RSS
Archive: Books and Magazines
October 3, 2009
Game Knitting eBook by Lee Meredith
Congrats to Lee Meredith who just launched her Game Knitting eBook. You can preview the table of contents and see some of the project images.
Lee writes:
Game knitting is a concept as opposed to a pattern, which means it can be used to make anything you can knit, as long as it’s a simple enough shape. The book features mostly hats, but there are also examples of scarves, mitts, headbands, and cuffs; knit whatever you love most, as it works out best to game knit an object you are familiar with knitting in the first place. As you can knit any shape, you can also game knit with any yarn/needles/gauge. You could even take it further and use the concept in non-knitting projects!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 3, 2009 07:00 AM
Books and Magazines, Knitting |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
October 2, 2009
Book Review: Felties by Nellie Pailloux
Ancient wisdom advises not to judge a book by its cover, but in the case of Felties by Nelly Pailloux, the sheer adorableness you see on the cover is very much indicative of what's inside. Squares of felt always invoke images of grade school art class for me, and Pailloux has a way of taking this classic to the next level while still maintaining simplicity and approachability. She clearly has a knack for creating designs that tug at your heartstrings and are all the while modern and stylized.
There are 18 "cute and fuzzy friends" total, each with a personality and charm all its own. The introduction to the book teaches any stitches you'll need in the book, with helpful illustrations. The first page of each project has the template pieces drawn out, and you trace and cut them out to make your pattern. The instructions are clear and simple, with room for personalization. One of my favorite patterns has the be the Polar-roo, pictured on the cover, complete with pouch and baby polar bear. Other favorites include Sleepy Fox, Pensive Rabbit, Sailor Puppy, Mummy Cat, Retro Alien, Pirate Mouse, Mushroom Girl, and of course Hoodie Wolf:
Posted by Goli Mohammadi |
Oct 2, 2009 05:00 PM
Books and Magazines |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
September 22, 2009
Three-Season Mitts E-Book and Sarah Mitts Pattern
Robyn Devine of A Devine Life just launched the Three-Season Mitts E-Book for sale on Ravelry. The e-book is just $8 and features six unique patterns for hand/arm warmers, each one matching the personality of the friend she was making them for (or the level of warmth needed!). I love all the beautiful details in each pattern. From a subtle cable to a button accent, you'll be keeping your hands warm in style. You also have the option to purchase each pattern separately too. Make them for yourself or start working on your holiday gifts for friends.
As a special to CRAFT readers, Robyn is sharing with us her pattern for these awesome Sarah Mitts!
Download the PDF for the Sarah Mitts Pattern
(Note: If you are having problems viewing the PDF, please right-click on the link to download the file to your desktop.)
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Sep 22, 2009 06:00 PM
Bazaar, Books and Magazines, Cozy Up to Yarn, CRAFT Patterns, Knitting |
Permalink
| Comments (4)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
September 21, 2009
Book Giveaway + Project Excerpt: Photojojo! by Amit Gupta with Kelly Jensen
Photojojo! Insanely Great Photo Projects and DIY Ideas by Amit Gupta with Kelly Jensen
Book Site: Photojojo.com/book
The best email newsletter hands down for photography crafts is Photojojo. Thanks to Amit's review one year, I found my Nikon D40 and have been in love with taking photos ever since. Now Amit and Kelly wow us again with their new book, Photojojo! Insanely Great Photo Projects and DIY Ideas filled with 50 projects so you can do more with all the cool photos you take. It's not just about printing them out and making a photo album. This book shows you how to use your photos to make cool things such as a lampshade or messenger bag (pictured below).The second half of the book is like taking a photography class. You'll learn techniques for taking better photos as well as fun ways you can experiment with different photo techniques. I love the tips on how to do digital color correcting after you've taken your photos. If you love taking photos and want to learn how to do more with them, this book is for you!
Book Giveaway Time!
