With its soothing, meditative effect, handspinning is a relaxing hobby, and the beautiful yarns you create are an even better reward. This visual guide shows you the basics, beginning with the tools and fibers, and takes you through spinning, plying, making novelty yarns, using exotic fibers, dyeing, and more. Whether you use an inexpensive hand spindle or splurge on a spinning wheel, stick with wool or try alpaca, cashmere, or cotton, you'll learn how to create fun, original, one-of-a-kind yarns that you can knit or weave into truly unique, handmade, and all-natural creations.

Concise two-page lessons show you all the steps to a skill and are ideal for quick review

• The skill demonstrated is defined and described

• Detailed color photos demonstrate each step

• Step-by-step instructions accompany each photo

• Helpful tips provide additional guidance

Written for anyone with basic knitting skills, this guide to making, shrinking, and using knitted felt includes 20 stylish, contemporary projects for the modern crafter. Beautiful photographs, step-by-step instructions, and illustrations walk the first-time felter through all the processes. Projects include soft and comfortable felted tops, purses and tote bags, colorful embossed hats, jewelry and accessories, slippers, pillows, modern home accessories, and a strand of felted lights. While the techniques and tools are simple, the shapes, colors, and materials of these pieces give them a sophisticated, urban feel that brings felt into the 21st century.

This contemporary collection of wraps showcases the work of 18 knitwear designers that include Lily Chin, Nicky Epstein, and Jo Sharp. The designs for these ponchos, capes, stoles, and capelets vary from simple to challenging and explore shape and silhouette possibilities in a host of techniques, including stitch patterns, color work, lace, beads, crochet, and felt.

A glossary is provided, containing all the information necessary for even a novice knitter to successfully create one-of-a-kind fashions. The book also includes an in-depth section on designing and embellishing, making it a companion for future creativity. All knitters and crocheters, from the most demanding to those just embarking upon larger projects, will be inspired by these stylish designs that stretch the definition of a poncho.

This collection of 31 elegant and ingenious scarf designs tap the expertise of more than 25 knitwear designers who offer new ways to think about this most basic of garments. Designs by Kathryn Alexander, Debbie Bliss, Nancy Bush, Lily Chin, Nicky Epstein, Sasha Kagan, Sally Melville, and Kristin Nicholas are included, representing a varied exploration of techniques that provide innovative ways to think about knitting and crochet. Sections on knitting and crochet basics, making a scarf without a pattern, and a designer's notebook with templates for basic scarves and suggestions for design variations are provided.

Educating knitters about fine yarns, this information-packed book features more than 20 stylish and contemporary projects to knit with lightweight yarns. Knitters will learn what fine yarns are, the many advantages of knitting with them, plus tips and techniques to make the knitting process even more enjoyable. Perfect for all skill levels, the projects in this guidebook show that garments knitted with thin yarns not only fit more precisely, but are more flattering to the figure and feel better against the skin. They also offer more versatility for fashion elements such as ruching, ruffles, gauzy layers, and drape. Crafters will find stylish and contemporary patterns, including a drapy silk top, a supple zippered cable hoodie, a bamboo skirt with stunning drape, a bohus-inspired pullover, a wrap dress, a ruffled scarf, and much more.

Four mini workshops with 24 patterns and spectacular photography in this compilation help knitters think creatively, find inspiration in their surroundings, and shape those elements into garment design. Stunning patterns are arranged by season, reflecting the colors and beauty of nature that inspire feminine designs. From an amber-beaded cardigan that captures the feeling of hay fields drying in the sun to a long, belted coat with a spray of coral roses inspired by flowers in local markets to an intarsia jacket that evokes memories of a fall hike in a forest, each pattern is rich with color, detailing, and romantic knitting style. The design workshops throughout this guidebook challenge knitters to find inspiration in their surroundings, build color palettes, swatch creatively through knitting and sketching, and finesse their style and fit.

Card weaving (also known as tablet weaving) is a way to create patterned woven bands that are thick, sturdy and beautiful. Though cards are often regarded as a simple tool, the weavings they can produce are infinite in design and complexity. The portability of these cards gives you the possibility of carrying a four harness loom in your pocket.

You can use the cards on their own with a simple tensioning device, such as tying the yarn to a door knob and tensioning around your waist. Or use the cards on a loom. An Inkle Loom is an ideal companion, but you can also use them on a Cricket, Flip, table, or floor loom.

Schacht has developed a card that, at 3.5 inches square, is comfortable in the hand without being bulky. Colored bands and stripes are printed along each edge as an aid in keeping track of the card’s position. Made of sturdy yet flexible 24-point card stock, these cards will serve you well over many, many warps.

The cards come in packages of 25, more than enough for a range of projects. All you need to add is yarn and a belt shuttle. You can start weaving complex bands at less than the cost of two coffees!

Sample project instructions from Schacht