The Complete Idiot's Guide Big Book of Needle Arts and Craftsis the quintessential reference book for needlepoint, embroidery, quilting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and more! With 800 pages of information and projects, this book is the ultimate how-to! Includes patterns for making afghans, hats, window treatments, pillows, and more!
Easy-to-follow diagrams and simple instructions enable even beginners to create a host of striking Native American designs. Color-coded patterns for buffalo, kachinas, eagles, and more will add delightful ornamental touches to T-shirts, lend distinctive touches to handbags, headbands, and belts, and enhance cushion covers, table linens, and other household accessories.
Some of us take pride and pleasure in our needlework skills, while others of us have been drawn to sewing crafts but haven't been confident enough to try them. Happily, this book is a gold mine of instruction and inspiration for everyone, whatever your level of skill.
This guide is for anyone who is interested in learning or re-learning the art of embroidery or needlepoint. Containing a history of needlecrafts, as well as an updated look at its uses for your home and wardrobe, it explains how to deal with such concepts as color, balance, scale, and texture, and how to incorporate your own personal syle. Everything you need to know about the art of embroidery, including needle and thread types, materials, stitch types, frames, techniques, enlarging or reducing designs, monogramming, and project ideas, is in this book.
Creating an Amigurumi of one's own... Amigurumi, the traditional Japanese art of knitted or crocheted stuffed figures, is a craft that is sweeping the country. In The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Amigurumi crafters will learn the basic stitches of crochet, how to make basic shapes (heads, arms, legs, torsos), stuffing techniques, and embellishments such as hair, eyes, and tassels. They will also learn how to make flowers and vegetables, and will acquire the tools to be able to let their imaginations run wild and create their own unique and adorable Amigurumi. Easy-to-follow instructions and patterns for the absolute beginner. The only book that teaches readers how to make their own Amigurumi (not just follow patterns) Includes several complete patterns Author is a foremost expert on Amigurumi
The bead is imbued with history, a compact record of human ingenuity and creativity. Beads are, quite simply, beautiful. One of the great things about beading is that it can be extremely easy or very complicated, according to how much time or patience one is willing to give to it. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Beading Illustratedgives readers all the skills they need to do many of the different kinds of beadwork made all over the world. Included are hundreds of step-by-step instructions and simple samples to make for each technique, more advanced projects, and finally resources to broaden beading knowledge and crafting expertise. Readers will learn how to make their own beads from wood, clay, or found objects; understand the intricacies of fasteners and clasps; design their own beaded jewellery; work with wire and assorted threading techniques; bead on fabric and fibres or looms; and more!
A manual that offers seamstresses the Right Stitch. From first threading a needle to the final completed project, The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Sewing provides readers with a "learn- as-you-go" method that helps build sewing skills both by hand and by machine. ? Each chapter has a practice project for readers to apply their newly acquired skills to completing ? Includes dozens of easy-to-understand visual aid line drawings and photographs ? Features basic machine care and maintenance information
Sewing 101 - a complete guide that gets readers sewing in no time - from hand-sew no sew projects without patterns to easy home decorating projects like pillows and table runners, placemats, and simple drapes to a basic wardrobe - tops, skirts, pants, and a three-hour dress!
Hundreds of budget-friendly projects include edible homemade goodies, holiday decorations, toys, musical instruments, and gifts made from wood, metal, glass, leather, clay, and found objects.
Market more successfully-with thousands of powerful, persuasive words. This reference is for anyone who needs to write effective marketing copy-for ads, catalogs, brochures, letters, press releases, displays, fundraising materials, and more. With thousands of entries, it does the brainstorming for you-and sparks ideas that stand out in a sea of hype. -Three A-to-Z sections: descriptive words, promotional words, and words organized by industry (cosmetics, food, travel, computers, etc.) -Extensive synonym lists for frequently used marketing words: 45 words for big; 19 words for authentic; 27 words for clean; 46 words for money; ... and 10 words for purple -Additional lists of Related Words and Phrases, Expressions, Symbols, and Antonyms -Also features A Concise Guide to Copywriting, with chapters on consumer psychology; tricks of the trade; grammar and style tips; and 7 Qualities that Make a Great Copywriter