Learn the timeless and nostalgic craft of spun cotton and make the perfect handmade decorations for the holiday season! Spun Cotton Christmas Ornaments features 5 adorable step-by-step projects using affordable materials, from glitter icicles and a bell garland to a snowman figurine and more! Also included is a brief history of spun cotton, helpful sections on materials and techniques, and a gallery of inspirational ornament designs. Accessible for anyone to accomplish no matter their skill level, this guide is a fun and festive introduction to making charming spun cotton ornaments! Author Valerie Lloyd is the owner of Smile Mercantile Craft Co. where she sells quality craft goods to passionate makers, from twine and paper mache to spun cotton craft shapes, holiday novelties, and more. Her popular YouTube channel by the same name is where she offers an array of imaginative and easy-to-follow craft tutorials.

Love at First Stitch gives you all the know-how you need to start making the dresses of your dreams. Written for novice stitchers by the author of the popular sewing blog Tilly and the Buttons, Tilly Walnes demystifies dressmaking for the generations that have never been taught to sew. This book presents the core sewing basics in an informal style, with Tilly's friendly and encouraging voice cheering the reader on throughout. Instead of overwhelming the novice dressmaker with theory, this book is about learning by doing. Each chapter presents practical tips and inspiration to guide you through creating a made-to-measure garment from one of the seven versatile and adaptable patterns included with the book, which can then be personalised to suit your individual style. Peppered throughout the book are Tilly's top sewing tips, including everything from what to look out for when buying - or borrowing - your first sewing machine, through how to behave in a fabric shop to appear like an expert, to techniques for pressing perfection.

A collection of boro-inspired projects and techniques which celebrates this traditional Japanese textile and its relevance to the modern sewer and quilter. Learn about the history of boro and how it is being revived for a new audience using contemporary fabrics including denim, linen and shibori tie dye as well as sashiko and other embroidery stitches. The word boro comes from the Japanese boroboro meaning something tattered or repaired. It refers to textiles that have been mended or patched together for utilitarian, not decorative, purposes to make the fabric stronger and warmer, and to mend torn and threadbare areas. The techniques section includes a short stitch directory with traditional stitches (running stitch and applique) and contemporary stitches (herringbone stitch, blanket stitch, chain stitch and whipped running stitch). Other techniques include instructions on improvisational patchwork; applique: raw, turned edge and reverse; darning techniques and methods for distressing and ageing fabrics to achieve an authentic boro finish.

When Daisy Braid started sewing, patterns were out of her budget so she just started DIYing! Sew It Yourself with DIY Daisy is a colorful, size-inclusive and inspiring book for sewers of all stages and abilities, beginners included. It includes guides on everything you need to get started (including equipment, materials and basic techniques) and step-by-step projects with clear instructions, photographs and illustrations that will take the scary out of sewing.

Daisy's designs use simple shapes to create playful, classic and comfortable pieces that can be styled for all occasions, whether that's a picnic date or a WFH day. The book features 10 small accessory projects and 10 more advanced clothing projects, each with a fun variation (but with potential for endless customization). There's no standard sizing – just your own body measurements – and no zips or buttons required! They also encourage intentional sewing practices, with projects that produce minimal waste and can even be made with leftover fabric scraps.

So get out that sewing machine (or borrow one from you granny) – Sew It Yourself with DIY Daisy is all you need to get started on discovering (or rediscovering) sewing and creating something one-of-a-kind. Just remember: sewing is self-care, and you make the rules!

Making Working Women's Costume gives a unique account of the clothes of ordinary women from the mid-fifteenth century to the early twentieth century. As well as introducing the historical periods, it gives patterns for a range of typical garments that women of the poorer classes would have worn. Organized by century, it draws on historical sources and finds, paintings and photographs to recreate the clothes of these under-celebrated women.

Now in paperback, The Needlepoint Book is the only needlework guide you'll ever need-now including 436 stitches and 1,680 illustrations. Since its original publication in 1976, The Needlepoint Book has become known as the bible for all stitching enthusiasts-the one resource for every needlepoint aficionado. Whether you're new to the craft or have been practicing for years, this guide covers your sewing journey from inspiration to achievement with specific guidelines on how to make the painted canvas yours. Featuring all-new projects and stitch patterns for every level of expertise, you will learn practical skills, such as how to: -Choose your project with purpose -Tell its story with stitches and fibers -Create mood with color and texture -Fill that blank background -Select and use embellishments such as beads and sequins Included in this revised and expanded edition is a crash course on how to use new fibers; updated information on materials, as well as how to work with and care for them; dozens of new stitches; and diagrams and stitch guides for select projects included in the book. Also featured are thirty-two pages of color photographs with all-new projects; dozens of new stitches explained with photos and drawings; and a new ribbon stitch chapter. The Needlepoint Book is the one book to own on the topic. In one comprehensive volume, it has everything you'll need to create your own artistic, high-quality heirloom.

