Seamless Crochet by Kristin Omdahl, softback published by Interweave and available in the UK through Search Press. ISBN 978-1-59668-297-9, price 17.99 GBP available in the UK from www.searchprss.com

Not only is Kristin Omdahl a beautiful lady, she makes magic with her hands and a crochet hook. She is also a crocheter who believes that crochet is a modern art. This is crochet you would want to wear and want to be seen in. I’ll make no bones about it, I am simply in love with Kristin’s work – I don’t think she has ever produced a design I don’t like. Her book ‘Crochet So Fine’ is on my shelf and this one is joining it. I can knit with my eyes closed, in my sleep, standing on my head, but I have never crocheted a garment as such, just little bits, so the patterns look a bit complicated to me but I’m sure that’s how novice knitters feel when they look at a fair-isle chart. It cannot be beyond me to master this and I would jump through hoops to wear some of these. Chief on my list are the lacy Ninja Star shawlette, the front cover design Blissful Flower, Snowflake, the gorgeous mobius Star but I reckon I’ll try the chunky cowl Blue Skies first. There are lots of scarves, shawls and hats, a bag and plenty of ideas for the home, of which I love the Moroccan Tile blanket. Anyone who loves crochet cannot help but fall in love with this book. Top class photography and clear instructions. Highly recommended.

Weekend Hats by C G Macdonald and M Labarre, softback published by Interweave. ISBN978-1-59668-438-6, price 16.99 available in the UK from www.searchpress.com

My initial reaction was ‘I’d rather wear a tea cosy’. Perhaps I’m not the knitted hat person I thought I was. However, this book is good on techniques if not on design. I like the Cable Toque, Ogee Beanie (although the lack of rib worries me – will this keep its shape?), the fair-isle Chroma Cap is very wearable and the prize is clearly taken by Kristen Tendyke for her fabulous Shore Hat – the best design by far in the book. It’s not the best hat book I’ve seen, but there are twenty five designs so I’m sure you’ll find something you like.

The Cloth Paper Scissors Book by Barbara Delaney, softback published by Interweave. ISBN 978-1-59668-397-6, price 17.99 available in the UK from www.searchpress.com

Any fan of Cloth Paper Scissors, the US magazine will have been clawing to grab hold of a copy of this. However, when I started to flick through the pages I kept having a feeling of deja vu – sure enough, this is nothing more than a selection of the best articles that have appeared in the magazine. So my advice is, if you have the magazines but want a collection of the best articles, or preferably if you do not have any of the magazines – buy it. However, if you are happy with your magazines and don’t want to pay again for the same articles – don’t buy it. I would have thought there were enough unpublished articles for Cloth Paper Scissors to have presented us with new ideas. The blurb on the book does state clearly on the back cover that these articles have been previously published in the last six years of the magazine. It should be judged on its content not that a reader may already have the magazines. The book includes all manner of work and media, ideas and inspiration for creating mixed media art. What it does, it does very well. There are ideas to get you started, printmaking with an excellent article on building layers by Beryl Taylor, one of my all-time favourite articles from the magazine, a good section on journals and book making, collage and assemblage – it gets a bit wild and wacky here, which is why I gave up my subscription to the magazine and switched to Quilting Arts, an interesting look at mixed media stitching and lastly selling your art, which offers ten tips and largely promotes Etsy, which I found amusing. This book should capture a new market, uninterested in magazines and subscriptions but willing to pay for a book from which they can gather ideas, inspiration and knowledge.

Knitting Off The Axis by Mathew Gnagy, softback published by Interweave. ISBN 978-1-59668-311-2, price 17.99 available in the UK from www.searchpress.com

It’s always nice to see a new slant on knitting. This book fully explores knitting with angles. Each of the fifteen patterns are based on a different construction method – knitting avoiding the usual rules. sideways knitting is not that uncommon, but Mathew has managed to use imagination and needles to come at knitting from every angle. yet the only instruction in the basic knitting guide at the back of the book is for short row knitting. The book is divided into chapters consisting of Truly Sideways, Mostly Sideways and Every Which Way. The book promises innovation and excitement. Cecilia is a fitted Aran knit sideways, note the word fitted; Becca an asymmetrical knit with disproportionately large bell sleeves (featured on the front cover); Deille a tailored jacket with collar; an Asian inspired top called Francesca (!) whose sleeves don’t look quite right, it is knitted in too bulky a yarn; and Talia a top based on the same shape and ditto with the bulky yarn problem: Dani again quite similar and Lynette the best pattern in this section a fitted, short jacket with a retro look. In mostly sideways we find Dominique, a lace top that is truly delightful although the edging could have been better; Merielle a very attractive short jacket with cabling: Gemma, a cape style cable top; Erik  a textured man’s cardigan. In Every Which Way, Meredith is a long line jacket that is very wearable; Felix a man’s zipped jacket; Jacqui a passable bolero, which again is knitted in the wrong bulky yarn and Jose a rather dated looking Aran cardigan for men. This feels like the beginning of an adventure and better and more contemporary designs could be forthcoming. The basics are here, play with yarns and patterns. There’s enough here to start you off.

