Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9521 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 140 pages

Synopsis
The twenty-first century has seen an explosion in all kinds of crafting. The rise and rise of knitting as a cool pastime has led to circles and clubs springing up everywhere from New York to Notting Hill and alternative craft-fairs are fast becoming a weekend institution as ever more people are reclaiming these age old hobbies and asserting their individuality through making stuff. "Making Stuff" is an eclectic craft book for the new millennium. It is a testament to a trend that is only going to get bigger. Whether you are a seasoned crafter looking for new ideas or a novice with a penchant for gaffer tape, this book is for you. Utilising both traditional craft materials and thrifty finds, this book gathers together over 50 projects from established members of the craft scene that will undoubtedly inspire you to get your craft on. "Making Stuff" simultaneously rejects and embraces traditionally old-fashioned activities like knitting, embroidery, crochet and felting. Whilst the skills remain the same, the results have a modern edge: an eclectic mix of the useful, the hip, the beautiful and the downright weird.

A section at the beginning lays out the basic skills you need to make something out of nothing: knitting, sewing, crochet, felting and applique. Over 50 ideas are then laid out with clear illustrations guiding you every step of the way. Projects include: how to knit an i-Pod cover; fashion a purse from your old school-ties; stitch one piece of fabric into a stylish smock-dress; turn an old jumper into a cuddly toy; make a notebook out of record covers; fold beautiful origami fairy-lights; and, knit unwanted t-shirts into a bathmat or weave a placemat. There are also a plethora of ingenious ways to customise your clothes, make your own jewellery, decorate your home, recycle your old possessions and fashion baby clothes and toys for the children in your life.

Customer Reviews

"Alternative" Crafts - one way of putting it!
I have never returned a book from Amazon before .......but in this case I made an exception. From other reviews this book promised to be a bit different, "not yer grannies" type of craft ideas.
What a disappointment, felt mittens that looked like a toddler had put together, knitted antennae cover anyone? Not only were the items a bit obscure, the actual designs looked very amateurish and not at all inspirational.

As a hoarder of crafty type books, this one was sadly lacking - theres much better out there.

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I was really looking forward to getting this book, but I have to say I was disappointed. It's nicely presented & there are a couple of good ideas, but nothing particularly inspiring & a lot of the suggestions are completely useless...I doubt many of us need to make a sock puppet, let alone be told how to do it.

good sourse book, bit basic
this is a good craft book. A bit to basic for me as it is mostly for beginers and or knitters. It is a collaberation of 50 designs for alternative crafts from differant people around the country. it ranges from mittens made from old jumpers to kites made of bubble wrap.
some of the designs are not at all modern or relevent such as how to made a simple top with a scarf to tir it up. very basic and it would undoubtably look like a home made botch job.
having said that I am pleased overall with it esspecialy the section on making monkey teddys and the lovely imagry that is shown in the book.
if you have experiance with craft you do not really need this book as i'm sure you know how to made a simple small hot water bottle cover from the sleave of a jumper! simple as in it has shape just a sown rectangle with the ribbing cuff around the bottle opening.