Handmade Gifts

 

Sometimes I think, I should make some handmade gifts for the holidays.  This is followed by the realization that the Christmas crafting season begins in  July, and it's November, do you really have time for this????  Well, maybe there are some quick crafts to try... and maybe next July I'll actually have some sort of plan... not likely.

Knitted Gifts for all Seasons: Easy Projects to Make and Share by Bernard, Wendy

"An exciting book from Wendy Bernard, Knitted Gifts for All Seasons is packed with 30 new garments and accessories. Projects are organized by season and range from cozy slippers, mittens, and a pom-pom wreath to Fair Isle yoke-neck sweaters for the whole family. Embracing the full calendar year and a wide spectrum of reasons to gift knits, each project captures the season’s essence through color scheme and project type, resulting in a well-rounded and unique book."--Amazon.

Quick and Easy Crochet: 100 little Crochet Projects to Make by Pierce, Val

Crocheting has had a huge surge in popularity in recent years and continues to be a very popular craft, and this book has a very wide appeal both to beginners and more accomplished crocheters. This book represents amazing value, comprising 100 projects from some of our best-selling crochet authors. The book covers a wide variety of themes from beautiful crocheted flowers, beanie hats, Christmas crocheted projects, cute bears, lovely hearts and stylish purses, so there is something for everyone to enjoy. Crochet requires very little in the way of tools and materials, which are widely available from major yarn stores and relatively inexpensive. The techniques used in this book are simple enough for experienced beginners to master, and easy for more seasoned crocheters. Special stitches used are explained in detail, and yarns are described in generic terms, so that readers can use what is available to them, wherever they live. The projects cover a wide variety of themes from Christmas crochet, beanies, hearts, flowers, purses, bears and granny squares. They are simple enough for experienced beginners and will also appeal to seasoned crocheters. The tools and materials are inexpensive and widely available and these charming crocheted items make fabulous gifts for family and friends.

The Complete Guide to Creating Oils, Soaps, Creams, and Herbal Gels for Your Mind and Body : 101 Natural Body Care Recipes by Jones, Marlene

Newly updated, this book will walk you through process of creating your own oils, soaps, creams, and gels. You will learn how scents interact with each other in the form of oils. You will learn how to start using essential oils and how to recognize the properties of pure essential oils. You will learn about common and uncommon essential oils, what they entail and how to start blending them. Equipment you will need, carrier and base oils, solutions, and dilutions used are outlined. The top experts in aromatherapy and natural body care were interviewed, and alongside the recipes are a number of tips that help you to know exactly how to use each recipe and which variations you can make.

Glitterville's Handmade Christmas: A Glittered Guide for Whimsical Crafting! by Brown, Stephen

Have yourself a Glittery Little Christmas -- with twenty new whimsical, winter-wonderful projects from the Craft Elves at Glitterville! Following the success of "Glitterville's Handmade Halloween," Glitterville is back for the sparkliest holiday of all! "Glitterville's Handmade Christmas" is as bursting as a mantle-hung stocking with twenty new whimsical, winter-wonderful craft projects that will fill your home with sleighfuls of cheer. Hundreds of beautiful, easy-to-follow, step-by-step full-color photos and how-tos make the crafting fun and the results foolproof. From a Jolly Dolly Holly Wreath or a charming Glittery Village you can nestle into its own Sparkle Forest, to the frostiest Magic Snow and the jolliest pine-cone-bodied Glitter Gnome, "yule" find everything you need to make your home glisten and shine this holiday season!

Handmade Gifts.

This book contains over 70 step-by-step ideas for handmade gifts. Handmade Gifts is the perfect guide to making handcrafted items that people will love. Each project is clearly explained using simple step-by-step images along with photographs of the finished item and variations on how to make each piece unique. There are even ideas for green and up-cycled gifts.

Christmas Ornaments to Crochet: 31 Festive and Fun-to-Make Designs for a Handmade Holiday by Kreiner, Megan

DIY Mason Jars: Thirty-Five Creative Crafts and Projects for the Classic Container by Averinos,

 Melissa

With DIY MASON JARS, craft enthusiasts will delight in simple, stylish projects inspired by the iconic jar. Each creative idea moves beyond ordinary Mason jar crafts by offering readers a truly unique spin on decorating, storage, gardening, playtime, and baking. Featuring clear, step-by-step instructions and gorgeous 4 colour photographs, this book will guide them as they construct a wide range of incredible creations, including: * Glittering pendant lights * Homespun soap dispensers * Handcrafted ornaments * Elegant planters for homegrown herbs * Stunning branch centerpieces * Perfect for the home or outdoors, these Mason jar crafts will leave a lasting impression in any space! AUTHOR: Melissa Averinos is a designer, painter, blogger, good listener, and lover of strawberry rhubarb pie. She can usually be found getting messy in the studio in the back of her Cape Cod gift shop, Yummy Goods. SELLING POINTS: * From simple home decor to lovely holiday or hostess gifts, this imaginative craft book provides readers with thirty-five uses for the iconic and ubiquitous Mason jar * Features beautiful illustrations, labels, and gift tags that will help readers personalize their creations ILLUSTRATIONS: Colour

Gifted: Lovely Little Things to Knit and Crochet by Kandis, Mags

There's nothing quite like receiving a handmade gift, and your family and friends will love being on the receiving end of these handmade designs. Designer Mags Kandis inspires with this delightful collection of beautiful and colorful little projects for you to knit, crochet, and felt.