We are giving away 3 copies of the Photojojo! book.Just leave a comment in this post and tell us why you need this book. Please make sure you include your email address in the comment form field (won't be published). All comments will be closed by Noon PST on Wednesday, September 23rd. The lucky winners will be announced next week on the site. Good luck!
Project: Ginormous Photo Mosaics
Even if you are living in an apartment and can't put holes in your walls, you can still get some great art up. Download the project PDF to make this stunning photo mosaic where you'll be able to see the wonderful memories you have of your friend and family.
(Note: If you are having problems viewing the PDF, please right-click on the link to download the file to your desktop.)
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Sep 21, 2009 11:00 AM
Books and Magazines, Contests, Design, Paper Crafts, Photography |
Permalink
| Comments (244)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
September 20, 2009
Bent Objects Book Trailer
I've been a big fan of Terry Border's Bent Objects for a while now, and featured his Horrific Yarn Sculpture back in February. I've been following his progress on his upcoming book, and can't wait to get my hands on a copy. He's just released a trailer for the book that is hilarious and gives samples of his work as well as a few funny cameos from Border and his ... very limber cat. I laughed out loud throughout the trailer, and the images used are the Bent Objects sculptures that didn't make it in to the book. Looks like I better make my family don some ear plugs when the book arrives. Enjoy!
Related:
Bent Objects Horrific Yarn Sculpture
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Sep 20, 2009 03:00 PM
Bazaar, Books and Magazines |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
September 18, 2009
How-To: Write a Proposal For a Non-Fiction Book
Kathy Cano-Murillo is a well-known and prolific writer. Her Crafty Chica craft books are hugely popular, and her first novel will be published in March 2010. She shares her tips for writing a proposal for a non-fiction book, and while the amount of work needed to pull together a successful proposal might seem daunting, she offers this pep talk to hopeful writers:
I once had a proposal rejected, so I set it aside. I then pitched a different book to a different publisher, who rejected it but asked if I had any other book ideas. I whipped out that previous proposal and freshened it up. That is what became Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing! And it is my best-selling book to date!
Keep the faith and don't give up!
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Sep 18, 2009 04:00 PM
Books and Magazines |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
September 9, 2009
Bend the Rules with Fabric Giveaway Winners
The winners of our book giveaway for Amy Karol's Bend the Rules with Fabric and Bend the Rules Gift Labels are Christy from Savannah, GA, Melanie from Pheba, MS, and Mary Beth from Pittsburgh, PA. Thanks to everyone who entered!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Sep 9, 2009 11:00 PM
Books and Magazines |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
September 8, 2009
Parasol Craft
Our friend Yasmine at A Print a Day has launched a new online crafts magazine called Parasol Craft. Yasmine says, " the primary focus and the objective is to promote and inspire creativity." Issue #1 is available now and has 111 pages of features and projects, including downloadable templates to make Snow White & Rose Red Dolls as well as a digital/hybrid scrapbook kit. The beautifully designed magazine is available as a PDF download for a mere $2.50.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Sep 8, 2009 11:00 AM
Bazaar, Books and Magazines |
Permalink
| Comments (1)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
September 4, 2009
Book Review: Yarn Bombing
When I first picked up a copy of Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti (Arsenal Pulp Press), I thought it was going to be a pretty coffee table book filled with colorful images of clever street artists of the yarn persuasion. Being a fan of the subtle but calculated subversiveness of yarn bombing, I would've been happy with that. The pleasant surprise is that this new book by Mandy Moore and Leanne Prain offers much more.
When I pick up a new book, I always like to open it to a random page just to get that out-of-context glimpse for starters. I was greeted by a section titled "What if you get caught?" I'm not sure how well "Explain to the officer that you are an artist and that you are creating public work" would serve you, but the "tactics of military snipers" sidebar on the next page offers some great tips on staying unseen. The point is that Yarn Bombing really strives to give a full window into this growing movement. Not only do the authors introduce you to various global yarn bombing crews with interviews and images, but you get how-tos on getting started yarning it up yourself. Equipment, planning, measuring things you want to bomb, and staying stealth are all covered.
