Learning how to sew has never been simpler! Like having a personal instructor at your side, this beginner's guide teaches you to sew stitches both by hand and with a machine.
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. These simple projects will introduce essential sewing skills like hems, seams, balancing tension, and how to use a pattern:With First Time Sewing, you will soon be stitching amazing gifts and projects with confidence.
Paste paper designs have been used for centuries to decorate book covers and endpapers. A close relative of the finger-paintings of our youth, the basic paste paper technique involves dampening a sheet of paper, coating it with colored paste, and then drawing various implements through the paste to create deceptively sophisticated designs. It's simple, fun, and used by craftspeople everywhere to create one-of-a-kind graphics and colorful patterns.
In The Art of Making Paste Papers, noted paper artist and author Diane Maurer-Mathison demonstrates, step by step, how to create beautifully patterned papers . . . from preparing the papers and applying the paste to producing combed, textured, stamped, and even hand-drawn designs. The reader will see how to use paste papers to make scrapbooks, greeting cards, picture mats, boxes, and other projects-as well as discover the dazzling work of an international roster of paste paper designers. Paper-making it, decorating it, and creating with it-is wildly popular among paper artists and craftspeople everywhere. The Art of Making Paste Papers is your perfect hands-on guide to learning and mastering this beautiful and practical art!
Edith Diehl (1876-1955) was one of the world's foremost practitioners of traditional bookbinding and an exceptionally able teacher. From the vantage point of a lifetime's experience, she gives today's bookbinders a historical survey of this centuries-old art and an eminently practical guide.
Nearly one half of the encyclopedic volume is devoted to an overview of the historical development of bookbinding. The author shows how the codex form of the book became identified with the Christian era, how bookbinding became a craft and trade in the 15th century, and how the production and distribution of books shifted from the monasteries and universities to the illustrious printer-publishers of the 15th and 16th centuries. She describes various bookbinding practices such as sewing, the use of boards and leathers, hand versus machine binding, cased books, etc. And she examines in depth the different national styles of book decoration in Italy, France, England, Germany, North America, and other countries, and the specific contributions of such influential bookbinders as Jean Grolier, Thomas Mahieu, Le Gascon, Samuel Mearne, Roger Payne, Jacob Krause, Edmund Ranger, and John Ratcliff. Ninety-two full-page plates provide visualization of certain key points and, above all, numerous examples of the finest decorated bindings.
Edith Diehl then guides the reader through more than 400 profusely illustrated pages on the craft of hand bookbinding. She details and illustrates the steps involved in the nearly 30 necessary binding operations: collating and paging, pulling and removing glue, guarding and mending, pressing, sewing, backing, lacing-in, headbanging, lining up back, casing texts in protective cover, covering, cutting inside margins and filling in, and many more. In addition she conveys much useful information on such ancillary topics as doublures, fly-leaves, half bindings, limp bindings, vellum bindings, slipcases, repairing old bindings, cleaning and washing papers, materials (leather, paper, gold leaf, glue, paste), finishing tools, tooling, lettering, etc. The 242 illustrations that accompany this book-within-a-book are unmatched for economy and clarity.
Joyful Sock Designs to Wear and Share
Get ready to cast on the colorwork socks of your dreams! Prolific knitwear designer and colorwork aficionado Charlotte Stone has created a sensational variety of patterns in her signature colorful style, so you can flaunt your personality and keep your feet cozy at the same time. Whether or not you're experienced in knitting socks or stranded colorwork, you're in good hands with Charlotte's best tips, tricks and techniques at the ready. Easy enough to whip up in a day or two, these socks are perfect to make for yourself or gift to your loved ones--if you can bear to part with them! Discover the fun of stitching adorable animals as you knit patterns like the Autumn Mice, Counting Sheep or Dog Walk socks (featuring a particularly sassy Shiba Inu!). Celebrate good times while casting on projects like I'm Batty for Halloween, The Holly and the Ivy or a pair of heartwarming I Heart Socks for your valentine. Whip up footwear inspired by the great outdoors, like Summer Meadows, Midnight in Zermatt or Starry Night socks, so your feet can look as adventurous as you feel! No matter what, with a treasure trove of 25 whimsical patterns to choose from, you'll never settle for boring socks again.
CROSS-STITCH GOES WITCHY WITH DARK AND ELEGANT DESIGNS
From spooky skulls to ghoulish graveyards, Lindsay Swearingen of Tusk and Cardinal gives cross-stitch a dark yet whimsical update. Curious creatures like phantom felines, legendary fixtures from folklore like Baba Yaga and all manner of haunted houses make the perfect subjects for these needlework masterpieces.
Create the Monster Menagerie of Your Dreams
Who says creepy can't be cute? With this impressive amigurumi collection you can unlock a whole new world of creatures and cryptids in all their scaryadorable glory. From classic cryptids like Cthulhu, Nessie and Mothman to paranormal paragons like Zombies, Werewolves and Nosferatu himself, there's no end to the delightful terrors you can create. These 40 unique patterns capture each creature's quirks like the majesty of dragons' wings, Medusa's snake hair and the horror of Slender Man's tentacles. While you're creating, you can follow helpful tips on making your own colored eyes and pattern customization for color and sizing. Whether you're looking to add some spooky new additions to your own plushie collection or are hoping to surprise the horror fan in your life, there's a loveable monster in here for everyone.
New York Times Bestseller
Learn the Historically Proven Stitches Every Seamster Needs with Beloved Historical Fashion YouTuber Bernadette Banner Whether you are just getting started with sustainable fashion and need to alter your new secondhand finds, or you want an introduction to sewing techniques for making your own clothes, Bernadette Banner's signature voice will guide you through all the traditional stitches and techniques you need to extend the life of your favorite pieces and take fashion intoyour own hands! From tips and tricks on choosing your materials and preparing your fabric for sewing to more complex techniques like mending small holes, adding pockets to garments, making your own buttons and beyond--this book has everything you need. Complete with step-by-step photos and insight into what alterations each sewing technique is best suited for, Bernadette walks you through every step of your sewing journey. For added inspiration, this book also includes profiles on exciting voices in the historic sewing community and their perspectives on how taking fashion into their own hands has changed their lives for the better. Make, Sew and Mend is the perfect foundation for beginner sewers to start making their fashion their own.
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!