As a highly experienced community midwife and teacher, Bridget Sheeran knows that pregnancy should be a time for vital physical and mental preparation. The body and mind do much of this automatically but there are many ways to support this process, and to resist the day-to-day stresses that can hinder it. Through detailed images for colouring-in, Bridget invites pregnant women to allow their natural curiosity to rise up and lead them to discover how they can help themselves through the process of birth. As women relate to their interpretation of the illustrations, this book can powerfully: Allow them in their own time to focus on their needs in pregnancy, birth and becoming a mother; Motivate them to prepare for birth and the responsibility of caring for a newborn; Enable personal well-being through relieving stress via the 'right brain' activity of colouring-in; Motivate women to evaluate their personal resources and find the support structures they will need to do the most important job in the world: give birth and nurture their baby.

Do you wish your knitting was better and that you had an expert knitter by your side to help you when it goes wrong? Then this is the book for you - it even has a special lay-flat binding so you can keep your hands on your needles. Patty Lyons is an expert in all things knitting related - she will help you sort out your gauge, unpick problems like twisted stitches and generally spruce up your knitting know-how in this pocket-sized reference book packed full of her purls' of wisdom. Patty is a well-known knitting 'agony aunt' and she will hold your hand as you tackle the problems that often beset knitters and get in the way of beautiful finished projects. This handy guide will always be by your side to help you unravel your yarn problems and get you back on track. Packed full of practical advice for knitters as well as step-by-step instructions for a whole raft of knitting issues, this is the ultimate guide for anyone who's ever picked up yarn and a set of needles. This isn't like other how to knit' books with basic information about casting on and how to form stitches (although there is a handy how-to reference section at the back for when you need a refresher), this is a book about the why' of knitting. Not about why we knit' but about why we knit the way we do'. By digging deeper into the why' Patty doesn't just fix your knitting problems she helps you to truly understand why the yarn/stitches/needles/tension are acting in a certain way and how to fix any issues. She starts by looking at the basics and explores the anatomy of a stitch, examining how this affects the look, feel and shape of the finished knitted fabrics and how different knitting techniques affect the finished outcome. Patty examines the problems caused by common mistakes that many knitters make without even noticing before diving into more complex knitting issues and how to trouble shoot them. All of Patty's techniques and tips are illustrated with detailed step-by-step artworks for absolute clarity. And, as you'd expect from a Patty Lyons book, there is a healthy scattering of humour and irreverence thoughout ; you might take knitting seriously but you don't have to be serious while knitting!

To the rhythm of a buzzing sewing machine, Sanne & Riet guide you through their world of fabric and thread. A floral brooch for your daughter, a laptop sleeve for your son, a tissue box cover matching your curtains, or a handbag for yourself: there is no need to register for sewing classes as Sanne & Riet's manuals show a healthy dose of creative resourcefulness and contain helpful tricks and simple alternatives to get around the classic sewing rules. Beginners start with the well-documented step-by-step tutorials explaining all the basics, while skilled seamstresses discover helpful advice from fellow experts. In short, you will find a most delightful array of simple, stylish projects: from baby items to bags, from home decoration to picnic blankets. A separate pull-out section of full-size patterns enables you to get started right away--no photocopying or enlarging required.