" finds a few more favorites — particularly for knotwork and cutwork.… (mehr)