Once you get all that down, Yarn Bombing teaches you basic tags and patterns, helps you contemplate the size of your crew, and gets you going writing your yarn bombing manifesto. There's also an entire chapter devoted to knitting and crochet patterns like the Treesweater, Hanging Shoes, and Knitted Poster Frame, to name just a few. There are even a number of patterns for making yourself tagging essentials like Nninja Threads to keep yourself incognito and the Tagging Toolkit Cuff to hold all your gear and be ready on the fly. No stone is left unturned (or without a cozy) in this comprehensive book, including the inevitable "But is it art?" discussion.
Seen below are examples of yarn bombing from the book: the knitted Pink M.24 Chaffee by Marianne Jorgensen and a piece by the Stickkontakt crew from Sweden.
Pick up Yarn Bombing for more knit and crochet graffiti juiciness and check out their blog and Flickr set for inspirational eye candy (a Flickr image search reveals tons more of his movement). World yarn domination, yo!
Posted by Goli Mohammadi |
Sep 4, 2009 05:00 PM
Books and Magazines |
Permalink
| Comments (6)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
September 2, 2009
Book Review & Giveaway: Bend the Rules with Fabric
Believe me, you have no idea how excited I was to receive Amy Karol's second book, Bend the Rules with Fabric. Amy shows you how to personalize your fabric with stencils, stamps, dye, photo transfers, silk screening, and more. There are a great variety of projects for all different levels, including 9 no-sew projects for those that have yet to take the leap. A few of my favorites (pictured below) are the Painted Toile, the Lunch Bag where you print your own fabric, and the Aunt Sarah and Uncle Pete Dolls (how hilarious and fun!). Templates and patterns for the project are in the back of the book. In addition to projects, Amy also goes in depth on techniques. I love these as they are peppered in between projects. They are things that I've always wanted to try out such as printing images on fabric sheets, using Bubble Jet Set to make your own, or screen printing with Photoez, just to name a few. Amy includes a short bullet-list of benefits as well as drawbacks to each technique, so you can keep them in mind as you test them out. I could honestly stare at the pretty project photos all day. This is definitely a book for your craft collection!
Book Giveaway Time!
Three lucky CRAFT winners are going to win a copy of Bend the Rules with Fabric and a box of the Bend the Rules Gift Labels (pictured below). Wowza! Just leave a comment to this post and tell us why you want this book. Make sure you enter in your email address in the form field (won't be published). All comments will be closed on Friday, September 4th at Midnight PST. The winner will be announced next week on CRAFT. Good luck!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Sep 2, 2009 03:30 PM
Books and Magazines, Reviews |
Permalink
| Comments (268)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
August 24, 2009
Book Review: Weaving Un-Loomed by Diane Gilleland
"Sister" Diane Gilleland's project guide to weaving without expensive equipment, Weaving Un-Loomed, comes to us as an e-book, elegantly situating itself somewhere between environmental consciousness and convenience. It starts up with an introduction to weaving's concepts and terms, then inspires you with pattern ideas and material choices.
The five projects inside really do have something for everyone, especially if you already have a bit of basic sewing experience. My favorite part about the projects is how easy it is to find the materials in your stash already. Twill tape and a bit of fabric become a funky woven tablecloth, old magazine pages become colorful woven jewelry, and don't even get me started on what I now want to do with my yarn stash! Not only are the actual weaving materials easy to find, but the tools are even easier. A stiff scrap of cardboard becomes a loom, and the tines of a fork are used to tighten up your work. This is the perfect introduction to weaving concepts if you're not sure you're into weaving yet.
If the idea of an e-book gives you pause, fear not. This 60-pager with big, bright photos is friendly to your shelf space and your printer because each project comes with a text-only instruction sheet designed to be printed by itself for crafting away from the warm glow of the screen.
