Crafts

Imagine you are in the yarn store or searching for supplies online--do you instinctively go for the reds and pinks, naturally veer towards soft blues and greens, or head to the dark side of grays and blacks? The relationship between colors and our state of mind is well established, but we don't often consciously notice how much different colors affect us or understand why we favor some over others. Emma Leith is known for her colorful crochet, and has designed 35 projects that will bring you the psychological benefits of working with different shades, along with the enjoyment of creating beautiful items for the home and to wear. There is a chapter for each season, to reflect the colours of nature in spring, summer, fall, and winter, and then a chapter of four seasons designs, showing you how to mix shades from different times of the year. With notes on the color therapy benefits of different patterns, and suggestions for switching shades to suit your own preferences, you will soon be crocheting in full color.

Enter into the whimsical, crocheted world of Aleksandra, from the site Eleonore & Maurice. She is a talented designer who blends pastel yarns with Liberty fabric to make truly adorable creations: plush animals with little accessories, as well as sweet cushions. The combination of the calming pastel cotton yarn and the delicate Liberty designs give very pleasing results. These crisp creations include a cat cushion, a bird family, a hedgehog, a rabbit and a reindeer.

The crochet patterns are clear and easy to follow and the sewing element is minimal, including items such as fabric bows, belts, ears, tails and collars. Make them for yourself or as gifts for family and friends. Everyone is sure to love these beautiful crocheted creatures. The soft colours and splashes of Liberty fabric make them perfect companions that children will love.

The Family Handyman's Whole House Repair Guide gives readers the know-how and confidence to tackle repair jobs, save money and avoid the hassles of service calls. We cover all of the most common repairs from floors to ceilings, from paint to plumbing. Indoors or out, large or small, this is the guide you need to do the job right. This book will walk you through all projects and also provide tips and tricks that will make the jobs simpler.

Although gouache goes back about 600 years, it is enjoying a renaissance with modern artists. Falling between watercolor and acrylic, gouache is generally diluted before being applied, but it's opaque and contains a high amount of pigment. The texture isn't delicate, so it's a good medium for canvas or coated surfaces. New and experienced painters alike will enjoy lessons on color theory, mixing, and the innovative techniques offered in this book--there are thirty guided projects so you can practice what you learn.

Everyone loves wearing something featuring their favorite animal, and there are 35 designs to choose from here. Hats for tiny babies include Buzzy Bee, Tweet the Robin or Rudy the Rabbit. For bigger kids make something to keep them cozy, from Blizzard the Reindeer (complete with bright red nose) to Otto the Octopus. Most of the hats can be made in a range of sizes and many of them come with matching accessories, such as boot toppers, wrist warmers, and baby bootees. Each hat has easy-to-follow instructions and uses the simplest of stitches, with clear step-by-step illustrations and photographs to help with the all-important features, making this ideal for beginner knitters as well as more experienced ones. With essential yarn information as well as a helpful techniques section, you'll be ready to start knitting gorgeous animal hats in no time.

These days, dangerous viruses can suddenly become rampant, and bacteria can adapt to become antibiotic-resistant, so we must be extra-vigilant about our health. The Natural Cleaning Handbook keeps you clean, naturally, with homemade products that are healthy for you and your family. Start with the basics and work your way into every corner of your home . . . from tile grout to shower mold, how to clean lampshades to how to clean water bottles.

Germ-killing recipes for cleaning nearly every surface in your home from the carpet to stuffed animals include:

Based on the original designs shared by families and discovered in archives, Stella has created recreations of these historically important garments for our contemporary life that ooze classic style with modern minimalism. With these designs, you are offered not only a chance to pay homage to the women who lovingly knitted the jumpers and to share in a beautiful Dutch tradition, but also give something for your child to treasure for years to come.

The sizes of the ganseys run from 2- to 14-years old, but can easily be adjusted to any child's size by following Stella's straightforward measuring instructions in her chapter on knitting know-how. With a wealth of fascinating background information and historical photos of the original designs alongside every design, this is a unique and inspiring book for the ambitious knitter looking for unique, classic knitwear, and a brilliant read for anyone interested in craft, culture and heritage.

Between approximately 1875 and 1950, Dutch fishermen wore sweaters with characteristic knit and purl stitch patterns, sometimes cable. These jerseys, known as ganseys, became an intrinsic part of the identity of the Dutchmen who wore them. Many of the children in these fishing families wore ganseys too, and numerous photos have been discovered in recent years of schoolchildren dressed in the knitwear seen on their fishermen fathers.

Now, based on her popular Dutch Traditional Ganseys (2013) and More Traditional Dutch Ganseys (2017), Stella Ruhe returns with over 40 sweaters to knit from 30 different Dutch villages - this time, for your little ones to wear and ramble in.

Do you have a bare, uninspired garden or porch? Instead of overhauling and reconstructing the entire design, simply transform it with any of this book's twenty-six essential and practical woodworking projects that will provide your home with a dash of DIY, rustic charm.

These easy, fun, and attractive wood creations are accompanied by clear, step-by-step instructions and are divided into projects for planting, growing, socializing, and relaxing, as well as fun items for children. Woodworking Projects for Your Garden and Porch will have you making elegant, yet functional, pieces, such as:

- Benches and long tables
- Swings and trellises
- Flower boxes and driftwood shelves
- A mini outdoor kitchen and greenhouse
- And many more!

Invest energy and love into your garden and porch and turn it into a personal oasis where you can unwind with a cup of coffee and a book, work on your gardening, or play games with the kids using the wooden pieces you have constructed with your own hands.