Help your little loved-ones discover hours of imaginative fun and activity with these delightful, easy-to-sew games. Drawing on her background as an occupational therapist, Farah Wolfe presents creative, handmade game that invite children to enjoy active play. A greener alternative to plastic, battery-operated gifts, these are simple, beautifully sewn games that children will love and remember. You can: choose from 11 versatile, gender neutral projects that are safe, washable, lightweight, and great for travel; find full instructions for each game, plus play options for different ages and even clever ways to package and store the games; and, engage toddlers, preschoolers, and school kids with captivating games that foster a wide range of physical, cognitive, and social skills.

This book examines the clothing worn by African Americans in the southern United States during the thirty years before the American Civil War. Drawing on a wide range of sources, most notably oral narratives recorded in the 1930s, this rich account shows that African Americans demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the role clothing played in demarcating age, sex, status, work, recreation, as well as special secular and sacred events. Testimonies offer proof of African Americans' vast technical skills in producing cloth and clothing, which served both as a fundamental reflection of the peoples' Afrocentric craftsmanship and aesthetic sensibilities, and as a reaction to their particular place in American society. Previous work on clothing in this period has tended to focus on white viewpoints, and as a consequence the dress worn by the enslaved has generally been seen as a static standard imposed by white overlords. This excellent study departs from conventional interpretations to show that the clothing of the enslaved changed over time, served multiple functions and represented customs and attitudes which evolved distinctly from within African American communities. In short, it represents a vital contribution to African American studies, as well as to dress and textile history, and cultural and folklore studies.

You'll fall head over heels for the animal crochet patterns in this book! Fans know this new book in the Zoomigurumi series assembles the cutest crochet animals, explained in straightforward patterns. You'll be amazed at the designs you can create with a few simple stitches. This new collection of 15 projects, featuring designers from all over the world, provides enough fresh inspiration to keep you crocheting! Surprise your family and friends with handmade gifts, or simply make them for yourself! In this book you will find Rudy the red panda, Mortimer the mammoth, Carlos the hummingbird, Manu and Brigitte the dachshunds, Shawn the shark, Alvin the hedgehog and many more. Projects cover a variety of skill levels, from beginner-friendly to suitable for advanced crocheters, and are accompanied by easy-to-follow instructions and explanations of all stitches used.

Slow down and embroider your way through the changing seasons with the beautiful debut book from embroidery artist and rising star Emillie Ferris. Needlepainting, also known as thread painting or silk shading, is a form of embroidery that creates a realistic, lifelike effect using a single strand of thread and one simple stitch - the 'long and short' stitch. You can create gorgeous colour gradients, magical details and flowing stitch directions that are perfect if you want to embroider flora and fauna. In this richly illustrated step-by-step guide, self-taught embroidery artist Emillie Ferris shows you how to pick up a needle and thread in the same way as a paintbrush to create strokes of colour and bring images to life on fabric. Inspired by nature and the changing seasons, Emillie has created five new and exclusive patterns for the book, four that reflect each season in turn and one special design that brings the natural year together into one showstopper embroidery. This book is the culmination of all of Emillie's skills and years of experience in this wonderful, meditative art form. Each design has around 60 detailed step-by-step photos, showing every stage of the process, so that even complete beginners can follow along and create beautiful embroideries. If you have been considering learning the art of needlepainting but are unsure where to start, then this book is for you! Not only are the embroideries sublime, but the book itself is a thing of beauty, with incredible attention to detail - from the exquisite photography to the lavish hardback binding, making it a real treasure for the book lover. Plus, high quality iron-on transfers at the back of the book allow you to transfer the designs directly onto fabric to get started straight away. In this book Emillie generously shares her tried and tested tips and techniques, including advice on materials, transferring designs onto fabric, and fully illustrated explanations of the stitches and skills needed. The five in-depth projects draw on Emillie's love of nature, including motifs that she is best known for such as flowers, foliage, bees and fungi. This beautiful book will become an indispensable and treasured guide allowing you to paint with thread the Emillie Ferris way.

A wonderful portable edition of Millie Marotta's Tropical Wonderland from the the Sunday Times and international bestseller Millie Marotta. Lose yourself in a riot of colouring in and drawing as you bring the exotic creatures and plants in Millie Marotta's tropical wonderland to life. Millie's intricate style of illustration encourages you to make your own mark, whether it's to add to the fine lines on trees or add a splash of colour to the feathers of a tropical parrot. Explore the rainforest further and you will find extraordinary flowers, birds, butterflies and reptiles, including a rainbow boa with shiny scales crying out for a touch of colour. This book will bring enjoyment to anyone who is looking for a creative outlet or a mindful and relaxing activity.

Crochet has boomed in recent years, offering craft lovers a new way to make thoughtful gifts, inexpensive accessories and homemade decorations. The Big Book of Crochet Stitches is the perfect companion for crochet crafters of any skill level that are looking to discover fun and creative new stitches. Packed with all of the basic techniques to inform or refresh your memory, this book contains all of the information and step by step explanations that you need to complete an array of stitches that will mean you can tackle your next crochet project with confidence.

Family Crochet is the perfect companion for crochet crafters of any skill level who are looking to create adorable gifts for all the family to enjoy. From baby toys and playroom characters to cozy jumpers and cute dresses, there really is something for everyone. With easy- to-follow instructions and straightforward patterns, you'll be making unique presents and clothes for all your loved ones. So, what are you waiting for? Turn the page and start your creative journey today! Great projects for all the family include: - Rainbow rattle - Fox puppet - Rainbow scarf - Hot air balloon mobile - Horace the monster - Snappy slippers - Hushabye sleeping bag - Amigurumi food - Horizon jumper