This review appeared on TanglePatterns.com by Linda Farmer

Good News! Sandy Bartholomew’s teeny-tiny AlphaTangle – A Totally Tangled Alphabet has just been republished by Suzanne McNeill’s Design Originals publishing company, and it’s now available for purchase. It’s a fun “new and improved, revised and updated” edition.

There are several updates to the new edition, starting with its slightly larger physical dimensions, 4 5/8 x 5 1/2-inches, and a newly designed cover.

Sandy has added a list of basic supplies and simple steps for getting started, along with a few drawing tips and 6 pattern mini-how-to’s: Nightsbridge, Keeko, Pearlz, Printemps, Hollibaugh and Ennies.

The rest of the charmingly tangled alphabet content is identical to Sandy’s original self-published first edition, with 77 of the original 102 official Zentangle® patterns. (See my review of the first edition here for more details.)

It’s no secret that I have a “thing” about people using correct terminology about Zentangle®. So I really like that Sandy points out some tangle lingo in her effort to help Zentangle Zealots keep their terms straight:

TIP: Zentangle is a noun, not a verb.

Don’t say “I Zentangled my bathroom floor.”

Say “I tangled my bathroom floor.”

Other things to say:

“I need to create a Zentangle, right now!”

“Sorry, I didn’t hear you. I was busy tangling.”

If you’re looking for tangle pattern drawing instructions, AlphaTangle isn’t it. (TanglePatterns.com is!)

But this is one book that every fan should have in their library because it illustrates many official Zentangle® patterns in a very delightful way. And it’s perfect for tucking in a pocket or bag to carry around with you for inspiration when you “Need to create a Zentangle, right now!”

This review appeared on Sandra Strait's blog, Life Imitates Doodles

Original                       Revised
Pages: 62                     Pages: 68
Size: 4" x 4"                  Size: 4.5" x 5.5"
Cover Color: Black        Cover Color: Red
No instruction               Instruction: Tools--All You Really Need
                                     Instruction: The Basic Steps
                                     Steps are shown for: Printemps, Hollibaugh, Ennies

Alphatangle isn't meant to be a teaching book. It's a handy-dandy reference that shows beautiful examples of many patterns, but not the steps to creating them.  It does not show how to draw the patterns.  I emphasize this, because it's a delightful book, but people can be disappointed if they are expecting something different.

The original version is slightly more portable because of its smaller size.  The
revised version has four pages of instruction for beginners. 

Not all of the tangles in the book are official tangles, and not all of the official tangles are shown, but this is the largest collection of them to be found (unless you take the CZT training).  If you want a small reference, easily carried, then this is the book for you.

I carry the original version of Alphatangle with me all the time, and it has started to fall apart (I've lost the opening page!), so it was a no-brainer for me to buy this revised version.  Amazon says they still have 1 new of the Original available, but I don't believe it's available elsewhere unless someone is selling it on ebay.