Too Many Crafts Spoil The Book

Home Guide To Craft

Katherine Sorrell

In A Nutshell: A craft taster with projects of widely varying standard for thirty different crafts.

This is a fat craft reference book covering 30 different crafts. The majority are traditional – quilting, appliqué, soap making, paper mache – but there are a few surprises. How about shibon? Apparently this a Japanese word for resist dyed textiles, so more prosaically is just tie-dying. Each of the crafts starts with a shorted potted history of its origins, followed by two projects, designed by a specialist in that particular field. Photos accompany all the step by step instructions.

The projects vary widely in their desirability. I love an abstract silk painted scarf, but the felt table runner is dreadful. I decided to have a go at a beaded cuff. Basically this involves sewing beads onto calico backed ribbon. My local John Lewis didn’t sell the square shaped beads used in the book, so I picked out some bugle beads in a sophisticated steel grey/blue colour. It’s an easy project but requires patience to sew all the beads and I used far more than anticipated. I have to admit this is a work in progress, but so far, so good. I just wish I had used a slighter wider ribbon, as the beading tightens up the width.

With so much crammed in this book, I am not convinced there is enough information for some of the crafts to enable a beginner to successfully complete the project. Some require a daunting list of materials and would be prohibitively expensive for a beginner without knowing at the start if you will enjoy that particular craft.

I think this book would have benefited from a list of resources – perhaps a list of recommended books to take a craft further, and some good websites.

A nice addition to a craft library but not one of my favourites.

Stuck Firmly In The Past

Embroidery Companion

Alicia Paulson

In A Nutshell: Cute embroidery ideas but strictly for an old-fashioned girl

I enjoyed embroidery whilst at school, and often thought I’d like to give it another go. But I would like to produce something modern and current. I picked up Alicia Paulson’s book searching for inspiration. Her work is sub-titled “Classic designs for modern living” but I have to say the use of the word “modern” in connection with this book is a serious contravention of the trades description act.

Her ideas, although undeniably cute, are seriously old-fashioned. Of course, this could be a positive bonus for someone looking to create something with a vintage feel. They sit uncomfortably with my own style aesthetic. Traditional designs work when given a contemporary twist, but these are stuck firmly in the past.

From a practical perspective, three types of embroidery are included – decorative, counted cross-stitch and crewel work. There are 30 projects, graded by three skill levels.

This book may suit if you want traditional old-fashioned embroidery, but it didn’t make me want to pick up my needle.



Learning To Freestyle

Essential Crochet

Erika Knight

In A Nutshell: Good selection of crochet projects but some require a serious colour re-think

Erika Knight is one of my yarn heroines and her earlier book “Simple Crochet” is one of my faves. This book is wider ranging in both its content and colour palette. I personally prefer the more subdued shades and textures of “Simple Crochet” as it gave the whole book a harmonious feel. The colours in “Essential Crochet” are much more random. Some, like the dark sombre cover, showcasing the patchwork throw, even veer on the unpleasant.

Although you may have to imagine the projects in different colours, there is still an excellent selection to choose from, themed by “Basic”, “Timeless”, “Contemporary”, “Heirloom” and “vintage”. There are several I want to make, particularly the tote bag, textured aran throw, appliqué flowers, corsage pin, and stylish beaded handbag. Erika ably demonstrates the style and versatility of crochet so most people will find something they like.

I have been crocheting for around four years but this book introduced me to a new concept – “freestyle crochet”. This is an assortment of motifs linked together in a random way to create a unique fabric. The technique was used to great effect in a blueprint pattern for a Freeform Camisole. When I’m feeling particularly creative this is definitely a project I’ll take on to create my own special one off designer piece.

Hats Off

Making Vintage Accessories

Emma Brennan

In A Nutshell: 25 vintage inspired accessories to make in fresh modern fabrics

Accessories can make or break an outfit. In these straightened times, it may be overindulgence to splurge on complete outfit, but buying a bag or hat is still permissible. Even more brownie points if you make something yourself.

Emma Brennan’s book fits the mood of the moment, and also pays homage to the current fascination with vintage. Her 25 patterns for an assortment of handbags, hats and other accessories, are inspired by the 1920s to 1960s period. The designs are given a current twist by remaking in modern fabrics like wool tweed, polar fleece and fake fur.

The book assumes basic sewing skills, but gives clear explanations for many of the required techniques, such as fasteners, lining and pockets. Patterns are provided that require 200% enlargement on a photocopier.