Sew Wild by Alisa Burke, softback published by Interweave. ISBN 978-1-59668-350-1, price 19.99 available in the UK from www.searchpress.com

Put machine stitching and contemporary together and you get Sew Wild. Creating stitch with mixed media techniques, the author shows you how to print your own fabric in several different ways, then shows you how to stitch to create a unique look. Some of the projects and techniques look a bit messy for my taste and far too much black stitching but there are plenty of good ideas in this book for the younger end of the market.

I Am Cute Dresses by Sato Watanabe, softback published by Interweave. ISBN 978-1-59668-351-8, price 16.99 available from www.searchpress.com

I love most of the designs in this book. I like Japanese styling. However, I found the patterns not the easiest to follow, a little more instruction would have been better for me. I would say that this is not a beginner’s book. You would need some pattern construction knowledge. I would have appreciated larger layouts, although you could enlarge these on a photocopier. The instructions are well drawn and the photography is excellent. The patterns are one size fits all, 35-36 inch bust and up to 39 inch hips. They should not be too difficult to make for a larger size, although this styling is perfect for slim girls – think Japanese.

Knitted Lace by Anne Merrow, softback published by Interweave. ISBN978-1-59668-482-9, price 17.99 available in the UK from www.searchpress.com

I love the front cover pattern, so would buy the book for that alone. There’s nothing wrong with the other patterns – but this is streets ahead of the rest although there is a lace tunic running a close second. These are the two I would definitely knit.  The book relies heavily on scarves (including stoles and shawls) with a few hats, socks, two skirts (not for me those), two other sweaters and two sleeveless tops. Of these patterns I like a few of the scarves, in particular the Quivit webs and Forest Path Stole. There should be something to suit everyone although you should be aware that the patterns have all previously appeared in one of the Interweave Knits magazines. Well presented and photographed, as all the Interweave books are with good photography and instructions. The book includes useful tutorials on lace knitting.

This is a book of contemporary crochet pattens that really hit the mark. Taken from Interweave Crochet’s first five years, I guess you would not want this if you have continually bought the magazine. However the latter it is not widely available in the UK, so this book should do extremely well here in the UK, despite having to substitute yarn. It has some of the biggest names in the industry and I am only going to mention one, my favourite, Kristin Omdahl who produces a beautiful shawl pattern in this book. I am much more of a knitter than a crocheter but I was captivated by the designs in this book. I am sure there are plenty of patterns here that would entrance avid crocheters, beginners and advanced ones alike. The variety of patterns is great. Tops, sweaters, scarves, bags and even a dress (the patten I liked least sadly). Stitches vary from lacy to solid, some almost look like knitting. There are three patterns for kids – blanket, teddy and dress, one waistcoat in Tunisian crochet for a man, not keen on that and the bulk of the book devoted to ladies late twenties plus. Even the patterns that look back to the traditional granny square such as the Boho design work so well, I was amazed that I could like something that essentially used granny squares. Definitely worth buying in my opinion.

Sock Knitting Master Class, softback published by Interweave. ISBN 978-1-59668-312-9, price 19.99 in the UK available from www.searchpress.com

This is one of those books that make your mouth water. It ticks all the boxes, the book looks good, has excellent production, layout, photos and clear instructions with charts as well as the bonus of a DVD. Most of all it has great designs that will make your toes tingle with delight.

Inspired to Quilt by Melanie Testa, softback published by Interweave. ISBN 978-1-59668-096-8, price 17.99 available in the UK from www.searchpress.com

Enter Melanie Testa’s wonderful world of art quilting. If you want to dye fabrics and make your own quilts or are just wondering what it is all about – this is the book for you. Subtitled ‘Creative Experiments in Art Quilt Imagery’, this book will entice you to experiment and to free the artist within you. It claims that if you can imagine it, you can transform it into a quilt. This book has techniques to follow for projects large and small. If you are longing to make your mark on cloth – this book will be an inspiration.