Filled with detailed descriptions of materials and tools, the easy step-by-step instructions for all the basic sewing techniques will have you creating projects like aprons, pillows, and even pants and shorts in no time.

These simple projects will introduce essential sewing skills like hems, seams, balancing tension, and how to use a pattern:

• Rectangular tablecloth
• Knife-edge pillows
• Zipper closures
• Baby blanket
• Elastic-waist skirts
• Elastic-waist pants
• T-shirts
• Apron with pockets
• Unlined jackets

Handmade cards are gifts, creative expressions, keepsakes, and relationship builders. Beneath the cardstock and embellishments is deep emotion from the card maker--encouragement, celebration, commemoration, and love. Unlike many store-bought cards that are thrown away, handmade cards are cherished and displayed. They spark connections, express feelings, evoke laughter, and warm the hearts of friends, relatives, and coworkers. There's joy in the process of creating, as well as in giving and receiving handmade cards.

The Complete Photo Guide to Cardmaking is the ultimate resource on card making. All paper-crafting techniques that can be employed for card making are thoroughly covered, including a comprehensive description of paper types available, folding options and techniques, coloring and image transfer methods, and adding embellishments. Inside, you'll also find methods for using a computer to design and print cards. More than 80 projects give you lots of ideas and inspiration to create cards of your own, using the techniques you've learned. Unique envelope templates and a helpful source list are included.

Expert paper crafter Judi Watanabe provides you with a one-stop reference for making cards for any occasion. This book includes step-by-step photographed instructions for a wide range of techniques, as well as projects to accompany each area of card making. Full of gorgeous cards, The Complete Photo Guide to Cardmaking explores a wide range of techniques and end products, making it a valuable reference for any crafter. So when the mood strikes, use the artistry you've learned to create personalized greetings for everyone you know

There's a difference between a house and a home, and there's definitely a difference between a kitchen and a cozy kitchen Make your kitchen more than a room for cooking; crochet a cozy kitchen -- crochet your own dishcloths

Easy Crochet Dishcloths offers 11 designs that are a great way to learn to crochet, try a new yarn or use some of your stash, and create a beautiful supply of colorful, environmentally friendly, reusable cloths for cleaning, display, and gifting.

The Crochet School section presents the featured crochet stitches step-by-step to help beginners get started and to refresh more experienced crocheters. With designs ranging from very simple to more challenging, crocheters at all skill levels will find designs they'll love to make. Project instructions are provided in both words and international crochet symbols.

The most trusted guide to jacket tailoring on the market, Tailoring belongs on every sewer's bookshelf.

The Complete Photo Guide to Perfect Fitting is the ultimate reference for fitting test garments and transferring accurate adjustments to patterns.

No matter what size or shape you are, wearing garments that fit perfectly makes you look and feel better. Rather than making commonly accepted changes to a commercial pattern, the method presented in this guide focuses on the way a test garment fits the body. The fabric is manipulated to improve the fit, and then those specific changes are made to the pattern. The result: patterns that fit perfectly!

With The Complete Photo Guide to Perfect Fitting, you'll learn:

• The importance of a fitting axis and how to use it during a fitting
• How to recognize fitting issues, such as drag lines and folds
• How to manipulate fabric to solve common and unusual fitting problems
• How to transfer the fitting changes to your pattern easily
• Basic pattern-making skills to ensure accurate alterations

See the fitting process from start to finish on basic garments, fitted on real people. Then follow fitting solutions on different body types. Hundreds of large color photos illustrate the techniques and concepts in simple step-by-step instructions. With these lessons, you will get the perfect fit for any body.

There's a difference between a house and a home, and there's definitely a difference between a kitchen and a cozy kitchen Make your kitchen more than a room for cooking; knit a cozy kitchen -- knit your own dishcloths

Easy Knit Dishclothsoffers 13 designs that are a great way to practice knitting, try a new yarn, or use some of your stash, and create a beautiful supply of colorful, environmentally friendly, reusable cloths for cleaning, display, and gifting. Even if you've never knit before, our beginning projects are the perfect introduction to this craft.

To help beginners get started and to refresh more experienced knitters, the Knitting School teaches the featured stitches step-by-step. With designs ranging from very simple to more challenging, knitters at all skill levels will find designs they'll love to make.

This is a comprehensive reference book on all aspects of crochet.

