Craftacular Books for Fall

Summer is winding down, the kids are getting ready to head back to school, and you are looking forward to a little "me time" at your craft table! Whether you want to get a head-start on that warm, wooly sweater, or are dying to make those sparkly beads into something beautiful, we've got the book for you. Come check out our latest craft books and links to some fantastic blogs for tips and tricks.


Knitting

No Sheep for You: Knit Happy with Cotton, Silk, Linen...

Yarns made from plant fibers, modern synthetics, and silk take the spotlight in this collection of 21 classic knitting patterns for socks, scarves, hats, bags, vests, sweaters, and even a luxurious bathrobe. Some knitters are discouraged by the thought of baggy hemp sweaters and droopy cotton socks when they consider vegetable fibers, but this authoritative, fun, and light-hearted guide promises that, while wool has no equal when it comes to elasticity and warmth, the right tricks and techniques produce non-wool fashions that fit well, wear well, and hang beautifully. Knitters are taught to knit swatches to study the behavior of a yarn, to choose an appropriate pattern, and to master techniques for reinforcing stitches and inserting knit-ins of springier yarn to keep cotton, silk, and other fibers from sagging. Key information about durability, weight, pilling, and special handling is provided for acrylic, bamboo, cotton, hemp, Ingeo, linen, lycra, nylon, polyester, rayon, silk, soy, Tencel, and viscose yarns, and a chapter of helpful tips advises on needles to use (and avoid), how to start new balls and weave in ends, how to work intarsia and Fair Isle patterns, smart ways to control the cost of materials, and the right methods for washing, drying, and blocking the finished pieces. From Amazon.ca.



Heirloom Knits: 20 Classic Designs to Cherish






Each of the twenty wonderful projects in this book takes its inspiration a different decade. Based on vintage designs that have been carefully updated for the modern knitter, Heirloom Knits includes examples from every decade since 1820. A wide range of additional edgings and embellishments makes it possible for the more experienced knitter to pick and choose from among the elements to make a unique piece, just as knitters have done in the past. All of the patterns have been carefully updated, so they can be knitted in contemporary yarns using modern techniques. Step-by-step directions accompany beautiful designs and full-color photographs. From Amazon.ca.

http://www.lollygirl.com/blog/ - a great combination of knitting, travel and beautiful photos

http://knitboxing.ong.id.au/ - beautiful photos for inspiration

http://www.menwhoknit.com/community/ - Men - embrace your inner knitter!!

Jewelry Making

Crochet Jewelry: 35 Fantastic Pieces of Jewelry to Make & Wear


Crochet Jewelry takes crochet and beading in a whole new direction. The result is crocheted wire mesh and bead chokers that look like filigree, daisy chain necklaces, metallic yarns crocheted into arm cuffs, and pom pom brooches. The range is extraordinary (rings, hair barrettes, chokers, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, arm cuffs, bangles, brooches), the designs delightful and engaging. In addition to the 35 projects, there is an introductory section that covers, in step-by-step, photographically illustrated detail, all the crochet and jewelry-making techniques you need to know to complete these projects. From Amazon.ca.


Wire & Bead Celtic Jewelry: 35 Quick & Stylish Projects


Linda Jones brings you antoher 35 fantastic step-by-step jewelry projects inspired by the ever popular motifs and art of the ancient Celts. Her beautiful twisted wire and bead designs will have you dashing to your bead box. Using only some beads, a spool of wire, and a few simple tools, you can begin right away as Linda tells you absolutely everything you need to know. The projects are set up like recipes with materials lists and step-by-step instructions so they are perfect for beginners, and her unique designs will inspire those already experienced in the craft, too. With chokers, brooches, delicate chains, rings, earrings, bangles, and more. "Wire and Bead Celtic Jewelry" offers something for everyone, so whether you want to make a piece as a unique gift or for yourself Linda shows you how. From Amazon.ca.


Papercrafts

Paper Crafts Workshop: A Beginner's Guide to Techniques and Projects

Thanks to a variety of new products and fresh designs, this comprehensive look at an age-old craft offers exciting projects with contemporary style! The first in the "Paper Crafts Workshop" series, it showcases a wide variety of beautiful creative techniques to try. There is paper tole, quilling, collage, femmage (collage art that incorporates textiles), parchment crafting, papier-mache, and chicari (rice paper that is torn, colored, then glued down to form a picture). Each section includes a history of the form, and then presents all the modern tools and materials available for crafting. More than 40 exhaustively photographed projects are included, along with patterns. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Travel Scrapbooks: Creating Albums of Your Trips and Adventures

Just as the world cannot be seen in one day, neither can an entire trip be encapsulated in a single scrapbook page. Travel Scrapbooks: Creating Albums of Your Trips and Adventures is every traveler's companion to creating amazing travel albums highlighting favorite destinations-complete with innovative ideas and techniques for displaying those stacks of vacation photos and souvenirs. Turn the page to find albums of every variety-mini, 3-ring, accordion, gatefold, post-bound, spiral-bound and more-that are the perfect format for capturing the true essence of an adventure worth recording through pictures and journaling. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

http://bellepapier.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ - beautiful and innovative designs

http://comestampwithme.blogspot.com/ - great layout and stamping ideas

http://stampinwhenican.blogspot.com/ - links to other sites and grest how-to instructions