Best of
Crafts

2015

Drawing and Painting Beautiful Faces: A Mixed-Media Portrait Workshop


Jane Davenport - 2015
    Author Jane Davenport is a beloved artist and international workshop instructor known by her thousands of students and fans for her over-the-top, enthusiastic, happy, and encouraging style. In Drawing and Painting Beautiful Faces, Davenport guides you, step by step, through the foundations of drawing a face, developing successful features, creating skin tones, playing with bright colors, shading, highlighting, and much more as you learn to create amazing mixed-media portraits.With this elegantly designed guidebook, you will quickly master a variety of techniques in a variety ofmediums, including:PencilMarkerPenWatercolorAcrylic paintInkPastelEphemeraDrawing and Painting Beautiful Faces will have you dancing your way through the exercises. In no time at all, you will have a selection of beautifully faced portraits ready to view, display, or even sell to a fashion designer.

Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible: 260 Exquisite Patterns by Hitomi Shida


Hitomi Shida - 2015
    This is the perfect book for the experienced knitter who is looking for new stitches that yield spectacular results! This Japanese knitting book features a wide range of rewarding and intricate stitches including:cablespopcorn stitchestwisted stitchesedgingsand many more…A set of detailed, step-by-step diagrams show you how to execute all the basic stitches. Instructions and diagrams for a series of small projects offer practice working with large patterns, lacy patterns, pattern arrangement and round yokes among other things. The knitting projects include:A classic hat made using large patternsAn elegant scarf in lacy patternsThe ever-popular fingerless mittensThick socks that can be made using various patternsA feminine collar using round stitchingAnd much more!This Japanese stitch dictionary represents a whole new adventure for knitters and is sure to become a valued reference for experienced knitters.

Inventive Weaving on a Little Loom: Discover the Full Potential of the Rigid-Heddle Loom, for Beginners and Beyond


Syne Mitchell - 2015
    Begin by exploring a variety of weave structures, including finger-manipulated laces, tapestry, and color play with stripes, plaids, and multicolor yarns. Then move on to more complex designs and irresistible projects, from pillows and curtains to bags, shawls, and even jewelry. Explore warp-face patterning, weft-pile weaving, weaving with fine threads, woven shibori, shadow weave, and the textural effects you can create with different yarns and with wire and conductive thread. Everything you need to know is here, with fully illustrated step-by-step instructions to ensure success.

All Points Patchwork: English Paper Piecing beyond the Hexagon for Quilts & Small Projects


Diane Gilleland - 2015
    Using paper templates to guide your pattern, you can expertly fit your quilting shapes together before you even start sewing. All Points Patchwork takes you far beyond traditional hexagons and accommodates triangles, diamonds, octagons, and even curved shapes. Simple instructions for decorating clothing, bedding, and home decor open up astounding possibilities for quilters of all levels.

The Complete Book of Chalk Lettering: Create and Develop Your Own Style - INCLUDES 3 BUILT-IN CHALKBOARDS


Valerie McKeehan - 2015
    Valerie McKeehan, an Etsy standout, teaches us everything we need to know to create gorgeous hand-drawn chalk designs. In over 60 lessons, learn the ABCs of lettering (literally) and basic styles: serif, sans serif, and script. Next, how to lay out a design, combine various styles into one cohesive piece, and add shadows and dimension. Master more advanced letter styles, from faceted to ribbon to “vintage circus.” Use banners, borders, flourishes. And finally, 12 projects to show off your newfound skills, including a Winter Wonderland Snow Globe; a smartphone-themed birthday card to text friends and family; a one-of-a-kind party invitation to create, photograph, and mail; and a bake sale sign guaranteed to put everyone who sees it in the mood for a cupcake! The book is also a practice space, with three foldout “chalkboards”—the inside cover and foldout back cover are lined with blackboard paper.

Subversive Cross Stitch: 50 F*cking Clever Designs for Your Sassy Side


Julie Jackson - 2015
    With alphabet charts and easy-to-follow instructions for every design,  Subversive Cross Stitch: 50 F*cking Clever Designs For Your Sassy Side  includes everything you need to get your craft on from the original instigator of subversive stitching.

Custom Socks: Knit to Fit Your Feet


Kate Atherley - 2015
    She calls on her years of experience as Knitty's Managing Technical Editor, where she has edited hundreds of sock patterns, to share this information in a way that is easy to understand with patterns that inspire.So go ahead and treat yourself to these 15 original sock patterns that are easily customizable and work with any needle configuration. Your feet will thank you!

The Flower Hunter's Cottage


De-ann Black - 2015
    Story:Mairead is a botanical artist, gardener and quilter. She leases the flower hunter's cottage in the Scottish Highlands. She plans to get away from the city and finish the floral artwork for her new book along with her quilt designs.As part of the lease agreement she has to take care of the traditional cottage garden while the owner, the flower hunter, is away working abroad, searching for a new species of flower.Mairead arrives at the cottage in January. After settling in, she meets handsome flower grower, Tavion, and Ethel a knitter who spins and dyes her own yarn. While making new friends, Mairead is keen to get on with her artwork and quilting - and get the garden ready for the spring and summer. Romance isn't on her to-do list, but when it comes to love, nothing goes according to plan.The Flower Hunter's Cottage is filled with flowers, artwork, knitting, quilting, baking cakes, gardening and romance.Note:Franklin and Daisy, characters from one of De-ann's other romance books - The Cure For Love, are mentioned in The Flower Hunter's Cottage. The Cure For Love is set in Cornwall and London.

The Modern Natural Dyer: A Comprehensive Guide to Dyeing Silk, Wool, Linen and Cotton at Home


Kristine Vejar - 2015
    Now, in The Modern Natural Dyer, expert Kristine Vejar shares the most user-friendly techniques for dyeing yarn, fabric, and finished goods at home with foraged and garden-raised dyestuffs as well as with convenient natural dye extracts. Demystifying the "magic," Vejar explains in explicit, easy-to-follow detail how to produce consistent, long-lasting color. With stunning photography of the dyes themselves, the dyeing process, and 20 projects for home and wardrobe (some to knit, some to sew, and some just a matter of submerging a finished piece in a prepared bath), The Modern Natural Dyer is a complete resource for aspiring and experienced dye artisans.

Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns: A Guide to Customizing a Hand-Stitched Alabama Chanin Wardrobe


Natalie Chanin - 2015
    In this final volume of the four-book series, Chanin offers, by popular demand, three new core patterns—the A-Line Dress/Tunic/Top, the Long and Short Wrap Skirt, and the Classic Coat/Jacket/Cardigan—and a guide to customizing garments to fit and flatter. For ease, convenience, and to ease its ecological footprint, this book comes with a CD rather than paper patterns. The disc contains patterns for all of the garments from the previous books in the Alabama Studio series with additional sizing for XXL, the three new patterns, plus five Alabama Chanin stencil designs, including the Polka Dot in three sizes, the popular New Leaves, and the classic Magdalena (all for readers to print as needed for their individual sewing purposes). Printed and bound in the USA. This installment highlights: 9 core garment patterns with up to 34 standard variations, plus 3 bonus pocket patternsPatterns from the entire Alabama Studio book series with the additional XXL size5 full-scale stencil designs, plus a free bonus download available from Alabama Chanin’s website (http://alabamachanin.com/resources/la...)Useful, convenient CD that minimizes its ecological footprint by conserving paperPrinted in the USA

Slow Stitch: Mindful and Contemplative Textile Art


Claire Wellesley-Smith - 2015
    The pleasures to be had from slowing down can be many, with connections to sustainability, simplicity, reflection, and tuning into traditional and other multicultural textile traditions.Slow Stitch is a much-needed guide to adopting a less-is-more approach, valuing quality over quantity, and bringing a meaningful and thoughtful approach to textile practice.Claire Wellesley-Smith introduces a range of ways in which you can slow your textile work down, including:Using simple techniques inspired by traditional practice (including hand-stitch rhythms)Reusing and re-inventing materials (reuse even old textile projects)Limiting your equipmentMending revisited (practical and decorative techniques)Project ideas and resources that help towards making a more sustainable textile practiceRichly illustrated throughout, and showcasing work from the best textile artists who work in this way, this is a truly inspirational book for those looking to reconnect with their craft and to find a new way of working.

750 Knitting Stitches: The Ultimate Knit Stitch Bible


Erika Knight - 2015
    You get all the information needed to get started, including how to choose yarn and needles, read patterns, work basic stitches, how to check gauge, increase and decrease, join pieces and finish projects and care for your knitted items. The comprehensive pattern library includes 850 knitting stitches, from simple to ornate, including knit and purl patterns, basic and complex cables, Fair Isles and intarsia designs, and rib and edging patterns. Each is fully explained with instructions and accompanied by a full-color photo of a sample knitted swatch. All swatches are worked in updated yarns, beautifully photographed and accompanied by easy-to-follow instructions.Based on The Harmony Guides,which have been a longstanding and valued reference for handcrafters for more than thirty years, with over half a million worldwide sales, this edition is updated with eye-catching photography and innovative new stitches, but also never forgetting the heritage of the guides.With the Ultimate Knit Stitch Bible you can knit, purl, cable and yarn over your way through 850 stitches to create any number of beautiful pieces. This really will be the only stitch guide and reference title needed on any knitter's bookshelves.

