Crafts & Hobbies

One day in 1983, Annemor Sundbø of Kristiansand, Norway, became the owner of a "shoddy mill," a facility designed to process rags, scraps, and other discarded fabric into reusable material. However, Sundbø wasn't interested in running the mill; she was drawn instead to the store of thousands of mittens, gloves, and other knitted castaways, bundled into a warehouse on the mill's grounds, awaiting their turn. These well-used discards were in fact a treasure trove of traditional Norwegian patterning and technique, and the beginning of her life-long effort to document, preserve, and reconstruct classic Norwegian designs—dozens of which are assembled here in a timeless collection, now available for the first time in paperback.

A third volume of imaginative, adventuresome mitten and sock patterns from hip, young Finnish knitwear designer Lumi Karmitsa.

The highly anticipated third installment of this popular set takes knitters on a brand-new and freshly exhilarating journey, filled with color and imagination: roaring tigers, cunning foxes, wide-eyed fawns, whirling flowers, and so much more! With Lumi Karmitsa's creativity, inventiveness, and unforgettable color combinations coming to life on every page, this is an endlessly charming collection full of design delights no knitter will want to miss.

Invite light, warmth, and the freshness of spring into your home in time for Easter! Designer Thea Rytter, a fan favorite for her beautifully subtle color palettes and undeniable creativity, is back with a brand-new selection of decorations, ornaments, and more—including both well-known Easter classics such as colorful eggs and fluffy hares, and fun, festive springtime designs for flowers, feathers, and a sweet, soft friend or two. Welcome the season in style, with cozy, charming, characteristically Norwegian Easter knits.

• Start small and work your way up: quick single-color patterns keep it simple for beginners, and wrapped-yarn projects like birds and feathers are perfect for kids
• Once you've mastered the basic patterns for eggs, flowers, and miniature birds—shake things up with color changes, beads, embroidery, and more!
• Step-by-step instructions, full-color photographs, and additional guidance for techniques like short-row shaping, to guide knitters who've never tackled them before

New from Scandinavian knit designers Heidi and Pia Johannesen, this classic selection of holiday designs evokes the spirit of the season with compelling simplicity: red and green, black and white, plus a touch of gold and glitter to bring the magic of Christmas to life. From bells and hearts to elves and stockings, everything you need to crochet yourself a quintessential Christmas is right here at the end of your hook.

Celebrate the season with handmade traditional Scandinavian decorations.

Christmas markets and celebratory feasts, elves and bells, mulled wine and gingerbread—the holiday season in Scandinavia is steeped in traditions long honored. Now you can welcome that feeling, along with friends and family, into your own home, with this collection of hand-crafted accessories for the tree, the windowsill, holiday place settings, and more. Over a dozen designs inspired by Nordic customs and the natural world are worked in beautifully coordinated colors that can suit any interior. From classic stars and Christmas balls to glittering trumpets and miniature stockings, these wonderfully quick projects are satisfying to make, to hang, and to gift to others.

Inside, you'll find:

• Instructions for all special techniques and stitches, guiding you through increases, decreases, short rows, and more.
• Suggestions for embellishing with embroidery, beads, and shimmering metallic yarns to make every pattern shine its brightest.
• Full-color photographs illustrating every project with ideas for decorative holiday looks and festive arrangements.

Ever since her ground-breaking book Viking Patterns for Knitting was published, Elsebeth Lavold has been recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on cabling. It was within the pages of her international bestseller—described as “an indispensable milestone in 20th century knitting literature”—that Lavold first introduced the world to her own innovation: using lifted increases to create interlace patterns, and bringing new life to the ornamental heritage of the Vikings as adornment on modern knitwear.

In the years since, Lavold has sought new ideas and “design cousins” to Viking patterns to explore with her needles, and has undertaken a fascinating journey through archives, museums, libraries, and the internet. In more than a decade of continued research, she has studied cultures from all over the globe in search of similar types of ornamental expression, creating the foundation for this exciting new book: a glorious collection rich in imagery, history, patterns, and designs.

• Dozens of different sources of inspiration, catalogued and placed within their cultural and historical context, from all around the world.
• Complete, step-by-step instructions for an abundance of fresh and stunningly beautiful knit designs, presented in the book with full-color photographs.
• Lavold’s own painstaking analysis of a huge number of interlace motif types, displayed in both swatch and chart form, to allow you to compose your own patterns based on her research.

