Rare Needlework Books

What Makes a Rare Needlepoint Book?

There are many rare needlepoint books and booklets these days because so many needlepoint patterns were not built to last. Like other craft books, needlepoint books were sometimes more like pamphlets with just a couple of projects in them.

These books might be disposed of rapidly after a project was finished, especially if the cover ripped off, which happened quite frequently.

The needlepoint books of this sort that are still around are quite rare, but that doesn't mean they are valuable. To be a good monetary investment, a rare needlepoint book needs to be sought after as well as rare.

Of course there are also real needlepoint books that are both rare and valuable, from the crafter's standpoint as well as the collector's.

Finding Rare Needlepoint Books

There are many different places you can look for rare needlepoint books, but you might not be able to determine how rare a book is until you can search for that particular title online and see how many other people are selling it (or looking for it).

Here are some places you'll want to check out in your quest for rare needlepoint books:

• Used bookstores
• Online used bookstores
• Antique stores
• eBay
• Garage sales and estate sales
• Your local library's sale room
• Other organizations' book sales

A lot of people who aren't interested in needlepoint or other crafts end up inheriting a relative's stash of books and then want to get rid of it all. These books sell for low prices just to get rid of them. That's one reason eBay is such a great option, because you can often find large lots of needlepoint books (some may be rare, some not) for very low prices.

Specialized Needlework Book Searches

Some websites and search engines specialize in out-of-print and rare needlework and craft books, and these are also a great place to hunt, especially if you love to browse. Here are some sites worth checking out:

• Needlework Books has a huge number of categories to browse leading to out-of-print books and magazines. Not all categories have entries at any given time.
• UK Book World has a huge compilation of used and rare needlepoint books from sellers across that country.
• Joslin Hall has an excellent collection of rare needlepoint books, and you'll pay the price for rarity as well.
• Fiber Images has out of print, but not really rare, needlepoint and craft books.
• Broder's Rare and Used is a Connecticut bookstore with a good listing of hobby books on its website. The needlework books are mixed in with other crafts.

Caring for Needlework Books

Because most needlework books were used by their original owners, it is rare to find these books in pristine shape. As mentioned above, pattern books often have covers that are torn or missing, and crafters using patterns often mark up the pages.

Sometimes you will find books in good condition, and these generally are worth the higher price you will pay for them. If you are collecting out of a love for the craft more than an interest in monetary gain, you'll probably love those books that look like they have been used even more than you would the rare pristine ones that look like they belonged to someone who never stitched.

To keep books from deteriorating further, it's a good idea to store small booklets in plastic sleeves (like you would do with comic books) and keep them away from light and humidity. Needlepoint books should be cared for like any other rare book—stored in a place of consistent humidity and handled with care.