Practice 8 meandering stitches for beginners, plus creative variations on each, with step-by-step visuals and quilted samples. Start your free-motion journey on the right foot with proven techniques to help you disguise mistakes and transition between designs with ease.

    From a cute chick and a stripy snake to colourful mice and a patchwork tortoise, this title presents 25 knitting patterns for adorable toys for newborns to teens.

    The patterns are suitable for almost everyone, whether adventurous beginner or expert. You can create a single-colour bear, a two-tone bear, a striped bear and even a panda – all from one basic pattern. There are also instructions to create a host of clothes, including bride & groom outfits, a graduation outfit, a Santa costume, a ballet outfit, and a sports outfit. If you’re after a cute dress, nightshirt, coat, hat, sweater or dungarees – you’ll find patterns for these, too. The designs can be personalized and you can ‘mix and match’ items to create the perfect gift, not just for new babies and children, but for all bear lovers and almost any occasion! The teddy bears and outfits are all knitted using light worsted/double knitting/8-ply yarn and size US3 (3.25mm) straight knitting needles. The bears are about 7in/18cm tall. The patterns include both US and UK knitting terms. INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR WHEN DID YOU LEARN TO KNIT? More years’ ago than I now care to remember! My Mum’s twin sister Sheelagh taught me when I was about seven years old, just before she emigrated from the UK to Canada. HOW DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS? Partly from the toys and dolls I loved when I was little, but I’m also as addicted to online browsing all the beautiful creative websites out there as anyone else. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT KNITTING? With toys and dolls, which are my knitting of choice, it’s about seeing the little creatures develop their own personality when you sew them together and embroider the features. I’m always amazed that you can create something so cute from just some oddments of yarn and a pair of needles. There’s a bit of effort needed too… but really, not that much. WHAT'S THE BEST ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE TO BEGINNER KNITTERS? Like any skill, knitting takes a bit of patience. So start with something small. Think baby hats, fingerless mitts or a knitted lavender bag… definitely not a scarf. They’re simple but they take too long for beginners. And choose some lovely yarn. If you’re putting in all that effort, you’ll appreciate it! WHICH OF YOUR KNITTING BOOKS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Well it has to be my Knit Your Own Royal Wedding back in 2011 when William and Kate tied the knot. Suddenly I found myself being interviewed by newspapers and magazines across the world… I still find it hard to believe. And frankly, it's going to be hard for me to top that! WHAT WAS THE FIRST PATTERN YOU EVER DESIGNED? Apart from some pretty dodgy dolls’ clothes when I was about eight, it was a pink and blue striped owl. I still have it perched on a shelf in my little work room upstairs. The first knitting book I designed was called Knitivity which was a knitted nativity. WHAT NOTIONS CAN'T YOU MANAGE WITHOUT? I’m actually quite a good improviser but I was quite annoyed recently when I lost one of my favourite very short knitting needles which are ideal for knitting small items. Thankfully my son eventually found it by accident, behind my row of knitting reference books. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE KNITTING STITCHES? I love simple combinations of stitches like wide ribbing stitch and waffle stitch. They’ve got enough interest to keep you alert but are still simple enough to keep mistakes and unravelling to a minimum. WHAT'S THE MOST IRRITATING THING THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE KNITTING? Well there’s the obvious one of knots in a ball of yarn that you don’t see till you’re mid-row.

    (See cute book cover if you're having trouble with the translation.) It's the latest and hottest craft craze among young and trendy crafters.Crobots features a 20-strong army of charming, cuddly amigurumi designs such as BigBot, BabyBot (don't let his age fool you), Geisha, DogBot, CatBot, and Thinker.The pattern for each design is simple enough for crochet novices, yet can be adapted to keep the experts interested and amused.

    900+ vivid photos & illustrations.

    I was sorting through yet another box of yarn that appeared as if by magic, trying to lower the square footage of wool that is all over my living room, and in frustration I yelled out "I have too much yarn!" You could hear crickets chirping in the aftermath--my daughter looked at me as if I had three heads, even the dog cocked her head and started to slink slowly away from the crazy woman. Did I really say I had too much yarn? Was I sick with fever?"

