Crafts Hobbies Books

I absolutely love most of the patterns in this book. The other ones are just too funky or ugly for me to consider making. It's well over half of the patterns that are great though. It's not easy to find some good patterns for the modern man and this book is good for that. Maybe some of the ugly ones would look better with a different color palette.

My favorite projects are the Uncle Argyle Scarves, Celtic Beanie, Half-Pipe Hat, Beer Gloves, Biker Boy (sweater), Speed Racer (sweater), Treads (socks), Tubey (socks).

I will be returning this book. Only 5 of the 45 projects are for crochet. Some of the knitting projects look cool but I can't knit and have no desire to learn. The crochet projects are terrible. As a guy I can say without a doubt that I will not be making any of them.

I was hoping to find some cool NEW ideas for guys. Same old stuff- sweaters, scarves, hats... & the ties do not look well made at all.
Skulls are still in, but not new.
Honestly, not one man/boy in my life would be interested in any of these items, nor do i have the desire to make any of them...I have loved the other S&B books, & eagerly opened the package, but alas... blah!

Also, as said by others, the book is seriously lacking in crochet options.

I rarely write a negative, but just had to say it here.

Gotta say that after purchasing this book I wish I would have gone to a bookshop to perooze it first. I really don't think that I would have bought it after that. There are a few hat patterns that are different than any I have seen before. Out of the 45 patterns in the book I may do 5 or 6 of them.

Putting a skull on something doesn't make a crappy knitting pattern cool!! I was sooo disapointed with this book. Come to think of it, none of the Stitch n Bitch books have had many current patterns, they are all very out of date. You are better off taking classic patterns and modifying them to your mans taste. Or make him a blanket or socks! Something he will actually LIKE.

This is what my 7-year-old granddaughter said. I've been told she's been taking it to bed each night although I hope she's not cutting and pasting in bed!

Yes, I'm a kid at heart. I am 32 and bought this book for myself and love it. Still love to color, cut & paste, draw, and this book has a little bit of everything.
Keri Smith also wrote, "Wreck This Jornal" which is a blast.

I loved this book because you could tear out the games and puzzles.Two thumbs up!!! -kristen

Thank you, American Girl for coming up with a zillion forms of creative and funny entertainment to enjoy for many hours. Doodles, crafts, stencils and more are here, and you will adore it!

The parents of the recipient of Tear Up This Book will love it even more for keeping the kids (creatively) happy!

This book has a number of good designs, but I think it's misleading to call it Jelly Roll friendly. Very few of the designs would make efficient use of the number of strips contained in a Jelly Roll -- you'd either need more strips, or additional fabric (FQs or something) or you'll end up with strips left over. A much better book, with designs which use the Jelly Rolls more efficiently, is Jelly Roll Quilts by the Lintotts, mother and daughter. I can't remember the mother's first name, but the daughter's is Nicky. It's available here on Amazon.

What is a quick, easy and fun way to make a quilt? Use Jelly Rolls!! This book provides patterns that can be used by quilters of any ability from beginner to beyond. They can be used as shown or adapted in any way that you can think of so this book can be used as a jumping off point for your own designs. It has lovely photos and user friendly instructions. The quilts are beautiful and you can make your own 'jelly rolls' so that the content of each pattern becomes unique. This book provides patterns that are easily adapted to each quilter's level of ability and their preferred colour palette.

I got this book as a surprise...and then I was surprised when I read through it. I've been aware of Jelly rolls offered in the quilt shops, but wasn't all that interested, until now. What I like greatly about this designer is that you cut the WOF strips in two so that you are just working with a 22 inch strip as opposed to the 44-45 inch width...therefore it will make for better managabiltiy of the strip sets. I have not tried any of the patterns, but I am totally interested in the concept. It is best to read the instructions when previewing a book, not just looking at the designs of the quilts...but that's difficult to do on amazon....

Have you seen those "Jelly Rolls" in your favorite fabric store? Ever wondered what on earth you could do with them? Ms. Martin gives you a whole book on just that subject---10 quilts and 3 other projects --- a tote bag, a pillow and a Table Runner. With the 13 projects, you will be busy for a long time.

OK, so you don't have Jelly Rolls and you don't want to spend the money on getting one. Grab some of your favorite fabric and make your own 2 ½ inch strips. The first 17 pages provide you with basic techniques on how to make your own strips, the tools you will need and how to appliqué and quilt. There is even a suggestion for a quick and easy "light box".

