Crafts & Hobbies Books - Page 3

Stitched in Time: Memory-Keeping Projects to Sew and Share from the Creator of Posie Gets Cozy

Alicia Paulson

Amazon Price: $15.61 List Price: $22.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Potter Craft Amazon Marketplace: 21 new & used starting at $13.50

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In Stitched in Time Alicia Paulson shares 30 beautiful, inventive, and thoughtful projects that encourage you to take your memories down from the bookshelf, out of the closet, or off the hard drive and bring them into your daily life. Creator of a charming line of handmade gifts and accessories called Posie: Rosy Little Things, Paulson organizes these adorable handmade mementos—each one incorporating unique elements such as photos, drawings, and other ephemera—into three sections: For the Little Ones, For Every Day, and For Special Occasions. Many projects are easy enough for the beginning sewer to complete, and Paulson explains all the necessary techniques, from hand- and machine-sewing to embroidery, appliqué, stenciling, and transferring photos to fabric.

In as little as a weekend anyone can create a keepsake for the ages that will be enjoyed every day­—whether it’s a quilt made from outgrown baby clothes, an apron featuring a favorite family recipe, a tote bag documenting a treasured vacation, or a stuffed animal fashioned from a child’s drawing. With love incorporated into every stitch, these sweet projects each evoke the feeling of a special time and place, and are so much more than just a commemoration of events. Whether you want to remember your family summers at the beach or a daughter’s first apartment, a perfect gift for a loved one or a memento to keep all to yourself is just stitches away.

Sock and Glove: Creating Charming Softy Friends from Cast-Off Socks and Gloves

Miyako Kanamori

Amazon Price: $9.90 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: HP Trade Amazon Marketplace: 56 new & used starting at $6.90

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Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Performing Arts -> Theater -> Puppets & Puppetry
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Puppets & Puppetry
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Stuffed Animals

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

very easy, very cute 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Martha Stewart featured this book on her show a month or so ago (summer 2008) and she and some celebrity made a dog and a bunny. They're funky little animals and look very easy to make. For how-to purposes, you probably don't need the book, just the idea...but the book is good inspiration and the thinking and planning is done for you. The book is fun to look at and would make a good kid's book too. I'm thinking an argyle sock would make a great sweater for one of these little stuffed friends to wear!

Editorial Review:

Easy to make...easy to love!

Sock and Glove presents thirteen delightful softy projects that are quick to make-and certain to amuse and delight. Full of individuality and mischief, these stuffed creations are all pieced together from ordinary socks, gloves, and mittens. Step-by-step illustrations and instructions make it easy to craft and dress a whole menagerie, including monkeys, elephants, piglets, bunnies, and even an insouciant fish.

Endearing to adults and children alike, these whimsical creatures make perfect gifts and inspiring companions.

101 Designer One-Skein Wonders: A world of possibilities inspired by just one skein

Judith Durant

Amazon Price: $12.89 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Storey Publishing, LLC Amazon Marketplace: 28 new & used starting at $10.77

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Knitting

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In 2006, Judith Durant delighted knitters everywhere with her collection One-Skein Wonders: 101 Yarn Shop Favorites. At last, knitters had a rich array of fun, festive patterns for all those yarn "orphans"— single skeins purchased on impulse or left over from long-finished projects.

With knitters clamoring for even more of these imaginative patterns, Durant has tapped into a wide circle of knitwear designers across the country to compile a totally fresh collection of enchanting projects. Once again, the excitement of small-scale possibility will attract knitters of all skill levels. Like its predecessor, 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders offers patterns for small projects that can be completed with a single skein of yarn.

These designer projects range from the adorable to the elegant. The book includes plenty of patterns for those never-can-have-enough items: hats, scarves, bags, and shawls. It also highlights the unexpected: a useful knitted notebook cover, a fun-to-wear mitered square belt with beads, and an elegant ring bearer pillow. There's something for everyone here — from the novice knitter to the experienced yarn artisan.

With patterns arranged by yarn weight, knitters will easily find broad ranges of possibilities for their particular single skeins. A full-color gallery features detailed photographs of all 101 projects, allowing knitters to browse through all the patterns quickly to find the perfect match for each skein.

The patterns in 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders are practical and fun. They're ideal weekend projects, perfect to give as gifts or wear and enjoy. Because they're small enough to fit in a tote bag, they're great to take on the run. Best of all, they offer simple solutions for that stash of single skeins every knitter has tucked away.

