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.

This is a gorgeous collection of fresh, Spring-themed sewing projects using the latest Tilda fabrics and embellishments. You can choose from a stunning variety of sewing and papercraft designs, including bags, soft toys, fabric boxes and unique decorations. The color palette used includes shades of red, pink, white, pale green, azure blue and cyan. Inside Tilda's Spring Ideas you will find two chapters filled with beautiful projects inspired by springtime. In the first chapter, Garden Party, you will find new angels sporting trouser suits, denim jackets and crochet summer hats, perfect for adorning any picnic table, plus gorgeous decor ideas; cute cupcake garlands, and beautiful dog table roses, and festive bags. So with Spring in the air, why not head to your sewing workroom and create these gorgeous Spring-inspired projects for your home, garden party or as gifts for friends.

Nancy Zieman's pattern fitting approach is easy - no cutting, slashing, tucking or pinching--just logical and easy pivot-and-slide techniques, providing a painless method to follow that results in a garment that is comfortable and attractive. Once you learn Nancy's techniques for fitting, you will find it easy to make every garment you sew fit your size and shape. Multiple fitting charts are included in the book, as well as an index for locating technical information at a glance.

During Queen Victoria's long reign there were constant, often subtle, changes to men's clothing in the large, diverse and growing population. This practical book guides you through the male fashions of the time and includes eighteen garments typical of the era. Each project is carefully grounded in historical research, while traditional tailoring techniques are simplified for the modern costume maker. It is an essential handbook that describes fabrics and tools for pattern drafting, tailoring and costume construction, and explains how to get the best results from each. It covers a wide variety of gentleman's attire adaptable for different occupations and social status, including assorted shirts, trousers, breeches, a tailcoat, a jacket, a frockcoat and several waistcoats. There is a full set of patterns for each outfit, along with clear, full colour construction photographs and finally, the author suggests how outfits can be adapted to fit different sizes and characters, and gives practical insights into the making process.

The popularity of hand frame knitting is underestimated and there are many passionate and creative knitters who have taken machine knitting into their heads, hearts and hands. Overflowing with colour and stitch ideas, inspirational photos and customizable patterns, this book will inject vitality into your knitting practice. Explore how colours can be juxtaposed for best effect or where Slip, Tuck and Fair Isle stitches will add new textures and make intricate fabrics. Seventy-five knitting patterns, ranging from coats and scarves to bags and sculptures, offer enticing new project ideas as well as suggested variations and additions you can make to expand your design skills. Topics covered include: a history of hand frame knitting; techniques and stitches; the design process; stripes, circles and colour; Fair Isle; lace and sculptural vessels and, finally, how to develop your hobby into a business. Written for both experienced knitters and anyone using a knitting machine, this book will act as a catalyst for hand frame knitters to add stitch and colour variety to their work.

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.

You gotta weave it to believe it! Learn fabric weaving with 12 fun projects for crafters, garment sewists, and quilters. Try out simple, classic patterns incorporating woven textiles anywhere you'd use fabric!

Frolic through fields of flowers as you take your embroidery skills to the next level! Lovely Little Embroideries is an inspirational guide to creating 22 stunning, small, and easy embroidery hoops, accessories, ornaments, and more, all featuring every stitcher's favorite subject - flower bouquets! Opening with overviews on basic supplies, transfer methods, and how to finish the back of a hoop, also included is an illustrated stitch guide for both basic stitches to more advanced ones. With step-by-step instructions and photography for stitching floral embroidery hoops, pendant necklaces, holiday ornaments, lavender sachets, and more, this must-have craft book offers fresh and modern embroidery patterns to fine-tune your skills that every passionate stitcher will love! Embroidery artist Beth Stackhouse is the owner of Forest Chorus Studio where she offers embroidery pattern tutorials, fiber art, and embroidered jewelry. Her work has been featured on MarthaStewart.com, MAKERS Magazine, KOEL Magazine, Feeling Stitchy, and other well-known publications within the needlework and crafting industry.

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.

Michael Powell provides twenty mini cross stitch designs, each accompanied by a full-colour chart, key and general instructions. Each of Michael's unique, quirky contemporary designs measures approximately 31/2 x 31/2in (9 x 9cm), though the designs come in a variety of formats and include tall, narrow designs as well as borders. All the designs can be worked on 14-count Aida or evenweave fabric. There's a broad range of subjects to choose from, including country cottages, flowers, hearts, and festive Christmas trees, so whatever the occasion, there is bound to be a design that suits it perfectly. There are general instructions and simple stitch diagrams at the beginning of the book, so even those new to cross stitch will be able to accomplish all of the projects, as well as notes on fabric preparation and washing instructions.

