A form of handmade lace, tatting is a traditional skill with origins dating back centuries and spanning continents. Each stitch is composed of two half-hitch knots. The single thread is looped and knotted with the aid of a small shuttle - a simple technique that produces amazingly intricate results. This book shows how a simple piece of tatting can be developed into something striking and complex. The reader is guided through the process with easy-to-follow diagrams and descriptions. The 15 stunning designs, including many variants to experiment with, allow the tatting disciple to explore the craft further. Ideas for how the basic patterns can be developed are included, as well as suggestions such as creating very different looks by varying the thread used. Whatever your level of experience, "Mastering Tatting" offers the chance to create something satisfying and unique to cherish or give as a gift.

The number-1 requested sewing book just got better Ideal for sewing enthusiasts of all skill levels, this book uses photos and clearly written text to demonstrate all the basic sewing techniques needed for sewing clothes and home decor items.""

Stay pain-free with this quilter's survival guide for a healthier mind, body, and spirit. This guide will make sure you have the right posture, techniques, and stretches when putting in those dedicated hours on your next project.

From a cheeky Fox Duffle Coat to a sweet and simple Mouse Pocket Dress, the designs in The Fox, the Bear & the Bunny are great fun and utterly adorable. The animal themed projects include dresses, dungarees, coats and trousers, and each are embellished with different animals for a playful twist. The Bunny coat has ears and a tail, whilst the Cat Mittens have a fun pawprint motif. Aimed at crafters with some experience of machine sewing, the pull-out pattern sheets, simple, step-by-step instructions and clear diagrams make even seemingly complicated patterns easy to understand and accessible, and all the patterns can be scaled up or down to fit children aged 1-5. The fun features of these clothes encourage creative play, and children will love having unique and quirky clothes that really stand out. With everything from rabbits and owls to foxes and bears, youngsters and adults alike will be delighted by these whimsical and original designs.

Zakka is a Japanese design aesthetic that combines usefulness with beauty and style. In this book, Sedef Imer has created a collection of simple, pretty, and handy projects inspired by the art of Zakka to help organise and beautify your home. Suitable for all levels of sewists, you will be inspired by these fun and easy-to-sew projects that will brighten and adorn your home.

Every vintage-obsessed sewist dreams of having a closet full of gorgeous dresses. The follow-up to the popular Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing and Gertie Sews Vintage Casual, Gertie's Ultimate Dress Book is packed with all the information and patterns you could ever need to create a wardrobe filled with stunning vintage frocks. The book begins with all the essential techniques for dressmaking and includes instructions and patterns for 23 dresses for a variety of occasions. Elements of each pattern can be mixed and matched, allowing readers to customise the bodice, skirt, sleeves, pockets and details of each dress for a truly unique creation.

This title helps you learn the classic techniques of painting silk, with creative projects to do at home. There are exciting designs to create, including a Decorative Fan, a Lily Scarf, a Flowery Camisole and a Block-printed Blind. It features a gallery of exquisite silk painting treatments by leading contemporary artists. It includes information about materials, equipment and techniques such as using gutta and marbling. There are 25 original and easy-to-achieve projects presented step by step. It contains over 300 specially commissioned photographs, which clearly demonstrate each stage. This is the definitive approach to a traditional craft. The art of decorating textiles has been popular since ancient times and of all the natural fabrics silk is the most sought after. Increasingly sophisticated dyes have led to new and elaborate decorative techniques, but the real beauty of silk painting is that even simple designs produce outstanding results. This book shows how to create 25 decorative pieces, and contains all the information you need to get started. Types of silk and their suitability for different dyes are discussed, and many basic techniques - including tie-dye, dip-dye, salt scattering, gutta resist, marbling and batik - are explained. Once you have mastered these basics the projects will be easily achieved. The projects vary in complexity so you can start off with a dip-dyed handkerchief before tackling more involved techniques such as the gutta hand-painted parasol. The projects are presented step by step with photographs to take you through the stages. This book is a wonderful introduction to one of the world's most rewarding crafts.

