Crafts Hobbies Books

This book will keep you busy for many, many days/nights to come. The flowers are fabulous to look at but at the same time they are very time consuming.

The book begins with an introduction to what dimensional flowers are all about, followed by a tools and supplies section to show you what you will need to create them. A 3-page basic quilting section is next and a 9-page section covers how to make the different flowers.

There are 20 projects that include flowers made from Prairie Points, made by ruching and made by strip-piecing. Each pattern shows a color photo of the finished project along with the finished size. A short paragraph about the project begins the pattern instructions. A materials list, making the quilt top, making the flowers and finishing the quilt are the sections that make up the whole pattern. There are some graphics to help explain the written instructions and full sized templates if needed.

There is a 3-page gallery of quilts made with these flowers and a page on where to find the resources. The final page is a two-paragraph bio about the author. If you are into detail, this is the right book for you.

Being a native of rural Appalachia, we owe so much to Mr. Wiggington for the preservation of our culture. No other, in my knowledge has done so much. The entire seires of Foxfire books is a tribute to the plain, industrious, pragmatic, proud mountain ways that I so fondly recall from my childhood. Whether you are doing research, or simply trying to remember how granddaddy did it, these books are an excellent source of knowledge.

This work, Volume IV, 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 fiddle making to horse trading, this 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.

I bought both this and Volume 2. Returned Volume 1 and am not too thrilled with Volume 2. I have much better books on the same information which include easier to understand instructions, illustrations and certainly a much broader spectrum of challenges. Artfully illustrated but too limited in my opinion. It covers only one technique many time over. Volume 2 goes just a little beyond that! As a design instructor I used the art of "POP UP" as a tool for my students to use paper engineering to exercise their critical thinking skills. I would not have included either volume in my recommended reading for that purpose. It is more of a "cut and paste what is already provided" example of a very limited number of techniques.

If you like pop ups, and want to try different ones, this book is one to have! You can also buy more to cut up instead of cutting up the ones included in the book. There is also websites that you can find (search: Tunnel Book) and you will find a link to this book!

The perfect book for a beginner. As a bonus, the book itself has a fantastic design concept. It presents an example, then you can tear out a card with the pattern for that example, and when you finish, it has a pocket on the next page where you can store the card you just cut. Also, if you don't like cutting up your book, there is an order form for replacement cards. It's nice to see form follow function!!

the Pocket Paper Engineer book is very informative from tools that you'll need to templates for a variety of designs. The only negative i have is that i wish it wasn't on spiral for greater ease of removal of the templates.

Of the several how-to books I own on creating & designing pop-ups, this book disappointed me.
The vast majority is devoted to what is basically one pop-up technique, and the author gives numerous variations on that one type of pop-up as if each were entirely different. Yes, this book is simple & easy to use... great for those who want to play a bit -- or people who work with kids.
For true pop-up explorers however, pop-up mechanisms such as floating layers, scenery flats, boxes, etc. are not included in this book. To really dig into the subject of pop-ups and paper engineering, look elsewhere.

Informative and readable. Obviously a labor of love. I give it 5 stars even though the Tom Caspar-inspired design I've settled on didn't come from this book.

A very complete workbench guide with just enough history, lots of technical info, and with high quality pictures and drawings.

Very fine expository writing for those interested in the history of and current state-of-the-art woodworking benches and accessories. Enclosed plans are a nice plus. The resource section is excellent. Well researched, well written, photography is exceptional.

EIM

Seeing various ways to lay out workbenches is nice and this book fulfills that mission.

For me this is a coffee table book. Alot of history and research about workbenches from the middle ages on up till now. Not much information or diagrams on building benches.

I found it peculiar in the extreme when I read this book to see so many remarks about how different and cool crochet is now, compared to "our mother's crochet." Has the author ever read any of the 70s crochet books by Del Pittman? Or "Design Crochet?" Maybe best of all: "A New Look at Crochet?" And the books by James Walters and Sylvia Cosh take crochet innovation to a new dimension. These books make the patterns in this book look like 1960's McCall's Needlework and Crafts magazine - and I mean pre-hippie styles. In fact, there is a dress in here that I'm positive is almost identical to one from an old '60s McCall's NWC! Exciting possibilities you will NOT find in this book. Cute stuff made from patterns you will. I could never follow a crochet pattern as written - drove me nuts. Then I found a copy of "A New Look at Crochet" in a second hand book store for about $3 and have never looked back. It's way easier to crochet if you know how to make the yarn do what you want, and then just do it, than to follow a pattern. I gave the book a mid-level review, as there are some cute things here, but for innovation, it really is less than mid-level. But, according to many reviews I read, seems as though other people prefer to faithfully follow patterns. So, if you do, ignore me.