Increase, Decrease: 99 Step-by-Step Methods; Find the Perfect Technique for Shaping Every Knitting Project


Judith Durant - 2015
    Approachable and insightful, Judith Durant provides clear instructions and step-by-step photographs that showcase swatches for each technique. From working shaped lace to adjusting necklines, you’ll soon have a go-to strategy for successfully tackling knitting challenges of all shapes and sizes.

The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters: A Guide to Creating, Quilting, and Living Courageously


Sherri Lynn Wood - 2015
    In The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters, Sherri Lynn Wood presents a flexible approach to quilting that breaks free of old paradigms. Instead of traditional instructions, she presents 10 frameworks (or scores) that create a guiding, but not limiting, structure. To help quilters gain confidence, Wood also offers detailed lessons for stitching techniques key to improvisation, design and spontaneity exercises, and lessons on color. Every quilt made from one of Wood’s scores will have common threads, but each one will look different because it reflects the maker’s unique interpretation. Featured throughout the book are Wood’s own quilts and a gallery of contributor works chosen from among the hundreds submitted when she invited volunteers to test her scores during the making of this groundbreaking work.

Loom Knitting Stitches: My Top Ten Volume 1


Denise M. Canela - 2015
    I do want to warn you that these patterns are not written in a conventional manner. I wanted to make them simple enough for beginners to be able to read and to follow. To make things even easier every pattern includes a step by step video tutorial.

My Felt Doll: Easy Sewing Patterns for Wonderfully Whimsical Dolls


Shelly Down - 2015
    Sewing soft dolls has never been easier with these adorable patterns from Gingermelon designer Shelly Down!The eagerly anticipated first book by popular toy designer Shelly Down, My Felt Doll shows sewers of all abilities how to make adorable soft dolls using the most basic of materials and skills.With just felt sheets and a handful of simple notions, you will learn how to sew the simple yet delightful doll pattern and then discover 11 imaginative variations on the design, plus over 40 accompanying accessories - from a mermaid to a witch, from a princess to a superhero and from a ballerina to a bride - guaranteed to delight little girls everywhere.With no hems to sew and all the stitching done by hand, My Felt Doll makes a great entry point to sewing dolls for beginners and even children.Full-size templates make life easy - trace straight from the page with no need to enlarge.

Sequence Knitting: Simple Methods for Creating Complex Reversible Fabrics


Cecelia Campochiaro - 2015
    

Butterflies & Flowers Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Patterns: Volume 7


Cherina Kohey - 2015
    It’s perfect gift for the “Butterflies and Flowers”. You will found 30 designs of different dimension of butterflies and flowers such as cute butterflies, art butterflies, creative butterflies, graphic butterflies and etc. range in complexity from beginner to expert-level. Let’s join millions of adults all around the world who are rediscovering the simple relaxation and joy of coloring!. Please enjoys!!

500 Crochet Stitches: The Ultimate Crochet Stitch Bible


Erika Knight - 2015
    You get all the information needed to get started, including how to choose yarn and needles, read patterns, work basic stitches, how to check gauge, increase and decrease, join pieces and finish projects and and care for your crochet items. The comprehensive pattern library includes 650 crochet stitches, including basic stitches using single and double crochet, trebles, and some new techniques to get the fabric you want for that special sweater or hat. Lace and openwork stitches are a starting point for exploring the airy shawls, and afghans crochet is famous for. Use one of the many motifs to create an heirloom blanket, or mix and match motifs to create a truly unique piece. There are also edgings and trims you can use on your crochet and other projects, including sewn items and knitted ones. Each is fully explained with instructions and accompanied by a full-color photo of a sample crocheted swatch. All swatches are worked in updated yarns, beautifully photographed and accompanied by easy-to-follow instructions.Based on The Harmony Guides, which have been a longstanding and valued reference for handcrafters for more than thirty years, with over half a million worldwide sales, this edition is updated with eye-catching photography and innovative new stitches, but also never forgetting the heritage of the guides.

The Knitter's Book of Knowledge: A Complete Guide to Essential Knitting Techniques


Debbie Bliss - 2015
    With information on everything from needles and yarns to tensioning and casting on, from basic stitches to buttonholes and beading, from cabling and entrelac to finishing embellishments, it's the ultimate guide for beginners and experienced knitters alike.

Amish Knit & Crochet Circle


Karen Anna Vogel - 2015
    But this gives Granny time to get involved Amish women in need. The Punxsutawney Amish cell phone kerfuffle is in full swing. Clara and Jacob move down to Smicksburg, hoping their kin will follow a narrower path. Melvin wants a cell phone in his variety store sending Fannie into a tizzy. Would Melvin expect her to move to Punsxy? NEVER! A very homesick Ella visits from New York, a rift in her marriage and soul. Widow Sarah comes to visit her cousin, wrapped in a crocheted black shawl, as fancy as she dare make it, and has the women in Granny's circle hankering to crochet. Sarah's more than willing to stick around chatting with Jonas over her wayward son. Can Jeb's new C.S. Lewis reading circle help young Samuel believe in a loving God? Denny and Becca have many decisions to make after his baptism. Will these teen lovebirds tie the knot? But how can Becca think of getting married with her dad so ill? Smicksburg Tales is a continuing short story serial which started in 2011 and is still in full swing. After 8 episodes are written they are combined into 300+ page novels. If you like the "old-fashioned serials" as many readers do, look for the books in episodes. To start at the very beginning, when Granny starts the knitting circle, look for Amish Knitting Circle: Episode 1 ~ Beginnings. Each episode is approximately 40 pages and only 99 cents. If you prefer reading in long novel format, the books are in the following order: Amish Knitting Circle: Smicksburg Tales 1 Amish Friends Knitting Circle: Smicksburg Tales 2 Amish Knit Lit Circle: Smicksburg Tales 3 Amish Knit & Stitch Circle: Smicksburg Tales 4 Amish Knit & Crochet Circle: Smicksburg Tales 5

Creativegirl: Mixed Media Techniques for an Artful Life


Danielle Donaldson - 2015
    Danielle Donaldson shows you how to draw the pretty pictures from your imagination, infuse your art with delightful color combinations and work through creative frustration with simple fixes. You'll learn how to paint with watercolor, tell visual stories with and without words and add depth with layers using mixed-media techniques and little details--all while finding inspiration and gaining confidence in your own artistic style.Draw, paint, layer and create!- More than 30 techniques and projects including drawing, painting and adding layers for artists and aspiring artists of all levels. - Learn how do draw and paint figures such as creativeGIRL, busyGIRL and tutuGIRL. Then create your own girl to channel your story. - Find even more inspiration in a gallery filled with extraLOVE from the artist.

Querkles: Icons


Thomas Pavitte - 2015
    Twenty portraits of eminent icons—including John Lennon, James Dean, Princess Diana, Marilyn Monroe, Nelson Mandela, and more—can be removed and displayed. Monochrome or multicolored, the concept is as easy as a child's book, but the results are nothing short of astounding!

Paris Street Style


Zoé de Las Cases - 2015
    Wherever you’re off to, take this cheeky and charming coloring journal with you. Transport yourself to the corner pâtisserie, and give life to the stylish essentials laid out from your suitcase. Beautifully detailed outfits, accessories, and hairstyles complement the equally ornate cityscapes. Embellish whimsical, full-page patterns and classic dresses with your own style. Window shop the elegant stores of Paris while you give life to playful fashion.  Like a high-end journal, this sleek package has an elastic closure and a satin ribbon marker so you can dip in and dip out of your own French fashion week. With nothing more than some colored pencils, you'll be on your way to a stress-free, Parisian-chic day.

Tilda's Toy Box: Sewing Patterns for Soft Toys and More from the Magical World of Tilda


Tone Finnanger - 2015
    Discover simple sewing patterns for adorably plump dolls with a range of outfits and accessories, cute jungle creatures like monkeys, and sea-themed creations - pirates, whales and fish--all reproduced at full-size to trace from the page.Exquisitely presented in her trademark style, this book will delight Tilda fans everywhere with its achievable patterns and charming styled photography.Contents:Me and My Doll: Dolls with different clothes and accessories, Doll's doll, Traveling house bag for doll's doll, Red and blue quilt, Red and blue patchwork pillow, Heart shaped patchwork pillows, Sewing kit houseLife on the Ocean Waves: Sweet whales, Sardines, Pirate doll, Sail and flags for the bed (to turn it into a boat)Jungle Adventure: Monkeys, Parrots, Patchwork snake, Fruit purses, Striped quilt, Monkey pillow

Paint Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Painting and Mixed Media for Budding Artists of All Ages


Stephanie Corfee - 2015
    Popular artist and author Stephanie Corfee offers an exciting resource of easy-to-follow instructions supported throughout with step-by-step, full-color photographs for projects that teach techniques, stimulate new ideas, explore color, combine materialsin interesting ways, and encourage self-expression. Each project sequence includes a complete materials list, a finished sample, and the inspiring work of a noted artist. Have fun exploring:painting techniques by making folded paper insect monoprints.your imagination with a marbled paper galaxy painting.color with pencil eraser pointillism.mixed media art by embellishing a family photo mounted on canvas.This book is perfect for anyone who teaches or leads hands-on art experiences: creative, DIY-inspired parents, families, friends, homeschoolers, scouting, community, and youth group leaders. The popular Lab for Kids series features a growing list of books that share hands-on activities and projects on a wide host of topics, including art, astronomy, clay, geology, math, and even how to create your own circus—all authored by established experts in their fields. Each lab contains a complete materials list, clear step-by-step photographs of the process, as well as finished samples. The labs can be used as singular projects or as part of a yearlong curriculum of experiential learning. The activities are open-ended, designed to be explored over and over, often with different results. Geared toward being taught or guided by adults, they are enriching for a range of ages and skill levels. Gain firsthand knowledge on your favorite topic with Lab for Kids.