Whether the yarn was picked up on impulse — because it was on sale, or just too beautiful to resist — or left over from a project completed long ago, every skein of yarn cries out to be used. 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders offers the ultimate solution for converting those lonely skeins into knitted wonders.

Happy Gloves: Charming Softy Friends Made from Colorful Gloves

Miyako Kanamori

Amazon Price: $11.16 List Price: $13.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: HP Trade Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $7.50

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Editorial Review:

Colorful gloves become adorable creations— from the author of Sock and Glove.

Whimsical and endearing, here are nineteen more softy sewing projects in the adorable, quirky aesthetic of Sock and Glove. Because who doesn’t have a few odd gloves lying around—and who couldn’t use another quietly cheerful small friend?

Includes complete instructions to make a chipmunk, frog, duck, flower, car, donkey, tiger, and more!

Free-Range Knitter: The Yarn Harlot Writes Again

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $16.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Andrews McMeel Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $7.29

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

". . . a sort of David Sedaris-like take on knitting--laugh-out-loud funny most of the time and poignantly reflective when it's not cracking you up." --Library Journal on Yarn Harlot

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee returns to pen another hilarious and poignant collection of essays surrounding her favorite topics: knitting, knitters, and what happens when you get those two things anywhere near ordinary people.

For the 60 million knitters in America, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (a.k.a. the Yarn Harlot) shares stories of knitting horrors and triumphs, knitting successes and defeats, but, mostly, stories about the human condition that ring true for everyone--especially if you happen to have a rather large amount of yarn in your house.

Pearl-McPhee maintains a popular blog at www.yarnharlot.ca. Divided into sections relating to each essay's content, such as women, politics, family, and overcoming boredom, Free-Range Knitter will entertain yarnsmiths who enjoy sharing in the collective experiences of the woolen and silky skein.

Never Not Knitting! Page-A-Day Calendar 2009 (Original Page a Day Calendars)

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Amazon Price: $9.59 List Price: $11.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: 2009 Calendars - Model: 15060 Amazon Marketplace: 33 new & used starting at $7.34

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Knitting

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

so its not 2009 yet 5 out of 5 stars.
22 of 26 people found this review helpful.

Never Not Knitting! 2009 CalendarI know its not 2009 yet and YES this is a 2009 calendar but IT IS Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. I have flipped through it and read many of the entries. Very cool stuff and classic Pearl-McPhee. If you are looking for a great Christmas present for the knitter in your life, this is the thing to buy . . . even when 2009 is over, s/he will keep it!

Editorial Review:

For obsessive knitters—and you know who you are—here's a new calendar whose title says it all. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is a superstar in the knitting world; her bestselling books have sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Packed with inspiration, passion, and practical advice delivered with the author's signature
humor and wit, Never Not Knitting! will appeal to knitters of all ages. Tuesday Tips, including how to avoid knitting those pesky swatches. Knitting personality
quizzes. Plus weekly "Knitticisms," A Stitch in Time (knitting history), and Purls of Wisdom: No one has ever been killed or maimed by being adventurous with knitting, no matter how pointy the needles.

Knit One Below: One Stitch, Many Fabrics

Elise Duvekot

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Xrx Books Amazon Marketplace: 23 new & used starting at $12.61

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Endlessly fascinating new technique 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Fortunately for knitters, Elise Duvekot is a curious and persistent investigator. The unique "knit 1 below (K1B)" technique which emerged during her patient explorations inspired her to find ways to use the resulting cushy, non-curling fabric in a wide range of garments and accessories.

The technique is not, as one Amazon reviewer wrote on November 28, the same as slipping a stitch. A slipped stitch leaves a float and the K1B technique leaves no floats. In fact K1B fabric is reversible, with both sides resembling stockinette, although they are easy to distinguish (and both look great). I hope this reviewer will take a longer look at the book so as not to miss the surprising result of the actual method.

Elise presents her K1B technique with clear illustrations, tempting photos, and detailed instructions for using the simple method in many circumstances, including cables, intarsia, edgings, bands, borders, seams, shaping, and working flat or in the round.

But what is most inspiring of all are the hand-painted colorway combinations. K1B fabric tames hand-paint's tendency toward color chaos, leaving it harmonious and calm, as if its tangles have been combed into columns of beautiful drifting colors.

The designs include vests, jackets, sweaters, skirts, tops, a necklace, scarves and shawls, a set of pillows, baby blankets and outfits, hats, wrist-warmers, and particularly fascinating to me, socks. My one complaint about the book is that the sock information is more of a tease than a full set of instructions and designs. Once you see the delicious photos you will know what I mean. There is enough instruction for adventurous sock knitters to use happily, but I suspect that the publisher is going to begin receiving lots of emails from less adventurous sock knitters begging for a whole book on K1B socks. I think they should say yes.

