Tasty Crochet: A Pantry Full of Patterns for 33 Tasty Treats by Rose Langlitz. North Light Books (March 27, 2009)

I have been seeing tasty crochet foods all over the net for the past few years and am so happy that someone has finally put together a crochet play food pattern book. This wonderful crochet book is full of yummy things to eat crochet – so if all your friends and family have enough blankets and hats then get crocheting something a little more frivolous and fun.

None of the patterns and designs are really that difficult – if you can do basic crochet stitches and follow a pattern then you can make these projects – fried eggs, apple wedges (very realistic), sushi, peanut butter sandwiches, cherry tomatoes on the vine (adorable), chicken drumsticks, mushrooms and asparagus, pizza (with a side salad – love it), chocolate chip cookies are fantastic, Neapolitan icecream sandwich (my fave), icecream cones and more.

Such a fun book with good crochet basics to boot.

Bend the Rules with Fabric: Fun Sewing Projects with Stencils, Stamps, Dye, Photo Transfers, Silk Screening, and More By Amy Karol. Potter Craft (August 25, 2009).

Amy’s second book – continuing along the ‘Bend-the-Rules Sewing‘ theme – I love it. Testing the boundaries of traditional crafts – making use of all the very cool tools and products that are available now. Not just a sewing book – it also includes fabric printing, collage and mixed media. How to alter and design your own fabric and mix it up with heaps of cool ideas.

I love the techniques section which includes a section on color and design theory, a heap of tools and materials and products with really good explanations of what they all do. Amy has used photographs in this book rather than illustrations and it works.

The projects section starts off with ainting on fabric, which includes instructions on fabric stamping and carving your own stamps, drawing with paint and freezer paper stencils, projects in this section include a cute stamped fabric belt and a painted framed toile. Technology and transferring images by way of a printer and computer have their own section, with explanation on how to iron on transfers, ink jet print fabric and screen print (specific products are required for some of these techniques). Make your own stuffed fabric dolls and printed lunch bag (see project link).

The dyeing fabric section explains all sorts of different design ideas including painting with dye and using bleach pens, I love Amy’s whole cloth dye painted quilt. This book would not be complete without embellishing with fibers, such as drawing with thread and applique – projects include a stitched drawing book cover (using a cute kids drawing as inspiration) and custom baby patches.

The back section includes a whole bunch of templates and patterns to help you make the projects in this book. Congratulations Amy on a lovely second book. [ps check the lunch bag project from this book offered on the storque]

A project from one of my favourite books on crafting with felt, Felt Furnishings, is featured on the storque – how to make a felt ruffle pillow.

Naomi Ito is a designer for Kokka fabrics and fashion designer and author. Her website NaniIRO is an amazing wealth of inspiration and patterns. Go to the sewing section of her website and click on any collection to download patterns to make all the amazing things she has available.

illustrating stories shows us how to create a houndstooth pattern using photoshop.

The Handy Book of Artistic Printing: Collection of Letterpress Examples with Specimens of Type, Ornament, Corner Fills, Borders, Twisters, Wrinklers, and other Freaks of Fancy by Doug Clouse and Angela Voulangas. Princeton Architectural Press; 1 edition (May 20, 2009). More gorgeous sneak previews at the website.

A beautiful reference book of the history of ‘artistic’ printing. Artistic printing was an ornate, decorate style popular in the late nineteenth century and used by printers and engravers for posters, books, etc. This book celebrates this style with more than 150 examples of ephemera from this era.

Examples of beautifully ornate and decorative typefaces, posters, pamphlets, tickets, invitation and business cards … a wonderful collection and amazing source of inspiration. These ephemera are accompanied by in depth essays and historical background on the history of this style, why it became so popular and then fell out of favour so thoroughly. Interesting and inspiring for those interested in design.

thank you kootoyoo for the heads up on this great post from handmade romance. All about the process of softie making – from design to pattern making, fabric choices and sewing.

love these tea lanterns for summer evenings or just to light up a dark space – tutorial from a field journal.

Kellie from rice babies is making awesome iron on transfers - here is how.

Felt Furnishings: 25 Accessories for Contemporary Homes by Anne Kyyro quinn. Potter Craft (April 14, 2009).

I am sort of completely and utterly in love with this book – fantastic projects and really clear, concise and well photographed instructions.

The designs themselves are really modern but still warm and lush, functional without being boring, simple but not simplistic. There are some really nifty and interesting techniques showcased they are all beautifully styled. Anne uses commercially available wool felt in her project and while she discusses making felt yourself there are no instructions for doing so.

Gorgeous home decor projects – like circle ruffle cushion, 3D rosette cushion (from the front cover), I quite the pleated magazine holder and the snipped pleated throw and the cut out table runner is very nice. There are some great techniques showcased too – such as cut outs, pleating, scribble sewing, weaving (in the stuffed woven pillow), there is a wonderful ottoman showcasing cut spiral surface detailing.

As will many craft books, not all the projects are going to appeal to everyone – but there are more than enough in here to please me. And I so impressed with the photography in this book – the gorgeous close up details, and the excellent process shots.