Red and White Quilts: Infinite Variety: Presented by The American Folk Art Museum


Elizabeth V. Warren - 2015
    Like the Log Cabin or Baltimore-style, the red and white quilt is a hugely popular genre of quilting. Colorfast Turkey red dye became readily available in the mid-nineteenth century, so red and white quilts became extremely popular, due not only to the newness of the color but also because of the extremely vibrant and punchy contrasting color scheme. Featuring over 650 quilts from the past three centuries, this book is filled with the gorgeous and imaginative designs of feathered stars, diamonds, animals, oak leaves, baskets, lettering, and snowflakes, as well as fascinating examples of careful embroidery and appliqué. With inspiring handiwork, designs, and visual histories, this book exemplifies the sheer magnitude and poetry of red and white quilts and is a staple compendium of this beloved art form.

Animal Heads: Trophy Heads to Crochet


Vanessa Mooncie - 2015
    Inside this colorful book there are 10 fabulous trophy animals to choose from. Simply place above the fireplace for a great conversation piece or on a child's bedroom wall for a playful decoration. The projects vary in level of complexity and there is a comprehensive techniques section to help you learn all the necessary skills. Each project includes beautifully drawn crochet charts and detailed instructions.

Fine Art Wire Weaving: Weaving Techniques for Stunning Jewelry Designs


Sarah Thompson - 2015
    You'll learn how to work with these fine wires successfully, as well as what to do when one of your projects goes awry. Using techniques in layering, symmetry, and dimensional shaping, you'll come away with a strong foundation in wire working so you can create your own one-of-a-kind pieces. Paired with beautiful, 4-color photographs, Thompson gives you step-by-step instructions to creating jewelry to pretty to keep for yourselfùbut that you won't want to give away!

Star Wars Crochet


Lucy Collin - 2015
    With instructions for twelve different characters and enough materials for two complete projects -- Yoda and a stormtrooper -- your crochet collection can also soon include Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Jabba the Hutt, and many other favorites.    Use the force of crafting to create this amazing cast of characters with Star Wars Crochet.

Rebecca Ringquist’s Embroidery Workshops: A Bend-the-Rules Primer


Rebecca Ringquist - 2015
    Based on the popular classes Ringquist leads across the country, Rebecca Ringquist’s Embroidery Workshops teaches everything from the “proper” way to form a French knot and transfer a design to a canvas to new ways to stitch three-dimensionally, work with nontraditional threads and fabrics, draw with thread freeform, and mix and match machine- and hand-stitching. Also featured are instructions for 20 innovative projects, including a cloth sampler designed especially for the book (and packaged in an envelope at the back), table linens, wall art, and clothing embellishments.

Craft for the Soul: How to Get the Most Out of Your Creative Life


Pip Lincolne - 2015
    . . This clever, cute step-by-step guide will show you practical ways to get the most out of your creativity and live the life you want. There are also 10 original crafty projects to make and do.

Exploring Tarot Using Radiant Rider-Waite(r) Tarot Set


Avia Venefica - 2015
    The full-size deck is a vibrantly recolored version of the classic Rider-Waite deck, updated with subtle shading that gives depth to the familiar tarot scenes. The 272-page, user-friendly handbook with full-color illustrations is perfect for beginners as well as experienced readers who want to refresh their tarot skills.

Querkles: Masterpieces


Thomas Pavitte - 2015
    At first, you see nothing but a baffling tangle of circles - but hidden within each puzzle is a legendary masterpiece waiting to be revealed. Featuring 20 iconic artworks from the Venus de Milo to Klimt's The Kiss, Querkles Masterpieces offers hours of creative colouring fun for artistic minds of all ages. Choose five colours, enjoy the surprising results as your unique masterpiece comes to life, and you'll be rewarded with a striking image that you can easily remove and display.

Sew Many Dresses, Sew Little Time: The Ultimate Dressmaking Guide


Tanya Whelan - 2015
    The trick is a set of patterns for 6 skirts and 8 bodices that line up perfectly at the waist, plus an additional 4 sleeve styles and 4 necklines. Tanya gives readers clear instructions and easy-to-follow step-by-step diagrams that allow them to use the enclosed pattern pieces to create up to 219 fitted dresses, including simple strapless designs, sheaths, and halter gowns. The book covers basic dress construction and altering techniques for women of all shapes and sizes.

Crocheted Sea Creatures: A Collection of Marine Mates to Make


Vanessa Mooncie - 2015
    Crocheted Sea Creatures, the new book in the popular Knitted series, features 15 aquatic friends from all over the world to make--including a turtle, whale, shark, starfish and sea horse. You'll discover their distinct personalities and learn fun facts about underwater animals as you crochet delightful, stuffed animal friends like the Lackadaisical Lobster!Crochet a lovable collection of maritime minions for everyone, every room. Perfect as snuggle buddies for your favorite little one, charming accents on the guest bed or cute friends to place anywhere, these whimsical, colorful designs are positively fin-tastic!Crocheted Sea Creatures features: 15 projects of all levels of complexity, plus a comprehensive techniques section to teach beginners as well as refresh the seasoned crocheter's skill set 40 beautifully drawn crochet illustrations, 80 charts with detailed instructions, and 175 color photographs to successfully guide and inspire you Experience calm, smooth crocheting waters with tips from the best! Following the huge success of her charming knitting book Animal Hats, Vanessa Mooncie has once again stirred her imagination to design an ocean-full of sea creatures for you to create. So easy--and so fun!

The Artful Wooden Spoon: How to Make Exquisite Keepsakes for the Kitchen


Josh Vogel - 2015
    In The Artful Wooden Spoon, Vogel shares more than 100 gorgeous pieces from his workshop gallery, providing rich visual inspiration along with explaining the principles behind handcrafting spoons and sharing simple instructions and step-by-step photographs—no expertise and very few tools required. With more than 225 photographs of Vogel's stunning specimens, this visual introduction to the craft is an invitation to explore an age-old art and to create a timeless gift.

Poetic Crochet: 20 Shawls Inspired by Classic Poems


Sara Kay Hartmann - 2015
    Author Sara Kay Hartman shares her tips for selecting the fibers that work best in shawl making, how to achieve a beautiful drape, how to play with gauge when crocheting shawls, and more. The patterns in Poetic Crochet won't require any special technique knowledge, but rather they have been designed to highlight the simple sophistication achievable with the most basic of stitches. Crocheters with any experience level, beginner to advanced, will find something rewarding--and poetic--in this inspired collection of 20 projects.

The Great British Sewing Bee Fashion with Fabric


Claire-Louise Hardie - 2015
    With 30 garments to make at home, including the 1950s WALKAWAY DRESS and lots more projects AS SEEN ON THE TV SERIES, you can take on many of the same challenges as this year's sewers. Accompanying the book are FIVE FULL-SIZE PATTERN SHEETS giving all the pieces needed to make the 30 garments in WOMENSWEAR SIZES 8 TO 20 and MENSWEAR SIZES XS TO XL.For burgeoning dressmakers the vast array of fabrics is what both entices the would-be sewer to dress handmade, but it is also what intimidates the first-time sewist when stepping into the haberdashery. Reflecting the episode themes of the third series of The Great British Sewing Bee, each chapter focuses on a type of fabric and demystifies its properties, suitability and uses as well as providing all the instructions and pattern pieces needed to make a collection of universally appealing garments from that fabric type.Many of the 30 garments in the book appear on screen, either as technical challenges faced by the contestants and designed by Claire-Louise Hardie or as projects devised and made by the contestants. The chapter on Cottons explains the properties of this common fabric and gives a variety of designs including a sleeveless shell top, capri trousers, summer dress and beach shorts. This is followed by chapters on wool and natural fibres, knits and stretch fabrics and then luxury fabrics, including lace and sheers.With womenswear sizes ranging from 8 to 20 and menswear sizes ranging from XS to XL, as well as the core garment instructions, this book includes all the information you need to get started with your sewing machine and understand both your equipment and the pattern pieces.Claire-Louise's ultimate guide to fitting your own clothes and expert sewing tips from judges May Martin and Patrick Grant will ensure a perfect fit and stunning results.

