Engelska

<p>The daily lives of ordinary people are replete with objects, common things used in commonplace settings. These objects are our constant companions in life. As such, writes Soetsu Yanagi, they should be made with care and built to last, treated with respect and even affection. They should be natural and simple, sturdy and safe - the aesthetic result of wholeheartedly fulfilling utilitarian needs. They should, in short, be things of beauty.</p><p>In an age of feeble and ugly machine-made things, these essays call for us to deepen and transform our relationship with the objects that surround us. Inspired by the work of the simple, humble craftsmen Yanagi encountered during his lifelong travels through Japan and Korea, they are an earnest defence of modest, honest, handcrafted things - from traditional teacups to jars to cloth and paper. Objects like these exemplify the enduring appeal of simplicity and function: the beauty of everyday things.</p>

Sew Barbie this cute wardrobe of 24 stylish outfits. Sew clothes for every day: jeans and a tie-waist shirt for a picnic in the country, a fleecy jumper and trousers for skiing, a bikini, towel and sunhat for the beach or dungarees for DIY. Or create outfits for special occasions, such as a floral cocktail dress, A-line wedding dress or a formal lacy dress for the theatre. And why not dip into the dressing-up box with fairy, mermaid and superwoman costumes? The detailed explanations are accompanied by step-by-step diagrams and real-size patterns, which can be adapted for petite, curvy, tall or original Barbie. The techniques used are simple and the outfits can be sewn by hand or on the machine. These are ideal projects for upcycling old clothes or making use of scraps of fabric from your stash.

<p>In this latest book in in the highly successful 20 to Make series, best-selling author Sachiyo Ishii has ventured into the world of crochet and created 20 adorable, amigurumi-style toys and animals. The patterns are both easy and fun to make, and suitable for crocheters of all skill levels. All the patterns are no more than around 10cm (4in) tall, and are made with just one size crochet hook (3mm/UK 11 US C2).</p>

<b>An easy way to get into this popular craft, with instructions, templates and contemporary projects that will soon get you going.</b><br/><br/>The traditional craft of embroidery has gained a new excitement as a new generation of stitchers bring contemporary style to subjects like houseplants and modern interiors. This smart little book, written with beginners in mind, perfectly captures that aesthetic and gives you the skills you need to succeed.<br/><br/><i>Embroidery</i> covers the materials you need to get going, simple introductions to the key stitches, and ten contemporary projects that evolve in complexity. Each project has a template to be copied, enabling the reader to get started straight away and achieve great results in a short time. Brand-new step-by-step photography makes the whole process easy: and after only a couple of happy days with your needle and thread, you'll find that you're making designs to be proud of. Sew Botanical's Etsy store, where Alisha and Roisin's kits are available, carries hundreds of rave reviews for their designs, and has an average rating higher than 4.8*

<p>These fun papercraft projects range from simple yet effective bunting to intricate tree decorations, bell jar Christmas trees, and an advent calendar village. Give your holiday season the homemade touch, from wrapping paper to tree decorations, using very few materials and innovative techniques, such as printing with shaving foam and creating stunning greeting cards using gold embossing ink. Includes 64 traceable templates.</p> <p>Emily's absolute favourite time of the year is Christmas: "nothing comes close to the enchanting and magical feel you experience at Christmas, where you can go to town with trimmings and decorations, garlands and sparkle. I love the variety of crafts you can produce at this time of year too; from the delicate details on the table to giant stars and festive banners, you really can go all out if you want! Papercraft is my passion, so it made complete sense to combine this with my love of the festive season, to create an inspiring book of Christmas craft and wonder!"</p>

If you've always wanted to learn to use a sewing machine but didn't know where to start, this guide for the absolute beginner is for you. This simple-to-follow project-based book takes you through the basic techniques of using a sewing machine. You'll learn everything you need to get started, including basic machine stitches, making seams and hems, binding edges and working with zips. Each technique is accompanied by a stylish project to make, and everything is explained with the help of clear illustrations that will guide you every step of the way. The straightforward explanations combined with desirable projects means that no matter how little machine sewing experience you have to start with, you'll soon be impressing friends and family with your newfound practical skills.

<p>Bestselling author Sachiyo Ishii gives us mini knitted astronauts, planets, satellites, moon buggies, aliens and a whole host of astro-animals such as dogs, bunnies, elephants and giraffes. Knit your own fabulous cosmos with this delightful book! All the projects are quick and relatively simple to make, with very easy techniques to follow. There is a step-by-step section on how to sew the figures and animals together and the patterns are all suitable for competent beginners.</p> <p>Including full-size templates and more than 40 simple knitting patterns, this is all you need to make your very own knitted cosmos.</p>