It grows imperceptibly at first, but soon takes over your sewing room, and, if you’re not careful, your life. Joan Ford is a quilt designer who recognized a need to clear the clutter among her fellow quilters and came up with a fun and effective way to deal with it. Enter ScrapTherapy™, Ford’s feel-good method for organizing the mounds of fabric — from yards and fat quarters to skinny scraps — and turning them into quilts and a wide array of accessories. In this innovative book, Ford offers step-by-step instructions for cutting a fabric stash down to size — quite literally — and provides 20 original patterns for quilts, pillows, table runners, and more.

    Full color.

    They’ll also learn whether knitting swatches is really necessary and how big to knit a piece before felting. Twenty-four detailed projects include stylish bags, totes, hats, and mittens; warm and fuzzy vests and slippers; and decorative pillows, placemats, and coasters. With a section on embellishing felting and felting on felt (needle felting), knitters will be inspired to create these beautiful projects for friends and family, from the baby’s first felt hat to the furry slippers for cold winter nights.

    Juried by Karey Bresenhan, one of the most prominent figures in quilting, it presents 500 magnificent contemporary art quilts, made in fabric and other media, and showcasing diverse designs, materials, and techniques.From their very inception, these quilts were destined for display rather than practical use, with an extraordinary quality of image, form, line, and composition.  Artists include:Pamela Allen  -  Alice Beasley  -  Eszter Bornemisza  -  Jane Burch Cochran  -  Judith Content  -  Chiaki Dosho  -  Noriko Endo  -  Caryl Bryer Fallert  -  Jamie Fingal  -  Linda Gass  -  Jenny Hearn  -  Judy Coates Perez  -  Yvonne Porcella  -  Susan Shie  -  Jen Swearington  -  and many more!

    550+ photos.

    EllynAnne’s enthusiasm for these textile artifacts dances across the pages as she muses on aprons in the kitchen; housework aprons; aprons worn by America’s waitresses, butchers, and maids; barbecue aprons; children’s aprons; holiday and dress-up aprons; and the sassy variety that are equal parts smooch and sizzle. She dishes on fabrics and adornments; aprons as custom gifts; and collecting, displaying and preserving aprons. She shares tidbits of advice and recipes, along with her favorite apron stories, gathered from apron wearers everywhere like ripe cherries in the lap of her own apron.The Apron Book is loaded with fabulous four-color photographs of the author’s vintage apron collection, plus the images of apron lovers past and present. You’ll also find four basic apron patterns—the waist apron, the bib apron, the smock apron, and a little girl’s apron—plus a host of variations for sewers of any skill level. As a bonus, the bib apron pattern is packaged separately and tucked inside the book!There is no other book like The Apron Book, which celebrates the humble yet lovely apron and the spirit of the men and women who once wore them, while providing the inspiration and tools to reinvent aprons for the here and now.According to EllynAnne, “Aprons don’t hold us back, they take us back “ — the very reason for the apron’s status as today’s hottest collectible.

    Inside you'll learn all the secrets behind her exciting new fusion of traditional spinning and envelope-pushing creativity.The yarn styles explored in this comprehensive spinning guide are as well made as they are inventive. Jacey walks you through each of her techniques, with a refreshing mixture of quirky, fanciful, and unexpected designs that are always skillfully constructed. Inside you'll discover:*How to create innovative, eye-catching single and plied yarn styles, including wraps, beehives, bumps, racing stripes, loops, bubblewrap, multiplied, and more.*Detailed technical instruction with step-by-step photos with finished yarn and swatch close-ups.*Jacey's bright personality and motivational tips to inspire all spinning enthusiasts to unleash their creative spirit.Traditional spinners will love Jacey's adventurous spirit and attention to expert technique, while textured-yarn spinners will love Jacey's wild designs and solid construction.As a bonus, the instructional DVD provides additional handspinning demonstration and commentary to complement the techniques in the book. Jacey has bottled the energy and expertise of her highly sought after workshops into a personal, at-home workshop experience for you.

    Plus, the projects are cute to boot!” —Sue Daly, founder of the Renegade Craft FairNo more spending more than you can afford on clothes! Chic & Simple Sewing shows you how to make modern, stylish, and fun clothes you’ll want to wear every day. Plus, you’re in control. You pick the fabrics, the cut, the size—all tailored just for you, not mass-manufactured on an assembly line. For about the price of two or three commercial sewing patterns, this book will give you full-size patterns to make the more than 20 garments, including a classic shift, A-line skirt, and figure-flattering wrap dress. What are you waiting for? Your new, one-of-a-kind wardrobe awaits!

    Includes meaningful ways to use your existing & future photos. Has creative ideas for preserving precious details of your life. Includes tips for finding inspiration in each day!

    Your One-Stop Source for Crazy Quilting Know-HowFrom Victorian quilts to contemporary works of art, crazy quilting has evolved into a beautiful mixture of piecing, embroidery, and fabric techniques.Crazy Quilting: The Complete Guide tells you everything you need to know to create your own beautiful heirloom crazy quilts, including:10 different methods for piecingMore than 100 embroidery stitches for ribbons, flosses and threadsTechniques for dyeing, painting, stamping, printing, and embroidering on silk, cotton, rayon, wool and linenInstructions for adding buttons, beads, tassels, cording and other dimensional embellishmentsTips for finishing your quiltsWhether you are just getting started or have been quilting for years, Crazy Quilting: The Complete Guide is guaranteed to be the most crazy quilting resource you turn to the most.

    With an emphasis on recycling, making projects from scratch, and improvisation - as well as detailed, easy-to-understand instructions - this title gives crafters the skills they need to self-express, by shaping their own environments, whether they're working on their bodies, their bedrooms, their lockers at school, or their first apartments.

    A collector of op-art ceramics, she was inspired to translate graphic optical illusions into knitted patterns for socks, replicating their eye-popping effects.Op-Art Socks contains 19 projects. Explore graphic colorwork, textured knitting (knit and purl), shadow knitting, and shifting ribbing to create optical illusions. The book includes black and white swatches of all patterns so that you can readily perceive the op-art illusions in each piece.Op-Art Socks is truly unique in theme and designs. Go beyond ordinary sock knitting into new territory!

    In this book, Sunshine Cobb covers all the foundational skills, with lessons for constructing both simple and complex forms from clay. Ceramic artists will also find a variety of next-level techniques and tips: designing templates and replicating pieces, lidded vessels, using molds, a variety of decorative techniques, and other avenues of exploration are all inside.Artist features and inspirational galleries include work from today's top working artists, such as Bryan Hopkins, Lindsay Oesterritter, Liz Zlot Summerfield, Bandana Pottery, Shoko Teruyama, Courtney Martin, Sam Chung, Deborah Schwartzkopf, and many more.  Take your hand building skills—and your artwork—to the next level with Mastering Hand Building. The Mastering Ceramics series is for artists who never stop learning. With compelling projects, expert insight, step-by-step photos, and galleries of work from today’s top artists, these books are the perfect studio companions. Also available from the series: Mastering the Potter's Wheel and Mastering Kilns and Firing.

    From the clever decorations and take-home gifts, to classes, games, and a Hogwarts-worthy feast, no detail is forgotten. Your party guests will marvel at every magical moment of their journey into the world of witchcraft and wizardry.

    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!