Craft your own stylish accessories worthy of a high-end boutique with this collection of 21 macram bags, belts, and straps. From durable market totes to cross-body boho bags, there's a purse for every occasion. After mastering basic macram techniques, discover how to add special details, such as wooden handles, metal buckles, and zippers, to elevate the style and function of your designs. With its assortment of small-scale projects, this book is great for beginners, but also provides fresh inspiration for veteran macram enthusiasts looking to create wearable art.

Gretchen "Gertie" Hirsch is a passionate home seamstress, a sought-after sewing teacher, and the creator of one of the web's most popular sewing blogs: Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing. The blog began as a way for readers to follow Hirsch's progress as she stitched all 14 fashions from the iconic 1950s sewing book "Vogue's New Book for Better Sewing" (a "Julie & Julia"-esque experiment for the modern sewist). It quickly became a place for Hirsch to share tutorials and lively posts about sewing as it relates to fashion history, pop culture, body image, and gender. An extension of the blog, "Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing" is a hardworking reference title packed with lessons on couture techniques and customization, as well as an inimitable pattern collection featuring 25 wardrobe essentials and variations inspired by vintage fashion and Gertie's spirited, modern style.
Praise for "Gertie's New Book For Better Sewing: "
"If you read Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing, you already know that Gretchen Hirsch is all about teaching basic sewing skills that some of us (guilty ) may have skipped right over when we learned to sew. Now you can find all of Gretchen's sewing knowledge in one place." --Martha Stewart.com
"Like her blog, Hirsch's book is like a chat with a friend who happens to be an expert seamstress. Even if the vintage-inspired garments aren't your style, there's plenty to learn from this book." --"Library Journal"
"The styles are all rocked out with the tattoo-clad Gertie as the model. If you love a retro pattern, then this book is the one for you." --CraftGossip.com
"White paper templates, not tissue These will make it easier to trace." --"Sew Spoiled"
"I personally love the finishing details on well-made garments and found this book to be a fantastic resource for adding techniques to my repertoire." --ThreadBias.com
"Maybe my faaavorite part of the book is the Vintage to Modern dictionary. If you ever use vintage patterns or shop for vintage or retro-y clothes, you'll love this spread " --"Adventures in Dressmaking"
"The featured wealth of skills in a range of garment-sewing techniques are perfect for the home sewer with a thirst to learn how to create pieces for her own wardrobe." -- EcoSalon.com
"Her new book is an excellent extension of the blog that includes a fantastic collection of nine patterns to create your own vintage-inspired wardrobe." --SewNews.com
"One of my favourite aspects of the book is that it pulls back the curtain on construction and reveals what the insides of the garments look like. It's really helpful to take a peek at how another stitcher finishes her seams and keeps the whole thing hanging together--a very clever touch." --"Tilly and the Buttons"
"We love it, and we're so excited to have it in hand. It's wonderful to be able to infuse some "Gertie style" into our sewing. All the projects are great, and the layout of the book is really easy to use and navigate. It has a great vintage, yet modern look." --"Sew Mama Sew"
""Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing" is a fun, new pattern book, featuring sewing patterns that embody author Gretchen Hirsch's fresh take on vintage style."--CRAFTzine.com

"If you read "Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing," you already know that Gretchen Hirsch is all about teaching basic sewing skills that some of us (guilty ) may have skipped right over when we learned to sew. Now you can find all of Gretchen's sewing knowledge in one place." --MarthaStewartLiving.com
"This is not down-and-dirty sewing, but studied and time consuming. Which is awesome." --"Angry Chicken"
"Since most women are a size bigger in the hips than in the waist, the pattern proportions in the book are already adjusted to take this difference into account. When I read this in the sizing guide, I actually got out of my chair and did a little happy dance. Three cheers for patterns that are actually shaped like the women who will be using them " --"The Zen of Making"
"This book overflows with pictures, drawings and diagrams to ensure your sewing success. She also includes a whopping 25 patterns, making this book a steal Sure to be a reference for your sewing room and guaranteed to be a resource you turn to for zippers and buttons . . . even if you don't make a single pencil skirt." --"Generation Q Magazine"

"If you are a fan of the mid-century vintage look, this book is a must-buy. Hirsch's instructions are excellent, and use new technologies and techniques that didn't exist 50 years ago." --Examiner.com