All the inspiration and instruction you need to crochet stylish clothing and unique home accessories is at your fingertips. From scarves to sweaters, shawls to skirts, plus pillows and throws, these vivid and exciting patterns cover a variety of crochet techniques and stitches, and every level of difficulty: relax with something small and straightforward, or stretch yourself with something a little more intricate. With detailed photographs, diagrams, and descriptions to keep you on track, you'll be hooked in no time.

First published in 1934, Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches has long been a well-loved favorite of novice and experienced embroiderers alike! The new and redesigned paperback edition of this indispensable handbook includes the internationally-renowned embroiderer Jan Eaton’s revisions to the original text, with an extensive library of stitches arranged by usage, ranging from basic outline and border stitches to more complex detached-filling and pulled-fabric stitches—enabling all needle-workers to master the art of embroidery at every level, with clear, helpful photographs and step-by-step instructions.

• Over 400 stitches explained and illustrated with diagrams and photographs.
• Ideal for those starting out with needlework, as well as accomplished embroiderers seeking inspiration for different stitches and techniques.
• 14 stitch categories, including outline stitches, filling stitches, canvas stitches, insertion stitches, and more.

Creating rag rugs has enthralled weavers for over a century. Now you, too, can recycle your favorite fabrics and transform them into unique rugs that will bring a striking personal touch to every room in your home. From stripes, checks, and rosettes to mosaic, twists, and diamond twill; from soft to sturdy, and subtle to statement-making, Tina Ignell's superb selection of rag rugs provides you a wealth of inspiration, conveniently paired with practical instruction. Inside, find:

• Six technique-based sections with 45 designs by 20 professional weavers
• Charts, illustrations, and color photos of finished projects
• Creative use of unusual materials, like lambskin, straw, and leather
• Specialty patterns, such as a round rug and a runner for a spiral staircase
• Instructions for finishing, including fringed and woven edges
• A bonus section of five different rugs woven on the same warp
• Resources and supplier contact information

The adorable avian knitting collection from Arne & Carlos—now in paperback!

Birds of a feather ... knit together! With their trademark style, clarity, and humor, let Arne & Carlos guides you on a journey into a delightfully vivid knitted bird kingdom. Inspired by nature at home and abroad, as well as far-off fantastical places, this is the ideal guide for knitted bird lovers, whether creating with decorative purpose or just for fun.

Inside, you'll find:

• Characters from Arne & Carlos's home garden in Norway, including the characteristic bullfinch, chickadee, wagtail, and more

• Charming cold-weather birds worked with traditional Norwegian sweater motifs—keep them warm with bird-sized wool hats and scarves

• Brilliant birds-of-paradise, brought alive with embroidery, sequins, and feathers

• Birds featuring vintage Mexican embroidery designs, flower patterns, and so much more

Clear instructions, helpful diagrams, and full-color photographs make it easy for every knitter's imagination to take flight.

Dig into dozens of cute combinations and photo-worthy styles to suit any baby! Whether parents prefer classic looks or lean toward the playful, whether wool is best or cotton more comfortable—and no matter the season—you're bound to find the perfect fit.

• Help baby stay cozy on those frosty mornings and provide stylish shelter from the summer sun.
• Craft colorful characters like a smiling frog or wide-eyed owl, a pirate mouse or a charming kitten.
• Crochet projects with or without earflaps, pompoms, ankle ties, beads, buttons, or flowers—the possibilities are endless!

Whether clothes, toys, or ideas for the nursery, the projects in this sweet crochet collection make endlessly charming gifts! From classics like the first little pair of shoes, the first cozy crib blanket or cuddly animal friend, to trendy new ideas like picture frames for the nursery, a fun rattle, or Baby's very own tiny hat—dive into this charming mix of ideas for delighting little ones and filling their nurseries with warmth, comfort, and love, and crochet your own favorite gifts for Baby.

• Full-color photographs of sample projects for reference
• Easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions
• Fun, quick-to-work designs that are simple to modify, to make the perfect match for a nursery or use Baby's favorite colors