From wearable accessories such as hats, mittens, scarves, socks, and wraps to home decor including a tea cozy, pin cushion, needle case, and laptop cover, these 30+ pieces are sweet, lively and add a little joy to every household. Each project features creative embellishments and personal touches, including beading, buttons, needlefelting, applique, and embroidery. Mags also shares her recipes for easy food gifts and simple sewing projects such as sewn fabric gift bags and sachets to pair with fiber gifts. Directions for making these little add-ons that make a gift personal and extra-special are scattered throughout the book.

Gifted will inspire you to grab another ball of yarn and invest a little time and love to create something special for someone special.

Upcycling: Create Beautiful Things With the Stuff You Already Have by Seo, Danny

Presents over one hundred projects for creative "upcycling"--using used and recycled products to create decorative items in the home, including leather belt doormats, bathroom towel picnic baskets, and a jar lid dining table.

Christmas at Home: Holiday Decorating, Crafts, Recipes

Country Living knows how to make Christmas memorable, and that's why this spectacular book will become your new go-to resource every year. It's filled with more than 200 beautiful decorating ideas, recipes, and crafts, plus tips galore. Stunning photos show festive table settings; splendidly decorated trees; fun and easy Christmas projects, from wreaths to no-sew stockings; gifts from the kitchen; and gourmet-worthy recipes like Turkey Roulade with Sausage-Cornbread Filling, Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes, Slow-Cooker Apple Cider, and sweet treats like Red Velvet Snowballs and Chocolate & Cranberry Fudge.

Christmas Joys: Decorating, Crafts & Recipes.

Make this Christmas the best and brightest yet, with hundreds of gorgeous decorating ideas and delicious recipes. From holiday house tours and ways to deck the halls to handmade gifts and festive feasts, this beautiful book will help you celebrate Christmas in Country Living style. Create stunning wreaths, turn saltshakers into sparkling snow globes, craft Advent calendars from tiny envelopes, bake gourmet-store-worthy cookies, and more to make a truly happy holiday.

Knitting/Crochet

The World Wide Knit in Public Day started back in 2005. The original purpose was to bring knitters together in an open forum to form connections with each other.  What began with only 25 events worldwide, had blossomed into 800 events in 2008.  In 2017 there were 1125 events in 54 countries. What started as a knitting event has branched out to include other forms of fiber artistry.  This year it coincides with International Yarn Bombing Day, an event I have yet to actually see in person.  Yarn Bombing involves covering public objects or structures in a colorful array of knitted and crocheted fibrous glory. 

I have to say that I have done a lot of knitting in public, loom knitting that is, but I don't think I've ever actually managed to do so on WWKIPD, or in any type of group.  I not only, have a general resistance to going outdoors on a hot day but also, groups scare me a little...  

http://www.wwkipday.com/

Knitstrips: The World's First Comic-Strip Knitting Book by Beltran, Alice Ormsbee

Knitstrips presents 22 original patterns, boundless humor, and seriously appealing knitting instruction. Inspired, original, and laugh-out-loud funny, knitstrips are patterns and knitting instruction mixed with advice and humorous commentary--and presented in illustrated comic book panels. Launched in 2016 on the mega-popular knitting site Modern Daily Knitting, the strips gained instant popularity and have attracted thousands of avid fans. The book includes 22 brand-new patterns and is designed to mimic a bound collection of comic books in a series: each issue with its own cover and wry theme--from yarn stashes to binge knitting--that is close to the heart of knitters. Issues offer four to six knitting patterns each, plus designer highlights and a variety of stories and technical discussions. The result is a fresh, lively knitting adventure that is like nothing the fiber world has seen before.

Contemplative Knitting by Cicora, Julie

"Learn how the meditative practice of knitting can evolve into a spiritual discipline. One-third (53 million) of American women know how to knit, and knitting is becoming increasingly popular with men as well. Many of these knitters belong to social knitting circles, charity knitting groups, or knit with others in churches, cafes-and even in bars! This book shows how knitting creates connections and communities and ties the repetition of knitting to the consistent recitation of prayer. It also compares the act of knitting to the spiritual journey, from starting something new to how we handle mistakes. Many people would like to incorporate a spiritual practice into their frenetic lives only to become discouraged and give up when they try. Those who knit are able to experience its calming effects and dedicate time to their craft each day"--. Provided by publisher.