Boho Crochet: 30 Hip and Happy Projects


Marinke Slump - 2015
    Whether you're new to the crochet scene or already an expert, you'll be inspired to create original pieces featuring vintage motifs in contemporary color combinations. Express yourself with cool and unconventional projects Make blankets, pillows, coasters, bags and fashion accessories, and much, much more Learn the basics with step-by-step photos; then find your crochet groove with easy-to-follow patternsAvailable to customers in the U.S. and Canada only.

Exposure Mastery: Aperture, Shutter Speed & ISO. The Key to Creative Digital Photography


Brian Black - 2015
    I’ve Spent Years Discovering All There Is To Know About the Possibilities of Photography. Now I’m Here to Help YOU! Hi, I'm Brian. I’m a professional photographer with a long career that was made possible by one single tool: my camera. I’ve explored the boundaries of photography for many years and watched it evolve into a high-tech profession that still follows the same, basic rules.I’m here to share these insights with you, to help you turn that basic know-how that’s got you this far into a full-fledged understanding of the physics and rules of photography. Give Me 48 Hours and I'll Teach You the Art of Exposure Give me a week and I’ll train your eye to see all the possibilities as you angle a shot. By the time you’ve put the advice in this guide into practice, you’ll understand everything from light metering, depth of field and exposure to contrast and special effects.In this book, we’ll cover: All you need to know about creative digital photography The physics of photography, including aperture speed, motion capture and light meters The dynamics of light – and what they mean to a photographer The secrets of portrait, close-up, panoramic and landscape photography The special effects that are possible with nothing more than your shutter speed And much, much more. My Secret Ingredient… Sure, there are expensive course out there that cover some of the information included in this book, but the secret ingredient is that I know how to turn mechanical understanding into artistic brilliance – and it’ll cost you less than the price of a memory stick to find out what that ingredient is.All it takes is a few key pieces of knowledge and you’ll be on your way to turning a deep and profound understanding of your camera into a hobby, or even a career. Start Taking More Professional Photos In Less Than a Week... or Your Money Back! If you follow the steps in this guide and don’t see a single difference in the quality of your images, simply click one button within 7 days and Amazon will return 100% of your money. That’s how confident I am that I have the answer to your problem – I really can help you find become a professional-standard photographer.Just scroll up now and click the BUY NOW button to start taking BRILLIANT photographs, TODAY!

Top Down: Reimagining Set-In Sleeve Design


Elizabeth Doherty - 2015
    By beginning at the shoulders—the part of the garment where fit matters most—knitters can try on sweaters as they go, and make adjustments, if needed, in response to the actual fit. In addition, the author has developed a unique construction method for working perfect, seamless, top-down sleeves with a fit that equals conventionally set-in sleeves. The book contains patterns for six sweaters, plus a wealth of information on customizing them to suit one's own shape.

The Farmer's Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt: Inspiring Letters from Farm Women of the Great Depression and 99 Quilt Blocks Th at Honor Them


Laurie Aaron Hird - 2015
    The 99-block queen-size sampler quilt inspired by these letters uses reproduction 1930s fabrics. For each block, instructions are provided for template piecing, and--where applicable--rotary cutting, so readers can piece the blocks based on their preferred technique.

Next Steps In Weaving: What You Never Knew You Needed to Know


Pattie Graver - 2015
    Next Steps in Weaving has the answers you're looking for. In this beautiful book by Pattie Graver, former Managing Editor of Handwoven magazine, you'll be explore a variety of weave structures and concepts in depth and detail including twill, color-and-weave, overshot, summer and winter, lace, and doubleweave. This is not just a book of weaving patterns. Each topic is explained and supplemented with instructions for weaving a sampler and a project in order to solidify the concepts and enable you to design your own projects. In addition, the book offers troubleshooting tips in order to expand your weaving expertise. Whether you're new to weaving, have the basics down, or are looking to improve your foundation skills, this book will be an asset to your weaving library. So what are you waiting for? Take the Next Steps in Weaving!

Edward's Menagerie - Birds: Over 40 Soft Toy Patterns for Crochet Birds


Kerry Lord - 2015
    Their larger-than-life personalities will fly off your hook as you crochet them for all your friends and family!

Soap and Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English


Marie Gale - 2015
    Includes the new soap labeling requirements from all five government agencies. Provides clear instructions and good examples of labels for all sorts of personal care products. Third edition includes additional pages and updates through 2015.

Zoomigurumi 4 - 15 Cute Amigurumi Patterns


Joke Vermeiren - 2015
    This new collection of 15 projects, featuring designers from all over the world, provides enough fresh inspiration to keep you crocheting! Surprise your family and friends with handmade gifts, or simply make them for yourself! This book contains 15 new animal patterns created by 13 talented designers. Projects ranging from beginner to advanced crocheter. Find complete instructions for all basic stitches needed and lots of pictures of each character from all sides.

Miniature Needle Painting Embroidery: Vintage Portraits, Florals Birds


Trish Burr - 2015
    All the projects—which include traditional portraits, birds, and flowers—have detailed thread diagrams, and easy-to-follow instructions teach the basic stitches.

Cats in Hats: 30 Knit and Crochet Hat Patterns for Your Kitty


Sara Thomas - 2015
    Complete with a breakdown of skill level and method of working (knit or crochet), suggestions for yarns, and written patterns and charts where necessary, you'll be able to whip up amazing headwear, whatever your cat's character. With the adorable color photos and helpful illustrations throughout, these hat patterns will be both exciting and easy to create. It's fun, it's addictive, and it's deliciously purr-fect from start to finish!

Handmade Style: 23 Must-Have Basics to Stitch, Use, and Wear


Anna Graham - 2015
    Each project builds upon the other and is designed to help any sewist create a complete cohesive handmade simple and sophisticated look.Unlike other sewing titles that include a random combination of projects, Anna has spent years compiling a well-edited collection of projects to ensure that her fans will want to make each and every one.From wearables and accessories to quilts and pillows: these projects are made to live together to create the ultimate handmade style for every modern sewist.

Knit Wear Love: Foolproof Instructions for Knitting Your Best-Fitting Sweaters Ever in the Styles You Love to Wear


Amy Herzog - 2015
    In Knit Wear Love, she guides us through picking a base pattern that works for our inherent shape, then customizing it to suit our size and style—all with the skill of a top-notch teacher and designer and the honesty and humor of a BFF. Known for her uncanny ability to simplify what might initially seem complex, Herzog masterminded for Knit Wear Love an easy mix-and-match pattern system that allows us to choose among the eight key sweater forms (pullover, cardigan, vest, cowl, tunic, wrap, tank, and bolero/shrug); eight fashion styles (modern, classic, romantic, sporty, bohemian, avant-garde, vintage, and casual); a trove of customization details; ten sizes; and three gauges of yarn. The result? Sweaters we can knit with confidence, wear with pride, and love for many years to come.

Sewing in the Montessori Classroom: a practical life curriculum


Aimee Fagan - 2015
    With over 40 lessons and projects, you will never run out of new variations. No sewing experience required!Take your classroom or homeschool routine to the next level, engage your child in fun, meaningful activities that will both challenge and excite them.

Tiny Hats on Cats: Because Every Cat Deserves to Feel Fancy


Adam Ellis - 2015
    With a portable trim size and a beautifully designed interior, Tiny Hats on Cats is the perfect gift for every animal lover or for any reader who wants their cat to feel just a little more fancy.

Machine Quilting with Style: From Walking-Foot Wonders to Free-Motion Favorites


Christa Watson - 2015
    Quilt along with Christa using walking-foot or free-motion techniques to create fabulous quilts. She shows you how with eight different walking-foot designs and ten free-motion quilting motifs, plus twelve inventive patterns to put all the quilting techniques to use. Author: Christa Watson. Softcover, 112 pages. Published Year: 2015. ISBN 978-1-06468-625-8. Imported.

Adorable Felted Animals: 30 Easy Incredibly Lifelike Needle Felted Pals


Gakken - 2015
    Adorable Felted Animals shows you how you can create more than 30 endearing dogs, cats, birds and other animals using a little wool roving, a felting needle, and a few simple techniques. Starting with basic shapes you roll in your hands, you can sculpt the most lifelike miniature animals, using your felting needle to join the individual parts and give them their firm and final shape. With little bits of contrasting wool you can give your felted friends expressions that are irresistible. It's easy, creative, and very relaxing.These cute felted animals range from the wonderfully realistic to enchantingly cute. Included in this book are:Beloved dogs such as Golden and Labrador retrievers, a Pug, a Poodle, and Dachshund and moreExotic cats, like the Siamese and AbyssinianFeathered friends such as the parakeet, cockatiel, lovebird and finchOther household companions like the ferret and hamsterOutdoor dwellers like the chipmunk and rabbit The animals range from about 2-4 inches high, and instructions are included for turning a few of your felt creations into fun dangly accessories. A full lesson takes you though one of the projects from beginning to end, covering all the basics to ensure that you have all the skills you need to make any critter you want.