I highly recommend this book.

Editorial Review:

The bright idea behind this guide is to build an entire collection around one simple stitch that creates many intriguing effects. Shown in knitting instructions as "k1b" (knit 1 below), the technique involves knitting into the stitch one row below the stitch on the needle with either a knit or a purl stitch. The result is an easy-to-knit fabric with wonderful drape and flexibility that looks equally good on both sides. The color effects possible are also impressive: by alternating two or more colors, weights, or fibers, flattering vertical columns appear on one side of the fabric and a mottled pattern shows on the other. Making the most of this double-sided characteristic, the projects include afghans, scarves, bags, jackets with turned-back lapels, and hats with turned-up brims, all constructed from simple shapes and requiring minimal finishing. Several designs go beyond the basic stitch by adding cables, felting, and intarsia designs.

Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker

Debbie Stoller

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 152 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

What good is a pattern book, when the patterns are all wrong? 1 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

There are some great patterns in this book... but SO many of them are wrong, mis-printed, and have errors! Some of the illustrations are wrong too.
There are tons of updates on their website for the "correct" patterns (they call them erratas) - but what a pain to have to cross things out and re-write them. Isn't that the point of buying a pattern book, so that you have an easy reference?
I purchased as a gift for my sister who is learning to crochet. The first half of the book is written for the beginner, with detailed instructions. She was so frustrated, after spending hours on a project, only to find it wasn't working. (it was after investigation I found the erratas)

This book is headed for the recycle bin

Editorial Review:

Lacy, sexy summer tops. Chic, cozy sweaters. Chunky, funky hats and colorfully crafty afghans—it all starts with the single, simple act of wrapping a hook around a strand of yarn. Then come the stitches, the flourishes, the unlimited creativity. Stylish, cheeky in tone, chock-full of information and inspiration, this is the indispensable guide. Learn the skills. Speak the lingo. Make the stuff. And give old granny square a chance.

Custom Knits: Unleash Your Inner Designer with Top-Down and Improvisational Techniques

Wendy Bernard

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Along with being pleasurable and satisfying, knitting can sometimes be frustrating: the turtleneck that looked so fabulous on the model is too bulky for your body, or the cardigan you spent countless hours on just doesn’t fit right. Herein lies the beauty of Custom Knits, which teaches knitters how to use improvisational techniques to achieve spectacular results—and to unleash their inner designers.

 

Wendy Bernard, creator of the popular blog Knit and Tonic, provides 25 original designs for sweaters of nearly every type, plus variations, most knitted in one piece starting at the top, a method that allows you to try on as you go, alter as desired, and essentially design on the fly. “Make It Your Own” prompts in each pattern suggest easy alterations to suit your style and body type. And an in-depth reference section teaches how to alter key sweater elements, for example, change a crewneck to a V-neck, add sleeves to a vest, and much more. For the truly adventurous, the book concludes with guidelines for knitting sweaters with no pattern at all.

 

Bernard’s friendly writing style and photographer Kimball Hall’s lively images create an inviting book of beautiful designs and key techniques that a knitter can use to customize nearly every garment she knits from now on.

Scrapbooks: An American History

Jessica Helfand

Amazon Price: $29.70 List Price: $45.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Yale University Press Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $27.82

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Combining pictures, words, and a wealth of personal ephemera, scrapbook makers preserve on the pages of their books a moment, a day, or a lifetime. Highly subjective and rich in emotional content, the scrapbook is a unique and often quirky form of expression in which a person gathers and arranges meaningful materials to create a personal narrative. This lavishly illustrated book is the first to focus attention on the history of American scrapbooks—their origins, their makers, their diverse forms, the reasons for their popularity, and their place in American culture.

 

Jessica Helfand, a graphic designer and scrapbook collector, examines the evolution of scrapbooks from the beginning of the nineteenth century to the present, concentrating on the first half of the twentieth century. She includes color photographs from more than two hundred scrapbooks, some made by private individuals and others by the famous, including Zelda Fitzgerald, Lillian Hellman, Anne Sexton, Hilda Doolittle, and Carl Van Vechten. Scrapbooks, while generally made by amateurs, represent a striking and authoritative form of visual autobiography, Helfand finds, and when viewed collectively they offer a unique perspective on the changing pulses of American cultural life.

 

Published with assistance from Furthermore: a program of the J. M. Kaplan Fund