Crafts: Books provoke crafters to get creative
Learn how to make jewelry, embellish clothes, crochet handbags and knit clothing.
February 2009
By Traci Smith, Associate Editor
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Design your own fashionable jewelry.
Courtesy of Krause Publications
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Instead of spending a cold winter day moping around the house with nothing to do, get creative. Make something fun and stylish – a knitted sweater, a crocheted handbag, a skirt or a pair of earrings.
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Krause Publications, based in Iola, Wis., has published several craft books, including Wire Jewelry Workshop, which explores the different techniques for working with wire and beads; Altered Style, which focuses on how to sew and embellish wearable fashions; Carry Alongs, which features crochet handbags and purses for every occasion; and Knitting: The Complete Guide, which offers knitting basics and stitch patterns, as well as several simple projects.
Jewelry made simple
You’ve always thought it would be fun to make your own jewelry, but maybe you thought it would be too difficult. Well, it’s not.
Susan Ray’s Wire Jewelry Workshop book will teach you all you need to know about creating your own jewelry, from basic wire cutting and looping techniques to wire manipulation and coiling.
The book includes 20 projects for earrings, pendants, necklaces, bracelets, cuffs and rings. Each project includes step-by-step instructions with photos, as well as valuable tips to help you easily produce beautiful jewelry you’ll be proud to wear.
Sewing and such
Have you ever looked in your closet and thought, “I have nothing to wear”?
With Altered Style, by Stephanie Kimura, you can fix that. This book makes it easy to turn your old wardrobe from drab to fab.
The book features basic sewing, folding, bonding and drawing techniques. It also offers ideas for embellishing with buttons, crystals, beads and more.