Crafts Books

Put your knitting skills into action with these fun and easy-to-follow patterns Knitting is fun, functional, and stress-relieving—get started today with Knitting Patterns For Dummies! Written for all skill levels and perfect for beginners, it includes patterns for socks, scarves, sweaters, and beyond. Add to your knitting repertoire and experiment with different textures, fun colors, and pattern shapes. You’ll love the full-color project photos in the color insert and helpful, easy-to-understand instructions for every single project. Even if you’ve never followed a written pattern before, you can knit cool stuff with the practical, modern patterns inside. This friendly guide will help you pick the right needles and yarn, step you through reading and knitting the patterns, and then finishing off your masterpieces. Select the supplies that are right for your projects Learn how to read a knitting pattern Practice working common stitches and creating different textures Make gifts for friends, clothing for yourself, and cold weather wearNeed more practice? Want fun new ideas? Just getting started? All knitters welcome!

The patterns and instruction you need to start crocheting and kitting today! Knitting and crocheting go hand-in-hand and are the most popular yarn crafts today. This one-stop guide to all things needles, hooks, and yarn will give you everything you need to know to get started knitting or crocheting. The book covers absolute basics such as selecting yarn, casting on, and even how to hold the tools and yarn, to understanding stitches, checking gauge, and deciphering patterns. Hundreds of projects, from beginner to advanced, include complete, step-by-step instructions as well as detailed illustrations and photos, and instructional videos online. It includes content from: Knitting For Dummies Knitting Patterns For Dummies Crocheting For Dummies Crochet Patterns For Dummies Get started today and you'll be knitting and crocheting like a champ in no time!

An illustrated guide showing how to create beautiful, timeless pieces, whether you're picking up needles for the first time or a seasoned pro looking for advanced patterns From scarves and sweaters to bags, pillows, and more, you'll find lots of projects for practicing and perfecting your knitting skills in Knitting For Dummies, which includes an instructional online video showing you the actual knitting techniques being done step-by-step. Experienced and novice crafters alike can benefit from the book's step-by-step instructions that explain knitting in plain English. For anyone new to knitting, this hands-on friendly guide shows you how to Cast on, knit, purl, and bind off -- the four basic skills needed to complete any knitting Decipher pattern instructions and charts Combine knit and purl stitches with increases and decreases for different effects Create different kinds of cables, lace, and more Read the language and graphics in knitting patterns and charts Increase and decrease stitches and use these techniques to shape a project and create design It also shows you what to do if you drop a stitch or inadvertently add one. If you know the basics of knitting and want to expand your skills to include stitch patterns with more complexity, you've come to the right place: Combine stitch increases and decreases to create lacework Get familiar with Fair Isle patterns and simple intarsia motifs, which involve working in more than one color in one row Practice with plenty of projects to perfect your advanced knitting techniques Learn to add interest with stripes Have fun with fulling and felting Make sweaters, from blocking and assembling your pieces to adding finishing touches like neckbands, edging, and buttonholes Knitting For Dummies includes ten quick projects to make for gifts and exercises to "unkink" your neck and shoulders should you lose yourself for hours at a time in your craft! Finally, the book ends with a couple appendixes showing you more cool effects and a list of knitting software and helpful online resources. If you're itching to start stitching, grab this book to start crafting your knitted masterpiece today.

Get hooked on the art of crochet The crochet craze has taken the craft world by storm. If you've caught the bug and want to take your skills from beginner to beguiling, look no further than the friendly guidance in this bestselling guide. In Crocheting For Dummies, 3rd Edition, you'll find out how to choose the right hooks and yarns to complete your project, switch colors as you go, utilize various crochet stiches for different looks, and so much more. Online companion project videos will help readers master the concepts and techniques covered in the book. Julia Roberts and countless other celebrities are doing it—and you can, too! Taking the intimidation out of the timeless art of crocheting, this updated edition gives crafters of every skill level the knowledge and know-how to choose the right tools, create basic stitches, and finish off their work to make beautiful pieces of art. From learning to create consistency with gauge swatches to decoding patterns, symbols, and diagrams, this easy-to-follow guide is all you need to create beautiful designs in no time! Includes fresh new patterns, stitches, and techniques Covers common crocheting mistakes and how to correct them Provides guidance on crocheting with eco-awareness, like working with organic yarns, tie-dye yarns, and free trade and sustainably sourced fibers Gets you up to speed on resources and events held within the crochet community Provides free online access to videos to teach you how to tackle various stitches and crochet in the round Whether you're a first-time crocheter or looking to expand your skillset, Crocheting For Dummies gives you everything you need to get hooked like a pro.

