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.

Spotlight on Neutrals by Pat Wys, softback published by Martingale Publishers. ISBN 978-1-6046-8050-8, price 16.99 GBP available from www.martingale-pub.com

I love all colours and it’s good to see someone embrace neutrals so wholeheartedly. These quilts are not banal or washed out, they are simply gorgeous. The neutrals allow the designs and the materials to work their individual magic. I love ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ snowflake quilt, ‘Summer Stitch In’ and ‘Going My Way?’ and ‘White Chocolate’ bed quilts, but whichever you choose to make of the 12 projects, which also include cushions, I’m sure you’ll be delighted. Excellent photographs and instructions. With today’s emphasis on neutrals in the home, this book should prove to be a great success. It deserves it.

200 Fair Isle Designs by Mary Jane Mucklestone, softback published by Search Press. ISBN 978-1-84448-692-2, price 14.99 available from www.searchpress.com

Fair-isle has always been one of my favoured knitting techniques. From anyone who has struggled to design their own patterns, or who prefers to knit from ready made patterns, here are 200 designs from two-colour up. There are also ideas for mixing and matching patterns. Fair-isle is a skill and requires passing the yarn over the back of the knitting so that it dos not pull. This book also teaches you about yarns, casting on, circular knitting, holding the yarns, stranding and weaving and more. There is some basic design information. For each pattern, there is a black and white chart, the colours used, a colour variation and a suggested allover repeat pattern. Please note designs are worked from charts only and there are no written instructions. I think this book will prove very useful and will become a classic for traditional knitters.

Log Cabins Today from House of White Birches, softback published by House of White Birches. ISBN 978-1-59217-331-0, price 14.99 GBP available in the UK from www.searchpress.co.uk

Log cabins have moved on. Learn 7 techniques to use in the 30 plus projects that are presented in this book. The methods are piecing with strips, paper piecing, free-form foundation piecing, quilt as you go, easy ragged edge, folding and pleating and paper piecing from the top. For each method, there is one project to hone your skills. More projects are provided under the subject headings: from scraps, by Monday, to carry, for baby, to celebrate, to vary. In this way, this book provides the techniques and instructions to make log cabin quilts for any purpose. This book presents an exciting array of projects for all skill levels. The projects include coasters, place mats, pillows, bags and quilts. They feature good designs and good choice of fabrics together with clear instructions and very good photography. Some projects are quite traditional and others are ultra modern and contemporary with a twist on the log cabin. This is an excellent look at log cabins of today, suitable for anyone who enjoys this style of quilting.

If you have ever wanted to play with walnut ink and didn’t know where to start, here’s a booklet that will help you immensely. Explore new and old techniques to get your creativity flowing. This booklet tells you about walnut ink and what to do with it. There are ideas for texture, adding colour, paper casts and experimentation. Try walnut ink on a variety of surfaces.

Let’s Play With The Flower Stitcher

This is a creative book showing how to use a flower stitcher. The flower stitcher is a foot attachment that fits most sewing machines. It’s a versatile attachment and Dale will show you how to use it. Dale creates some very exciting and interesting pieces as evidenced by the front cover of this booklet.

Surface Tension

This is the biggest booklet and is subtitled ‘Embellish and Stitch for the Creative Artist’. Explore the real possibilities of the embellisher machine. Dale plays with different materials and there’s lots of photos so that you can see all the experiments. There’s also a gallery of other artists’ work. It shows the basics of layering and meshing fabrics, felting, creating backgrounds, creating cloth, knitted fabric that is embellished, loops and using your embellished pieces.

All Dale’s work is highly creative and experimental. I have seen her wonderful wearable art pieces in Quilting Art magazine too. She never disappoints. I’m looking forward to more of her booklets. Dale runs The Thread Studio in Australia.

Urban Country Quilts by Jeanne Large and Shelley Wicks, softback published by Martingale. ISBN 978 -1- 6046-8068-3, price 16.99 in the UK, available USA from www.martingale-pub.com

This book has a striking cover, both colourful and bold. The authors look like two happy ladies and no wonder, they create good design and have great colour sense. This batch of 15 designs concentrates on flowers. The designs bring country into contemporary for a style that is as easy to use in the country as in the town house. I love the polka dot pillow. Clear instructions and photos make this easy to use. Includes large quilts, pillow cases, table runners and more.

Sew the Perfect Gift from That Patchwork Place, softback published by Martingale Press. ISBN 978-1604680690, price 16.99 in the UK, available UK and USA from www.martingale-pub.com

To my eye, Martingale books are a publisher that has got everything right, no matter which title you choose. Layout, ease of use, instructions, design and presentation are always spot on. In this book you’ll find table toppers, runners, wall quilts, pillows, cushions, bags, aprons, a journal cover and more. Favourite picks for me are the totally taupe table runner and the denim scarf. Many of these projects can be made quickly. This is a varied collection to suit a wide taste and age range. It’s for everyone who loves quilting and sewing. A great book as a gift but also to make gifts for friends and with the Christmas season approaching, we ought to get stitching.

Another Bite of Schnibbles by Carrie Nelson, softback published by Martingale. ISBN 978-1604680584, price 18.99 in the UK, available in the USA from www.martingale-pub.com

I loved Carrie Nelson’s first book and I love this one too. For all those times when you don’t want to make a full-sized quilt, Carrie offers two sizes. Use 5 or 10 inch squares to make 12 different quilts in two sizes. Carrie doesn’t do average or middling – her quilts are real stars. They consist of great design in good colourways. These are the kind of quilts I’d like to make and keep. Perfect for all skill levels, these quilts have real appeal. I hope there will be a third ed of Schnibbles next year. Beautifully laid out and easy to use with good instructions and photos – this should be in Santa’s sack under the tree for every quilter.

The Complete Guide to Designing and Printing Fabric by Laurie Wisbrun, softback published by AC Black. ISBN 978-1-4081-4700-9, price 14.99 available from www.acblack.com

Usually ‘complete’ books disappoint me because they are not complete, however this book is different. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is without doubt the best book I have on fabric printing and I have quite a few. If like me, you have a desire to print your own fabric, you’ll find this book a real bonus. It’s good to look at – the photographs are clear and the fabrics beautiful. It’s good to use – it explains so much from types of fabric, types of pattern, colour,  how to design. It’s good in practice – providing sources of information, pattern design tips, tools of the trade, using software, dyeing and hand and digital printing. In addition, there are profiles of successful fabric designers and tips on going professional. One thing is for sure, Laurie has done a professional job on this book – it’s top of the class.

The Complete Book of Fantasy Designs, softback published by Search Press. ISBN 978-1-84448-624-3, price 9.99 available from www.searchpress.com

This book is the best of four previously published books, Halloween Designs, Christmas Designs, Angel & Fairy Designs and Mythical Creatures. This book has a broad base to entice craftspeople interested in fantasy projects. The book includes over 250 illustrations from simple borders and motifs to mythical creatures, flowers, symbols and lettering. Judy Balchin has designed several projects to show you how to use the book. This is not a project how-to book however, it simply provides you with drawings that can form the basis of your own art or craft work. There is also a bonus CD.