200 Knitting Tips, Techniques & Trade Secrets: An Indispensable Reference of Technical Know-How and Troubleshooting Tips
The basics of knitting are quick to master, but learning to create a stylish, professional finish usually takes much longer. This book contains over 200 professional fixes, insider tips, and secrets arranged by topic to enable any crafter to achieve a great fit and finish when knitting garments and accessories. You will also learn how to dye yarns easily in an ordinary kitchen to get the color combinations you want, and how to embellish garments with surface decoration and beads to express your own personality.
Delight family and friends with exquisitely decorated cakes for birthdays, dinner parties, or just as a special treat. Through a simple question-and-answer format, with every procedure shown in color photographs, beginners will find out how to decorate without icing (just use a powdered sugar design); how to make chocolate curls and gumpaste flowers; how to prepare the drizzled chocolate icing known as ganache; and how to embellish tiered, bundt, and raspberry-filled cakes. See how to whip up fondant, ice petits fours, and use a pastry bag to write greetings and create adornments. The all-important wedding cake is here, too.
Clear instructions, clever projects, and colorful photography make this your go-to source for toys that are fun to make, lovely to give, and wonderful to receive.You'll find patterns for easy-to-crochet dolls and toy animals, complete with accessories and play clothes for them to wear, as well as a few unexpected surprises, like a plush mobile and soft alphabet blocks. Claire Garland shows you how to make basic shapes and forms and then encourages you to use your imagination to embellish them into fanciful playtime friends.
Capture the romantic spirit of the Victorian era with delicate-looking silk ribbon gifts, clothing, and accessories. More than 40 projects are showcased in glorious full-color photographs, and every technique is clearly explained so that even novice crafters can make beautiful keepsakes. Transform a basic silk camisole into an exquisite piece of lingerie, or embellish a plain blazer with creeping vines of dainty ribbon flowers. Add magic to your dinner table with charming ribbon rose napkin holders.