I bought this book because I liked more than half of the patterns. It has a nice variety--book bags, messenger bags, a clutch, a tote bag, bags to knit, bags to crochet, dressy bags, casual bags, girly-girl bags, tomboy bags, easy bags and experienced knitter bags.

My first project was the Knitting Bag. I'm a beginning knitter on the verge of being an intermediate knitter. After I figured out how to do the trinity stitch, this bag was a slam dunk. And, regardless of what the pattern says, this bag NEEDS to be lined to be useful. The instructions for the Knitting Bag were clear and correct.

I planned to do the Lace Market Bag next but the lace pattern is SO HARD. It's teeth-gnashingly frustrating. Making a mistake in the lace pattern usually meant ripping out 4 rows and throwing the bag across the room. It requires full focus and no knitting while watching TV. WAAAAAY too much work for something I'm gonna stuff groceries in. I went with the Saturday Market Bag pattern available for free on Ravelry instead (and knocked that bag out in 8 hours).

I'm currently knitting the Fair Isle Book Bag. It's not particularly interesting to knit, but I like the bag and it's a great way to learn Fair Isle. The instructions are fiddly but accurate.

Aside from the patterns, the thing I like about this book is that it talks about how to design a bag--shapes, how to construct a sturdy bag--all sorts of considerations for bag design. So after I complete the Boot Bag (featured on the front cover), I'm gonna design my own bag!

If you are looking for something to make in the latest knitting trend, well here is a nice selection of knitted bags. There are bags knitted with cotton to felted wool. I especeially like the cover bag and can't wait to knit it. Nice addition to my knitting library collection.

This book is full of super cute and trendy bag/purse projects. Out of all the knitting books dedicated to handbags, this by far is the best one I've found yet. I can sincerely say I like just about every single pattern. I made one of the bags for my best friend and she said she gets compliments all the time. One note: I'm in my twenties and think these are adorable. Granted if you are older or just simply have more traditional taste, you may not like some of these patterns but I find them all to be just the right mix of trendy, sophisticated and classic.

I am a huge fan of Scarf Style; it truly has a scarf for everyone (I've made for 3 different people already, and have others in the works). So I was very excited to order Bag Style, and pretty disapointed when I finally got to thumb through it. Out of the patterns, there are only 2 I remotely liked, the one on the cover (but it turns out you have to felt it, which I can't stand doing) and a cute little purse that incorporates a wooden knitting needle. The other patterns were just too kitschy or too far from current fashion trends for me to consider. I would have liked to see a few more "classic" styles, as well as some more realistic trendy selections, to round the collection out.

I've always been intimidated by color wheels and the like - the terminology has been beyond me as well.
This book not only explained it very simply and concisely, the examples in the back and the color swatches make selecting colors for a project absolutely 'dummy proof'. A must for color dunces like myself. I'm still not an expert, but at least have the confidence that I'm not going to make ugly projects.
Perfect size to take with me to the store, and it's indestructible.

Susan has done an incredible and very thorough job of teaching color theory in a very down to earth, non-technical, easy to understand way. This is a perfect book for anyone who wants to learn about the interaction of colors, for creating or for life! Susan presents color in so many combinations, patterns and designs and thoroughly explains how colors interact with each other. Cool color chips in the back and great small color wheel included. A MUST for anyone who wants to learn more about color, crafters and artists of all kinds.

Two things I like about a book is one that tells you what you already know but looks at it form a different angle; the other thing I like is to be surprised with something that I should have known but did not. This book has both and more.

The first chapter is on how to use the book with 20 action packed, well maybe not action packed but information packed pages on how to get the most out of the book. This is a good starting place.

The book was designed for needlework's and painters and the like. However I have two other reasons I bought the book. First for general knowledge to be able to see the world in a different way "But Now Can See!" The practical purpose is planning colors for dyeing yarn.

The book comes with a color wheel and detachable color samples to carry with you while shopping. I may have to buy a second copy as I can not force my self to dismantle the samples.

The book has a practical binding and is more than worth the cost.