Just Little Doilies: 27 Crochet Patterns (Tiger Road Crafts Book 18)


Tara Cousins - 2015
    My goal in developing this ebook was to breathe life into forgotten vintage patterns from the 1930’s and 1940’s, by adapting and updating them with new colorful materials and making each pattern a user-friendly workable size. All of the doilies are worked in 14 rounds or less; depending on the size of your thread and hook, this works out to about 12” in diameter or less. This size means that these little doilies require small amounts of yarn, can be easily taken on the go, and are able to be completed in a single evening. When working on the compilation of this ebook, I wanted to make sure to have a variety and selection of different crochet techniques. Just to name a few: crossed stitches, the pineapple shape, working a spiral, creating petals, creating mesh, clusters and popcorns, working around loops and picots. Note: There are no charts, just written directions, so you will need to have a basic knowledge of reading crochet patterns. Doilies are a great way to take time out of a busy life to get back to the soothing relaxing art of crochet!

The Embroidered Garden: Stitching through the Seasons of a Flower Garden


Kazuko Aoki - 2015
    By offering forty motifs, Aoki invites us to explore her gardens through embroidery. The forty motifs explore the roses and wildflowers that appear season to season, as well as the bees and butterflies that enjoy their nectar. The designs here are exquisite, detailed, and artfullly rendered. Beyond the motifs themselves, Aoki also presents projects that feature the embroidery: brooches, notebook covers, pin cushions, and pouches. For those new to embroidery, detailed how-to illustrations are included.

Beeswax Alchemy: How to Make Your Own Soap, Candles, Balms, Creams, and Salves from the Hive


Petra Ahnert - 2015
    Considered the miracle of the beehive and used by humans for 8,000 years, beeswax remains a vital ingredient to society and is still used as the foundation for many household products in the twenty-first century. Learn from apiarist and entrepreneur Petra Ahnert about the history of beeswax, as well as tips and techniques on how to mold it into beautiful, reusable creations.   An introduction details the different ways in which beeswax has been used throughout history, as well as the products that contain it today. You’ll also find an explanation of the different types of beeswax, as well as insider tips on working with beeswax, followed by step-by-step instructions for making candles, balms, salves, creams, scrubs, soaps, ornaments, art, and more out of beeswax (either your own or store-bought). Color photos illustrate the processes and show finished results throughout. Among the useful and beautiful things you’ll learn to make out of beeswax:Hand-Dipped Birthday CandlesLip Balm with Cocoa ButterRosebud SalveSolid Natural PerfumesHoney, Oats, and Beeswax SoapBeeswax LuminariesWhether you are an expert beekeeper or experimental crafter, Beeswax Alchemy is the best guide for anyone aspiring to make wellness-boosting treasures to keep or gift to friends and family.

Animation in Sugar: Take 2: 16 Make-at-Home Celebration Cakes from a World-Famous Sugar Artist


Carlos Lischetti - 2015
    Animation in Sugar Take 2

Sister Sampler Quilts: 3 Modern Sampler Quilts with Paired Sister Blocks


Annemarie Chany - 2015
    Create block pairs as identical sisters or flip flop the color schemes for a patchier appeal in quilts that beautifully bridge the gap between traditional and modern. Whether you're a beginner or a more advanced quilter, you'll enjoy practicing and perfecting quilting basics, like half-square triangles, flying geese and hourglass blocks, to beautiful effect.Modern traditional quilting is the perfect way to blend old and new techniques to create a quilt that's uniquely yours!

Handwoven Baby Blankets


Tom Knisely - 2015
    What better way to welcome that precious, tiny new person than with a luxurious, handwoven blanket! These beautiful, colorful designs will appeal to today's contemporary moms, as well as lovers of traditional weaves.

Landscape Painting Essentials with Johannes Vloothuis: Lessons in Acrylic, Oil, Pastel and Watercolor


Johannes Vloothuis - 2015
    After all, it is the artist's greatest challenge to somehow capture a sense of it all--the grandness, the majesty, the splendor of nature--with just a few strokes of paint on a canvas. Popular art instructor Johannes Vloothuis makes the process a whole lot easier with the essential techniques, key concepts and expert advice he shares in this book.- Learn straightforward strategies to make your paintings more interesting and dramatic, such as simplifying the foreground, composing with abstract shapes and harmonizing colors. - Discover speci?c techniques for painting landscape elements including mountains, water, foliage, snow and more. - 9 step-by-step demonstrations walk you through all the techniques necessary to create successful landscape paintings.Landscape Painting Essentials is packed with practical information. You'll make the critical shift from painting what you see to painting as an artist sees. You'll learn to strategically edit shapes, rearrange elements and enhance color. You'll gain a better understanding of what to include in your painting, what to change and what to leave out. Most importantly, you'll gain the skills necessary to turn nature's bounty of inspiration into original, stunning landscape paintings.

Stitch Stories: Personal places, spaces and traces in textile art


Cas Holmes - 2015
    This inspiring book shows you how to record your experiences, using sketchbooks, journals and photography, to create personal narratives that can form a starting point for more finished stitched-textile pieces. Acclaimed textile artist and teacher Cas Holmes, whose work is often inspired by her life and the journeys she makes, helps you find inspiration through your own life and explains how to record what you see in sketchbooks and journals, which can often become beautiful objects in themselves. She explains how you can use photography, both as documentation and as inspiration, and sometimes incorporate it into the work itself, along with found objects and ephemera. Throughout the book are useful techniques that can be harnessed to add extra interest to your work, such as methods for making layered collages, how to 'sketch' with stitch, and advice on design and colour. If you want to create beautiful, unique work inspired by your life and travels, this is the perfect book for you.

Short Row Knits: A Master Workshop with 20 Learn-as-You-Knit Projects


Carol Feller - 2015
    Working partial rows into your knitting is simple: instead of knitting the whole row, you stop before you get to the end, then you turn your work, and knit in the other direction. These short rows create the extra length in the fabric needed to fashion graceful curves and silhouettes. In Short Row Knits you'll master the technique via four different methods, so you can choose your favorite. Then find out how to apply short rows to different stitch patterns—20 striking knits you'll want to wear every day.

How to Sew Little Felt Animals


Sue Quinn - 2015
    Now she would like to reveal her 'master secrets' so you can use machine or had sewing to create these endearing, beautiful little creatures that you will want to make and keep. Colorful, strong and easy to use, felt is the perfect material to make the endearing and enduring classic woodland creatures using machine and hand sewing techniques, all shown in clear step-by-step format.

Creative Haven Whimsical Gardens Coloring Book


Alexandra Cowell - 2015
    The imaginative and playful designs will inspire colorists to add their own special touches to make each picture uniquely their own. Illustrations are printed on one side of perforated pages for easy removal and display. Specially designed for experienced colorists, Whimsical Gardens and other Creative Haven® adult coloring books offer an escape to a world of inspiration and artistic fulfillment. Each title is also an effective and fun-filled way to relax and reduce stress.

1,001 Boredom Busting Play Ideas: Free and Low Cost Crafts, Activities, Games and Family Fun That Will Help You Raise Happy, Healthy Children


Jean Oram - 2015
    There's something for everyone--even parents--in this tried and tested one-stop book from NY Times bestselling author, Jean Oram."A lifesaver for parents and educators." --Kenneth, reader.Get the kids busy and out of your hair all while helping them develop the skills they need to succeed in our busy, complicated world.Want to be the new favorite in the family? Check out some of the fun inside 1,001 Boredom Busting Play Ideas:+ 101 tricky, goofy challenges for kids+ 36 Travel games PLUS 24 more word games that can be played in the car+ Arts and crafts (and holiday crafts, too)+ Classic games from your childhood such as Hot Potato & Red Rover+ Outside play ideas+ Playground games+ Mad scientist safe & easy experiments--including Flubber!+ Birthday party games+ Easy arts & crafts for all ages+ Improv games--Human Gumby!+ Family day trip ideas+ Group games+ Rainy day activities--rain painting!+ And more play, play, play!Now includes 26 BONUS activities for a grand total of 1,027 activities to keep your kids happy, and playing.The brain learns by playing and play is children's work. Build smart, happy, healthy children... let's play!A Tricky Challenge to Get You Started:Coin Catching à la Elbow!Put your right hand on your right shoulder. Point your elbow out in front of you. Lay a penny on the flat part of your arm just above your elbow. Without moving your arm, turn your hand so the palm of your hand is facing up. Very quickly move your elbow down and try to catch the penny with your right hand as it falls.The record for caught pennies when I was a kid was a stack of 14. How many can you catch?Want more fun? Try licking your elbow. Balance a spoon on your nose. Make a paper snowflake. Make an edible ice-cream cone Christmas tree. There's so much more inside! Grab 1,001 Boredom Busting Play Ideas for this LOW holiday price--it won't last forever!--and have your best sleepover, birthday party, road tip, babysitting experience, snowy day, or play time ever!

