The essential guide to beads and beading techniquesIllustrated techniques for beading on and off the loom, threading, stringing and fringingCombines beading with knitting, crochet, embroidery and wirework for unique resultsIncludes 30 "Bead Something Now" projects, from striking jewelry to stunning accessoriesFeatures useful guidance on taking each technique further to extend your skills

    Each project uses just one skein of yarn, many take just a few hours to complete, and plenty are suitable for beginners. Hats and caps, bootees and socks, mitts, dresses, tops and bottoms — plus blankets, bibs, soft toys, bottle cozies, diaper bags, and more — there’s something here for every baby! These original patterns were contributed by 54 designers around the world, and each one comes with complete instructions, charts, schematics, and beautiful photographs.

    The method is simple and magical — knit the project large and loose, wash it in hot water, and see it transformed into a soft and cozy garment or accessory. Kathleen Taylor encourages you to explore the possibilities of felted knitting with 25 spectacular projects that include mittens, slippers, hats, bags, stuffed animals, and more. Embellish your life with unique and stylishly comfortable creations.

    And it’s all in one flirtatiously fresh package.Aimed at the knitter who is super-passionate about socks, The Joy of Sox delivers on its name. With their tantalizing cables, intricate lacework, and intriguing color work, the patterns represent the very best in sock design. There are revamped classics, bold new styles, and even a few themed socks—like the diamond lace thigh-highs and toeless pedicure socks. In addition to the results of our online knitting poll, you’ll also get fun stuff, including info from knitting personality Laurie Perry and phenoms Laura Bryant and Shannon Okey.

     Featuring 22 crocheted dolls drawn from 16 beloved novels and plays, this easy-to-follow craft book is perfect for bibliophiles and crafters of all skill levels. Literature lovers can decorate bookshelves, proclaim a love of reading, and show off crafting skills with adorable amigurumi, sweet crocheted characters that are simple to make and impossible to resist! All that's needed are a few readily available materials and beginner crochet skills, and soon you'll be hanging out with your favorite characters from classic literature. Take tea with a charming Elizabeth Bennet. Decorate the Christmas tree with a grumpy Ebenezer Scrooge. Solve mysteries with the help of a pocket-sized Sherlock Holmes. Bring Prince Hamlet to a play. And just try to keep Huck Finn out of trouble!

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    Through their shared enthusiasm for this time-honored craft, these two women have worked together to strengthen and deepen their spiritual selves and they encourage readers to do the same. Through the sharing of stories, hands-on explorations, and daily cultivation, the authors help readers to see beyond the surface of a simple craft in order to discover ways in which nuances of knitting can apply to the larger scheme of life and spirituality. The Knitter's Way is a spiritual friend, a teacher, a sanctuary, and an opening to the sacred place beyond thought that will help readers to find community, authenticity, and satisfaction.

    A chapter on understanding color principles offers novice spinners the skills needed to easily work with color while providing advanced spinning techniques for the expert dyer. A gallery of finished pieces as well as appendixes on dye workshops and metric conversions are included.

    Irish makes it easy for beginners to learn the creative craft of woodburning in Pyrography Basics. All that aspiring beginners need is this book and an inexpensive woodburning tool to start adorning wood, gourds, leather, paper and more with beautifully burned images and patterns. The author provides a thorough introduction to basic tools, materials and techniques. Readers learn how to set up a practice board to experiment with strokes and settings before moving on to working projects with confidence. Six skill-building projects provide step-by-step exercises in using temperature, time, layering, and texturing to create artistic tonal values.

    Beginning with basic instructions and progressing to sophisticated projects, this guide shows how domino knitting allows for easy designing by allowing knitters to build squares on one another horizontally and vertically at will. Precise step-by-step instruction show how squares can be worked in a variety of stitches for multicolored effects. Included is a key to selecting the proper yarn for any project as well as care instructions for any creation.

    Even if you've never held a crochet hook before, Maggie Righetti's sound instructions and encouragement will help get you startd. If youre an experienced crocheter, you'll find dozens of tips for perfecting your techniques. This comprehensive, common-sense guide covers virtually everything you need to know about crochet:Selecting threads and yarnsDetermining gaugeWorking with the right toolsHow to interpret patterns and instructionsIncreasing and decreasingHow to fix mistakesBasic stitches (chain, double, triple, slip)Sixteen different fabric pattern stitchesAssembling the finished productHow to block, clean, and care for crocheted articlesand much moreEach technique is illustrated with clear drawings, charts or photos. Complet with a detail glossary of crochet terms, Crocheting in Plain English is one sourcebook no crocheter should do without.

    Ten original and enjoyable knitting projects--each complemented by a meditation exercise.

    Projects include jewelry, thigh-high stockings, retro bags, scarves, sweaters, shrugs, camis, and home décor objects, exploring color, texture, design, embellishment, and how to customize patterns to fit personal style. Basic crochet techniques are covered along with tutorials on sizing, design, and special techniques. Up-and-coming designers are profiled throughout the book to give an entertaining and inspiring insight into this new generation of crocheters, what inspires them, how they find community with other crocheters, and creative ideas for breaking the rules and representing their individual crochet style.

    You'll get 18 patterns for making one-of-a-kind Irish knits, encapsulating projects for women's, children, and men's wardrobe pieces, and accessories like bags, blankets, and shawls. Plus, you'll get easy-to-follow instructions and guidance on how to construct and enhance your knitting experience to make for a more intuitively put-together knitted item.This all-new collection is exactly what today's knitter is looking for, and complemented by inspiring design and photography. If you're a knitter looking for innovative patterns, enhancements to your skill sets, and a chance to broaden your range of knitterly knowledge, Contemporary Irish Knits is for you. It features: contemporary Irish designs created using traditional techniques and stitch patterns implemented in new ways; a broad range of projects; guidance on working with different construction methods; and much more.Features an elegant design and 18 enjoyable-to-knit, one-of-a-kind patternsPatterns are just challenging enough to be fun to knitAll projects are thoughtfully designed for a beautiful finished projectWhether you're an intermediate or advanced knitter, Contemporary Irish Knits gives you the skills, projects, and know-how to create truly gorgeous knitted pieces that celebrate Ireland's living knitted tradition with a modern, contemporary twist.

    Leading figures of the industry, from designers to yarn company executives, share their methods for integrating green principles into their work and lives--selecting organic products, facilitating an alternative to chemical detergent, recycling old projects, reducing disposable plastic bags, and creating pieces that provide warmth and save on energy. Inventive and timely, this practical guidebook explains answers to important questions such as What makes a yarn organic? and Are natural dyes safer than chemical dyes? Providing 20 clever designs for earth-friendly garments, accessories, gifts, and home furnishings, craft enthusiasts of all skill levels will enjoy projects that balance the altruism of saving the planet with the joyful benefits of their favorite hobby.