Reviews

"Eyelets" by Dolores Frantz for Design Originals (March, 2002)

Although this book is called Eyelets, I think a more suitable title would be Paper Piecing with Eyelets. The book consists of 36 pages of paper piecing patterns that incorporate eyelets to produce designs with moveable parts.

All designs include pattern templates for each design, detailed materials lists and also tool lists. Some patterns include a scrapbook paper piecing set and also supplementary patterns for matching cards or other elements (for example the first pattern is for a teddy bear for a baby page, as well as the teddy bear, there is a patterns for a matching baby card and envelope).

The book is also divided into various sub-sections determined by techique:

• Jumping Jacks (pull a string and parts of the design move up and down). These patterns are:
  • Halloween bat
  • Monkey in palm tree
  • Gingerbread man
  • Santa
  • Angel
• Movable Kids (elements of kids move, eg arm, leg, bike etc):
  • See-saw kids
  • Bike and scooter
  • Swing in tree
  • Witch on broom
• Spinner Wheel (circle with elements at top and bottom, turn wheel to reveal):
  • Counting Sheep
  • Train
  • Bee-hive
  • Frogs on lily pad
  • Sunny day
• Poseable Shapes (allows you to arrange angles etc):
  • Clock
  • Scissors
  • Skeleton
  • Scarecrow
  • Turkey
  • Chicken
  • Teddy on rocking horse
  • Pinwheel
  • Snowman
  • Noah's Ark
• Swinger Flaps (shapes that open to reveal a hidden picture):
  • Cowboy boot
  • Flowers
  • Christmas baubles

While several of the patterns have an American slant, I think that there are enough patterns in this book that anyone could get value from it.

The patterns are simple and easy to construct. Each new technique is described in text with accompanying step by step photos and also helpful tips are given when needed.

Each design also comes with an accompanying layout showing how the pattern looks in a completed page. So you get some great layout ideas as well as the patterns in the book.

If you are looking for a book on how to use eyelets, I don't think this is for you. While the book does demonstrate a new technique, ie using eyelets are hinges, at heart the book is really for paper piecers.

ISBN: 1-57421-463-2

Rating: 9/10

Details: "Eyelets" by Dolores Frantz for Design Originals (2002)

Price: approx $30