The finishing touches applied to a garment can take it from the realms of the ordinary to the heights of luxury. Creating Couture Embellishment offers a step-by-step guide to manipulating fabric and making and applying a rich variety of embellishments. Chapters cover fabric-manipulation techniques of pleating, quilting, tucking, ruffling, shirring and smocking, as well as the fabrication and application of feathers, beading, embroidery, flowers, decorative ribbons and bows, bias bindings and piping, fringe, braids and passementerie. The heirloom quality created by the insertion or application of lace is also explored. Featuring a visual index of every embellishment in the book that is designed to offer inspiration as well as showcasing the myriad of choice, Creating Couture Embellishment provides a comprehensive sourcebook of ideas for the student, professional and home sewer alike.

Do you browse through vintage clothes at flea markets and wish you had the knack to breathe new life into dated smocks, flares and kaftans? Kelly Doust's Minxy Vintage is the book that will help you transform those items and, in fact, anything that has been sitting in the back of your wardrobe, waiting for a reinvention. In Minxy Vintage, Kelly combines her love for fashion with creativity and her enthusiasm for craft, and transforms stained, musty, dated clothes into modern and unique pieces. Feel inspired with over 50 projects ranging from customised frocks, wedding dresses and trench coats to cardigans and accessories. This is not just a book about loving vintage fashion - it's about seeing the possibilities for reinventing all old clothes, and how to look fabulous doing so, no matter what your age, location or budget.

Part of a fantastic series of stash-busting sewing books, here are 25 fabulous projects to make, each using only one fat quarter. Fat Quarter: One-Piece Projects is ideal for using up small pieces of fabric to create a range of decorative and useful items for your home. Perfect for gifts to friends and family! Projects include: oven mitt pin board slippers child's apron baby mobile Projects are suitable for beginner to intermediate sewers.

With country style a key trend for this Fall why not create the country feel in your own home with these 8 stylish country-inspired home projects. From a simple draught excluder to a large bean bag floor cushion to sink into in front of the fire, these projects will add to your home's comfort and beauty. Each project is demonstrated using two differing fabrics from Westminster Fibers Free Spirit amazing fabric designers--with the colorful and creative style of Anna Maria Horner and the classic and eclectic style of Joel Dewberry.Easy-to-follow instructions with step-by-step illustrations and lots of detailed photographs will guide you through the creative process from preparing your fabric, cutting it out, sewing and adding finishing touches. The gorgeous other projects featured include a round tablecloth, food covers, a lap quilt, table mats, fabric bowl & lid and a padded chair cushion.So get sewing and create the country feel around your home

Upholstery: A Complete Course comprises an encyclopedic guide to the techniques & materials of the craft in addition to fascinating information on its history and development. Since first being published in 1990, with a second revision in 2016 and now a third in 2022, this book has proved itself to be a useful volume for those entering the world of upholstery. Traditional handwork, modern industrial methods and everything in-between, it is all explained here with an entire overview of the upholstery trade. By following the five useful projects in this book, you will be able to apply the key techniques you have learnt into practise. With detailed pictures and illustrations by David James to help guide you, the old furniture needing an update will be brought back to life in no time. This book continues to thrive and inspire those wanting to give a piece of their furniture a fresh new look. Recycling old furniture can be rewarding and exciting, which is exactly why this book has been picked up time and time again. Whatever interests you have in upholstery, this book is guaranteed to give you information about everything you need including materials and tools, as well as the history and development of the craft. Topics include: History, Development, Tools, Machines, Materials, Fabrics, Leather, Foam, Frames and Structures, Springs, Traditional Techniques, Modern Techniques. Projects: Loose Seat For Dining Chair, Piped Scatter Cushion, Hall or Lounge Stool, Edwardian Music Stool and a Mid-Victorian Dining Chair With Buttoned Seat.

