Crafting books

Things are finally getting a bit more organised following our move and it felt great to today get all my craft books in one place on some new (to me) shelves in my study. Over the last few years I've been picking up various books either when I've seen them in sales, or in charity or secondhand book shops. Getting them altogether made me realise what a collection I've been building up covering knitting, crochet, embroidery, dress making and patchwork.

Although new books are always lovely and very inspirational, there's something about finding ones secondhand that give me a real thrill. Knowing that other people have learnt from them over the years and probably cherished them into their old age as well. My recent trip to Barter Books provided me with some such treasure. 

 

I first heard of Mary Thomas when I joined my mum at an Embroiders' Guild event last year. Someone was talking about how it's a shame that books like her's are so difficult to get hold of these days as they were fantastic at teaching people all the embroidery basics. As soon as I saw Mary's name on the shelf in the craft section I therefore jumped on these two volumes. 

Mary Thomas's Embroidery Book covers all the different embroidery types in detail, including some of the history and examples of its use. Some instructions are included, but it often references out to the second book in the pair: Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches
or as it seems to be commonly known, The Dictionary. This really does as it says on the cover, all stitches, in alphabetical order are included, with instructions and diagrams to have a go yourself. Looking at the Embroidery Book it seems that it was first published in 1936, with the Dictionary preceding it by a couple of years. My copies are 1980s re-issues and looking on Amazon I believe that later versions have been released, although not within the last 10 years or so. 

 

Whilst Mary Thomas concentrated on embroidery in her books, Agnes M. Miall was much broader in her writings. Complete Needlecraft, originally published in 1943, covers a wider remit of all needle based crafts. 

 

It's lovely to see all of these things covered in one book, and although the styles of some of projects in the gift-making section had me laughing out loud. I think some of my friends and family would thing I'd totally lost the plot if I turned up with something made following these instructions – shampoo cape anyone? How times change!