Knitting For Good: A Guide to Creating Personal, Social & Political Change, Stitch by Stitch by Greer, Betsy

Every time we knit, we have the opportunity to create positive change in ourselves, our community, and in the world. That’s Betsy Greer’s fervent belief, and in this book, she shows us how. Betsy explores the ways we can use knitting to slow down in a fast-paced culture while using the craft to benefit charities in our communities, advocate for worthwhile causes, and support individuals and communities across the globe. Filled with insights from knitters and crafters on how they use craft to benefit others, Knitting for Good! will get you thinking about knitting in a whole new way.

Knitted Gifts for All Seasons: Easy Projects to Make and Share by Bernard, Wendy

"An exciting book from Wendy Bernard, Knitted Gifts for All Seasons is packed with 30 new garments and accessories. Projects are organized by season and range from cozy slippers, mittens, and a pom-pom wreath to Fair Isle yoke-neck sweaters for the whole family. Embracing the full calendar year and a wide spectrum of reasons to gift knits, each project captures the season’s essence through color scheme and project type, resulting in a well-rounded and unique book."--Amazon.

Pocket Pets by Ishii, Sachiyo

20 patterns for gorgeous, quick and easy, cute pocket pets in fleecy yarn

Make your own collection of irresistibly cute knitted animals in beautifully soft, fleecy yarn. This gorgeous knitting book for knitters of all abilities by Sachiyo Ishii contains 20 lovely projects including a baby penguin, a koala bear, a guinea pig, and a squirrel. All the projects are accompanied by clear, easy-to-follow patterns and fun photography. There is a useful page of basic techniques at the start of the book, including making up, stuffing, and simple, decorative surface stitching.

These lovely mini knits are all bursting with character and feel extra soft and snuggly, due to the fleecy yarn used.

All the projects are beautifully made and exquisitely designed, and very easy to make. They make perfect gifts and will delight young and old alike.

Sock-Yarn Shawls II: 16 Patterns for Lace Knitting by Lucas, Jen

Best-selling author Jen Lucas presents an all-new selection of striking patterns for luscious sock yarns, following the overwhelming success of" Sock-Yarn Shawls." Discover more designs for everyone from confident beginners to advanced knitters. Patterns range from small shawlettes to large circular shawls, and many are made from a single skein. Pretty new patterns for single-colored and multicolored shawls--enjoy lots of options! Shawl constructions include top-down, bottom-up, crescent, short row, and circularBegin with the basics and move on to create designs with attach-as-you-go lace borders

Loom Knitting: Scarves, Hats, Bags & More: 41 Simple and Snuggly No-Needle Designs For All Loom Knitters by Phelps, Isela

If you have struggled to knit with needles, loom knitting is an easy craft to master. Looms are easy and fun to use, even without any knitting experience. In just a few hours you can create fabulous accessories in every color, texture, and style imaginable! From beautiful scarves for the whole family to stylish cell phone holders, this book can help you knit unique accessory designs for all occasions.

A Modern Guide to Granny Squares: Awesome Color Combinations and Designs for Fun and Fabulous Crochet Blocks by Semaan, Celine

Not your usual granny squares! Celine Semaan has designed more than contemporary and colorful 6" x 6" blocks to get your creativity flowing. Blocks are the best way to try out new stitches and color combinations, and they can then be used to make four projects, including a blanket, pillow, and wall hanging. There is a basic overview of color theory, and more than forty granny square patterns, each with written instructions, a chart, and detailed photos, showing stitch detail.

The Tunisian Crochet Handbook: A Beginner's Guide by Lipsey, Toni

"From designer Toni Lipsley of TL Yarn Crafts, an introduction to Tunisian crochet, featuring stitches, techniques, and twenty new and exclusive patterns for you and your home."--Page 4 of cover.

Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece: Dip-Dyeing, Hand-Painting, Tie-Dyeing, and Other Creative Techniques by Callahan, Gail

Provides photo-illustrated, step-by-step instructions to dye yarns to customize colors, create self-striping and multicolored yarns, or update outdated yarns with new colors.

Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life by Foster, Sutton

In these intimate stories and reflections about how crafting has kept her sane while navigating the highs and lows of family, love, and show business, Tony Award-winner and the star of TV's Younger Sutton Foster shares memoriable moments - including her fraught relationship with her agoraphobic mother; a painful divorce splashed on the pages of the tabloids; her struggles with fertility; the thrills she found on the stage; her breakout TV role in Younger; and the joy of adopting her daughter, Emily. Accompanying the stories, Sutton has included crochet patterns, recipes, and so much more

Yarn: Remembering the Way Home by Mori, Kyoko

A memoir of crossing cultures, losing love, and finding home by a New York Times notable author. As steadily and quietly as her marriage falls apart, so Kyoko Mori's understanding of knitting deepens. From flawed school mittens to beautiful unmatched patterns of cardigans, hats and shawls, Kyoko draws the connection between knitting and the new life she tried to establish in the U.S. Interspersed with the story of knitting throughout, the narrative contemplates the nature of love, loss, and what holds a marriage together.