Book review and giveaway: Mastering Herringbone Stitch

Mastering Herringbone Stitch
By Melinda Barta
Interweave/F+W Media; $18.49

Did you know that herringbone stitch is the second most popular beadweaving technique?  I didn't either, but according to Melinda Barta, editor of Beadwork Magazine, and author of the new Interweave book Mastering Herringbone Stitch, it is!  After looking through this volume, I can see why.

Melinda has included a really introductory section in case you are brand new to beadweaving.  The meat of the books is arranged by increasing complexity, first covering flat herringbone, and then moving on through circular, tubular, and spiral variations.  The projects are wonderful, from the simplest beginner flat band bracelet to the most complicated twisting delight.  Seven beadweaving superstars join Melinda in contributing projects.  And you'll really like this...the project resources are listed in the back.  Yay!

My favorite project is Jill Wiseman's "Rolling in the Deep" bracelet, shown above.  Aren't they gorgeous?  I decided that I wanted to try at least one little sample, just to make sure that the instructions were as easy to follow as I thought they looked.  Yup, they are very straightforward.  I stitched up the little double helix sample shown below in size 11/0 and 8/0 seed beads in absolutely no time.

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!! 

Would you like to win a free copy of this book? Here's what you need to do...please read this carefully. Leave me a comment here and include your email address. If I don't see your email address, I won't be able to contact you. No contact, no win, and I simply have to go on to the next person. You are welcome to spell it out if you'd prefer, for example, cyndi at mazeltovjewelry dot com. If you tweet or post on Facebook or other social spots about the contest, you can leave a second comment and be entered twice!Deadline: March 26, 2014  




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