Way to go Susan Levin.

I must have read (and probably own) dozens of books about color theory. Some I've found close to worthless, some are useful, and a very few are really helpful. Color Sense is one of those.
Levin, a cofounder of K1C2 (a great knitting company) and inventor of the Rainbow Color Selector, has written a book which must be the color book she has always wanted to find but hadn't.
The first section, How to Use this book, cover all the basics of color. First it covers how the pages are organized, so the reader can understand the color combination pictures. Then it talks about the swatches and templates included at the back of the book. It also shows you in detail how to use the small Rainbow Color Selector that is included with the book.
Before a short glossary of color terms, there is a discussion of color considerations. These aspects, proportions, undertones, value, and other factors make or break many projects. These simple explanations will help you identify problems with your color schemes and repair them.
The heart of the book are the color palettes. They are divided into three large groups: combinations of one,two, three, and four colors. The main types of color combinations, like complementary or triad, are put into one of these groups.
For each color combination, based on the twelve-color color wheel, there is a two-page spread. On the left page, the top contains three swatch diagrams for the combination, one light, one saturated, and one dull. Below each of these are several combinations in that particular value range showing different proportions of each of the component colors. I find this fascinating because the matter of proportion in color combinations is rarely shown but is very important, particularly in fiber arts. I'm sure you will find that some combination are much more appealing than others.
The right page shows 20 more color combinations, five against each of four backgrounds. Various shades of the main colors are shown with no background and against white, gray, and black. The same combination of shades is shown against each of the backgrounds.
Although the particular choice of background color also has a big effect in needlepoint, these samples can help lots in making a decision between, say, a light blue and a navy blue for a pillow background.
The books ends with a set of color swatches, all printed on card stock, with 7 shades for each of the twelve colors, plus multiple swatches of black, white, and gray. You can take these out and create your own color combination or match the cards to combinations in the book and carry them with you when selecting threads.
Throw in a Rainbow Color Selector and you have a wonderfully complete and usable book on color which is aimed at anyone who works with thread, yarn, or beads.

I thought this would give me new ideas for binding and finishing but it is all about machine quilting and doesn't really add anything to what we know.

This book opens you up to think of different ways of doing things you've done before. The photos are wonderful!

I've been quilting for little less than a year, and have been intimidated by anything more difficult than straight lines , squares, and rectangles. I thought I'd buy this book for future reference, but found myself enthralled by the gorgeous designs, and the apparently straightforward instructions. I look forward to trying some of these new ideas. Valori Wells includes includes complete instructions for a bunch of lovely quilts.

I am relatively new to quilting, but come from an art background and really enjoyed looking at these quilt designs. A little more tuition in parts on acheiving the quilting effects could have gone a long way and it is definately a bit "edgey" for the traditional quilter. I found the "piecing" approaches worthwhile and really appreciated the circles and curves sewing and piecing tips.

If you have gone past or are ready to try something beyond block quilts and simple line quilts this is a good book for that next step. I have always admired the innovative and really creative quilts. What I liked about this book was the simple basic designs and how she made them spectacular with the fabrics she used. What I especially liked were the quilts using circles. This has always intimidated me, but her easy to follow steps on page 51 were really useful. What really makes her quilts "pop" is the quilting used to enhance the quilts. I think this is the "Stunning Finish" that is part of the title. I have not tried paper piecing yet, but think I could really do it with the instructions in her book. The photography really shows the quilt details, all in full color and the instructions are also colored to make them easy to follow. Would recommend this book.

This an outstanding book. It starts with the history of socks/stockings and brings the reader up to today and how they've changed. The photos are wonderful and the writing is easy to understand.

I would recommend this book for anyone who really is interested in sock knitting. The book was not awfully expensive and it covers about anything you might want to know about socks. This will always be current for the who wants a simple sock to a very ornate complicated one.

As a unrepentant sock book collector I found this book to be very well put together and full of fresh new patterns. Another MUST HAVE for any sock knitter! It's got something for everyone from beginner to expert.

This book is self explanatory and additionally has a great section that speaks about the anatomy of a sock. It gives you detailed history of sock making and the biggest names in the sock industry! Impressive! Not only are the sock patterns attractive they are designed and charted out by some of the best designers. You definitely won't be displeased if you add this one to your knitting library!

