Slow Fashion Projects Galore: New Crafts & Hobbies Books

With springtime coming soon, everyone looks forward to sunshine and warm weather.  This month’s crafts and hobbies titles are filled with pages that will surely spark joy at every turn. From bagmaking to embroidery, get inspired with handmade extravaganzas that uplift the creative soul and celebrate the planet.

Feeling stitchy? Have fun doing simple projects while saving textile waste going to the landfill with Jen Rich’s book, Stitch, Sewing Projects for the Modern Maker. Also, Zero Waste Patterns: 20 Projects to Sew Your Own Wardrobe by Birgitta Helmersson will help every eco-friendly seamstress create their first tank top using a unique “paperless” pattern method. While The re:fashion wardrobe: sew your own stylish, sustainable clothes by Portia Lawrie offers our budding eco-makers a guide on sourcing and ” harvesting” existing clothes and applying “refashioning” techniques to transform an old piece of clothing into something edgy.

Similarly, if you love lingering at the op shops and hunting for copious amounts of preloved clothes, don’t miss the book by Melody Fortier, New to You: How to Buy, Fix, and Keep Second-hand Clothing. Let the author, a vintage fashion expert, help you build a stylish but more sustainable wardrobe collection.  Another creative goody to keep you busy is Sara Naumann’s Modern Resin Jewellery: over 50 inspiring easy-to-make projects.  Develop a new skill set by creating your own earrings using a few tools and materials.  The author provides over 50 visually inviting projects for budding resin crafters!

So, get inspired this upcoming season with less textile waste and the pleasure of everything handmade that will surely make Mother Nature smile.

Zero waste patterns : 20 projects to sew your own wardrobe / Helmersson, Birgitta
“Zero waste pattern cutting is a bit like a puzzle. You use a pre-determined length of fabric end to end by strategically planning your pattern pieces so that everything is used and then draw them onto the fabric. By using this unique “paperless” method you can eliminate both textile and paper waste from your sewing projects and take the fear out of learning to self draft and sew your own clothing. This book includes 5 simple zero-waste pattern blocks and can then be used to make a further 15 projects by making simple changes or mixing and matching your blocks into new designs.”–Publisher’s description.” (Adopted from Catalogue)

Stitch : sewing projects for the modern maker / Rich, Jen
“Stitch will offer contemporary designs and creative projects for the modern maker with a discernible eye for aesthetics, with a focus on customisable makes, stunning fabric inspiration, easy-to-follow instructions and beautifully graphic photography. The book will cover the basic techniques of sewing with all projects achievable either by using a sewing machine or by hand (and a little more time!), and with no overly complicated techniques. Each project will be photographed and some will be accompanied by step-by-step images to help guide you through more intricate instructions. “–Publisher’s description.” (Adopted from Catalogue)

New to you : how to buy, fix, and keep secondhand clothing / Fortier, Melody
“A guide to finding, buying, and caring for vintage clothing”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Continue reading “Slow Fashion Projects Galore: New Crafts & Hobbies Books”

Bag of tricks: New crafts and hobbies books

This month’s new titles offer an abundance of creative possibilities and spark a sense of wonder. Sew yourself a jasmine duster, a kimono-like dressy jacket. Be enthralled with the complexity of different weaving elements of some well-known tapestry masterpieces in history. There is something for everyone to try. Whether you are a newbie paper clay artist or an experienced knitter thirsty for new techniques, every crafter is guided by each book’s easy-to-follow instructions, ready patterns, and stunning visuals. With plenty of eye-catching projects to choose from, unleash your inner crafter vibe and get started!

You will be able to sew your own clothes by the end of this book / Uzor, Juliet
“Create your own tailored wardrobe, avoid fast fashion, and learn a new sustainable skill with this comprehensive guide for complete beginners. There has never been a better time to learn to sew your own clothes. If you want to avoid harmful fast fashion, create sustainable pieces for yourself and one-of-a-kind gifts for loved ones, and curate your own perfect wardrobe, this is the book you need. Get started with the core skills such as how to make accurate measurements, how to use a sewing machine, and how to follow a pattern.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Everyday patterns : easy-sew pieces to mix and match / Jansdotter, Lotta
“An inspiring guide to creating a flexible, seven-piece wardrobe with modern Scandinavian elegance, from style icon Lotta Jansdotter. When Jansdotter wears one of her signature clothing looks, fans frequently ask, “Did you make that?” Lotta’s answer is, “Yes, and so can you!” With that in mind, she has created her second book of easy-to-sew pieces that can be layered to create a variety of looks. Lotta Jansdotter Everyday Patterns is all about flexible, customizable garments to wear in your nest and in your neighborhood, and easy, fun ways to alter each one as the season–or your mood–changes. ” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The art of tapestry / Wyld, Helen
“Woven with dazzling images from history, mythology and the natural world, and breath-taking in their craftsmanship, tapestries were among the most valuable and high-status works of art available in Europe from the medieval period to the end of the eighteenth century. Over 600 historic examples hang in National Trust properties in England and Wales – the largest collection in the UK. This beautifully illustrated study by tapestry expert Helen Wyld, in association with the National Trust, offers new insights into these works, from the complex themes embedded in their imagery, to long-forgotten practices of sacred significance and ritual use.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Patty Lyons’ knitting bag of tricks : over 70 sanity saving hacks for better knitting / Lyons, Patty
“Patty Lyons is an expert in all things knitting related – she will help you sort out your gauge, unpick problems like twisted stitches and generally spruce up your knitting know-how in this pocket-sized reference book packed full of her purls’ of wisdom. Patty is a well-known knitting ‘agony aunt’ and she will hold your hand as you tackle the problems that often beset knitters and get in the way of beautiful finished projects. This handy guide will always be by your side to help you unravel your yarn problems and get you back on track.”–Amazon.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Modern Japanese embroidery stitches : bold & exotic plants, sea life, charms, letters and more / Tsuchihashi, Noriko
“In Modern Japanese Embroidery Stitches, Japanese textile maven Noriko Tsuchihashi presents over 100 bold, textural motifs to stitch with thread, ribbon, beads and buttons using familiar stitches as well as a few lesser-known ones. Her detailed instructions and lovely suggestions on how to combine and display the finished pieces will inspire you!”–Amazon.com.” (Catalogue)

Complete guide to paper clay : mixing recipes : building, finishing, and firing : 10 practice projects / Tardio-Brise, Liliane
“Liliane Tardio-Brise experiments step-by-step with the reactions of paper clay to the usual techniques of ceramics-pinch building, coils, slabs, wheel throwing, etc.-to bring an understanding of the many ways of working with paper clay. With cellulose fibers added, the clay gains new properties. Rehydrating paper clay pieces brings back their suppleness and allows them to accept deformations, easily repair cracks, and be built on with new clay pieces. Paper clay lends itself to all finishes, can be air dried and/or fired, and, because the fibers burn off when fired, finished pieces are lighter and can be built taller and still maintain their stability”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Origami + kirigami for the home : paper art decorations, gift wrapping, and homemade cards / You, Wei
“Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding and kirigami is the traditional art of paper cutting. In this beautifully illustrated book, paper artist Wei You introduces you to over 30 unique projects for your home that can be made by anyone, regardless of experience. After learning the basic folds, discover different paper types–try out pretty handmade ones such as mulberry and decorative washi, or experiment with the full rainbow of classic origami paper–and find a wealth of ideas from table decorations and tiles, to gift wrap and seasonal decorations.”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)