    Everyone has heard the mantra 'Knitting is the new yoga' but not everyone is lucky enough to have someone to show them the ropes and get them started on their very first row. Unless they have a friend or relative to teach them how to start, often would-be knitters turn to the so-called 'beginners patterns' but these can be confusing, difficult to follow, and more often than not written in 'knit' rather than English. This book will be a tried and tested guide for people at the very beginning of their knitting lives, looking for guidance and patterns for projects that they can use to make that first all-important step to 'Beyond the Scarf'.Contents include: Knitting Basics: Getting Started; Knitter's First Project: The Scarf; Workshops: Decreasing; Creating a Rib; Changing Colour; Increasing; Finishing; Knitting a Flower; Cable: Making a Cable; Making a Cable Bag; Eyelets and so on...

    With clear photographic step-by-step tutorials on key stitches and 20 easy-to complete projects, Crochet Step by Step helps to master the basics while gaining confidence. Brimming with useful tips, advice, and ideas, Crochet Step by Step contains everything needed to get started on developing a passion and skill set that will last a lifetime.

    Whether a novice or an experienced crocheter, anyone can pick up a needle and complete these cuddly creations.Author and amigurumi guru Lauren Espy inspires crocheters with her easy-to-follow patterns, pictures, and helpful instructions. Lauren always takes the patterns one step at a time to ensure that your finished product is as cute as the creation on the page!In Whimsical Stitches: A Modern Makers Book of Amigurumi Crochet Patterns, amigurumi is explored through thirty simple, fanciful patterns in a variety of themes, including:How Does Your Garden GrowAt the AquariumDown on the FarmAt the BakeryBrighten a room with flowers that won’t wilt, bring cheer to your table with colorful fruits that won’t attract flies, and add cuddly friends to a baby’s collection of favorite toys.

    

    In this stunning volume of all-new projects, many of today’s top knitwear designers come together to create an irresistible collection of hats, scarves, and mittens—all in Cascade 220. There’s something for everyone, from an adorable monkey-face hat and a dazzling mosaic pattern scarf to a classic muffler and Fair Isle flower mittens. Knitters will find plenty of inspiration and beauty here!

    Presented beautifully. --Kristin Omdahl, www.styledbykristin.com "This is the book that pulled me in and set the hook (quite literally). SO well written. If you haven't gotten it yet, you should." --HookMeUp, Ravelry Tunisian crochet, sometimes called the Afghan stitch, combines the ease of crocheting with the appearance of knitting. This instructional pattern book brings Tunisian crochet into the realm of high fashion with exquisite stitch patterns, meticulous shaping, and attractive finishing. Sixteen chic projects for apparel, accessories, and home decor are explained in detail. Readers will learn how to make wearable items such as a chain mail scarf, child's jumper, honeycomb skirt, and man's vest. Home decor projects include an ottoman cover, placemats, afghan, pillow, and more--all using Tunisian crochet techniques.Detailed instructions with full-color photographs and illustrations teach the art of Tunisian crochet Stylish, contemporary patterns for apparel and home decor Includes instructions for 16 projects

    Full of clear, helpful instructions on topics such as how to create a perfect fitting sock and master unusual knitting techniques, "Socktopus "will enlighten and intrigue its readers. "Socktopus "is ideal for aspiring, advanced knitters who want to develop their skills to create truly beautiful socks. A comprehensive section on fiber and yarns will entice and delight yarn addicts; while experienced knitters who are new to the world of bespoke socks will never look back.

    face=Garamond>For the first time ever, you can access hundreds of knitting stitches in a perpetual-calendar format! With a different stitch for style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">every day of the year, this clever calendar design makes a valuable addition to every knitter s pattern collection.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> size=3>  style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3"> size=3> style="mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol">Includes instructions style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">for 365 easy to advanced knitting stitches that you can refer to year after year size=3>  style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3"> size=3>Each day spotlights a beautiful swatch in a full-color, close-up photograph size=3>  style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3"> size=3>Stitches range from simple knit and purl to ribs, cables, laces, and dozens of textured patterns

    In this book, you'll discover the secrets of minimalist design-how to find beauty in the basic elements of your environment. These projects deliver exciting, vivid results with solid color fabrics. City Quilts was named one of the Best Books of 2010 in the Fiber Crafts Category by Library Journal, and is a finalist in the 2010 Foreword Book of the Year Awards."