The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet, 2nd Edition provides a reference for all methods, including Tunisian, intermeshing, broomstick lace, hairpin lace, and freeform crochet. Includes step-by-step instructions for all the basic stitches and swatches of 100s of stitch patterns with complete instructions. Now with:

• All new projects
• 20 new stitch patterns
• Expanded basics

Crochet the cutest food-themed home goods you'll ever see with Twinkie Chan's new book of patterns!

Crochet designer and craft superstar Twinkie Chan is back with her highly anticipated book Crocheted Abode a la Mode: 20 Yummy Crochet Projects for Your Home. This is the follow-up to Chan's first book, which featured food-inspired crocheted accessories. In Crocheted Abode a la Mode, Chan unveils twenty new food-themed crochet patterns for crafters to follow as they crochet their living space into a cozier, yummier place. The book is organized according to rooms in your house: kitchen and dining, living and lounging, bath and beauty, and home office.

Helpful diagrams, step-by-step instructions, and colorful photos help crocheters of all skill levels create Chan's cute and cozy home decor pieces. Readers are guaranteed to find several adorable, food-forward patterns to bring to life with their crochet hooks--everything from giant donut floor poufs to sweet honeybear aprons to savory corn dog pen cozies.

Chan's signature style is cute, colorful, food-themed, and always functional, which highlights an attribute she likes to call cute-tility. Her fun, unique designs are inspired by Japanese kawaii (cute) culture as well as her childhood collection of faux food toys. Her patterns appeal to crafters of all ages, and her warm, conversational writing style welcomes them into her cozy crocheted world, encouraging everyone to get creative. So, what are you waiting for? Let the fun unravel!

Origami Animals Super Paper Pack features 10 animal designs and more than 200 sheets of double-sided origami paper; everything an origami enthusiast needs to create

The ancient Japanese art of complex paper folding, origami, has been popular in the West for decades. Now you can jump on the craft with Origami Animals Super Paper Pack This kit includes everything origami lovers and paper crafters need to create their own paper menagerie. Tucked behind the cover is a fully illustrated, 32-page booklet with instructions for how to fold 10 different bird and animal designs.

A perfect starter kit, this pack comes with a dazzling assortment of sheets of origami paper, 6 inches (15.2 cm) square. You will be folding animals for display, giving them to friends, or just folding up new creatures for fun. And don't forget about family craft night Origami Animals Super Paper Pack's range of projects makes it a perfect fit for the origami beginner, and the origami expert alike.

Sewing Essentials, first published in 1984, has long been recognized as the one book every sewing enthusiast should own. This popular book has been updated, making it even more appealing for today's sewers.

Clearly written instructions and more than 450 full-color photographs lead you step-by-step through all common sewing techniques. It's like having your own personal sewing instructor right beside you. Get professional guidance on all of these topics:

• Sewing equipment and tools
• Using patterns
• Selecting and preparing fabrics
• All kinds of seams and seam finishes
• Darts, gathers, hems, zippers and buttonholes
• Facings, cuffs, collars and waistbands

Whether you are just learning to sew or have sewn for years, you'll find this book to be a valuable reference. Singer New Sewing Essentials, Updated and Revised Edition is your guide to sewing success.

This updated second edition of The Granny Square Book offers crocheters at all skill levels even more to love about granny squares--featuring 25 brand new squares, and 25 all-new projects.

Since it was first published in 2011, The Granny Square Book has instructed and inspired more than 70,000 crocheters to make and create beautiful, stylish projects with these classic motifs. Now designer and author Margaret Hubert has updated her best-selling and beloved book to include 25 additional crochet squares (for a total of 100!) and 25 all-new projects to make, wear, and give.

Margaret shows the evolution of this portable and convenient technique of crocheting square by square as well as its amazing versatility and variety--how it can be used to make almost anything and interpreted in countless ways with different yarns. Among the designs are:

• Accessories (headbands, bags, and jewelry)
• Garments (vests, jackets, and tops)
• Decorative items and gifts (afghans, pillows, and a sweater set for baby)

Fire up your crochet hooks! The Granny Square Book, Second Edition offers unlimited possibilities for creating with this timeless technique.

This richly illustrated how-to book is a comprehensive reference for various felting techniques, including needle felting, wet felting, and nuno felting.