Each title in the 'Cross Stitch Motif' series contains dozens of themed borders, small and large images, and samplers to inspire an endless array of stitching projects. Easy-to-follow colour charts and a colour pattern key for each page make each book a useful addition to every design library. A must for any cross-stitch pattern book collection, this sourcebook contains dozens of exciting border designs to inspire both experienced and novice stitchers. It is brimming with ideas that include strong geometric patterns, pretty florals, and fun, motif-based designs. There is a variety of sizes to adorn table cloths, towels, cushions, clothing, and any fabric or cross-stitch project.

Feather your nest with this avian collection of easy sewing patterns for beautiful bird designs, all made using simple hand-sewing techniques. Featuring the most popular and distinctive species - including garden birds, exotic birds, birds of prey, water birds, flightless birds and more - each pattern wings its way to you with step-by-step instructions and full-size templates, making them perfect for all abilities. The finished little birdies would make cute brooches, bag charms and home accessories, or can even be scaled up to make bigger plushes, all of which will make your friends into avid twitchers! Author Alison J Reid has spent months brooding away in her studio, researching all different kinds of birds, both common and rare. She has checked out their shapes, plumage and markings, and spent so much time trying to perfect their colourful, beautiful wings. It became an obsession! It was only by researching the various details that make each breed so distinctive, that Alison has been able to capture each of their unique qualities and differences. Pattern, colour and shape are key, so capturing these details in felt was important. Luckily, there are so many different colours of felt available! Felt's non-fraying, double sided, robust qualities make it easy to create all the little details that make each bird design so unique and instantly recognisable. Each bird pattern can be traced straight from the page (or enlarged if you want to sew a larger plush), and simple instructions mean that even beginners can get started. And because all the birds are sewn by hand, you don't need a sewing machine and can sit out in the garden with the birds while you sew. Whether you choose to sew just your own favourites, or make gifts for the other bird-lovers in your life, this book will provide hours of fun and inspiration.

After the great success of Santa and His Friends, Tom Wolfe presents a group of traditional Santas that have been found in American Art, literature, and advertising since the 1860s and have a warm place in the imaginations of children and the memories of adults. With easy to follow, step-by-step instructions accompanied by full color photos, this is a great book for the beginning and intermediate carver.

Choose from a stunning variety of sewing and papercraft designs, including bags, decorations, gifts, cards and soft toys. The colour palette used includes beautiful shades of red, pink, taupe, cream, turquoise and blue. Projects are accompanied by clear instructions, gorgeous photographs and colour illustrations.

This book helps you discover the secrets of top designers, and how they mix and match fabrics. You can: discover an outstanding collection of projects from the talented fabric designers at Henry Glass & Co.; learn the secrets designers use to create fabric lines, and apply their tips and trick to successfully mix and match your own fabrics; and, choose from a wide variety of projects from pillows to place mats, wall hangings, and quilts - all showcasing gorgeous fabrics and patterns. Immerse yourself in designs by the Buggy Barn, Heather Muddler Peterson, Jill Finley, Kim Diehl, Linda Lum DeBono, Amy Hamberlin, Mary Ellen Von Holt, and many more!

Learn to sew simple, stylish, wear-everywhere garments with All Well Sewing Studio Easy-Sew Basics, filled with super-easy instructions and patterns written for sewists of all skill levels"If you can sew a straight line, you can sew anything (and, in this book, we'll teach you how to sew a straight line!). We will help you get started from scratch, with detailed sewing instructions and techniques that will soon become second nature. We'll explain why you're doing things, and when it is important to do things a certain way, and when you can improvise and not worry! We'll tell you everything you need to know to sew your own clothes and bags-and to have fun in the process." - Amy Bornman and Amelia Greenhall, founders @AllWellWorkshopWhether you are just learning how to sew or want to sharpen your skills, Amy Bornman and Amelia Greenhall, the founders of All Well, make sewing fun. Social media is abuzz with love for All Well's patterns, illustrated guidance, and conversational how-tos that feel just like an inviting, in-person workshop. How to Sew Clothes will have you wanting to sew every project featured in the book (and you will feel empowered to do just that), but it is also a great read, even when you aren't in the mood to sew. How many craft books can say that?Inside you'll find everything you need to get started and sew your heart out, including five brand-new bag patterns and All Well's bestselling garment patterns (their first time in print). Pick up this book and learn essential skills such as how to choose fabrics, read patterns, and cut out pattern pieces and sew them together, as well as how to backstitch, zigzag stitch, assess fit, and learn from what you make. The book also teaches you how to stitch up clothing such as tops, dresses, jackets, and v-neck shells and an assortment of bags that will fit you and your style just right.