Twill tape placemat:
Woven applique:
Throughout the e-book are links to resources for materials (bet your paper book can't do that), and at the end there's a resources section for more loom-less wonders. Check out Diane's page about the book, where you can download a free sample project! Happy weaving!
More:
- Checkin' In: PDX Crafter Sister Diane Gilleland
- Book Review: Kanzashi In Bloom by Diane Gilleland
- Pet Spotlight: Diane Gilleland's Cat Pushkin
Posted by Becky Stern |
Aug 24, 2009 09:00 AM
Books and Magazines, Reviews, Weaving |
Permalink
| Comments (1)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
August 18, 2009
Winners of Hat Heads
Congratulations to Stephanie of Winnipeg, Canada, Kimberly of Palo Alto, CA, and Adrienne of Chicago, IL for each winning a copy of the new book, Hat Heads: 1 Man + 2 Knitting Needles = 50 Fun Hat Designs by Trond Anfinnsen in our giveaway. Thanks to everyone who entered!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Aug 18, 2009 10:00 PM
Books and Magazines, Contests |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
August 13, 2009
Book Interview & Giveaway: Crochet Adorned by Linda Permann
Crochet Adorned:Reinvent Your Wardrobe with Crocheted Accents, Embellishments, and Trims by Linda Permann
Web Site: LindaMade
We are so excited to be a part of Linda Perman's blog tour for her new book Crochet Adorned! I'd like to call myself a natural born knitter but in the last few years while working at CRAFT, I've been hit with the crochet bug. So when I got my copy of Crochet Adorned, let's just say I did my own happy dance in my head. As a fashion lover, I can't resist all the projects in the book because opening it is like reading the Anthropologie catalog. And here's the great part, you can use these patterns in the book to update your wardrobe at a budget! We all have old cardigans, shirts, and dresses that could use a bit more love, don't we? As a bonus, the Stitch Dictionary in the back is really like it's own little book. In there you'll find 100 stitches for trims, flowers, geometric shapes, as well as basic and popular crochet stitches. It's such a handy reference to have that I'll know I'll be able to refer to the pages in this book again and again.
(photo via CraftyPod)
My dream project from Crochet Adorned is this Breezy Tunic above. I love how the crochet trim that embellishes the sleeve is in perfect harmony with flowered print of the shirt.
Book Giveaway Time!
One lucky CRAFT winner will win a copy of Crochet Adorned! Just leave a comment to this post and tell us why you want this book. Make sure you enter in your email address in the form field (won't be published). All comments will be closed on Monday, August 17 at Noon PST. The winner will be announced next week on CRAFT. Good luck!
Read on for my interview with Linda Permann and find out more about Crochet Adorned and her tips for crochet and fashion.
Read full story
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Aug 13, 2009 08:00 AM
Books and Magazines, Crochet, Fashion, Interviews, Reviews |
Permalink
| Comments (174)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
August 12, 2009
Winners of The Alchemy of Color Knitting
Congratulations to Hannah from Kansas City, MO, Jennifer from Toronto, Canada, and Sylvie from Sutrieu, France for each winning a copy of the new book The Alchemy of Color Knitting by Gina Wilde in our CRAFT giveaway. Thanks to everyone who entered!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Aug 12, 2009 09:16 PM
Books and Magazines, Contests |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
August 7, 2009
Book Review: Chic and Simple Sewing by Christine Haynes
Styley seamstress Christine Haynes' book Chic and Simple Sewing is perfectly titled, for on the pages of this beautiful book, you won't find a single garment that is not simple to sew but timelessly chic.
The first 30 pages of the book are all about getting the novice seamstress up and running, from teaching about setting up your work space and equipment to specifics on how to take your measurements and how to use patterns. She even goes into the intricacies of picking just the right fabric and notions.
I've always been a fan of Haynes' impeccable sense of style, and it really comes through in the 23 projects presented in this book. The chapters are divided seasonally, which proves to be a great way to lay out a sewing book. Haynes offers skirts, dresses, tops, and jackets that are masterfully designed to compliment a wide range of body types. And though the sewing techniques are never overly complicated, the end products are clearly classy.