Learn the basic skills and techniques you need for successful hand and machine sewing Over the past ten years, interest in sewing has grown. If want to learn how to sew or to improve your skills, Sewing For Dummies is the book you need to get started. This complete guide to sewing basics teaches you basic hand stitches and sewing machine operation, with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step illustrations. You'll work your way forward to develop the skills to create or repair clothing and furnishings that fit your personal style, your measurements, and your aesthetic. Find great patterns in stores and online, give thrift store finds new life, and learn about cool new fabrics and sewing trends. You'll also get an overview of common sewing mistakes and how to avoid them, so you can take up this relaxing, creative hobby with confidence. A full-color insert brings the text to life. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment you'll get when you use your new skills to create wonderful handmade pieces. Learn hand and machine sewing skills, starting with the basics and working your way up Choose the right sewing machine for your needs and follow step-by-step tutorials to master its use Makes repairs and alterations to keep your wardrobe current Learn about online sewing resources and get ideas for finding fabric and patterns This Dummies guide will help anyone who wants to learn basic sewing skills or brush up on what they already know. Sew a button back on your jacket, make pillowcases from an old dress, alter that great vintage dress to fit like a glove, and complete any other sewing projects you can dream up.

Paper Engineering & Pop-ups For Dummies covers a wide range of projects, from greeting cards to freestanding models. Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions and dozens of accompanying diagrams help readers not only to complete the diverse projects in the book, but also master the skills necessary to apply their own creativity and create new projects, beyond the book's pages.

Get hooked on crocheting with these fun and easy-to-follow patterns! Crocheting is fun, functional, and stress-relieving—get started today with Crochet Patterns For Dummies! Written for all skill levels and perfect for beginners, it offers patterns that cover gift ideas, clothing, accessories, and beyond. You’ll love the full-color photos in the color insert and helpful, easy-to-understand instructions throughout. Even if you’ve never followed a written pattern before, you can crochet amazing designs with the practical, modern patterns inside. Put your skills into practice and create potholders, skirts, hats—you name it! This friendly guide will help you pick the right hooks and yarn, figure out how to read the patterns, step you through, and then finish your crocheted masterpieces. Select the right supplies for your projects Learn how to read and follow crochet pattern Practice working common stitches and create fun items Make gifts for friends, clothing for yourself, and cold-weather wearNeed more practice? Want fun new ideas? Just getting started? All crocheters welcome!

You’ve always admired beautiful calligraphy, but you probably figured it was way too hard to master, right ?   Calligraphy is actually much easier than you ever dreamed. All you need is the right guide and you’ll be up to speed in no time! Calligraphy For Dummies lets anyone discover the art and fun of lettering. With this hands-on guide, you’ll be able to develop your craft and test it out in no time. Starting with the italic alphabet, you’ll discover different types of strokes, how to angle your pen, and how to join letters. This easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide shows you: All the tools you need to practice the craft Where to get the proper ink and paper How to master several alphabets Different variations to change the look of letters How to mix and match your alphabets How to create a poster, sign, or certificate Ways to design and letter a quotation Common mistakes that can easily be avoided Calligraphy For Dummies also provides tips on how to put your calligraphy skills to good use, with ideas for making money, adding flair to wedding invitations, and more! It also includes ten fun alphabets and practice pages to hone in on your talent, as well as examples of poorly formed letters to keep you on track. With a little practice, you’ll be creating stunning letters and experiencing the joys of writing calligraphy!

Quilting is a fun hobby -- but where do you begin? Get the know-how you need to create beautiful quilts and decorative quilted items If you're interested in taking up quilting as a hobby or simply looking for new project ideas, Quilting For Dummies is for you. From selecting fabrics and designing a quilt to stitching by hand or machine, this friendly guide shows you how to put all the pieces together -- and create a wide variety of quilted keepsakes for your home. You may think you need some sewing experience before you can start cutting and piecing, but that's simply not the case. You can use this book even if your sewing expertise stops after threading a needle. Quilting For Dummies starts at the beginning, helping you to gather the right quilting tools, fabrics, and thread. From there, you'll design your quilts and sharpen your sewing skills. Finally, you'll see how to piece your quilt together and add all the finishing touches. The book contains illustrated examples, step-by-step instructions, plenty of projects and patterns, plus helpful advice on Performing simple stitching maneuvers Selecting the right quilting fabrics and threads Creating new templates to produce original patterns Designing your masterpiece Learning new sewing techniques and quilting fundamentals Making sense of quilting software Saving time with rotary cutters and other cool tools Quilting by hand or machine Getting creative with applique Choosing new sewing machines and materials Quilting For Dummies also features more than a dozen patterns for projects to get you started and information on quilting software and internet resources. Discover quilting timesavers, ideas for displaying your creations, how judges of quilting contests review the quilted art, and so much more!

Make floating candles, herbal soaps, and even a home spa Discover the secrets of color, shape, and scent the fun and easy way? Whether you're a beginner or seasoned craftperson, this fun book offers everything you need to make beautiful, professional-looking candles and soaps at home. You get practical tips on dyeing and scenting wax, using unusual molds, adding embellishments to candles, working with soap ingredients, and even turning your hobby into a business! Discover How To: Stock a safe & efficient work area Work with all types of wax Add color and scent to your projects Make melt-and-pour soaps Turn a hobby into a business