Turn your kitchen into a waste-free zone with these crafty solutions for everything from 'unpaper' towels to reusable kitchen wipes and clever storage solutions. The zero waste movement is huge and this collection will help you to craft your own zero waste solutions - with just a few craft skills you will be able to turn your unwanted waste into storage and cleaning items for your kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of our homes and finding ways to make it feel healthy and wholesome are really important. From leftover food scraps to the endless packaging that our food comes in, there's so much that goes on in a kitchen and it's the place in our homes where we generate the mosts waste. Make your kitchen more sustainable with some clever craft ideas for reusing, upcycling and transforming waste. Whether you're a committed crafter or new to making, there is something for everyone no matter what your skill level is. Choose from projects and tutorials for the kitchen including sewing, crochet, patchwork, upcycling and reuse ideas. There are also some projects that require cutting, sticking and even drilling thrown in for good measure: learning how to do little bits of everything will give you a 'toolkit' to think creatively about how to reuse everyday things as you progress on your journey to zero waste living. Learn how to use up fabric scraps and old linen to create beeswax wraps for storing food; make your own paper caddy liners for food waste and create pots for growing kitchen herbs from empty bottles. Create a unique and practical apron from an old pair of thrifted curtains and sew some handy storage ideas for the family using pockets rescued from unwanted clothes. Upcycling and reuse gurus Emma Friedlander-Collins and Christine Leech show you how to turn your kitchen into a zero-waste zone with step-by-step instructions and some clever crafting. Packed full of original ideas, Zero Waste: Kitchen will help you to live the zero-waste way and improve your efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle while at the same time having fun.

Get cosy with a warming drink and a new sewing project for autumn. In Tilda Hot Chocolate Sewing, bestselling author Tone Finnanger returns with a stunning new collection featuring the Tilda BirdPond fabric range. Featuring over 20 projects, you can choose from quilts and softies, bags and dolls, pillows and purses. Autumnal motifs include reindeer, mice, apples, butternut squash, ducks, birds, houses and more. This heartwarming collection will bring warmth and magic to your sewing, with beautiful lifestyle photography and step-by-step instructions and diagrams to ensure success.

Costume designer Sanit Klamchanuan teaches you to build original and character-based cosplay that's truly your own! Follow Sanit's complete design process through five original cosplays - from planning to problem-solving to execution.

Design a skirt for every day of the week With these 28 irresistible projects, you'll learn all the techniques you need to custom-design and sew fabulous skirts that fit you perfectly. Smith shows you how to draft a pattern for a custom fit and then alter that pattern into one of four basic silhouettes: wrap, straight, flared, and high-waisted. Each skirt can then be easily redesigned into seven distinct and delicious looks -- one for each day of the week. These projects are suitable for sewists at every level, including beginners.

Overlockers do so much more than just join seams and neaten edges. With this practical book by your side, you will learn to make full use of your machine so that your sewing projects become easier and quicker to make. With helpful tips and troubleshooting advice throughout, it shows you how to make full use of your machine and how to enjoy the overlocking process. Topics covered include the different stitches an overlocker can produce, how to achieve them and when to use them. Useful techniques for making garments through simple steps are demonstrated along with photographs to illustrate the processes. Practical advice on equipment and accessories is given, along with troubleshooting tips for when things do not go to plan. There are quick reference charts and creative ideas for decorative finishes.

Pick up a new craft and learn to create beautiful macrame homeware, wall hangings and gifts with the next book in this best-selling seriesIn recent years, macrame has gone from a nostalgic '70s trend to a mainstay in contemporary crafting, and no modern home is complete without a stylish knotted creation. This new book takes you back to complete basics, with clear step-by-step illustrations showing every knot you'll need in order to get started plus all the techniques, styles, tools and materials to take you from novice to pro. Once you've aced the essentials, move on to 20 clear, stylish and straightforward projects to practise the skills you've learned. By the end of the book, you will be able to macrame beautiful items to gift or keep, from a stunning wall hanging to a chic plant holder or a handy market bag. Projects include: Wall hangings Plant hangers Market bag Bunting

The incredible range of colours and versatility of beads, ribbons and silken threads make them irresistible materials for crafts, artists, jewellery makers and interior designers of all levels. This attractive book presents an inspirational guide to the art of working with beads, ribbons and threads, illustrating key techniques such as how to use a bead loom and a pin board for beadwork, a warping frame and skirt board for tassels, and ribbon weaving and embroidery methods to embellish your work. Presented in an easy-to-follow format, with techniques to suit all levels, this volume allows you to create exquisite decorations with confidence; it combines a fascinating history and guide to the crafts with the practical techniques needed to create traditional and contemporary items that both gorgeous and useful.