Each project shows a photo of the finished item and a paragraph about the item. It gives the finished size and finished block size. A materials and cutting list is provided as well as how to put the blocks together. There are LOTS of graphics so you can be sure you are following the written directions correctly.

The final pages provide the templates needed for one of the projects as well as several paragraphs about the author. All in all, this is a wonderful book that will have you sewing far into the night.

Origami Zoo compiled many animal models that we all know and the folds are not difficult and each model averages around 50 steps: Be forewarned that 2 of the models are folded from rectangles, and one model, the spider, is folded from a triangle which will upset some origami purists who like squares. But all in all Origami Zoo is another nice book.

This is harder than it looks. Patience is a requirement. My swan was all right, but I decided not to do any more. It just wasn't for me. Others may find it fun.

This is the first origami book I have bought,Origami Zoo. Before I got this book I had to print heaps of stuff off the internet, and before long I had a huge collection of stuff I put in a folder. I soon found out that all the models I had printed out were way too hard for me, even though I'm around the intermediate to advanced level!! As cool as they may sound, the Biplane always confused me, the Bee always ripped and the Alien always became too small and thick.
But then I discovered Amazon.com. Here there were millions of choices of origami books, but I chose to get "Origami Zoo, an Amazing Collection of folded paper animals." This book was at my level exactly!!
My fav models are, so far:
- The Penguin. Even though this is one of the easiest, it still looks lifelike side-on.
- The Owl. This model is also 2D, but it perches on a thin rod, and looks lifelike as well.
- The Duck. This model is a particularly cute 3D one!
- The Sea Turtle. This model is both fun to make and cool to look at!!
- The Fox. This model is rather easy, 3D, and lifelike!
None of the models in this book are very easy. Most of them are at the intermediate level, but the last 10 or so models are complex. I still haven't gotten to the real complex models yet, but when I do, I hope I have a lot of large origami paper on hand!!
This book contains info at the start, about folds, paper, designing models and so on.
I would recommend this book to people who like to make a variety of animals, not just plain four legged animals, but insects and sea creatures as well!!

Lang's book on Origami is a good buy for anyone interested in this ancient art of paper folding. It covers models that are simple to fold all the way to models that require more skill. It also includes quite a large variety of animals to explore.

There is a great selection of animals to make in this book. Some are very advanced and complicated. Others are easier and more familiar. If you are a beginner, but are familiar with folds and instructions, it is worth giving it a try for a challenge.

This book is everything I had hoped for. I actually do short arm quilting, but this book was very helpful in the questions I had. I would recommend it to anyone who has a long arm or short arm quilting machine on a frame.

This book has some great tips and has very clear instructions and I found it to be very helpful. I recently purchased a longarm machine and this book has some great ideas that are very useful. Well worth the money.

When starting out in the business, I read this book cover to cover. It's full of incredibly valuable information and instructions. There are even several of Linda's pantograph designs that you can copy for your own use.

Linda Taylor's book, The Ultimate Quilt to Longarm Machine Quilting, became my teacher after purchasing my new longarm quilter at the 2007 Houston International Quilt Festival. Quilting friends highly recommend the book and the book became my teacher and companion for the past six weeks. The book clearly defines terms and how the machines work. Quick References decipher quilt jargon, how to load a longarm, what tools you need most, defines quilt jargon, pantographs, tips on how to start a business as a longarm quilter and how to avoid longarm body problems when quilting too long without exercise. I am a long time sewer and a three-year quilter. I am a retired teacher that learns most by reading and then by watching. This book is well written, has good photography to support the techniques and a great book for the new longarm quilter as well as a experienced quilter. My book is already dog-eared and showing the wear. IT IS A GOOD BOOK!

Excellent instructional book, well written. This was my first instructional book and it was invaluable. I recommend it highly for long arm quilting on any machine.

I have purchased Sherrill Kahn's books previously and been very well satisfied with them and thus, thought this one would be a good addition. I'm not even sure new photographs were made for this book. It is a rehash of her other work. As though she said, "Lets just cut things that have to do with sewing out of the other books and call it new." A major disappointment! Unfortunately, I did not read the other reviews before ordering. Only if you've never seen work by Sherrill Kahn should you order this book! I will give mine away or send it back!

