Description
Just In The Nick Of Time
by Carole Lake
One of Carole’s goals in this book is to help you see usual stitches in a new light. Another goal is to show you unusual stitches that you may not have considered. “It is not a comprehensive collection,” Carole says, “but it is a collection of stitches that I know you can use, because I use them myself.” Get such a talented, respected needlepoint teacher’s expansive view on stitch possibilities in a portable book? Yes!
From the preface: “The best part about this book is that you can turn it sideways or upside down and get more ideas for a single stitch. Look at a stitch that is diagrammed upper left to lower right. Turn your book a quarter turn, and, poof, a totally different look!”
- 76 pages
- black & white
- spiral binding
- 5.5″ x 8.5″
- published 2018
About the author
Carole Lake spent decades sharing her needlepoint passion, experience, and advice with stitchers, as a solo teacher and as a collaborator with Michael Boren. She passed away in 2024, but we are lucky to have her knowledge at our fingertips with her books.
Book review
By Jane/Chilly Hollow
What makes this book special and why you will want to buy it is laid out in the introduction. Let me quote Carole here–“Do you ever look at your painted canvas and wonder what on earth to put in a particular spot? Just in the nick of time, here is a book of suggestions.”
And that’s exactly what this book is, a response to your SOS when you get stuck on a section of that painted canvas driving you nuts.
Carole continues in the introduction, explaining that there is no index, just an alphabetical list of stitches she uses that she hopes will inspire you the next time you go blank on what stitch to use. She recommends you switch threads, colors and even look at the stitch diagrams with the book turned this way and that, looking for just the right angle, all ways to make the stitch uniquely yours and perfect for your canvas.
The book has 35 pages of stitches, usually one on each side of the paper, so you have nearly 70 stitches diagrammed for you inside. Plus there is an introduction and an explanation of tent stitch, continental stitch and basketweave.
The true value of the book is in the text under each stitch diagram. Carole talks about the best path to take to create the stitch, the threads she thinks work especially well for that particular stitch, explains where she has used it, and often reveals variations that will make the stitch extra special. I’m sure most of us have used Mosaic Stitch at one time or another. But Carole explains that stitching Mosaic Stitch in diagonal row is the easiest way to get an even tension and helps you figure out compensation. She talks about using Mosaic to shade and how it lends itself to architectural stitches. All great information, and this is just one stitch of many.
More from Jane about the book here.