The layout and form of the book is equally chic and well-organized. Inside the hard cover, the pages are spiral-bound, and on the inside of the front cover, there is a built-in mini accordion folder with a tuck-in flap that houses the full-sized patterns for the book's projects.
My absolute favorite dress in the book is the Sunday Dress:
I also love The Jacket:
And the simple lines of the Wrap Skirt:
Overall, this is a great book for anyone who is interested in hand-making a wardrobe that doesn't look handmade.
If you live in the Los Angeles area, be sure to check out The Urban Craft Center, where Haynes will be teaching upcoming sewing classes. Also, check out Haynes' online shop, where she's currently having a Vacation Sale. She is going on vacation for the month of September, so anything you order from now through September 30th is 30% off, with purchases being shipped the week of October 12th.
Posted by Goli Mohammadi |
Aug 7, 2009 05:00 PM
Books and Magazines |
Permalink
| Comments (3)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
Book Excerpt: Digital Textile Design by Melanie Bowles and Ceri Isaac
Last week I reviewed a new primer for design, Digital Textile Design, written by Melanie Bowles and Ceri Isaac (Laurence King Publishers). This week we have an excerpt to share: a tutorial on making custom plaid. Plaid is on everything in fashion right now. It's the print that unites grunge rock and school girls. And depending on the colors and line weights, it can be as unique as a thumbprint. Any crafter can learn to use Adobe Illustrator, and, with Bowles and Isaac's tutorial, create their own personal version of the classic and versatile printed plaid. The instructions for building the print are simple, and include images of the tools directly from the program.
Download the PDF to start working on a plaid. If you create one, share it in the CRAFT Flickr pool! And please visit Melanie Bowles' new blog, makeitdigital.
Posted by Brookelynn |
Aug 7, 2009 01:00 PM
Books and Magazines, Design, Technology |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
August 4, 2009
Book Review & Giveaway: Hat Heads by Trond Anfinnsen
Hat Heads: 1 Man + 2 Knitting Needles = 50 Fun Hat Designs by Trond Anfinnsen, aka Knitkid
For the last 8 or 9 years, I spend many winters knitting hats for babies, kids, and adults to give as gifts for the holidays. After a while, as I find my groove with my favorite patterns, the novelty wears off and after a few weeks of knitting it gets boring for me. Picking up the new book, Hat Heads by Trond Anfinnsen, I've found my new knitting hat inspiration.
Norwegian Anfinnsen aka Knitkid taught himself to knit and made custom knit hats for each of his friends where each design is inspired by their personality. He decided to document it as an interactive art project and teamed with photographer Klaus Skrudland to take portraits of each recipient in his or her hat. You can see all the photos of The Knitting Project on his web site. The book provides a complete knitting pattern for each hat including a chart for the intarsia pattern. I can't stop staring at the light blue and red hat worn by Silje on the cover above. In that hat, Anfinnsen tried to "convey the feel of a stylish piece of furniture...to match her chic city image." Love it!
I also love the hat worn by Ingvild (pictured bottom left) who has a pink eagle because she's "both strong and sweet" as well as the ones worn by Erik (bottom center), and Tonje (bottom right). Anfinnsen also covers how to knit as well as how to design your own unique hat. Hat Heads is the perfect book if you are an avid hat knitter or are need more knitting inspiration.
Book Giveaway Time!
