This title is suitable for advanced beginner to intermediate-level knitters who want fun, witty, irresistibly tiny patterns to make as gifts for friends, cute accessories and decorative items. In "Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi", toy knits designer Anna Hrachovec presents more than 30 super-cute, humorous patterns for miniature toys, plus techniques for tiny knitting; ideas for using the tiny knits as wearables, decorations and gifts; and instructions on how to convert a pattern for a tiny project into a bigger toy.

Pattern Magic is the cult pattern-cutting book from Japan. Taking inspiration from nature, from geometric shapes and from the street, this book harnesses the sheer joy of making and sculpting clothes. The book takes a creative approach to pattern cutting, with step-by-step projects for fashion designers and dressmakers to enjoy. All the basic information you need to start pattern cutting is included, from the basic block to measurements and scaling. Each project is beautifully illustrated with clear diagrams and photographs showing the stages of construction, the toiles and the finished garments. These easy-to-follow illustrations and detailed instructions make it easy to create stunning, sculptural clothes with a couture look.

The unique feature of this title is giving step-by-step instructions with photo illustrations for three different methods for knitting socks. Along with basic instructions, there are hints and tips for any step that is not easily understood. Once a knitter has learned to use a specific technique, they can use that favorite technique on all seven sock designs in the book. The basic instructions are given in three sizes: child's, women's and men's.

Stitch a story! Create bold and colourful narrative embroideries from the best-selling author of Joyful Stitching, Laura Wasilowski brings six new hand embroidery projects with full-sized patterns and step-by-step pictorial directions.

Kentucky's contribution to the perennially popular American craft of quiltmaking is a rich and varied one. Mary Clarke examines here the state of the craft in Kentucky and finds it as lively today as it was 150 years ago. Like a fingerprint, every Kentucky quilt differs from all others in some respects, whether it is an original creation or a variation of one of the traditional patterns long popular in the United States. And many Kentucky quilts reveal much about the individual maker -- her disposition, taste, and lifestyle, the familiar objects that bring joy to her daily life, and her response to events beyond the confines of family and home. Taken as a whole, Kentucky quilts and quilt names reflect the history of the Commonwealth, at every turn showing the intermingling of old and new in the grassroots continuity of an ancient craft that responds to fads and fashions by absorbing and refining them.

Between 1840 and 1870, thousands of women arrived in the Pacific Northwest by way of the Oregon Trail. This migration or "leave taking" was a life-changing experience, consuming the longest time and widest distance these women would travel to establish homes and farms and help build communities for themselves and their families. This fascinating book presents quilts as documents of history to discover the women and their life stories. The book features 56 quilts made before, during, and after the journey west, as well as new information about the role of women in their communities. Each quilt is shown in full color, along with vintage photos of the makers plus information describing the quilt and the maker's family. Multiple appendices relate trail conditions, an analysis of the quilts, letters and narrations of the Trail experience, and available resource locations. Also includes a glossary, extensive bibliography, maps, and index. A wonderful resource for quilt enthusiasts, descendants, educators, and historians alike.

If you long to knit stunning fair isle jumpers and brightly coloured blankets for your home this is the perfect book. Learn all the techniques for how to start knitting with colour and create really desirable projects as you learn. Choose from brightly coloured stripy socks and work your way up to a patterned beanie hat and mittens that will impress friends and family. Even if you can only knit and purl - with this book you'll be making gorgeous colourwork accessories before you know it!

Lexi's easy template-tracing method makes embroidery into a wearable art, so embroiderers can show off their stitching as a part of their everyday style, rather than just as a static wall display. All readers need to do is choose a pattern from the templates provided, and follow the author's simple, straight forward application instructions to be able to embroider designs directly onto their favourite accessories. Readers will learn to jazz up a basic baseball cap with cheerful stitched daisies, and take a plain tote from service-able to too cute with some bright, fresh fruit embroidered accents. Lexi also shows readers how to create individual pretty patches they can attach to their favourite jeans or blouses, as well as how to embroider feminine floral touches directly onto their jean jackets. This book will have 25 projects and 60 photographs.

This beautiful new book guides readers with intermediate to advanced level sewing skills toward the successful creation of costumes for theatrical or dance performances, and for re-enactments and interactive fiction. Nearly 250 beautiful color photographs and detailed line drawings of many types of costumes, along with solid design principles, provide a wealth of easy to understand information and how-to instructions. Practical tips concerning theatrical production teams, lines of authority, budgets, scheduling, and post-production storage of costumes are included. An annotated bibliography and a resource guide are both useful references.