Stitched Collage is a beautifully written and illustrated book. It contains a great deal of information and has been a great resource for me. I own all of Ms. Kahn's books and refer to them frequently. Her techniques have enhanced my collages. I hope she publishes more soon.

This is the first of Sherrill's books that has left me wanting more. What's there is great there just isn't enough... I have 3 of her books now and this is the first one to disappoint me.

What a disappointment!!!!... nothing really new or innovative. I am avid Sherrill fan and have all her books but I will think twice before just running off to buy her next book. I really felt this was a great waste of my money.

I am, first of all, stunned at the vitriolic attitudes of some of the reviewers. I am relativly new to collage and fabric, but have been a painter and sculptor for many years. All of her books have a place in my library and have always been the first "go to" references for me. Having not embroidered for a while, her simple, approaches were instant reminders for me. She is always so clear and exciting at the same time and gets me going for it without fear. She is so resoursful with her tools and has expanded my imagination and helped me overcome my fear of the sewing machine! Kudos to a talented spirit with a joyfull attitude!!!! Just listen to your very special self.

As one reviewer has pointed out, there are more words in this one, and less pictures than previous works. This work, Volume V, is like the others. A wonderful history of how it was. In this day and age of having most needs meet and something for everyone on the Wal-mart shelf, we tend to forget just what it was like in our not too distant past. These books, the Foxfire books, brings to light skills, attitudes and a way of life that is all but forgotten. This is a good thing. When a people lose their history, they lose part of their soul. As the title of this work states, from blacksmithing to rain making,this work addresses many of the old forgotten skills and there is so much more. The editors have done a wonderful job. They have made a very honest effort to replicate the dialect of those places and times and I feel that this is a big part of the charm of these books. I am old enough to have known many of the kinds of folks featured in these books, being only one generation past them, and have a great appreciation for what and how they did all the little things we take so for granted now. I might also suggest that you actually try some of the things mentioned in these volumes. It will give you even more of an appreciation for what they did, and hey, who knows, the skill you develope just might come in handy one of these days! Recommend this and the other Foxfire books highly.

The information contained within Foxfire 5 has come in handy for Duane many a times for learning how to do stuff. Most of the old methods are now lost to the current generation of Americans. It is a good reference for someone who wants to learn hands-on skills, such as blacksmithing and other independent living skills.

If you enjoy the Appalachian culture, you'll love the FOXFIRE books. Volume No. 5 covers bear hunting, blacksmithing and gun making. If you've never read these books, it may be difficult, since the text is written in the vernacular of the mountain folk, but this adds to the charm and "character" of the books. The bear hunting stories wer entertaining, but I really enjoyed reading about Hacker Martin and Hershall House. If you want to know how life really was in the Smokey Mountains, read this book.

There are some good pictures of gun smiths in this book, performing various techniques. Also a pretty good history of gun smiths, if that sort of thing interests you. The guns they show are flint lock.

The black smithing, horse shoeing and iron making are pretty slim. How to make a horse shoe, cow bell, and stove poker are about it. They discuss how they rebuilt the iron furnace, but not how to use it.

I would recommend this book only to black powder gunsmiths, or those interested in rifle history.

One of our nation's treasures is being lost one person at a time, and because of Eliot Wigginton, at least some of the treasure is being documented. The people of Appalachia have been marginalized and treated as backwoods hicks and hillbillies, only because of their poverty. That is what makes the richness of their culture all the more amazing. These people live on what an average family throws away every day. They're frugal, resourceful, and highly intelligent. This book only serves to prove it.

If you haven't spent time with hill people, your live is incomplete.

I am a complete beginner and found this book very helpful. The instructions are easy to follow, the pictures vivid and beautiful, and the finished jewelry is lovely. There are lots of different projects to make for every level. I highly recommend this book.

For a beginner, like myself; this was helpful, instructive and gave inspiration and ideas for me to create. I will always use this book for reference, but I am ready to move on to other projects. I thought it was worth the purchase.

Even with my several years of experience wrapping wire I found the instructions incomplete and confusing. Definitely not a book for a novice but possibly a good reference book. Beautifully illustrated though. I got some great ideas for displaying my jewelry.

