Welcome to our second Book of the Month. I hope you all had a peaceful, healthy festive season and the new year has started well for you. I don't tend to make New Year's Resolutions as, I don't know about you, but I find the minute I feel like I'm putting pressure on myself to do or achieve something, it takes away some of the pleasure. Having said that one of things I would really like to do more of this year is be outside in nature and I really like the idea of combining that with craft. Hence this month's book choice is 'Connecting with Nature' by Tilly Rose, a brand new publication from Search Press (ISBN 978-1-80092-191-7). There is an interesting introduction from the author in which she talks about her memories of her family's tiny garden at their home in Peterborough and how she watched the seasons change in the local park, noticing scorched lawns at the height of summer, the conkers falling from the mighty horse chestnut trees and tiny crocuses appearing through the snow in the winter. That last one strikes a chord with me as I'm not a huge gardener and for many years didn't appreciate the joy of bulbs but I planted some snowdrops a few years ago and seeing their small green shoots appearing without fail year after year feels strangely comforting now. The next section of the book, Creative approaches, looks at the idea of foraging, including the 'rules of kindness' which should be considered when taking keepsakes from nature; not being greedy, not trampling wildflowers or vegetation to reach something and if you're walking on an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) not to take anything at all. There is also advice on how to store your collected treasures to prevent mould or mildew and how to press and dry flowers and herbs. You can see in the images above examples of the kind of things the author suggests you might find in different habitats. The following chapter explores how to experiment with eco-dyeing (a form of natural dyeing where colours extracted from plants and vegetables are transferred on to paper or cloth by steaming or boiling) and how to create your own watercolour paints. I really like the idea of having a try at the eco-dyeing and there's a lovely example of some cotton lace being dyed with red cabbage, showing how the colour changed depending on how long the lace was left in the the dye pan. In our house we make blackberry vinegar every year and use muslin cloths to strain the blackberries after steeping in cider vinegar. The colour of the muslin cloths at the end of the process is a great example of a really intense dye, straight from nature. The book then looks at making botanical journals and chapbooks (a historical term for small pamphlets sold by pedlars, that contained poems, ballads, short stories etc. ), methods of weaving, slow stitching and textile collage making. These aren't in-depth explanations but provide enough information, without overwhelming, to encourage the reader to give these techniques a try. The next, and largest, section of the book is a selection of projects that call on the techniques that have been introduced in the preceding chapters and include making a memory stick (or even a calendar of sticks!), a nature mandala and a mini flower press. One particular project, involving leaf printing on to fabric, to make an artist's brush wrap, would also double perfectly as a crochet hook holder so that one is definitely on my list to try!
I really liked this book. It encourages you to notice things when you're out and about in nature and, in a time when we are all being encouraged to practice mindfulness in our lives, this is exactly the sort of thing we can all do without any real effort at all. Noticing tiny flowers in grass verges, sparkling spider webs covered in morning dew, these things can be right outside our own front doors. The technique sections are not overwhelming in the amount of information given and there isn't the sense that you need to rush out to buy all sorts of equipment (which can sometimes be the case when starting a new hobby or interest). The author suggests ways of using small scraps of fabric, glass jars or bottles that you may have at home and encourages you to use what you have rather than go out and buy. The projects themselves feel achievable and give the sense that you can take your time over them, that they will become a kind of memory recording of time spent outdoors. 'Connecting with Nature' is widely available online but if you are in the UK you can purchase this book, and others, through Search Press with a 20% discount and free delivery, by using the discount code DD88. I'll be back next month with another review but in the meantime stay warm and I hope you get lots of time to craft!
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Welcome to our new Book of the Month blog series where I'll be exploring some of the latest publications in the world of crafting, and perhaps further afield, who knows! As December is the season for giving, I tried to find a book that might be inspiration for handmade gifting and I chose 'Learn to Crochet Gansey Dishcloths' by Britt Schmiesing, published in the US by Annie's in June 2024 (ISBN 978-1-64025-643-9). The patterns are written in US terminology but there are charts for each pattern too. The term Gansey refers to knitted sweaters that have been worn by fisherman for hundreds of years, with most coastal communities around the British Isles having a 'Gansey' derived from the original Guernsey, an oiled wool sweater originating on the island of the same name. Traditionally knit by the fishermen's wives, the patterns were often passed down through generations. According the introduction gansey crochet projects 'tend to be highly textured and feature combinations of 3-D stitching and flattering traditional stitches. The 3-D textured stitching is just perfect for scrubbing dishes!' There is also the suggestion that these dishcloths could be made as a swatching exercise for larger projects using the same stitch patterns. The book is a slim volume, coming in at just 32 pages, but I was impressed at how much information had been packed in, including a two page guide on how to read charts and a stitch guide with illustrations. There are 8 dishcloths to make and for each one there is a full page colour photograph so you can get a really good close up look at the stitch pattern. Then for each row or repeat there is a colour photo showing exactly what each should look like when completed. Each has a skill level of intermediate so this book isn't aimed at beginners. Having said that, where there are trickier stitches the book provides a QR code that can be scanned and will take you straight to a technique video for that particular stitch so even for the more experienced crocheter help is at hand if you are unfamiliar with a stitch. I decided to have a go at the Diamond and Ladder Dishcloth, the fourth pattern in the book, using some Drops Paris Recycled Denim cotton. I liked the idea of using a recycled fibre and felt that the nature of the yarn really suited the project type. I usually work in UK terms but as there are a limited number of stitches in the pattern I didn't struggle to convert as I worked and the step-by-step photos were very helpful in providing that visual reference that I was on the right track. Although I haven't quite finished the dishcloth I'm enjoying working through the pattern, which is clearly and concisely written. I'm planning to make a few more as small Christmas gifts.
If you enjoy adding textural features to your crochet this book will definitely give you lots of ideas that you could take beyond the dishcloths and add to blankets and garments for example. Although I was slightly surprised at how slim the book was when I first received it, it certainly didn't disappoint in content. The book is widely available online but if you are in the UK you can purchase this book, and others, through Search Press with a 20% discount and free delivery, by using the discount code DD88. Search Press | Learn to Crochet Gansey Dishcloths by Annie's Publishing I'll be back next month with another crafty book review. Until then, have a wonderful festive season (with lots of time for yarn)! |
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