Fables and Fairy Tales to Cross-stitch is a nicely-produced book of retro themed patterns. Each pattern includes a stitched example and a variety of finishing techniques are demonstrated. Patterns are clearly marked and easy to follow. The designs are stitched with DMC threads, which is convenient and known to most cross-stitchers. Someone decorating a nursery or a crafty grandparent would find this book very useful.

Fables & Fairy Tales to Cross Stitch by Véronique Enginger is a lovely collection of fairy tale themed projects with stitching charts and finishing suggestions. It's 144 pages from Schiffer Publishing and due to release 28th March, 2018.

There are several things I really liked about this volume. The charts are very well reproduced, crystal clear and have both symbols and color shading on them. I find that style of chart much easier on my eyes when stitching for long periods of time. The overall quality of the designs is very high, on a first look through this collection, I found quite a number which I intend to stitch.

I also really liked that this collection (and Retro Cross Stitch by the same author, which I will review soon), does more than just present the charts, but also includes the patterns for the soft furnishings and pillows and other projects along with clear finishing instructions.

Additionally, the text is charmingly retro and whimsical. The entire collection has a very European flair and of the included fairy tales and rhymes, many will be new to Americans, less so to Europeans.

The book includes a wide variety of sizes and complexities in the charts, from tiny spot motifs to full pillow sized vignettes. Many of the pieces coordinate also, so making up a layette isn't a problem.

Available in hardcover format 28th March, 2018. Lovely pieces, well written instructions.

Four and a half stars

A beautiful book with sweet cross stitch patterns based on fables and fairy tales. I love that each pattern had a nice picture of the completed project and then a clear and easy to follow pattern with the color key on the same page. This is especially handy for an ebook so you don't have to search for the right info or flip back and forth on your phone, tablet or computer.

I am really looking forward to trying some of these patterns!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Fables & Fairy Tales to Cross Stitch is a wonderful selection of cross stitch patterns and a few projects to finish them out into aprons, wall hangings and bags. The majority seem small sized without complicated detailing and a simple color selection. Full Disclosure: I was allowed to read a copy of this book for free as a member of NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not influenced to give a positive review.

These are interesting, old-world style designs. I can definitely see a lot of potential for some interesting craft projects. The actual patterns were not to my particular taste, but that is definitely not a reflection of the quality of the patterns themselves. This is definitely something to recommend for anyone interested in French history, and some of the designs would be fantastic additions to children's or writers rooms.

If you're into real classic stuff for kids, this is for you! This wasn't really my style, but it's got a very cute old school farm vibe going on, so if you're into that, you'll love this.

The book is divided into three chapters: Fables, Fairy-Tales and French Nursery Rhymes, every one offering between 10 and 20 cross-stitch patterns inspired by them. Each comes with a photo of the finished cross-stitch. Most of those are large pictures (ca. 120*130 stitches) illustrating a scene from the story and it would be hard to pick out a small part of it to stitch it as a seperate picture. But a few are more a collection of smaller images, where it would be easy to take out one to e.g. decorate a card (and the fairy tale chapter even includes a set of small patterns for generic fairy tale images like dragons and witches).

The book also offers instructions for projects that can be made out of the finished cross-stitches: a pillow, a sleeping bag for stuffed animals, a book-cover, an apron and much more. The instructions call for one specific pattern for each item but since most of those are for the whole images that are all of similar size, nobody stops you from replacing The Princess on the Pea with Snow White on the pillow.

Now the pattern themselves are...very very cutesy. I don't think I will make any of the large pictures for myself but stick to decorating smaller items like birthday-cards with butterflies or crowns. I'm not saying that I was expecting a dark and subverted interpretation of fairy tales. But it is possible to illustrate those stories and stay true to them without drowning everything in pastels.

You can almost see sugar melting looking at this book. Sweet from the first page to the last. Wonderful stitching for nurseries and bedrooms. Many ideas to take from the nursery to the kitchen and other areas too. Wonderful illustrations and pictures for eye candy. Very enjoyable.

This is such a fabulous book, I really found it so adorable, retro with a modern application. The cross stitch patterns are easy to follow and you can make the whole pieces or separate out small parts to make a quicker item.
There are fables and fairy tales depicted very tastefully, with a final chapter on French nursery rhymes.
I really love them all, every page I turned it became my favourite until I just decided that I could pick which one I like best.

