Kilim Designs in Needlepoint: Over 25 Projects Inspired by Traditional Kilim Patterns

Let me add my voice to the unanimous verdict that this is a great book of designs. I love oriental carpets of which kilims are a subset. This books is laid out quite well: the approximately 25 designs are divided into thirds: from Afghanistan, Anatolia (the Asian part of Turkey) and Persia (Iran). Each design is described based on the tribe or group famous for making it and a discussion of what the meanings are of the motifs or whole design. You don't have to make miniature carpets either: there are chair and bolster cushions, wall hangings, hats, footstools, tiebacks, purses and tote bags, and even a mirror frame. However, if you want to make miniature carpets, you will find each graph allows for great variation of project. It is truly excellent that for each grid the stitches are displayed in BOTH color and symbol; so it's quite easy to see and count out what you're stitching. All the fibers are given in Anchor but in the back is a conversion chart for Appleton and DMC Medici's crewel wools.I find the finishing techniques for the various projects truly excellent. I haven't seen this number of methods to make a hanging rug in any other books...and I own a lot of needlework books. In fact, I made the cover project of this book: Needlepoint Designs From Oriental Rugs and did it in such a way to show how versatile these designs are. I don't do needlepoint so I took 16-count aida and cross stitched the carpet using size 8 pearl cotton. Perfect coverage using only 1 strand--yay, easy threading of the needle! And it took only 5 different colors. In this books, the larger projects take at most 14 different colors. The stitch counts of two of the cushions are about 210 by 210 and the largest pattern is a wall hanging with 183 by 277 stitches. The little Khorasan bags are 67 stitches square and on 14-count canvas they will be less than 5 inches square. Of course you can make these on any count of fabric and use only small motifs or strips if you wanted. Endless possibilities for creativity.I sheepishly admit that while all the stitching is done, I haven't finished my rug described above. I have searched and searched and asked advice from fellow stitchers. But this book is showing me 3 different ways to do so so I can't wait to finish it and hang it proudly on my wall. I will make tasseled ends and hang it from one end...very easy methods to do this in a striking way. In addition to many books on oriental carpets, I also have these for stitching miniatures that I highly recommend: Oriental Carpets in Miniature: Charted Designs for Needlepoint or What You Will Needlework Designs for Miniature Projects: 64 Charts for Counted Cross-Stitch and Needlepoint (Dover Needlework Series) Making Miniature Oriental Rugs & Carpets Making Miniature Chinese Rugs & Carpets More Miniature Oriental Rugs & Carpets

Easy to read patterns and great historical background info too. Wish there were more like it!

This is one of the best books on needlepoint patterns. The patterns are large, full color and easy to read. The instructions are easy to follow and there is additional information in the last chapter about needlepoint. The designs based on Kilim carpets and rugs are stunning! If you have any interest in needlepoint rugs this book is must have for your library.

Gave me lots of design inspiration for knitting.

not what I was expecting

Dorothy Wood, (Ward Lock,London), 1998 <strong>out of print</strong>I didn't buy this book when it came out, since Kilims aren't my favorite type of rugs. I found it at the library a couple of weeks ago, and now I regret my initial decision. This is a lovely and creative book, well worth seeking out.The book has a short, but thorough introduction going over the history of Kilim (flat woven rugs from the same area as "Oriental" rugs), the people who make them, and the yarns and designs used. In this section there are many inspiring pictures of rugs and motifs.The projects in the book are divided into three chapters, sorted according to the area where the rugs originated. Each area has nine projects and, because the designs have many motifs and borders, you could uses sections of them to make many more. For each project there is a color picture of the finished item, a clear material list, stitching and finishing instructions, and large, color charts.Some of the projects are large, some small. There is a huge variety of them, something not often found in needlepoint books. Along with the expected pillows, there are wallhangings, footstools, tote bags, book covers, neck purses, and so much more.At the end of the book there are short chapters on materials, equipment, and techniques, wrapping up an excellent book.

Love this book, I had used this book from local library, so I new what I am getting. If you like to do needlepoint and like kilim designs, this is the book to have.

Great book!Full of interesting needlepoint patterns to try and useful instructions to follow.

A lovely book with a range of great pattern-based designs. Highly recommended. Anna