This image was scanned from my private collection
TABLE OF CONTENTS IN GERMAN
This image was scanned from my private collection
Title: Ich Kann Handarbeiten(I Can Handwork)
Author/Designer: Mizi Donner, Carl Schnebel
Format/Publication Date: TPB:1913
Publisher: Ullstein, Berlin, Germany
Language: German
Page Count: 462
Book Dimensions(ht. x w.): 9 1/4" x 6 1/2"
ISBN: None
SUMMARY- This book is a compendium of needlearts, with lush detailed illustrations throughout. Unfortunately, during the time period this was first printed, the publishers in Germany employed a very ornate font that is difficult to read. I spent a couple of hours trying to include the Table of Contents, but I was giving myself a headache trying to decipher the script. A friend of mine brought this particular edition back with her from a trip to Germany and I fell in love with the cover. I finally managed to find another copy in good condition for the Bibliography Project. It was so worth it. I also have the 1982 reprint released under the title Handarbeiten Wie Zu Grobmutters Zeiten(Handwork As to Grandmother Times). You can see the newer cover to the left under the original cover. I bought it hoping when they reprinted it, they would reset it in a more accessible font, but no such luck.
Here is a list of the topics it covers that I can recognize:
1) Crochet, with a nice illustrated tutorial
2) Guipure- which looks like Irish Crochet and Netting had a love child
3) Knitting, with a nice illustrated tutorial
4) Knitted Lace
5) Macramé
6) Netting, with a nice illustrated tutorial
7) Darning over netting?
8) Tatting!
9) Bobbin Lace
10) Embroidery
11) Rugmaking
12) Cutwork
13) Darning
There is a whole lot of detailed information packed into the pages of this book, with beautifully done illustrations on nearly every page. In the tatting chapter, the two most common motifs she likes to include are onion rings and cloverleaves - with onion rings being the more prevalent by a wide margin. Her patterns are lovely and would be worthwhile to add to a collection - but if you're mainly a tatter, I'd go with Helen A. Chesno's German Tatting Patterns circa 1910. She gives you all the illustrations, but translates the ornate German script into a very readable English text. I think she did all of us a great service with this faithful translation. I can't imagine it was all that easy for her either, despite her comfort with the original language.