I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in return for an honest review.

I loved the color schemes in this book as well as the multiple suggestions for practical uses of the finished cross-stitch pieces. The “French Fairy Tale” section is ideal for creating a themed room or area. The cross-stitch patterns also appear to be perfectly made to use not only the full-page scenes but to easily take parts of the design to use for other projects and the two-color designs are also great for filet crochet projects.

Just as with the author's Retro Cross Stitch, this book gives excellent and adorable designs to stitch. I appreciated the inclusion of the patterns for the various projects, and as a French teacher I particularly loved seeing the inclusion of French nursery rhymes! I can't wait to stitch up a project for my son or my classroom. The art is lovely, but the patterns look uncomplicated.

I received this e-book ARC through Net Galley from Schiffer Publishing to review.
http://www.schifferbooks.com/fables-fairy-tales-to-cross-stitch-french-charm-for-your-stitchwork-6384.html

The book is broken up into three main sections: Fables, Fairy Tales and French Nursery Rhymes. An American audience will be most familiar with the Fables and Fairy Tales sections motifs. Perusing the French Nursery Rhymes section might not evoke personal childhood memories for English speakers, and the words in the cross-stitch patterns are in French, but the designs are lovely and perfect for cross-stitch gifts for children.

The Aesop's Fable "City Mouse and the Country Mouse" motif made me laugh, as the mice are sharing what appears to be red wine. Definitely a French-bent on that one:-)

Each cross-stitch design is beautifully staged with a color-photograph and comes with an accompanying chart complete with the expected DMC floss legend.

Miniature monochrome motifs embedded in each of the larger designs in the Fables section are small enough to complete in an hour and would make useful bookmarks, gift tags, etc.

In addition to the cross-stitch designs, the book also has directions and patterns for crafts in which to use the completed cross-stitch. These crafts would be perfect for a nursery, children's bedroom/playroom/classroom or as gifts.
I definitely want to try several of these designs, especially the Pierrot mobile using the "Au clair de la lune" chart.

I would classify the cross-stitch patterns as beginner/intermediate levels and the sewing skills for the craft as an intermediate level. The colors used are classics - not too bold and come off as dreamy to me - perfect for the subject matter and audience.

I am newbie to cross stitch and was so excited to see this book was available for review on Netgallery. This book is full of ideas and beautiful patterns and ideas. Definitely something to add to your collection if you love fairytales.

I am a fairly new cross stitcher, and am always looking for new additions to my collection, as well as patterns and styles I can recommend to others. The style of this artist was different from anything I've seen. The colors are pretty muted and focus on soft pastels, without any harsh lines or dark, bright colors. I found the patterns to be very soothing, and imagine they would be very relaxing to stitch. I appreciated that the book features a brief intro to cross stitching at the back, which means that beginners and seasoned stitchers alike would enjoy this collection of fairy tales and french fables.

This book is filled with such charming designs, I've already made a start on the Beauty and the Beast chart. I'm also very pleased that the charts use DMC thread which is widely available.

This cross stitch book is enchanting, it has a great mixture of fairytales and fables which is lovely. There are plenty of patterns to choose from and I think the photographs throughout the book showing alternative ideas to turn your cross stitch into something more is just beautiful. If you love cross stitch, fairytales and fables then you really will love this book.

Paging through this book I found countless ideas that I would love to stitch. The book is beautifully presented The colour suggestions are tasteful and the presentation artistic. A worthy addition to any stitchers collection

Loved this book! Great patterns and I loved that there was a little bit of background of the story to go with for each. My kids will love the things that I can make with these! Perfect for a mother or grandmother. Patterns are simple and book does have basic stitching instructions and craft ideas/patterns at the end. A very fun set of projects! My biggest problem was which pattern to create first.

This book has some really lovely images that you can cross stitch. The patterns were clear and easy to follow, there is a good split between fairy tales and fables too which I thought was great. There are ideas about what you can make with the finished cross stitches too which is a nice touch and there are templates at the very end of the book for this purpose.

A beautiful book full of lovely cross stitch patterns. Would make a wonderful gift but not ideal for a novice (at least not without a beginners book which has more detailed instructions).