Knitting guru Norah Gaughan shows you how to make rectangles, squares, and simple shapes-then fold, twist, and pleat them to create unique, fashionable clothes and accessories Simple shapes are ideal for the novice knitter, but the clever folds and fastenings of Knit, Fold, Pleat, Repeat will intrigue the experienced crowd too. These techniques are easy to learn, and the design possibilities-and new combinations that come to light once you begin-are nearly endless. Each design starts with a simple rectangle, square, or triangle and builds from there: to fold, drape, or twist the shape into a garment or accessory, and to introduce pleats, welts, and slices along the way. Every pattern has a gorgeous high-fashion style, and the projects are so addictive to knit-you may find yourself making the same garment in new colors and yarns so you'll have one for each season. The book includes thirty-six patterns in all, each with variations.

Fat Quarter: Accessories is the latest title in the successful 'Fat Quarter' series. This title is packed with 25 stash-busting sewing projects, all made from fat quarters or fabric scraps and aimed at beginner to intermediate crafters. Each project has easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions as well as beautiful photographs of the finished pieces. Fat Quarter: Accessories also contains a comprehensive techniques section. This book also shows how to create a wide variety of accessories including brooches and badges, earrings, bracelets, headwear, keyrings and charms.

Priscilla's contemporary mixed media artworks offer a refreshingly different approach to embroidery, taking stitch to an impressive new level within wire sculpture. Working both two- and three-dimensionally, Priscilla combines colour, stitch, shape and texture, layering to transform surfaces into beautiful, whimsical sculptures full of character, curiosity and charm. With her imaginative use of the needle and her love of retro vintage nostalgia, Priscilla has picked up on an enduring trend, exploring excitingly different ideas and pushing the boundaries with her original ways of working. The book explores a playful mixed media approach to creating 3D textile sculpture, using a variety of media to transform plain papers and fabrics through colour, texture and mark-making; including both free-machine embroidery and hand stitch. Paving the way for the reader to tackle the five projects that follow, which build in complexity.

As makers, we tend to learn different stitches over time without thinking much about how they relate to one another. But when Natalie Chanin and her Alabama Chanin and The School of Making teams began to look at needlework closely, they realized all stitches are based on geometric grid systems-and by using grids as guides, they could make learning stitches, even seemingly elaborate ones, as easy as child's play. In The Geometry of Hand-Sewing Chanin presents their breakthrough method, featuring illustrated instructions (for both right- and left-handed stitchers) for more than 100 stitches-from the most basic straight and chain to the more fanciful feather and herringbone; photos of both right and wrong sides; and guidelines for modifying stitches to increase one's repertoire further. To simplify learning, the book also includes two plastic stitching cards die-cut with the grids on which every stitch in the book is based. These reusable cards can be stitched through for practicing (just as children use lacing cards to learn to tie shoes) or used as stencils for transferring grids to fabric.

A new, larger format edition of the classic reference work on silk shading by the Royal School of Needlework (RSN). The Essential Stitch Guides provide a set of definitive works on traditional embroidery techniques. Graduate Apprentice Sarah Homfray throws light onto the beautiful craft of silk shading, also known as painting with a needle, long and short stitch embroidery or thread painting. This book reveals the history of the craft then moves on to the materials and equipment required. Next, Sarah covers design and using colour, simplifying and demystifying this often neglected area of embroidery. The main part of the book then covers all of the essential stitches and techniques through clear, step-by-step diagrams, coupled with beautiful, close-up photographs showing how they can be used in a finished piece. Key traditional techniques are included: the fundamental stab, split and long and short stitches; along with couching, padding, adding beads and sequins, and knots. The book ends with beautiful and exquisitely-worked examples and covers working with different fabrics, threads and incorporating painted backgrounds. The RSN teaches hand embroidery to the highest standard and is respected all over the world. It not only upholds the traditions of English embroidery that go back many hundreds of years, but is constantly taking embroidery forward in new and innovative ways. This series of Essential Stitch Guides has been produced in close collaboration with the RSN with the aim of providing a set of definitive works on traditional embroidery techniques.

Everyone has at least one long-forgotten ball of string lurking at the back of a drawer. This handy booklet shows you how to transform an everyday, mundane item into an array of exciting makes for your home. From rustic garden twine to soft cotton braid, the pleasingly tactile nature of string makes it perfect for crocheting crafty treasures. All the basic techniques and know-how are explained, with clear step-by-step instructions and pictures accompanying all 9 projects. - 9 eye-catching projects made from string - Clear step-by-step instructions and pictures - Comprehensive techniques section Projects include: Dish scrubs, Pot holders, Desk trays, Coin purse, Jam-jar candleholders, Bath mat, Storage boxes.

Best-selling author Kim Schaefer introduces 12 new quilt projects in her beloved whimsical, contemporary, folk-art style. Just layer your felted wool pieces, from flamingos, owls, bees, potted flowers, and much more, and add to your cotton fabric background. Suitable for beginners! Every stitcher from novice to experienced can enjoy these projects.