I purchased the book, "Vogue Knitting-The Ultimate Sock Book" because sock knitting was something that I only tried one time previously and wanted to know more about it. I was very pleased with the book because it touches on many aspects of sock knitting from history to basic technique to patterns. The sock patterns are also very creative and are designed by many well known names in the knitting industry, which is typical of Vogue Knitting. A word of caution, however, for those of you who are interested in sock knitting techniques like working with two circular needles. Although there are patterns that utilize various techniques, the authors seem to assume that you already know these techniques as they are not explained in depth in the basic instructions. This is fine with me personally, because I prefer to knit socks the traditional way with 5 double pointed needles. I feel that this book was worth the cost and the time spent reading it.

I was very impressed with the patterns and instructions in this book. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for more variety of sock patterns.

An excellent book for beginning turners. Detailed explanations and lots of pictures.Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking (Complete Illustrated Guide)

I am really impressed, what an introduction, great information!
I am interested in turning wood so I bought this book to research lathe wood working, and it seemingly covered questions that I had and so many others that I had not even thought of yet.
The illustrations give visualization to understanding of new jargon and concepts. I now feel like I have been properly introduced to a new creative expression in woodworking and am ready to pick up a gouge and try my hand at turning wood.

It was really great all Richard Raffan's book are so easy to do the projects as he writes and has photos of the item he is telling you about

All I needed to know, Plus much more.
Easy way to learn the tips and tricks of turning.
All turners should have a copy on hand.

Richard Raffan is by far one of the most recognized Master Turners in the world. This book is most likely a compilation of all of the works he has produced and presented in such a way that Turners on every level will gain something beneficial to their own turning. It is well organized and written in such plain language that every turner will have no problem understanding. The illustraions are top notch and very helpful. I would recomend this book to turners of every level.
Dave Earl

I purchased this book thinking it would give me ideas for a gazillion 9 patches I acquired during recent yr long exchange. It didn't work for that but opened up a whole new avenue for using some BIG PRINT fabrics I had NO IDEA what to do with. My only suggestion is to carefully watch directional pieces & remember where they go. Silly me, counted needing 6 rectangles so that's what I fussy cut not paying attention to fact that SOME of them were vertical & some horizontal. Lots of fabric so no worry. Really fun, whimsical cow/farmyard quilt when finished. I can't wait to make more! I truly enjoyed the book & look forward to getting her Rectangle Pizzazz very soon. Just a note....I'm a new quilter & found the book VERY EASY to follow. Hope this is helpful...happy quilting!

Book is good, well written. Love the quilts. The only down side is the quilts are small, not bed size.

This book offers a "formula" for creating interesting looking quilts that make use of your fabric stash, especially those fabrics that you are reluctant to cut. You can use larger pattterned fabrics as focal pieces and add coordinating fabrics in the 9-patch blocks for additional visual interest without detracting from the focal fabric. "Oriental Flight" pictured on the cover, gives the look of a watercolor-style quilt without having to cut so many tiny pieces. After viewing quilts made by students in a 9-Patch Pizzazz class at a quilt shop in Austin, TX, I am glad that I purchased this book. Clear directions and many close-up color photos.

Great idea book! I love the way the author shows you how to showcase fabric. If you bought a piece of fabric because you love it and don't want to cut it into little pieces, you can keep part of it intact and highlight it with nine-patch squares to create a lovely quilt with your favorite fabric highlighted by the your pieced design of coordinating fabric.

If you're looking for a book that will give you hours of inspiration (and the urge to go out and buy more fabric), this is a great option for your library. Bold fabrics combine with bold (yet simple) designs to create stunning quilts that are remarkably easy to make.

I understand the point of view of the people who gave this book negative reviews. There are times when you want to invest the time and energy to make an intricate work of art for a special occasion or special recipient. But for some of us there are times when you want to whip up something artful, eye-catching, and super quick. This is the book for those projects.

When you begin gathering fabric to make one of these quilts, you may find yourself stymied by all your choices. Don't be surprised if you can't visualize how your fabrics will go together and you end up stuck. If that happens to you, I recommend you simply make one -- a practice quilt, if you will -- just to see how it works. Making my first quilt taught me a lot about how to choose colors and textures, which work together differently in Pizzazz quilts than in more traditional patterns. Several of the clerks at my local quilt shop have said the same thing. Making one will teach you more than 20 hours of studying the photos in the book. But be forewarned: Once you make one, you'll suddenly have ideas for six more!