It's the end of January already!? Sadly, I've been neglecting my poor crafty blog. Not because I'm not reading and not crafting but perhaps because I've been doing a little too much of both. Well, without further delay - let me tell you about some books I've been checking out.
Mastering Color Knitting
Potter Craft, pub. Nov. 2010
ISBN: 9780307586506
I just love Potter Craft books! They are always very well done and have great charts and instructions. This one is no exception. As a knitter new to color knitting I found this book very useful in explaining techniques that you NEED to know so your project ends up looking fabulous instead of looking like a lumpy mess.
Skill Level: Beginner - Advanced
Rating: ★★★★★
Sewing Machine Basics by Jane Bolsover
Cico Books, pub.Oct 2010
ISBN: 9781907030734
I got my first sewing machine for Christmas so I've been devouring any sewing books I can get my hands on. This one is particularly good because it covers every imaginable technique for any beginner or intermediate sewer. I love the easy to follow instructions and think this should be next to everyone's sewing machine as a handy reference. This book covers even the most basic of techniques - but believe me, even something seemingly basic can be a mystery if you haven't used a machine in quite some time.
Skill Level: Beginner - Intermediate
Rating: ★★★★★
Amy Butler's Style Stitches: 12 Easy Ways to 26 Wonderful Bags by Amy Butler
Chronicle Books, pub.Aug 2010
ISBN: 9780811866699
I love Amy Butler's fabric so I thought I'd take a peek at some of her patterns. First of all I love the bag and the fabric on the cover so I was hooked without even opening the book. I quickly realized that even the most basic bag was a bit too ambitious for my sewing skills. It required a lot of materials (e.g. two prints, interfacing, and fleece interfacing) which I did not have on hand and wasn't sure I wanted to invest in to "try" one of the projects. However, I will definitely revisit this book for patterns and inspiration once I have few more projects under my belt. Fantastic pictures and clear instructions make this a must have for anyone with intermediate level sewing skills and a love of all things pretty.
Skill Level: Intermediate - Advanced
Rating: ★★★★
Bow Wow WOW!: Fetching Costumes for Your Fabulous Dog by Cathie Filian
Lark Books, pub. Oct 2008
ISBN: 9781600592355
This one is neither new nor anything I'm prepared to try but I thought it was so wacky that someone has got to love it! The costumes in this book sort of remind me of toddler pageant costumes and I don't have dog - probably a good thing for the poor dog - so I won't be attempting anything from this book. Nonetheless, check out the author's website for a sample of what you'll find inside!