Three lucky CRAFT winners are going to win a copy of this book, Hat Heads! Just leave a comment to this post and tell us why you want this book. Make sure you enter in your email address in the form field (won't be published). All comments will be closed on Friday, August 7th at Noon PST. The winner will be announced next week on CRAFT. Good luck!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Aug 4, 2009 12:00 PM
Books and Magazines, Knitting |
Permalink
| Comments (131)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
July 31, 2009
Book Review: Digital Textile Design
by Melanie Bowles and Ceri Isaac
Computers and crafts have been converging for a very long time. The endless possibilities of the digital art world are constantly being merged into crafting, sewing, and fashion. Digital Textile Design (Lawrence King Publishers) is a new primer that takes you to the world where technology and textiles intersect. The authors, Melanie Bowles and Ceri Isaac, wrote 23 easy-to-follow tutorials. They cover creating custom-printed fabric, making repeating patterns using Photoshop and Illustrator, building visual elements like photographic montages, and making fashion illustrations. Everything in the book is stunning to look at, and many of the projects are inspired directly by pieces from cutting-edge fashion collections. Designers are profiled, and the world of digital crafting is explored in-depth.
The book is filled with very cool specific fashion-oriented projects. Make a cross-stitch textured pansy in Photoshop with a repeating "x" and some original art. Scan a sequin, use it to build an illustration, and then print it to an iron-on applique. Learn to tell the difference between a good pattern repeat and a bad one.
Many of the tutorials teach how to build visual images in Photoshop or Illustrator. Follow the screen caps of various tools and pallets in the software to make gingham, plaid, or complicated repeating patterns. Besides textiles, these skills and projects could easily be translated into other designs, like paper crafts or digital art.
An entire chapter is dedicated to fashion illustration, with absolutely beautiful inspirations. Digital Textile Design also contains complete explanations of different printing techniques. Bowles and Isaac explain ambitious methods, like rotary screen-printing and heat-transfer printing. They also discuss more accessible and traditional methods like woodblock printing and stenciling. For the serious artist working in a textile studio, the book has specific useful tips like a breakdown of the direct inkjet-printing process and a fascinating spread about the chemistry of applying ink to fiber.
Digital Textile Design is beyond inspiring. Novice and expert crafters alike will be enabled by this book to take their art to the next level.
Next Friday we will have a complete tutorial excerpt, with step-by-step instructions for building a custom plaid. Plaid is the hottest print for fall, and using Bowles and Isaac's instructions will guarantee success!
Posted by Brookelynn |
Jul 31, 2009 01:00 PM
Books and Magazines |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
July 30, 2009
Fashioning Technology Smart Materials Kit
If you've ever thought about expanding your crafting horizons by trying out some of the new high tech materials available to us today, like photochromatic inks, polymorph plastic, and conductive thread, you should definitely check out Syuzi Pakhchyan's Fashioning Technology book. This DIY intro to smart crafting is an invaluable resource that walks you through the materials and tools you can use, gives technical primers on everything from LEDs to soldering to troubleshooting, and then offers 12 innovative projects of wearables, home goods, and toys you can make. The first 60 pages alone have become standard reference material on my desk, with clear images and descriptions of materials, tools, and techniques. There's really no other book like it on the market.
We also put together a great starter kit for folks who just want to get their toes wet. The Fashioning Technology Smart Materials Kit comes with the book, plus phosphorescent powder (glows in the dark), photochromic powder (changes color in different lights), thermochromic powder (changes color at different temps), shape memory wire (contracts when heated), crimp beads (to control the shape memory wire), and polymorph plastic.
Get a more in-depth look at working with smart materials with Syuzi Pakhchyan on Episode 10 of Make: television:
And check out Syuzi on our CRAFT Video Podcast:
You can also check out the Fashioning Technology community site for tutorials, resources, and forum discussions.
This is the future of crafting!
Posted by Goli Mohammadi |
Jul 30, 2009 11:00 AM
Books and Magazines |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
July 29, 2009
Kanzashi In Bloom Winners
Congratulations to Jennifer from Tucson, AZ, Madelyn from Whittier, CA, and Melanie from Sainte Catherine, QC Canada for winning a copy of Diane Gilleland's new book, Kanzashi In Bloom in last week's giveaway. Thanks to everyone who entered!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jul 29, 2009 10:00 PM
Books and Magazines, Contests |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
| Email Entry |
Suggest a Site
