RA Crossroads: Craft Books for Adults

As Lewis Carroll's Alice so aptly points out, "What is the use of a book...without pictures or conversations?" Welcome to RA Crossroads, where books, movies, music, and other media converge, and whole-collection reader's advisory service goes where it may. In this column, Amy Butler's sewing creations and a new idea about RA Appeal lead me down a winding path.

Begin:

Butler, Amy. In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects. Chronicle. 2006. 176p. ISBN 9780811851596. $24.95.
Butler is well on her way to giving Martha Stewart, Vera Bradley, and Orla Kiely a run for their money with her modern updates to a Laura Ashley-esque style. Her many craft books offer the perfect opportunity to practice a new kind of RA-one working with non-narrative grown-up picture books. These task-based titles, full of more images than text, flip around a bit our notions of the appeal construct, mapping character to our perceptions of the author, style to subject, detail to image layout, and the level of helpful vs. suggestive instruction. Pace can be measured in the mix of images to text, while tone is caught up in not just the colors and layout but also the iconography of the images (read: stylish twenty-somethings drinking coffee, darling babies playing with blocks, and flowers spilling out of Wedgwood). Butler's book features a certain bright, cheerful, competent tone. Common to a large group of craft books, this tone reinforces the idea that an inspired crafting life is both attainable and worthy of attention and care. In this general sewing book, Butler presents instruction mixed with irresistible images of color, pattern, and shape, along with projects shot in a quirky but upscale setting. Readers can try their hand at floor cushions, aprons, or a patchwork duvet cover or just dream about a house and lifestyle as lush and clean as the one whipped up by Butler. Butler's newest book, Style Stitches: 12 Easy Ways to 26 Wonderful Bags, will be published later this month.

Read-Alikes:

Corwin, Lena. Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens. Stewart, Tabori & Chang. 2008. 144p. ISBN 9781584796725. $27.50.
The dreamy and creative furnace of these kinds of books is a large part of their draw for readers who care less about making a project and more about being inspired by it. A good next choice for such fans is Corwin's eclectic mix of stamping, stenciling, and screen-printing projects. This book shares with Butler's the focus on rich photography, the suggestion of a hip lifestyle, and lavish use of story-making images. Corwin's gorgeous linen lampshade would fit into any Butler inspired room, while the easy (if not inexpensive) block stamped tablecloth and stenciled dresser add just enough funk to keep things interesting.

Avery, Véronik. Knitting 24/7: 30 Projects To Knit, Wear, and Enjoy, on the Go and Around the Clock. Stewart, Tabori & Chang. 2010. 128p. ISBN 9781584798446. pap. $21.95.
The quirky elegance of Butler and Corwin is a big part of the pleasure of Avery's book, which is devoted to the idea that one can knit just about any time at all. While it is hard for knitting books to reach the same ratio of lushness and instruction as sewing and craft books (patterns are not often tucked into a pocket at the back of a book), Avery still manages to mix solid how-to with dreams of how pieces could fit into a certain lifestyle. Here, hip twenty-somethings are shot in an urban ideal of calm happiness that conjures the same bright and competent tone of Butler's books. Readers can make long-sleeve mittens, patterned socks, wispy wraps, and a stunning knit skirt, all the while dreaming of how they, too, could wear the knits while shopping, gardening, and getting ready for a date.

Packer, Jane. Flower Arranging: Tips and Techniques for Beautiful Flowers with More Than 25 Step-by-Step Projects. Ryland Peters & Small. 2008. 160p. ISBN 9781845977382. $29.95.
Hitting almost all of the major appeal factors (lush photography, near-magazine layout, suggestions of a certain lifestyle, and a high inspiration ratio), Packer's flower book will suit Butler fans who want a break from projects. In this gorgeously shot book, Packer presents a number of arrangements, ranging from the nearly-impossible-for-mortals to the easy and relatively inexpensive. On every page, Packer highlights color, style, and a lifestyle of relaxed bright cheer and easy elegance. Projects include a stunning heart-shaped rose valentine, a muted flora garland for a table centerpiece, and several suave boutonnières.

Read-Arounds:

Yaker, Rebecca & Patricia Hoskins. One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Projects. Workman. 2009. 304p. ISBN 9781603424493. $20.95.
Lacking just a bit of the focus on lifestyle and more directed toward stand-alone shots of each project, this quirky and hip sewing book is nonetheless a great follow-up for Butler fans. Here, one yard of fabric is transformed into projects fit for teens and stylish young moms. Bright and cherry pops of color highlight a collection of quilted lunch bags, yoga mat totes, a range of pocket books, a baby tactile blanket, and a doggie bed. A fun collection presented in a cheerful style with easy-to-follow instructions.

Whitt, Kay. Sew Serendipity: Fresh and Pretty Designs To Make and Wear. Krause. 2010. 160p. ISBN 9781440203572. $27.99.
Offering vintage charm in an updated style, Whitt gives even reluctant sewers reason to haul out the machine. A range of skirts, dresses, and jackets are shot in a variety of campy, bright, and upbeat settings, on models who seem to be laughing out at the reader, ready to share a secret. It is a fun book to dream over, with a decidedly 1940s feel. Projects include a nifty multi-fabric skirt, tunic dresses with ruffles, and a silk and linen jacket that Jackie Kennedy would have worn as a debutante. Whitt offers ways to make each outfit special, adding to the ethos of these kinds of crafting books-where exploration is highly valued. While this book lacks the lifestyle focus of Butler, fans will still enjoy the mix of colors, patterns, and fun inspiration.

Radford, Leigh. AlterKnits Felt: Imaginative Projects for Knitting and Felting. Stewart, Tabori & Chang. 2008. 136p. ISBN 9781584797074. $24.95.
Mixing sewing and knitting, Radford provides crafters with a cool way to pick up on a hot craft trend: the felting of knitted pieces into fabric. The results of this alchemy are often astoundingly fabulous, and Radford and photographer John Mulligan make the most of the pops of color and pattern possible in felted works. Readers can make circular coin pursues, a stunning pleated collar, book sleeves to crave, and quirky I-cord rings. The richly hip sensibility is right up the alley of Butler fans.

Where Women Create
Because the layout and attention to color and detail of these books is so inspired by magazines, it is often a good lateral move to suggest a magazine over a book. This offering from Stampington & Company is a great choice. Mixing stunning photography with a nod to the creative power of women and design, this quarterly magazine features designers at work (the most recent issue featured Amy Butler).

Selvedge Magazine
The sensibility of this magazine makes it a great next read for Butler fans. Focused on textiles, it blends detailed and lush photography with articles on the creative process. It is a great choice for readers wanting inspiration. Published six times a year, the magazine dedicates each issue to a particular topic. The most recent copy, the Romance issue, focused on the clothes of Bright Star.

Liquid Paper
Blogs are another great lateral move when it comes to pointing the way to next reads. This blog by Laurie Bertrand is particularly nice to suggest, as Bertrand is a crafter and a photographer. Her blog is lush and image-rich, often filled with projects, buying trips, and photos of her studio. When not project-based, the blog is still nearly always devoted to the same sensibility as Butler: an inspired and creative life.

Maya*Made
Fans might want to consider this image-heavy craft and lifestyle blog as well. Like Bertrand's blog, this one also mixes projects with lifestyle sections, including a nice focus on food. Occasionally books are suggested, leading readers to still more choices. Above all, inspiration is key; readers get more ideas to dream over.