August 2023 MBR The Needlecraft Shelf

The Needlecraft Shelf

100 Essential Knitting Stitches
Susie Johns
The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946661, $24.99, PB, 128pp

https://www.amazon.com/100-Essential-Knitting-Stitches/dp/1784946664

Synopsis: With the publication of "100 Essential Knitting Stitches", needlecraft expert Suzie Johns has created a handy directory of 100 need-to-know knitting stitches to refresh or expand on the reader's needlework skills.

Organized into five main sections, the 100 stitches lend themselves to a variety of different uses including: Simple stitches provide the foundation of knitted fabrics; Colorwork designs brighten up your project; Textured stitches and lacy patterns add interest to your work; Delicate edges and trims finish things off nicely.

Each stitch is rated for difficulty and is laid out with a decorative stitched sample and clear instructions and of special note is the opening section covering essential knowledge on tools and materials and getting started.

Critique: Profusely illustrated throughout in full color, "100 Essential Knitting Stitches" is thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, making it especially useful for the novice beginner and of impressive value to even the more experienced knitter. "100 Essential Knitting Stitches" will prove to be of enduring usefulness and a prized pick for personal, professional, and community library Knitting instructional reference collections.

Editorial Note: Currently residing in London, England, Susie Johns is an artist and designer who has written dozens of craft books, including Circus Embroidery, Knitted Woodland Creatures, How to Embroider, Fat Quarter: Bags & Purses and Fat Quarter: Vintage. Her patterns and designs appear regularly in consumer craft magazines in the UK, such as Let's Knit, Sew and Let's Get Crafting, and she has written numerous patterns for suppliers such as DMC. She has also demonstrated various crafts on television.

Cute Crocheted Food
Emma Varnam
The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946609, $26.99, PB, 128pp

https://www.amazon.com/Cute-Crocheted-Food-Crochet-Designs/dp/1784946605

Synopsis: With the publication of "Cute Crocheted Food: 24 Tasty Crochet Designs", crocheting expert Emma Varnam show ow to make use of the Japanese amigurumi technique to sculpt robust shapes with yarn, every piece of food becomes a cute and whimsical character.

For health food fans there is an array of wholesome fruit and vegetables, while those who like to indulge can recreate a variety of sweet treats and fast food snacks. Perfect for stimulating children's imaginary play, these little foodie friends will be at home in any play kitchen, cafe or restaurant.

"Cute Crocheted Food" features: 24 fun and quirky amigurumi food projects suitable for beginners to crochet; Playful and colorful illustration influenced by Japanese-style kawaii cuteness, Hello Kitty and bubble tea menus; All crochet techniques fully explained and illustrated with step-by-step drawings; Using up small amounts of leftover yarn.

Critique: With profusely and effectively illustrated step-by-step directions for each project, "Cute Crocheted Food: 24 Tasty Crochet Designs" is ideal for crocheting small gifts and stocking fillers. Exceptionally well organized and thoroughly 'user friendly' in presentation, "Cute Crocheted Food: 24 Tasty Crochet Designs" is an especially recommended pick for personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections.

Editorial Note: Emma Varnam (https://emmavarnam.co.uk) has a special talent for creating unique characters in crochet that make people smile. As well as writing a number of popular crochet books, all published by GMC Publications - Crocheted Succulents, Crocheted Houseplants, Cute Crocheted Animals, Cute Crocheted Wild Animals, Cute Crocheted Woodland Creatures, How to Crochet, Granny Squares Home and Granny Squares Weekend - she has had a number of successful collaborations with the celebrated knitwear designer Debbie Bliss. Emma regularly shares her design inspiration on her award-winning knitting and crochet blog.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review