This book presents all the basics to making wire jewelry. It will let you know which supplies are most important, teaches you how to make basic shapes and gives some projects. What is most important though is that it gives one the tools to design one's own jewlery and it does so with such clarity and precision. After reading this book, I made and sold my first earring/necklace set from silver and green flourite. I keep this book by my side when I create wire work at night to sell at my on-line boutique. I give 10% of my profits to charity...

In short -- buy this you will not regret it!

I have purchased other books by Linda Jones and will continue to do so! Beautiful projects, quality directions, beautiful photos.....it has it all. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to make wire jewelry!Buy it....you won't be sorry!

I trusted the positive reviews on this book. I shouldn't have. Nicky Epstein has crappy instructions, so that even an expert crocheter like me was frustrated.
Don't buy this book!

Gave the book to my wife:

"E-Z written instructions, plus diagrams & absolutely beautiful-color photographs."

I want to preface this with the fact that I love Nicky Epstein's designs. I get withdrawal waiting for new books. But...

Her instructions SUCK! The best example I have of this is the "Fiesta Flower Handbag". I had many many issues with this (while I was trying to make it for my mother for mother's day no less).

First of all, the required yarn amounts are WAY off. You need 5 skeins of the MC, at least three of the green and two of each of the pink and grape. I had to stop twice to wait on ordered (my LYS is over 92 miles away) yarn (still waiting on some now actually). And for the first time in my life I actually used the recommended yarn for something!!!

Secondly, there is not PRE-felting guage or main panel measurements! How can I figure out if I have even remotely the right size if I have to finish and felt the dang thing before I can measure it. I'm just hoping its close.

Thirdly, the florettes on the handle fold just do not look like the picture, no matter how I read it or try to figure it out (and I am a Master Crocheter) it doesn't look like the picture.

Fourthly, the pictures!!! The instructions tell you to use the picture as a guide, but it only has ONE! There is no picture of the side pockets, even though the instructions say to use it as a guide!!!
Fifthly, the instructions tell you to edge each piece with pink, while clearly in the (one) picture, one panel is edged in the grape!

Sixthly, there is no instruction for closing the bottom of the side pocket! Now granted, you most likely could figure it out, but she goes into great detail as to the edging (for example every corner turn is slowly spelled out to go along the edge and single crochet 3 times in every corner...four times! I think we got it the first time Nicki!!) Besides the fact is that if you got that far, I'm sure you have done that before and its almost automatic! Most crocheters have made simple dishcloths where this is (in my experience) the way EVERY SINGLE one is done!

Lastly, the fact that except for the slightly goofy ear-flap hat and this handbag, the rest of the apparel patterns are really freaky looking, from the wedding dress with huge floppy beaded yarn blobs or the giant messy neck piece or the completely bizarre opera gloves (who really would wear these anywhere but a costume party) are just WEIRD. And don't tell me they could easily be worn by Paris Hilton or some other Hollywood skank, they wouldn't TOUCH them unless they wanted to make the worst dressed list(might finally bump Bjork and her swan dress off the list!)

I won't even bore you with the myriad of typos and just plain confusedness of the flower patterns. And I really can say that about ALL of her books and patterns.

Please Nicky, fire your testers and editors, call me! I am completely zealous when it comes to succinct and accessible instructions, and I bet you a buck that I would be cheaper than the ones you used for this book.

I absolutely love having this book for inspiration. Nicky gets an A+ for inspiration and a C- for execution. So only spend your money if you have the time and patience to sit and play with the patterns. And always double the yarn requirements

If you aren't extremely comfortable with crochet, remember that you might hit some speedbumps and need a little help.

This book is very elementary. If you can make a chain then you don't need this book. I would not recommend it.

Caveat: if you are new to flower making and crochet's world of endless possibilities, this may
open something for you. If you are experienced, a collector, and have already made flowers... skip this. Get her Knitted Flowers instead and try to do them in crochet. I'm sorry I didn't heed the warnings.... it is IRKSOME that there is more variety and invention in her knitted flowers than in her crochet book. There are few projects, only two are slightly compelling, and most flowers are iterations of others. The images are, globby, not exciting. I made one flower in the type of fiber and hook suggested and it was HUGE... an outsized bell that hangs on my porch as an adornment...nothing that one could wear. Most of these do tend toward the large (G,H) vs thread, which is okay with me.... it just lacks a certain grace, delicacy, inventiveness and variety that Ms Epstein bestows on her knitted creations.