Adventures in Mochimochi Land: Tall Tales from a Tiny Knitted World


Anna Hrachovec - 2015
    Adventures in Mochimochi Land started out as a collection of tiny knitted characters, but as the patterns grew they needed an entire world of their own, complete with knitted cities, knitted forests, knitted oceans, and most important, knitted friends! The book follows the adventures of a tiny knitted explorer, as he travels this unbelievably cute world and uncovers its strange yarn-based origins. For intrepid knitters, the book also includes a section with 25 all-new patterns for the characters and props used in the stories. The patterns use small amounts of yarn and beginner-friendly knitting skills and knit up quickly for instant fun.

Every Last Piece: 12 Beautiful Design Inspirations Using Scraps, Strings and Applique


Lynn Harris - 2015
    Author Lynn Harris demonstrates numerous ways to maximize how you use fabric in quilts, including string-pieced blocks, mini star blocks, applique, sawtooth borders and more! Traditional designs are refreshed by giving them a scrappy look while other quilts offer minimalist charm when small scraps are used on broad backgrounds. The quilt gallery, as well as the projects themselves, will inspire you to design in ways you never imagined.Whether you're working on a gift, joining a quilt-a-long or heading to a fabric swap, you'll love using Every Last Piece!

Knit Stitch Dictionary: 250 Essential Stitches


Debbie Tomkies - 2015
    Get ready to spice up your knitting! Every knitter needs a good stitch dictionary, and this volume is perfect for new and experienced knitters alike. Knit Stitch Dictionary offers 250 knit stitches, from simple knit-purl combos to fancy textured, color, and lace stitch patterns. Knowing that not every knitter works in the same way, this indispensible guide has both written and charted instructions that clearly explain how to knit each stitch. Knit Stitch Dictionary is divided into sections including: basic knit and purl stitches; eyelets and lace; cables; traveling and twisted stitches; bobbles, puffs and clusters; slip stitches; chevrons, ripples and waves; tucks and ruffles; and colorwork patterns. A photo glossary at the back of the book offers a candy box view of all the stitch patterns, allowing you to instantly choose the ones that strike your fancy. Knit Stitch Dictionary will be a go-to reference that you'll reach for again and again!

Rock Art!: Painting and Crafting with the Humble Pebble


Denise Scicluna - 2015
    The varied surfaces, shapes, and sizes of rocks also make them perfect for crafts. From brooches to bookends, paperweights to place cards, miniature owls to patterned pebbles, you can create just about anything with the right rock and a bit of imagination. In Rock Art!, visual artist Denise Scicluna provides inspiration and advice for rocking our artsy side with: Tips for finding and identifying rocks and preparing them for paintTechniques for creating the perfect rock from polymer clayA guide to gathering tools, from paint, pencils, and brushes to wood filler and varnishDozens of projects for bringing pebbles to life with personality and styleSimple, step-by-step instructions, and more than 250 full-color illustrations that practically pop off the page make this fun and unusual book perfect for crafters of all ages.

Sock-Yarn Shawls II: 16 Patterns for Lace Knitting


Jen Lucas - 2015
    Discover designs for everyone from confident beginners to advanced knitters. Patterns range from small shawlettes to large circular shawls, and many are made from a single skein. 16 pretty new patterns for single-colored and multicolored shawls--enjoy lots of options Shawl constructions include top down, bottom up, crescent, short row, and circular Begin with the basics and move on to create designs with attach-as-you-go lace borders

One-Skein Wonders for Babies: 101 Knitting Projects for Infants & Toddlers


Judith Durant - 2015
    You’ll also discover beautiful bibs, blankets, and sleep sacks, plus adorable stuffed toys, blanket buddies, and more. These beautiful projects were contributed by designers and crafters around the world, and each comes with complete step-by-step instructions and a photograph of the finished piece.

Graphic Clay: Ceramic Surfaces Printed Image Transfer Techniques


Jason Bige Burnett - 2015
    Focusing on various surface processes, and encompassing skills ranging from letterpress and printmaking to drawing and painting, it offers a wealth of techniques for transferring images onto clay vessels. Graphic Clay addresses such topics as staining sculptural work, glazing, brush application, screenprinting patterns on pottery, and slip, drawing, bisque, decal, stencils, and more. Question-and-answer sessions with top artists show how they developed their signature method and personal style-so that you can discover your own!

Couture Sewing: The Couture Skirt: More Sewing Secrets from a Chanel Collector


Claire B. Shaeffer - 2015
    An expert on Chanel's clothing, Claire B. Shaeffer shares her unique insider-expertise of the couture industry. In her latest book, Couture Sewing: The Couture Skirt, she takes home sewers through each detailed step required to cut, fit, stitch, and construct a perfect designer-quality couture skirt.Professional instruction from a renowned fashion expert! This book with DVD set presents the know how and design-atelier secrets to replicate the iconic Chanel faux-wrap skirt. The DVD offers a 90-minute comprehensive sewing workshop like Shaeffer's in-person smash hit, sell-out sewing classes.Features more than 200 photographs, plus step-by-step instruction on couture-specific construction methods. The companion DVD demonstrates essential sewing and construction techniques, professional tricks and shortcuts, and a careful study of existing Chanel skirts and suits (from Shaeffer's impressive couture collection). Learn couture sewing techniques--used by professional designers and in European design ateliers--ideal for serious sewers, beginners seeking inspiration, and fashion mavens. High-style for beginners and serious sewers. Find inspiration in Coco Chanel's classic, elegant style and learn impeccable construction secrets, characteristics of the Chanel skirt, the details which distinguish a couture skirt, and master traditional couture sewing skills:Fabrics Linings Waistbands Seam finishes and Details Planning the Skirt Layout and Mark, and much more From the skirt to the iconic Chanel suit. With Shaeffer's previous must-read Couture Sewing: The Couture Cardigan Jacket (The Taunton Press, 2013) you will be able to create your own complete Chanel suit with a beautiful fit and finish!"

Papercuts


Louise Firchau - 2015
    Each project will then consist of a template, which will be reproduced full-size on the right-hand page, and a finished paper cut styled shot based on that design, on the left, together with the instructions. Because of the nature of the craft, very little step-by-step instruction is required, so this will take up very little room. The designs will be simple enough for beginners, though attractive and interesting enough to inspire more advanced paper cutters, and the finished paper cuts will be cut from a variety of colored and white papers and mounted on different colored backgrounds. They will also be coded with the level of difficulty from 1-5.

Tunisian Crochet - Vol. 1: Basic & Textured Stitches


Petra Tornack-Zimmermann - 2015
    In addition to the basic stitch there are a variety of patterns with an interesting surface. Many of them look like knitted. Learn the basics of this technique in the introductory part and further explore a lot of possible stitch combinations. All patterns are explained in detail. Pictures show where to insert the crochet hook. In addition each stitch pattern is given in a clear crochet diagram.

Stays and Corsets: Historical Patterns Translated for the Modern Body


Mandy Barrington - 2015
    Using her original pattern-drafting system, author Mandy Barrington will show you how to draft a historical pattern for a modern body shape, while still retaining an accurate historical silhouette.Each pattern has been generated from an original stay, corset, or pattern taken from a historical garment. The instructions to follow these new patterns are designed to accommodate any size of female figure, allowing you to avoid extremely difficult, time consuming, and inaccurate historical pattern re-sizing Requiring only basic prior knowledge of pattern drafting, all calculations have been worked out for the costume maker and are provided in simple tables accompanied by easy-to-read, step-by-step diagrams that clearly show how the historical pattern is plotted onto the female basic block, coupled with photographs of the constructed stays and corsets.

Rag Quilting for Beginners: How-to quilting book with 11 easy rag quilting patterns for beginners. Quilting for Beginners series


Felicity Walker - 2015
    Here’s what’s in the book:--Step-by-step guide to the basics of rag quilting: choosing fabrics, cutting, sewing, quilting, and finishing a rag quilt, with lots of photos and helpful tips to make everything easy. --Guide to the differences between rag quilting and standard quilting.--11 fun and easy rag quilting patterns for beginners, each one with complete photo instructions.It is book #2 in the Quilting for Beginners series of quilting how-to books by best-selling author and long-time quilter, Felicity Walker. Felicity shows you exactly what to do, with lots of photos, shortcuts, and simple techniques that make your first rag quilts easy and fun. Join the thousands of beginning quilters who have made their first quilts with help from Felicity. Scroll up and Look Inside before you buy.

10 Granny Squares 30 Blankets: Color schemes, layouts, and edge finishes for 30 unique looks


Margaret Hubert - 2015
    Using only 10 granny squares selected from The Granny Square Book and Granny Square Flowers, Margaret Hubert shows how you can crochet 30 completely different blankets. Each square is used three times with different yarns, color schemes, motif arrangements, and edge finishes.You'll be amazed at the versatility of these squares! You can crochet blankets that are perfect for babies, boys, girls, college kids, and grown-ups. Some are crazy, colorful, and fun; others are serene, classic, and sophisticated. Crochet them for bedrooms, family rooms, or dorms. 10 Granny Squares 30 Blankets provides enough designs to keep you crocheting blankets for everyone and every reason for years to come!

Freehand Fashion: Learn to sew the perfect wardrobe - no patterns required!