Artist and wool crafter Jessica Peill-Meininghaus decided that she needed a project to teach herself follow-through in life. She settled on making one of her popular felted-wool gnomes every day for a year. With pipe cleaners and wool roving, amidst the chaos of raising four children and moving cross-country, Peill-Meininghaus felted her way through hundreds of charming, pointy-hatted, often bearded characters. Lavishly decorated with photos of each charming creation, The Gnome Project is the surprising and magical story of what happens when we commit to something small. (Hint: It's something very big, as in making life more meaningful.) Here is her inspirational tale, complete with gnome-making instructions.

Join C&T Publishing in celebrating 20 years of top-quality quilt books! This book features 70 commemorative quilt blocks from some of C&T's most popular authors, all created just for you. These world-renowned quilt designers, fiber artists, and quilting teachers share their favorite quilting tips and stories, alongside samples of their first quilts and their latest work. Also, full-size patterns are included, so you can duplicate these extraordinary blocks for your own projects!

This title features 15 fun and fabulous characters to knit and recreate some of the most well-loved fairy tales, including Cinderella and Puss in Boots. It includes clearly presented, easy-to-follow knitting patterns and a comprehensive illustrated techniques section. It features plenty of colour photographs to guide the reader along. Be spellbound by this beautiful book full of fun and fabulous characters to knit and recreate 15 of the well-loved fairy tales, including Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Puss in Boots, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Little Red Riding Hood. Made from washable, readily available DK yarn, these knitted characters will bring the fairy tales to life for young children, encouraging imaginative play and conversation. You will find all the information you need on techniques, tools and materials, plus there will be plenty of photographs of each character from different angles so you can clearly see how your knitting should look as you work your way through the projects.

Learning how to sew has never been simpler Enjoy this beginner's guide that takes you by the hand like a personal instructor and teaches you how to sew using hand stiches as well as sewing machines. Filled with detailed descriptions of materials and tools, the easy step-by-step instructions for all the basic sewing techniques will have you creating projects like aprons, pillows, and even pants and shorts in no time. Five simple projects will introduce sewing skills like hems, seams, balancing tension, and how to use a pattern; skills you will use often as you continue to learn. With "First Time Sewing," soon you will be stitching amazing gifts and projects with confidence.

The ultimate guide to sewing bags from expert Lisa Lam, whose technical knowledge, creative flair and enthusiasm have helped and inspired thousands while promoting the craft of bag-making worldwide. Whether you are getting started, improving your technique or want to design your own creations, this is the book you will grab for every bag you make! Detailed photographs illustrate every technique in this unique book, from choosing fabric to inserting fastenings. Expert tips, trade secrets and inspirational advice result in professional and beautiful results every time, allowing you to create a capsule wardrobe of eight exclusive bag designs which will amaze your friends - they will never believe you made it yourself! Lisa's helpful and friendly tone comes through in her instructions, and it really feels like you have an expert by your side holding you hand every step of the way. She starts with the basics of how to read and interpret patterns, how to prepare and cut fabrics, and how to select the right interfacings and interlinings for your bags, then moves on to more specific techniques in each chapter. The Structure and Reinforcement chapter covers how to sew darts, pleats, gussets, flat bottoms and gathers - showing you in detail how to sew these features. The Linings chapter reveals how to insert zip pockets into your linings, as well as different methods of inserting a bag lining. The Closures chapter explains how to insert a zip in three different scenarios, plus how to insert magnetic snap fastenings, twist lock fastenings, and how to use eyelets and rivets. The Handles and Straps chapter teaches you six different types of straps, from making simple straps to adjustable straps and even designer looking piped handles. The Pockets chapter contains a wealth of different pocket types, showing you how to sew a slip pocket to sewing roomy bellows pockets, elasticized pockets and darted corner pockets. Finally, the Edgings and Trimmings chapter reveals how to bind raw edges for a professional finish, including how to make bias binding, and also shows you how to sew piping and how to use ribbon, jewellery and embellishments on your bags. At the end of each chapter there is a bag project to make so you can put the techniques into practice straight away. These exciting and desirable designs are explained in full detail, with helpful photographs to guide you every step of the way. Starting with how to make a tote bag, the projects build in complexity. You will learn how to make a clutch bag, how to sew a messenger bag, how to make a hobo bag, how to make a travel holdall bag and more. Crucially, the pull-out pattern sheet gives full-size patterns, meaning there is no resizing or photocopying to do - you can get straight into cutting and sewing bags. This one-of-a-kind book is the ultimate guide to bag-making and an invaluable resource that you will reach for time and time again. "An amazing sewing education coupled with beautiful bags that of course, you can customize!" Amy Butler.