Metric Pattern Cutting for Women's Wear provides a straightforward introduction to the principles of form pattern cutting for garments to fit the body shape, and flat pattern cutting for casual garments and jersey wear. This sixth edition remains true to the original concept: it offers a range of good basic blocks, an introduction to the basic principles of pattern cutting and examples of their application into garments. Fully revised and updated to include a brand new and improved layout, up-to-date skirt and trouser blocks that reflect the changes in body sizing, along with updates to the computer-aided design section and certain blocks, illustrations and diagrams. This best-selling textbook still remains the essential purchase for students and beginners looking to understand pattern cutting and building confidence to develop their own pattern cutting style.

This book shows how to make 40 bags and miscellaneous goods with very simple, clear-cut instructions that even total beginners can follow. What makes this book special is that it has patterns with stitch marks at the end of the book. Leather is usually sewn after piercing holes for stitching, which means that punching the holes is the most important part. If the number of holes and their stitching positions match, all that is left to do is sew the item together along the holes. Tanned leather gradually softens. In this book, since thick leather is used and linings are not, the shape of your bag may change depending on age and use. This is actually one of the wonders of aged, tanned leather, that you will enjoy.

Mend, rethink, transform, recreate! Mending your favorite fabric items--from jeans to sweaters to sofa covers--becomes a true art form in Creative Mending. In this book, mending guru Hikaru Noguchi shows you her entire range of valuable techniques--from embroidery and patching to darning and felting--that are just challenging enough for experienced menders. Noguchi's basic rules of mending are that the repair should suit the fabric and its user, and that there are lots of creative ways to create beautifully customized repairs--some subtle, others making a statement. She provides 13 techniques that show you how to: Apply creative repairs to both knitted and woven fabrics Use yarn, floss, ribbon, and fabric to reinvent well-loved garments Make understated repairs that add just a touch of contrast, color, or texture Use visible mending techniques for bold repairs Darn with felt to add body and dimension to a repaired item Match your repairs to the damage, the fabric, and the wearer Maneuver through tricky places like inseams and underarms And more! The 13 illustrated lessons and over 300 color photos in this book provide detailed examples for all the basic techniques. Lots of variations plus plenty of tips and examples (67 in all) provide you with all the guidance you need to rethink and repair beautifully. The stunning photos will inspire you to get creative on that fraying neckline or worn elbow!

So why do Waldorf dolls have few facial features? What is it about dolls that captures the imagination of children and adults around the world? This book answers these questions and highlights the power of dolls used for therapeutic purposes, recognising that soft dolls aren't just for children. From the simplest rag doll to curly-haired characters, this book gives straight-forward instructions, a guide to buying your materials and upcycling materials you already own. A lovingly hand-made doll makes the perfect present and these dolls are easy to make and will be much loved for generations. Large and small, knitted and sewn, beautiful dolls for making at home Full step-by-step instructions with clear drawings and templates Detailed directions to make 9 character dolls and their accessories Basic body part intructions enable you to create your own characters Create charming dolls' house doll family plus their clothes and accessories Create clothes, bags, baby carrier and even pets for your dolls Simple and easy to achieve sewing for beginners

From the author of the bestselling The Bag Making Bible comes an outstanding collection of 12 inspiring bags for you to make at home. Lisa Lam brings you a stunning collection of sewing patterns to make your own bags. The book features 12 bag designs with full photographic instructions for how to make a bag with truly professional results. The book features a link to print-at-home patterns so that you can get started right away - no photocopying or enlarging required. The book opens with Lisa's in-depth advice on all the aspects needed to get started, from the tools and equipment you need, to understanding and interpreting patterns, to choosing, preparing and cutting fabrics. A comprehensive Techniques section explains some core bag-making techniques such as how to insert a zip pocket, how to use magnetic snap closures, how to sew bag straps and handles including adjustable straps, and how to bind edges and use piping for a truly professional finish. There is also guidance on how to insert a lining to your bag. All the techniques are fully explained with easy to follow photographs, so you'll be creating professional, practical and great-looking bags before you know it! The 12 projects that follow range in complexity. If you're new to sewing and bag making there are beginner bag projects such as the Compact Groceries Tote, All-Sorted Laundry Bag and Access-All-Areas Pouch to get you started before progressing to the more fully featured bags such as the Too-Cool-for-School Satchel and the 3-in-1 Convertible Backpack. You can make your own iPad case, sew a child's backpack, create a pretty purse using a metal purse frame, make your own tri-fold wallet, make a baby changing bag with matching changing mat, sew your own bicycle panniers, and a vanity case for your beauty essentials. The bags all have style and substance and are designed with real-life practical uses in mind. Within each project Lisa gives her hints and tips for success, along with advice on how you can customize the patterns to create your own version of the design.