The Lazy Wench Booklist

The Lazy Wench and her stitching companions have favorite reference texts for different styles of stitching. Here's an always growing list of our favorite books to learn new skills or improve old ones. I freely admit that some of these are out of print and difficult to find. Wenches may want to peek at the terminology section of Lazywench to sort out what the Lazy Wench is referring to.

Hardanger
There's one author we consistently use as a reference, again and again. Janice Love. Start with "Hardanger Basics and Beyond", then go get "Fundamentals Made Fancy" if you want to go further. With these two books on your reference shelf, you have most of what you'll find in Hardanger covered.

Lacis
Darleen O'Steen's "The Proper Stitch" has a very good section on Lacis. Darleen calls it drawn thread work. Carolyn Ambuter also covers this in "The Open Canvas" and calls it filet.

Ruskin
"Ruskin Lace & Linen Work" by Elizabeth Prickett has saved this Wench from a disaster. I was trying to follow directions included in a chart and they just were not working out right. I had to rechart the pattern to allow a more stable edge for the cutwork, but I didn't end up with a fragile finished piece that fell apart on framing, as other Wenches did following the original chart. There is a second edition available, if you find either, you have a good reference. The second edition has improved graphics.

Mountmellick
Jane Houston-Almqvist researched this Irish embroidery and produced "Mountmellick Work; Irish White Embroidery" about it. It's an excellent idea book for improving on stitches chosen for you in crewel kits.

Casalguidi
Effie Mitrofanis wrote "Casalguidi Style Linen Embroidery" about this Italian heavily textured embroidery style. It's easier to do than it looks.

Schwalm
Renate Fernau wrote "Schwalm Whitework; the Exquisite Regional Embroidery of Germany". I think of Schwalm as Hardanger with curves, but it is a lot more than that.

Counted Thread
There are many authors in this category. The Lazy Wench uses Darleen O'Steen's "The Proper Stitch" for a starting point again and again. I'll then check out Eileen Bennett's "A Notebook of Sampler Stitches" and "A Notebook of Sampler Stitches Book Two". If what I need isn't in there, I'll go to Marion Nichols' "Encyclopedia of Embroidery Stitches, Including Crewel." After that, it's open season on the bookshelf.

Canvaswork
If you've read through the site, you know exactly what the Lazy Wench means. Jo Ippolito Christensen has the book the Wenches, turn to most frequently. Called "The Needlepoint Book" and available in original and revised get either or both. If you want to learn what a Rhodes Half Drop is, this is the place to look. Carolyn Ambuter covers what Jo doesn't. Carolyn's book is called "The Open Canvas" and you can use Carolyn's reference for many stitches you didn't think you could put on canvas.

Counted Cross
If you need a reference book for only this, you aren't going to find a decent one. Use Marion Scoular's or Darleen O'Steen's references.

Blackwork
Marion Scoular wrote "Why Call it Blackwork?" and though it is just a 36 page booklet, you can stitch for years and never need another Blackwork how-to book. For Blackwork patterns, Wenches adore "The New Carolingian Modelbook" by Ianthe d' Averoigne, also known as Kim Brody Salazar.

Hemstitch
It's complicated, time consuming to do correctly and finishes pieces incredibly well. This leaflet is 9 pages of the most detailed, clear directions on this technique. Marion Scoular wrote "Hemstitching" and Lazy Wenches the world over sighed with relief. Your stitch reference collection is incomplete without it.

Tips
There are books full of helpful hints and tips written by people who know what they are talking about. These tips are useful. Start with Marion Scoular's "Advice is for listening to, not necessarily taking!" and then look for "Needlework Tips for the Novice and Expert" by Sandy Rodgers. Once you have read through both, you'll have a sound understanding of the hinky little details that make quality needlework out of some fibers and fabric. The Lazy Wench heard of a book by Shay Pendray called "Stitching Toward Perfection." My copy has arrived and I like it!

Home

Travel

Essays

Instruction

SCA

Wheels