Where to Start with Dan Alfuth
Dan Alfuth is a stained glass artist with over 30 years of experience in the craft. He learned by watching a master glass artist work and has concentrated the knowledge from decades of hands-on practice into his writing. His primary interest lies in traditional-style lamp making, and he works with colored glass alongside his wife and daughters. Alfuth is also the author of Twelve Fans of Tiffany, a pattern book focused on Tiffany-style lamp designs. His teaching style is direct and photo-driven, reflecting the apprenticeship approach through which he learned the craft himself.
Start here
Stained Glass for the Beginner
Dan Alfuth · 128 pages · 2003 · Easy
Themes: stained glass basics, scoring and cutting, grinding, soldering, traditional lamp making, full-size patterns
A concise, photo-rich introduction to stained glass from a craftsman who learned by apprenticeship. Alfuth distills 30 years of experience into 128 pages, using 400 full-color photographs and full-size patterns to guide beginners from their first glass cut to finished projects.
Why Start Here
Alfuth’s teaching mirrors the way he learned: by watching and doing. The 400 photographs show exactly what each step should look like, and the full-size patterns let you start cutting glass immediately without scaling or resizing. The book moves quickly from tool basics to hands-on technique, guiding you through three complete projects that build your confidence progressively.
There is no filler here. Alfuth tells you what tools to buy, how to use them safely, and then puts glass in your hands. If you prefer learning by doing over reading lengthy explanations, this directness is a real advantage.
What to Expect
At 128 pages, this is the most concise of the major stained glass beginner books. Alfuth’s background in traditional lamp making gives the book a slightly different angle than guides that focus primarily on flat panel work. Published in 2003, the techniques are fully current.