The Needlepoint Book by Jo Ippolito Christensen

Last week-end I received an advance preview copy of the new edition of Jo Ippolito Christensen’s The Needlepoint Book direct from the publisher, Simon & Schuster (simonand Schuster.com). I had received an email asking if I was interested a few months ago and I replied, “Yes.” (What needlepoint and book-o-holic wouldn’t want a book about needlepoint and the Black Bible at that.) I never thought much about it until last week in my mail box I received a package.

I had ordered an Easter gift for myself and thought Come to the Point Needlepoint Shop in California (www.cometothepoint.com) had packed my gift very well. Wasn’t I surprised when I opened the package and there in front of me was the new “Black Bible?” BTW, the other package came the next day and was well packaged too…it was a very Happy Easter to me!

Since this was a gift, I decided I should read it from cover to cover and really study the book. So for the last five days I have read every word in Parts One –Two and Three and compared every stitch in Part 4 to the previous edition. Although I found much of the material similar; to my mind the material is presented in a concise and logical manner.

Overall I liked the book. I, like Amy Bunger (she wrote the foreword), will not replace my other copies of “The Bible” but this new edition will share space with them in my needlework library. The book is printed on nice paper and the diagrams are clear and easy to read. There are 130 new color pictures and many of these are canvases we see people stitching today.

But the truth be told most of us are looking for stitches and this book has stitches, I counted 435 stitches (yes Bev, I counted them) which included 50 new stitches in the different categories (Straight, diagonal, box, cross, tied, eyelet, leaf, line, decorative, ribbon and open stitches). Yes, I compared this edition to the last…section by section, page by page.  There is a new section of ribbon stitches. I like that the chart at the beginning of the stitch sections (i.e. straight, diagonal …); in the new edition has them listed in alphabetical order. I have used these sections in the previous additions and found it a pain to look for a stitch name in the section.

And of course I compared the bibliography (135 books listed) with the last edition and with mine (I have over 1000 books in my library). There are 49 new additional books listed and I only have 16 of them not to mention the ones I don’t have from previous editions. I will be adding some wishes to my wish list soon.

Here were only two things I thought might hinder the purchase of this book:

One: the cost. It seems like a very expensive book, but I think I have spent more for a book on a specific technique.  With the purchase of the hardcover book you are going to receive a free download app for you tablet (either ios or android.) These apps was not available this week (I asked the publisher), but they are going to try and get me a version soon. If I get one I will add a post here about the app. I’m sure relative to what I paid for my other two copies at the time, this price is comparable. I have also heard that there will be an e-book, but I am old school and this would not appeal to me.

Two: I personally would have preferred that the book be a softcover edition…but I do think a hard back will wear better and last longer. My first book is a hard back and is in much better shape than my second book

Keep in mind, we all process things differently and this book may not be something you need in your library today. BUT if you are a new or beginning needlepointer I recommend you take a long look at this book. It will serve you well over the years, mine is still the first book I grab when looking for a specific stitch. And I know some shops that use the previous addition when choosing stitches for painted canvases.

I hope that this book and app will help educate the new needlepointers much in the same way the other two editions have helped many of us grow from novice stitchers to better stitchers. (I would like to say expert but I am no expert. I am just learning and having fun along the needlepoint path with you.) I do think there is a new and growing interest in needlepoint and I hope these new stitchers will learn the basics before they venture into breaking the rules. Please learn Basketweave first, it will serve you well. I always tell new stitchers it is the first step before the fun of stitching.

Thank you for stopping by to visit, I hope you find time to stitch today or do whatever helps you be creative!

ttfn…sue