Product Description

English artist and muralist Graham Rust exchanges his brush for a needle to create more than 20 beautiful needlework patterns adapted from his popular watercolors. Each of the projects is shown in clear, full-color charts. 140 illustrations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #514255 in Books
• Published on: 1998-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 135 pages

Amazon.com Review
A superb draftsman with an exquisite eye for detail, Graham Rust creates needlepoint designs that are true works of art. Terrific color photos and full-color charts present 17 projects, including a monkey cushion, a cheetah footstool, a sunflower chair, a seashell rug, a Chinese vases pillow, and a mouse-in-a-teapot tea cozy. Although not meant for the beginner, these designs are so clearly presented that most readers shouldn't require more than intermediate skill and a certain degree of patience. Rust's talent as a watercolorist is manifest on every page, making this book not only a practical guide but a visual treat as well. --Amy Handy

From Library Journal
A well-known British painter of murals, Rust (The Painted House, Knopf, 1988) uses adaptations of his own watercolors in this first venture into needlepoint design. His designs of plants and animals with architectural elements show the painter's touch, having complex shading and balanced composition. The projects have large, full-color charts keyed to DMC Anchor or Appleton yarns, plus a reproduction of the original and a photograph of the finished piece. There is a general section on working and finishing. For arts and crafts collections.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Beautiful needlepoint designs!
This is one of the best needlepoint books I have seen in ages. The designs are fresh and elegant, and the colors vibrant. I particularly love the seashell designs which I plan to use for seat covers.

All the patterns are both color- and symbol-coded which make it easy to identify color tones without one getting cross-eyed. For the beginner or serious needlepoint practitioner, this is a must-have book in your library. I can't wait to get Mr. Rust's next needlepoint book!

Think twice before buying this one
This books shows that just because an artist is successful in one genre, it doesn't mean that his designs will work as needlepoint. I think nearly all of the designs in this book are ghastly. The pug dog looks as if it has a goitre. The stone face has a nose that looks like male genitals.

The illustrations show that Rust's watercolours are very effective. They just don't transfer happily to needlepoint. If you happen to like the designs, then fine, but I suggest that no one should buy this book without having a close look at the contents.

Excellent!
Please do not mind the French bulldog on the cover not being given as a pattern inside. Graham Rust explains the difference between a regular watercolor and interpretation for needlepoint by using this work as an example, which was embroidered from his watercolor, by two experts in five months, using 95 colors.

There is a lot of petit-point in the book. This necessitates the use of crewel wool, which I am unable to find in my country.

The attention given to the implementation side is truly excellent. Suggestions are given for thread thickness, which I have not found in other books. The charts are color and symbol coded which makes a huge difference in usability and are large enough for easy following.

Thread brands used are Appleton, Anchor and DMC and an alternative -- usually into DMC for each chart is given at the back. This is truly appreciated.

Information on various brands' thread thickness and skein lengths can be found at the back of the book, again, a detail not often found.

Aside from the excellent designs, this level of implementation specific information makes this book a source of projects that *can* be implemented with ease.