Learn to crochet cables! Have you ever wanted to create a sweater with beautiful cables, but you didn't know how to knit? Now, in Contemporary Celtic Crochet, you can learn how to use basic crochet stitches to create the same stunning effect on sweater wraps, stoles, cardigans, and more. This book features easy projects, such as hats, scarves and device covers, and more difficult projects, including sweaters, wraps and blankets. Make the Hialeah Honey Baby Blankey to swaddle a newborn or create the Inisheer Sweater Wrap to stay cozy in cool weather. The Cables Meet Lace Cape is perfect for evenings out, and the Pennywhistler's Pack will let you carry your essentials on any day trip. These Celtic-inspired stitches and projects are the perfect addition to your crochet repertoire.

This very easy guide opens up the wonderful world of twisted stitches to knitters of any ability, even complete beginners. It is an indispensable introduction to all kinds of stitches, from simple mock cables to intricate bobble-textured plaits, for both cable panels, accents, and all-over repeats. Learn the basic techniques and practise the stitches with clear instructions and step-by step photos - then use your skills to make 13 specially designed projects, from giant-cable throws that stitch up quickly on large needles, to snuggly hats and scarves and more adventurous accessories and home comforts. Each stitch pattern is featured in both written and chart form so you can get used to using either method when working from other commercial patterns. So whether you're a knitting novice or a dab hand, cables have never been easier to make. This is a reissue of the previously best-selling published book The Very Easy Guide to Cable Knitting (9781844485314).

Sewing is an extremely rewarding hobby. With so many different fabrics, embellishments and trimmings now available on the high street and online, it is easier than ever to create unique clothes and home furnishings. Now available in paperback, this best-selling title is THE essential guide to sewing. Each chapter is devoted to one key area of sewing and provides clear and concise in-depth instructions along with step-by-step instructions for basic principles and more advanced sewing techniques. Learn about materials and equipment, and choosing the right machine to work for you in chapter one, then move onto fabrics and patterns in the following chapter. Once you're comfortable with the basic stitches, seams and techniques, learn how to make clothing, accessories and soft furnishings. With this book by your side, you will soon be able to make anything from a commercial pattern, and will also know how to alter patterns to suit your style. With a section on care and repair, you will find out how to look after and fix homemade and store-bought items. And if it can't be fixed, learn how fabric and trimmings can be reused or upcycled into something else. This comprehensive guide offers a glossary of sewing terms, clear instructions and hundreds of illustrations and diagrams showing each stage of the sewing process. It'll be the one resource that you will turn to time and time again.

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.

Revised, expanded edition of expert guide encompasses a history of Aran knitting; complete workshop in technique and design; 60 charted patterns for the original 14 designs, many reknit in contemporary yarns; including a new design. Color photographs.

'After seeing mediocre needlework books and knits and whatnot aimed at children come and go over the years, I'm really happy to see this particular book. It's a terrific information, reference, instructional, and project book. I like it a lot! I like it so much I've purchased copies of it to use for summer birthdays and bundled it basic supplies.' Mary Corbet, Needlenthread.com Transform your plain stuff into awesome stuff with just a bit of fabric and thread! Glam up boring bookmarks, tote bags, and even your jeans! Bored during a road trip or on a rainy day? Grab your favorite colour thread and get stitching! Learn and choose from different stitches to make each project exactly what you want. Make presents that your friends and family will love. Put your own stamp on pillows and picture frames. Stitch up some cuteness! There are 23 great gifts to give to your friends and family for their birthdays and holidays and the 15 easy projects and 17 stitches show you how to personalise all your stuff. Unplug from tech devices and make something handmade!

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!

Choose from 200 beautiful block designs and learn different ways of joining them to make blankets and throws that are both functional and decorative. From Art Deco geometric patterns to traditional chequer-board stripes and elaborate motifs, discover new ways to combine colour, pattern and texture. Crochet is one of the oldest and most fascinating ways of creating a fabric out of yarn. Find out how to create wonderful and unique afghans, wall hangings and accessories in a kaleidoscope of colourful contemporary and traditional designs. All stitches and techniques are clearly explained with step-by-step illustrations, from working in rows and in the round to joining blocks and making figures. At-a-glance symbols denote the methods used and level of difficulty, so both new and experienced crafters can easily create a crochet masterpiece.

These crocheted animals may be wild but they are very well-dressed. The ten adorable crocheted chums have enviable wardrobes to mix and match. The five pairs of animals - pandas, lions, zebras, elephants and monkeys - all have distinctive personalities and gorgeous outfits. All the clothes can fit all of the animals, so there is lots of fun to be had dressing them up. Each project is beautifully photographed and includes clear patterns and guidance. There is also a techniques section that gives clear instructions on all the skills you'll need to make the animals and their outfits.

Sweetly Stitched Handmades includes 18 original designs that incorporate Amy Sinibaldi's love for patchwork and embroidery, natural linen, and a carefully chosen color palette of patterns and prints. The projects range in difficulty so that a beginning sewer may easily complete a few projects from start to finish, while others are more difficult and a more advanced sewer may be challenged to learn some new techniques. Projects include a color-block baby quilt, a crayon-castle caddy, a jam-jar pincushion, an airmail tote bag, and a simple "Home Sweet Home" embroidery.