WEAVING DESIGNS FOR NEEDLEPOINT: An International Collection

Nicoletti has adapted the weavings of many cultures to needlepoint, and the results are fine indeed. As one might expect, many are derived from New World sources--colonial American, Native American, Guatemalan, Mexican. And there are, of course, old French and German works; also Latvian, Welsh, and Scots. But Nicoletti has really scoured museum collections for an international variety and come up with some genuine finds. Like a Byzantine carpet fragment from the fourth or fifth century, transformed into a sophisticated cushion. Or an old Japanese garment textile, also adapted into a cushion. And the Middle Eastern and African pieces are splendid, especially some Ashanti kente-cloth--a most appealing adaptation. A generous 63 projects included, plus the usual canvas-yarn-stitches information. Exciting.