With these easy-to-follow, step-by-step directions and hundreds of full-color photos, you'll be able to explore these easy projects that provide fun opportunities for you to try the techniques. Galleries of unique felted designs and creations by renowned fabric artists act as beautiful examples and inspiration to pursue the hobby yourself.

Crafting Wood Logic Puzzles provides plans and instructions for crafting 18 of the most popular manual puzzles. Projects range from traditional put together/take apart games like pentominoes and soma cubes to more sophisticated unlocking head-scratchers, such as the Burr and Heart Box puzzles. Readers will also learn specialized cutting, drilling, sanding, gluing and finishing techniques that make crafting wooden puzzles possible.

With over 200 photos and clear, concise instructions, this book helps parents guide their children through easy projects, where kids learn all the basics of crocheting.

Are you looking for the perfect guide to teach your child to sew? Look no further! Creative Kids Complete Photo Guide to Sewing starts with the absolute basics about stitching, beginning with simple hand sewing, then gradually introduces skills and techniques until kids are sewing safely and confidently at a sewing machine. Founders of The Sewing Tree, Janith Bergeron and Christine Ecker will guide you and your children through creative and fun sewing projects. With over 200 photos and clear, concise instructions in language easily understood by grade-school kids, you're going to be creating crafty sewing projects with your child in no time! Each project lists the sewing skills that will be exercised in making it and projects are rated for difficulty, so kids can learn and grow as they develop dexterity and coordination. Your children will learn to sew by making simple projects and building skills by practicing the essentials, and this book provides a sound foundation for a lifetime of sewing enjoyment.

Learn how to customize your clothes--designing new pattern shapes, style lines, and fashion details with Sara Alm's easy-to-follow instruction

In Sara Alm's Designing Clothes with the Flat Pattern Method, sewers learn a technique that opens up myriad possibilities for making one-of-a-kind garments. By using basic pattern blocks called slopers, Alm shows sewers how to design new shapes, style lines, and fashion details--creating patterns for nearly any piece of clothing they want to sew. Take a basic straight skirt pattern, for example, and convert it into any other skirt design. Change the hemline or the basic shape of a skirt from straight to A-line to full swing with multiple gores. Try adjusting the waistline placement or convert it from waistband to waistline-facing. Change the style and placement of the closures. The options are endless once sewers understand the basics of flat-pattern designing, which is explained in the book.

Designing Clothes with the Flat Pattern Method is divided into sections: skirts, tops, and pants. While many of the same principles apply to each garment type, there are different techniques to take into account. As soon as sewers know how to design from these three slopers, that knowledge is easily transferred to designing dresses, shorts, jumpsuits, and outerwear. The principles and techniques taught are also easily transferable to designing children's clothes. By following extensive technique instruction in each of the three categories, twelve different garments are designed from each basic sloper and photographed on models so readers fully understand the process and the end result.

Thanks to Designing Clothes with the Flat Pattern Method, passionate sewers will be as skilled as Project Runway contestants in no time

Knitting is much more than just a way to make something. With minimal investment of time and money, you'll soon discover that the process of knitting is relaxing and even therapeutic. With its calming rhythmic motion, you'll look forward to your quiet time with needles and yarn.

First Time Knitting teaches you a range of knitting skills, from the most simple and basic to more advanced techniques that will launch you confidently into the full spectrum of knitting options. Each chapter begins by teaching the skills needed to make the projects in that chapter. As you progress through the book, new techniques are introduced that build on the skills that were presented earlier. Learn about:

• Basic knitting, from choosing a yarn and tools to your first techniques (Projects: Garter Stitch Scarf and Scarf Knit with Two Yarns)
• Creating texture by combining different stitches (Projects: Baby Blocks Blanket and Seed Stitch Table Runner plus Variation)
• Shaping by increasing and decreasing stitches (Project: Leaf Edge Shawl)
• Knitting in the round with circular needles (Project: Easy Knit Hat)
• Putting it all together by picking up stitches and making seams (Projects: Directional Blocks Scarf and Baby Bathrobe)

Each book in the First Time series distills how-to guidance and advice from an expert on a specific topic into targeted step-by-step instruction geared toward the absolute beginner.

Turn your crochet projects into art with freeform crochet! Create something gorgeous by working outside of patterns and grids. First Time Freeform Crochet contains eight projects in an informative booklet. Complete step-by-step instructions this zen-like craft will allow you to meditate and relax while creating great projects. A crochet basics section provides stitches and all of the techniques needed to make the eight projects.