Chinelo Bally - 2015
    She wowed the judges with her ability to create stylish, fitted garments using a freehand cutting method that was taught to her by an aunt. In Freehand Fashion, Chinelo lets us in to the secret of how she does it. Using a series of basic garment blocks, she explains how this innovative technique can be used to create a whole wardrobe of fashionable clothes that will fit every shape and size - with no patterns required. Based on a traditional Nigerian technique, Chinelo has developed her own freehand cutting method. The emphasis is on the individual’s own body measurements, and getting the perfect fit. This is a surprisingly simple technique that anyone can learn. No fancy equipment is needed - just a sewing machine, measuring tape, chalk and of course a good pair of scissors. Using step-by-step illustrations, the book shows how to draft, cut and construct the five basic blocks that are used - either singly or in combination - to make every item of clothing in the wardrobe. Once you have your basic blocks, you are ready to tackle the projects - practical garments that are fashionable, modern, stylish and versatile. There are tops, skirts, day dresses and eveningwear. This is an exciting sewing technique that will be brand new to most people, even experienced dressmakers. There really are no limits - and the beauty of this technique is that it can be applied to any body shape.

Crochet Afghans: Discover How to Crochet a Perfect Afghan in Less Than a Day


Emma Brown - 2015
    This is because crocheting afghans is presented by most crochet books as a very difficult and arduous process that can only be accomplished after mastering many different kinds of crochet stitches. This simply isn’t true. Whether you are just learning how to crochet, have mastered crochet for beginners, or know every stitch in the book, Crochet Afghans can help you improve your technique and learn how to crochet an afghan in less than one day. What does Crochet Afghans have that other books lack? It’s an easy to follow, step by step guide, complete with color pictures and diagrams. It walks you through the most basic techniques and ensures that even the most difficult and complicated of stitches are thoroughly explained. This is why this book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to crochet afghans, whether they have no crocheting experience, or having been crocheting for decades. By the time you are done reading this book, you will have ALL of the skills and information you need to make intricate, beautiful afghans. The book starts with the very basics of crochet, to get beginners started and to act as a quick refresher for even the most experienced individuals. It then moves on to more complex stitches, breaking them down into easy to understand steps, so even if today is the first day you have a hook in your hands, you can easily get the hang of even complicated stitches. This process would have once taken years, sitting with someone experienced in crocheting. Now, all you have to do is read Crochet Afghans and you will be able to follow even complex crochet patterns. To speed up the process, the book also includes a full list of pattern abbreviations, to explain the crochet terminology that patterns and other crocheters use. There is also an FAQ added to answer any question you might have about crocheting afghans or different crochet stitches. What does this book provide? Here are only a few of Crochet Afghans’ benefits: • Full-color illustrations and diagrams • Teaches how to choose yarn and how much to buy • Beginning and advanced crochet techniques • Teaches how to start your afghan • 22 gorgeous Afghan patterns from beginner to advanced level • Teaches how to find more patterns • Best yarn color combinations • How to divide a crocheted afghan • Most common crocheting mistakes and how to avoid them • How to start and finish any kind of afghan.. Would You Like To Know More? Download Now and start Crocheting Your First Afghan today! Scroll to the top of the page and select the buy button. Check Out What Others Are Saying... "This is a wonderful book for those wanting to crochet afghans but don't know where to begin. It shows in detail all the stitches needed to get started and has plenty of wonderful images throughout. Many crochet stitches often used in afghans are given step by step. They include the ripple stitch, shell stitch and more. The book is well written, is broken down into chapters and it has a working table of contents.

A-Z of Ribbon Embroidery: A comprehensive manual with over 40 gorgeous designs to stitch


Country Bumpkin Publications - 2015
    Here you will find every stitch and technique fully explained with step by step photographs and clear instructions. Accomplished embroiderers have compiled advice on choosing ribbons, fabrics, needles and frames, as well as a host of other hints and tips. There are forty exquisite designs with full detail provided on the materials and stitches used for every element and a helpful Ribbon Embroidery Index directing you to the appropriate step-by-steps for each technique. Templates, a pattern key and a comprehensive index make this a must-have manual for anyone wanting to learn or brush up on ribbon embroidery skills.

Celtic Cable Shawls


Lucy Hague - 2015
    Celtic Cable Shawls is the first book by Scottish designer Lucy Hague and features photography from the stunning Scottish Highlands, along with information on the history of Celtic and Pictish art. All of the shawls feature completely original cable stitch patterns, and instructions are presented in both charted and written form. For the intermediate knitter who is ready to take on a challenge, this book provides a great starting point for exploring the techniques of closed-loop cable knitting. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lucy Hague is an independent designer based in Edinburgh, Scotland, who enjoys writing patterns with a focus on complex and engaging texture and unique stitch patterns. Her work has been featured in The Knitter, Knit Edge magazine, Pom Pom Quarterly and Knit Now. For more information, visit www.lucyhague.co.uk.

Learn to Read Crochet Patterns, Charts, and Graphs: Expand Your Crochet Skills by Learning the Basics of Patterns


Dorothy Wilks - 2015
    When you learn how to read patterns you will open up an entire new world of possibilities for the craft of crochet. In her new book, Learn to Read Crochet Patterns, Charts, and Graphs; Expand Your Crochet Skills by Learning the Basics of Patterns, Dorothy Wilks teaches you how to read crochet patterns. With her many years of experience and expertise in the art of crochet Dorothy guides you through learning to read written crochet patterns, crochet charts, and crochet graphs. In this definitive book you will learn: • Structure of a written pattern • Written pattern abbreviations • How to read a written pattern • Structure of crochet charts and graphs • Crochet chart symbols • How to read and crochet charts and graphs • Working with flat crochet and in the round • How to translate a pattern into a finished work of crochet This book is geared for crocheters of all skill levels from very beginners to more advanced artists. If you’re just starting out and want to use patterns to expand your skills, or if you’ve been crocheting for a while but just never could get the hang of reading and understanding patterns, then this book is for you. Don’t miss out on this valuable resource for your crochet library. Borrow this Great Book TODAY!! Download this Bestselling Book Now!! Tags: Crochet Crocheter, Knit, Patterns, Charts, Graphs, Yarn, Guide

Learn to Quilt-As-You-Go: 14 Projects You Can Finish Fast


Gudrun Erla - 2015
    When the piecing is finished, so is the quilting! With step-by-step guidance, Gudrun Erla takes you beyond the straight-line piecing associated with the quilt-as-you-go technique to include triangles, squares, and strips, plus the illusion of curves--all in her clean, contemporary style. Start with the basics: learn to choose materials, cut, mark, baste, and sew the patchwork through all the layers Build on the basics with quick-to-stitch projects--coasters, place mats, table runners, and small quilts Sew by number, add triangles, insert prairie points, and use multiple techniques together

Nalbinding - What in the World Is That?


Ulrike Claßen-Büttner - 2015
    This is the black and white version of the book: Nalbinding - An Age-Old Technique Nalbinding was an....

Weaving Made Easy Revised and Updated: 17 Projects Using a Rigid-Heddle Loom


Liz Gipson - 2015
    The rigid-heddle loom is small, portable, and affordable, making it the perfect starting point for anyone wanting to learn how to weave. 17 quick and easy weaving projects show how to make fabrics that are soft and drapey, sturdy and practical, or just plain fun and funky.Projects include woven scarves and belts, pillows, napkins, and hand-woven rugs. Complete, updated instructions for warping a loom, clear step-by-step photos and abundant tips, tricks, and techniques for color, design, and embellishment are included. Weaving Made Easy is the ultimate idea book for the beginning weaver.

Kaffe Fassett's Heritage Quilts


Kaffe Fassett - 2015
    The quilts are inspired by antique quilts from the 19th and 20th century which are reinterpreted in this book.

The Handmade Entrepreneur-How to Sell on Etsy, or Anywhere Else: Easy Steps for Building a Real Business Around Your Crafts


Dani Marie - 2015
     What if you could start your day out with an excited shout instead of a frustrated sigh? Unfortunately, selling handmade goods online is no longer as simple as throwing together a product listing and waiting for sales to roll in. There are now millions of people with handmade products and they are all eager to build a sustainable income. The Handmade Entrepreneur uses precise methods based on proven marketing techniques to set you above the competition. It teaches you how to create a genuine business you can count on rather than a bundle of shop pages and social media accounts built on a foundation of guesswork. What You Can Expect to Learn from This Book: • How to take DIY pictures that get clicks and sales • How to set up a shop that turns visitors into buyers in under two seconds • How to price your items • How to write titles and descriptions • How to brand your business with DIY techniques • How to rank your pages • How to find targeted audiences • How to build up your list of followers • Where to promote your listings • How to sell without selling • How to form relationships with people who can send you extra sales • How to start a "buzz" about your products • Which tools to incorporate into your business The goal of this book is to free you from having to rely on any third-party website for your sales. Yes, you can take advantage of platforms like Etsy, and you should, but websites come and go, and if all your sales come only from that website, you run into trouble every time there are algorithm changes, a saturation of sellers, or cheaper products to compete with. You are trying to generate sales, which means that you are trying to run a business, which in-turn means that you need a real business plan. Brick and motor stores don't just buy a bunch of goods, throw them in a building, and hope people will come. They plan, study their target market, pick a perfect store location, and prepare to market themselves. Just because you sell online does not mean that you can skip all of these steps. You have billions of products to compete with online and a crowd of shoppers who have an overwhelming number of options before them. You must prepare your storefront, get your products ready, know your audience, and then know how to market to them. Optimizing Your Shop for Sales Dani starts out showing you how to prepare your products with photos that attract clicks and sales. It doesn't just tell you how to do it, though. It SHOWS you. Thanks to the help of many carefully selected Etsy sellers, there are many example photos for each point. In addition to this, the author only shows you DIY photos to prove that you can do it all on your own. Next, Dani discusses how to optimize your shop. She goes through every aspect such as banners, profiles, descriptions, tags, and titles. You will learn how to optimize your pages so that people stay there instead of leaving instantly. This can be done by creating an inviting environment with images and content that buyers can skim through in under two seconds. If buyers can determine that your page is worth staying on in less than two seconds, you have won the battle. Finding Targeted Audiences and Marketing The issue with selling online is finding people who would be interested in your products.

