Calligraphy Bible

Calligraphy Bible by Maryanne Grebstein

Is an in-depth look at the ancient art of calligraphy. It covers everything from the basic, like how to hold the pen, all the way down to the origins of calligraphy. Containing 10 different alphabets, there is a writing style for everybody! Attention to detail is one of the contributing factors to why this is the perfect how-to for any beginning calligrapher. This guide is complete with Alphabet workbook, Design & Color, and Decorative Detail sections so nothing is left out.

In the alphabet workbook, you learn how to write 10 different letterforms in capitals and lowercase. You learn what angle to hold the pen, the stroke order, and what it is used for. This section shows 8 different variations of each letterform. A few different alphabets in this book include Uncials, Gothic, Batarde, Italic, and many more! You also get 3 lines for practicing each letter.

In the Design & Color section, you choose what text you are going to work with and then decide an effective layout and find the correct color for your project. You get examples of the projects you can use each alphabet in, to aid you in picking the writing style best suited for yourself. The next thing you learn in this section is the basics of page layout and margins. Calligraphy is not only used for writing, it is an art. The concern of this section is the visual impact of letter shapes, and it allows you to explore the visual dynamics of letter placing without reference to language content.

Decorative Detail combines abstract alphabetical designs with the language form. You learn how to turn your project into real art. This section offers instruction on how to embellish your texts. There are step-by-step instructions for designing and gilding illuminated letters. You find out different ways to complete your pieces with embellishments to letters such as flourishes and ornamental elements. Don’t what to just have a bland paper with some fancy writing on it? That’s ok, because you learn how to border your paper in this section.

Not only does this book cover absolutely everything you need to know about Calligraphy, it is also very well written. The language used is easy to understand, and the layout is very well placed. I would recommend Calligraphy Bible to anyone wanting to learn Calligraphy, or anyone who just wants to create a unique project. This is an excellent book for anyone, beginners and advanced alike.

(written by Gavin Shaw, my grandson who knows a whole lot more about Calligraphy than I do!)

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Stitch dictionaries are a fun way to learn new-to-you knitting stitch patterns or to take a deep dive into a particular technique. Debbie Tomkies offers 100 cable stitch designs and thoughts on how to incorporate them into projects in her Cable Knitting Stitch Dictionary.

Each stitch pattern is shown in a large swatch photo and with written and charted instructions. Any special stitches are included on the page. The stitches are rated on a difficulty scale of 1 to 3, and the pattern notes also indicate how many extra stitches you should add to a project if you’re going to work this cable (since cables pull the fabric closer together you need to compensate for that) as well as how many stitches and rows are in the repeat if you want to design a project yourself.

The cables are arranged into sections: classic cables, combinations, all-over panels, creative cables, motifs and panels and cabled edges and borders.

It’s fun to flip through the designs to think about projects you can add a single cable or two to or make with an allover cabled design. Or you could make swatches of different cables and sew them together into a pillow cover or a throw.

At the back of the book there’s a section on general cable knitting techniques, reading charts, working swatches and avoiding errors (though it mentions working the wrong number of rows between cable turns, it doesn’t share how to count rows between cables to avoid this mistake).

It also talks about how to design your own cables, combine cables in a project, choose the right yarn and needles and determine how many more stitches you need to cast on when working cables instead of stockinette stitch. There’s also a glossary of symbols and abbreviations you may find in cable knitting and other patterns.

The book provides a good overview of things you can do with cables, as well as some fun things you might not have tried like infinity cables and horizontal cables. It’s a great book for a designer who likes to work with cables or a knitter who wants to play with different stitches in their projects.

About the book: 176 pages, paperback, 100 stitch patterns. Published 2024 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $26.99.

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