Five Book Friday
by Leah B., December 2, 2022 9:08 AM
Picture it, my crafty friends: it’s a chilly Sunday afternoon. You’re wearing your softest sweater and warmest socks. You’re settled into your most comfortable armchair with a blanket across your lap. Your favorite mug is beside you, and it’s filled with steaming coffee or tea. You’re listening to an audiobook or perhaps some holiday music. And you’re deep in the flow of your latest craft project.
Of course, before you can reach that flow state, you’ve got to pick a project! Below are five exciting recently published craft books. They’re filled with charming projects to help you achieve the happy, cozy, crafternoon of your dreams.
Self-Care Cross-Stitch: 40 Uplifting and Irreverent Patterns
by Stephanie Rohr
If you’re new to craft, cross-stitch is a great place to start. You can get the hang of simple projects fairly quickly, and I’m all about the ones in this book. I know a lot of us, myself included, sometimes need to be reminded, “Your body needs rest.” And you’d better believe I’ll be making the, “Welcome to the Cozy Zone,” project for my apartment. If you’re a more experienced cross-stitcher, and you loved the projects in Feminist Cross-Stich and Subversive Cross-Stitch, this book is going to be right up your alley.
Blazed Wax: Creating Sculptural Candles For Any Space
by Ruby Kannava and Emma Cutri
Candles are a totally necessary component in achieving peak levels of coziness. And I have to say, Blazed Wax is the trendiest candle-making book I’ve ever encountered. The bright, sculptural projects are the kind of candles I’ve seen while window shopping at boutiques on Division. There’s a nice section in the book about aromatherapy and adding essential oils to your candles too. Blazed Wax will give you all the info you need to make these cheery candles and help brighten up the dark winter days.
The Art of Whittling: A Woodcarver’s Guide to Making Things by Hand
by Niklas Karlsson
If you’re cozycore (a word I was pretty sure I made up until I googled it), you’ve almost certainly heard of hygge by now. It’s a Danish term that conveys cozyness, generally in a relaxed and happy atmosphere, accompanied by a sense of well-being. In this new edition of The Art of Whittling, Niklas Karlsson has written an excellent guide to the craft of whittling, but he also includes thoughtful passages about the way a connection to trees, and an appreciation of the texture of wood, can bring hygge to your life. So, extra points if you have a fireplace you can whittle in front of.
The Embroidered Closet: Modern Hand-stitching for Upgrading and Upcycling Your Wardrobe
by Alexandra Stratkotter
There have been a slew of wonderful books published in the past few years about mending clothing by hand (personal favorites include Mending Matters, Mending Life, Mend & Patch), but there haven’t been as many books recently about purely decorative embroidery on clothing. The Embroidered Closet includes a number of lovely projects, and provides information about embroidering on different types of fabric. If you have a cozy sweater or t-shirt that’s just a little bit plain, the projects in this book can give them that special handmade touch.
Crochet Journey: A Global Crochet Adventure From the Guy With the Hook
by Mark Roseboom
I really enjoy craft books with projects that are inspired by travel, and Crochet Journey does not disappoint. The author has traveled extensively, and the beautiful projects are paired with his stories. So while you settle in to pick your project, you also get to enjoy some cozy armchair traveling. There’s a wide variety of projects, including a shawl, a pincushion, a pillow, a rug, and more. Personally, I’d love to curl up in that blanket featured on the cover. With a good book, of course.
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