Sweet Tweets: Simple Stitches, Whimsical Birds


Erin Cox - 2015
    Quick-to-stitch patterns include a pillow, table runner, tote bag, and small quilts.

Pixie's Astounding Mlle Lenormand Cards


Edmund Zebrowski - 2015
    The 132-page booklet includes keywords and expanded meanings for Love and Career issues. This unique Lenormand deck comes in an adorable tin.

Making Needle-Felted Animals: Over 20 Wild, Domestic and Imaginary Creatures


Steffi Stern - 2015
    Whether you are completely new to needle-felting or an experienced felter, this book has something to offer, from precise instructions to creative inspiration. Written by two authors, experienced in making and teaching crafts to students of all ages and abilities, instructions are easy to follow and include practical yet creative ideas to fix common mistakes. Projects arise from a genuine love of the natural world and animals, whether they be family pets (‘Our Friend Dexter’) or wild animals whose widespread ill-treatment has brought them into the limelight. Requiring no experience other than an interest in working and playing with wool, projects progressively build on skills throughout, and will transform you into an avid needle-felter in no time at all. • Beautiful photographs and illustrations throughout• Over 20 patterns and design ideas for creating your own needle-felted animals• A range of projects suitable for complete beginners as well as more advanced crafters• Written by experienced crafters and workshop leaders, this practical guide also highlights common mistakes (‘felting bloopers’) and offers creative solutions to fix them• Inspired by the natural world and animals from well-loved stories and myth, these projects aim to engage us in, and re-connect us more fully to, the worlds of art, imagination, play and nature

Let's Go Camping! From Cabins to Caravans, Crochet Your Own Camping Scenes


Kate Bruning - 2015
    Reminiscent of vintage camping memorabilia,you can create a nostalgic collection of crochet projects encompassing all aspects of outdoor life. With mix and match projects ranging from vintage caravans and ice cream trucks, to tents and teepees with all the camping paraphernalia of sleeping bags, backpacks and a log fire, as well as mountain and forest scenery you can create your own outdoor world. Or why not craft an alternative camping scene with a classic narrow boat, or a wooden lakeside cabin which can open up to reveal immaculately decorated insides. Instructions for playmats will give children a fantastic base for playing, allowing them to create games and stimulate their own imagination.

New Ceramic Surface Design: Learn to Inlay, Stamp, Stencil, Draw, and Paint on Clay


Molly Hatch - 2015
    You will be introduced to several different and new approaches for using your own imagery and content on the ceramic surface. Learn techniques including:-Mishima-Tape resists-Rubber stamping-Line art-Stamping-Nature resists-Found objects-Shellac resists for textures-Sticker resists-Contact paper stencils-Paper resists-Sgrafitto for shaped designsDetailed photography and hand-drawn illustrations document the processes and show beautiful completed samples.Templates and stencils for all the featured designs are included in the back of the book to use as is, or to tailor to your own tastes.

Free Spirit Knits: 20 Knitted Garments and Accessories Inspired by the Southwest


Anne Podlesak - 2015
    From a gorgeous knitted cardigan-style coat (Grand Canyon Coat) to monochromatic knitted socks (Petroglyph Socks) to the lace knitting techniques showcased in the Aspens sweater, you'll love creating each stunning project. Wild-at-heart knitters of every skill level will find something to make and love. Whether your nearest canyon is made of rock or skyscrapers, treat yourself to the collection that will see you knitting off into the sunset.

6000+ Pullover Possibilities: Interchangeable Options for Custom Knitted Sweaters


Melissa Leapman - 2015
    Inside, the prolific author and knitwear designer takes the most basic pullover sweater pattern and shows knitters how to customize it using every possible sleeve, neckline, or body shape in yarn weights from Super Fine to Bulky and from sizes XS to 4XL. The result is more than 6,000 interchangeable sweater combinations to fit every need and personal preference! From saddle shoulder long sleeves to raglan bell sleeves, scoop necks to Henley plackets, or straight silhouettes to empire waistlines, knitters will be delighted to have so many design possibilities available in one book. Edge treatments, pocket options, and finishing instructions are also included for the most personalizable approach to sweater making ever published. Never before has there been such a comprehensive sweater pattern book on the market. Step-by-step instructions, easy-to-read charts, and brightly-colored individual sample pieces are all efficiently combined for an easy-to-follow guide to giving any knitted pullover pattern a personal touch.

Kids’ First Book of Knitting: Simple Techniques to Get Them Started—and Fun Projects to Keep Them Going!


Susan B. Anderson - 2015
    

Art Quilts of the Midwest


Linzee Kull McCray - 2015
    In subsequent decades, quilting’s popularity exploded. Some who took up quilting created pieced quilts that honored traditional patterns, symmetry, and repetition. But others saw the potential for pushing beyond patchwork, giving birth to the art quilt. Today, adherents from both art and quilting backgrounds incorporate storytelling, digital images, nonfabric materials, asymmetry, and three dimensions—in short, anything goes in the world of art quilting, as long as the result is stitched, layered, and not primarily functional. As a writer covering textiles, art, and craft, Linzee Kull McCray wondered just how deeply fiber artists were influenced by their surroundings. Focusing on midwestern art quilters in particular, she put out a call for entries and nearly 100 artists responded; they were free to define those aspects of midwesterness that most affected their work. The artists selected for inclusion in this book embrace the Midwest’s climate, land, people, and culture, and if they don’t always embrace it wholeheartedly, then they use their art to react to it. The proof can be seen in the varied, powerful quilts in this energizing book. Enlivened by the Midwest’s landscapes and seasons, Sally Bowker paints her fabrics with acrylics, creating marks and meaning with layers of hand stitching and appliqued bits of fabric. Shin-hee Chin uses sketchlike stitching for its ability to penetrate fabric and create depth; living in the Midwest helps her stay balanced between eastern philosophy and western culture. The metals and mesh that Diane Núñez incorporates into her quilts connect to her days as a jeweler as well as to the topography of her home state of Michigan. Pat Owoc prepares papers with disperse dyes, then selects from as many as 150 to create her fabrics; her art-quilt series honors midwestern pioneers. Martha Warshaw photographs old fabrics, tweaks the images in Photoshop, and prints the results for her pieces, which connect her to the legacy of quilting in past generations. The Midwest has always had strong textile communities. Now the twenty artists featured in this beautifully illustrated book have created a new community of original art forms that bring new life to an old tradition. The Artists Marilyn Ampe, St. Paul, Minnesota Gail Baar, Buffalo Grove, Illinois Sally Bowker, Cornucopia, Wisconsin Peggy Brown, Nashville, Indiana Shelly Burge, Lincoln, Nebraska Shin-hee Chin, McPherson, Kansas Sandra Palmer Ciolino, Cincinnati, Ohio Jacquelyn Gering, Chicago, Illinois Kate Gorman, Westerville, Ohio Donna Katz, Chicago, Illinois Beth Markel, Rochester Hills, Michigan Diane Núñez, Southfield, Michigan Pat Owoc, St. Louis, Missouri BJ Parady, Batavia, Illinois Bonnie Peterson, Houghton, Michigan Luanne Rimel, St. Louis, Missouri Barbara Schneider, Woodstock, Illinois Susan Shie, Wooster, Ohio Martha Warshaw, Cincinnati, Ohio Erick Wolfmeyer, Iowa City, Iowa

Sew Fab: Sewing and Style for Young Fashionistas


Lesley Ware - 2015
    It will teach you not just to sew, but how to wear your creations with flair. Start by finding your style tribe, learning to accessorize, identifying the best colors for you, and more. Now get ready to sew. Make yourself a mini studio, stock your sewing basket, and try out some hand stitching. Finally, make some Art to Wear. There's a mix of easy step-by-step projects to sew by hand or using simple machining, from a hair bow to a little black dress (but in the color that suits you best!).Packed with gorgeous illustrations, step-by-step projects, tips, and fun activities, you will be creating unique clothes and accessories in no time.