Every time I flick through this book I find something new I want to make. I now have a burning desire to make a hat. I’m particularly attracted to “Iris”, a 1950s style hat with bow trim. The author describes it as a smart alternative to a beanie. It looks reasonably simple to make, and a good place to start my millinery career.  I was also delighted to discover that at 22 inches, my head is a standard size so all the patterns in the book should fit me perfectly.

With the help of this book I’m looking forward to creating several original accessories to provide the finishing touch to my outfits.

I'm Waiting For The Invitation

The Party Dress

Mary Adams

In A Nutshell: Design inspiration to create a unique party dress

I don’t have any party invitations on my mantelpiece at the moment, but I’m hoping Mary’s book will prepare me, should an occasion arise.

I was unfamiliar with designer Mary Adams, so this book was my introduction to her work. She has a distinct style, something akin to a prom queen with an edge. Imagine the singer Pink in a dress. It’s not a look for the pared down sophisticate. I enjoyed the sneak peek into Mary’s design background, and seeing the inspirations for her various collections.

To create a truly original design, Mary explains the techniques for several details that create the signature style for her work. She subverts traditional crafts like quilting and appliqué to create something exciting and modern. I was particularly enamoured with the layering of bias strips, to create a unique textured fabric. She also instilled in me a desire to sew ruffles on everything.

One could complain that this book comes with only one paper pattern, but that would be missing the point. Rather than be restrictive, this one design provides a springboard for endless creativity. The pattern in question has a fitted bodice with circle skirt, and comes in American sizes 4-14 (33” to 40” bust). Mary suggests three versions of her dress - Soaked Silk Taffeta, Cotton and Layered Silk Organza (detailed instructions are provided for the latter version).

Although titled a party dress, I think one made in a pretty cotton print would make a charming summer dress. I’m looking forward to re-creating some Mary Adams designer style for my holiday whilst I wait for my party invite.

Colourful Domestic Bliss

The Gentle Art Of Domesticity

Jane Brocket

In A Nutshell: Colour and kitsch combine with beautiful prose to provide visual inspiration for the domestic arts

This book is based on Jane Brocket’s hugely popular blog “Yarnstorm”. Probably unlike many readers, I found the book before the blog, so was unfamiliar with Jane’s style and subject matter. It didn't take me long to understand the appeal.

Both constitute Jane’s original take on the gentle arts of knitting, sewing, baking and gardening, the pleasurable domestic milieu enjoyed by many women (including me). I feel I am stepping from a black and white reality into a fairytale world of exploding colour and kitsch. In my own crafting I am not a fan of such vibrant clashing colours, but I still appreciate the stunning photos, and how Jane translates inspiration to a finished piece of work. It is fascinating to see the shapes and pattern of an allotment become a flower and vegetable horticultural quilt.

This is a chocolate box of a book to dip in at random whenever you need a pleasure hit. Under the domestic banner there are a surprisingly wide range of topics – film reviews, art critiques and recipes all sit happily together with musings on socks, knitting and quilting.

Only one chapter is titled “Inspiration” but this is the underlying theme for the whole book. I do not want to replicate Jane’s colour schemes, but I will be taking more photos, and thinking much more of how the world around me can inspire my craft.

Practical Make Do And Mending

Stitch ‘N’ Fix

Joan Gordon

In A Nutshell: Beginner’s reference guide to mending using both hand and machine sewing

“Make do and mend” is becoming one of the key mantras of the day, and this book shows you how to do just this. It covers many basic repairs from buttons, zips, seams, hems, holes and a miscellaneous assortment of others – creating an hourglass shape in a shirt, removing a skirt waistband, and turning a pleat into a dart. It’s not exhaustive – I looked in vain to find how to shorten a sleeve but I can’t complain at lack of content. Each of the procedures is explained with clear instructions and accompanying photos.

This book is most useful to a sewing novice as it starts from the most basic level – how to thread a needle. I’m an intermediate sewer so already know how to undertake most of the processes. Saying that, I still learnt some useful snippets. I had not thought to tighten a gaping neckline by edging with blanket stitch, but this would be both useful and decorative.

A bonus of the book is that Joan suggests many quick fixes. A hem can be temporarily held up with staples, safety pins, or double sided sticky tape. Many repairs are explained using both hand and machine sewing. So all in all a great reference book for a novice sewer wanting to learn how to repair their clothes.