(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best needlecrafts & textile crafts books

I have so, so many knitting books, but I have three favorite how-to/reference type books that are probably the most useful knitting books I've ever owned. The first is Teach Yourself Visually - Knitting. It's an excellent book to have because it has huge color photos, lots of techniques and stitch patterns, and basic pattern recipes for tons of projects like hats, mittens, and sweaters that can be adapted to various sizes and styles. It's definitely the best "learn to knit" book I've ever owned, and I still refer back to it.

The second is Cast On, Bind Off by Cap Sease. I prefer this version to the other one, which is by a different author. It's an incredibly useful book. I had no idea there were so many ways to start and end projects! I love being able to check the book for the perfect cast on or bind off, and I love choosing matching ones. The author describes each one perfectly, describes it's attributes, if it's stretchy or firm, best uses, etc, explains how to do it, and includes photos of each.

The third is The Knitting Answer Book by Margaret Radcliffe. It's a pretty small book, so it's perfect to keep in your knitting bag. It's set up in Q&A format, so if you encounter a problem it's easy to find the answer.

I have an addiction to pattern books. My favorites are those published by Interweave. Their pattern books are beautiful! They always have designs that are stylish yet classic. I love their themed books, like Jane Austen Knits, Knitting Wizardry (Harry Potter themed) and Highland Knits (Outlander series themed).

Oh, I understood.

As for resources, here's what I suggest:

A good sewing class at a community college. I took classes at a fashion-oriented one and in under four months I had learned how to sew on an industrial machine and done several seams and seam finishes, basic hand stitches, two types of zippers, facings, a skirt with zipper, darts, waistband, and closures and a fairly complex woman's blouse (it had 14 pieces). At the end, I didn't do any of these things as well I would have liked, but I knew the fundamentals and what I had to improve on. All projects were in some kind of cotton because it is easy to work with.

In the second sewing class, I learned welt pockets, made corduroy pants with a waistband and fly, and sewed a wool jacket with patch pockets and a bagged lining. Again, I learned a lot, but there was still plenty of room for improvement. Then I took tailoring and couture classes and menswear classes.

A community college setting is good because there's a curriculum into which they have put some thought and by law, they have to make sure you do the work. It's also usually cheaper than private classes if you qualify for the in-state rate.

If you can afford it and want to do things on your own schedule, private classes are great. I would have a teacher show me how to fit and modify a pattern and teach me to sew it. One source for teachers is the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals.

Online, I recommend the University of Fashion because the teaching, in general, is very good. For pattern making and draping, they tell you the sequence of videos to watch. I think that the sewing videos aren't organized that way, but if you need to look up a technique, it's very easy.

If you want a complex project, I recommend Susan Khalje's The Couture Dress on Craftsy. Even if you don't use the pattern that comes with the course, she teaches very good methods. Couture-style sewing is actually good for beginners because there are many more steps that give the sewer more control. It was only after a basic couture class that I really began to improve because I needed to break down the process more. Khalje also teaches a lace skirt class, but the lace used is pretty expensive. As you may know, Craftsy offers frequent sales.

There are many good sewing books, but any edition of The Reader's Digest Guide to Sewing is decent. It's a really encyclopedic home sewing book. If you ever look into tailoring, Tailoring: The Classic Guide to Sewing the Perfect Jacket and these books for men and women are very helpful.

Elizabeth Liechty's Fitting and Pattern Alteration is usually considered the most comprehensive book on that subject.

All these books are available in the library if too expensive to buy.

I can personally attest that it is certainly possible to go from zero sewing experience to making mens' garments in a few years, but there is a huge, yawning chasm between home sewing from patterns and becoming a good enough bespoke tailor to garner a brand/reputation. From a basic "where do I get started" standpoint, I recommend having a go at some vests; something super simple at first (Simplicity 2346 is a great starter pattern) and then you can move on to patterns that add details like facings, darts, lapels and/or actual pockets. You get the satisfaction of a functional garment without a lot of complex technique.

When I first started sewing and thinking about how cool it would be to eventually make old-fashioned mens' clothing, I did a lot of googling for books, web tutorials, etc. on the subject... and came away frustrated because the overwhelming message was (and still is) "Fine tailoring is a trade that is still handed down from master to apprentice, and there is really no other way to truly learn it."

Which sounds rather snobby on the one hand... but on the other I think the real issue is not that the knowledge can't be communicated by any other means than old-fashioned apprenticeship, but that it's just not really worth the time and effort it would take someone to write an extensive book/shoot a DVD containing it all; there's no way it would ever sell enough copies to be profitable, so nobody's ever bothered.^

I haven't gotten into production sewing garments yet, although I do make accessories; I don't think I'll ever make a living at it, but I've done OK on Etsy and at local shows. Over the last year or so I've been thought about targeting a niche market: vintage clothing enthusiasts, but come away discouraged. While I may know how to assemble a vintage style newsboy cap or flat cap, I really don't know anything about the historically accurate details (construction, materials, etc) that vintage people would be looking for; if I wanted to establish a strong vintage style brand I would need to invest a whole lot more energy in learning all about the market, which doesn't really interest me. Similarly, even if devoted the next 10 years teaching myself traditional tailoring (cutting, drafting, sewing, fitting) I would still be lacking so much general industry/marketplace knowledge that I'd be lost trying to compete at that level.

I don't actually mean to be discouraging - these are just my observations as someone who first touched a sewing machine five years ago with similar daydreams. You can certainly learn to sew and become very good at it, and even make some money if you can find that sweet spot where you can sell your products to enough people at enough of a profit to make it worth your time and materials. But establishing a fine fashion brand requires a whole other level of knowledge outside of the nuts and bolts of actual sewing, and without making the conscious effort to immerse myself in that world (and without having the background, connections, or money to afford my own products) it's not a realistic goal. So I spend a lot of time thinking about those niches where I do have both the sewing ability and domain knowledge to tap into a market. And I try to keep making new/more complex garments; that's the other thing about apprenticeship, you spent a lot of time doing basic, repetitive tasks over and over again, far more than most people would when sewing as a hobby. Hard to become a pro at something when you can only spend the occasional evening/weekend working at it on top of a full-time dayjob.

That being said, there are some books out there on the subject of tailoring... but all of the ones I've looked at assume a fair amount of sewing knowledge up front; I've never seen a book that starts with "This is how you use a sewing machine" and concludes with "Here is your custom-drafted three-piece suit." I'm trying to work my way towards drafting by way of sewing from commercial patterns, so I can get an overall sense of how garments are constructed before attempting it myself; once you have a grasp of both technique and construction, you can start to mix and match them to get the results you want. You should definitely check out three books by David Page Coffin:

• Shirtmaking - Developing fine skills for sewing
  
• Making Trousers for Men and Women
  
• The Shirtmaking Workbook: Pattern, Design, and Construction Resources - More than 100 Pattern Downloads for Collars, Cuffs & Plackets (I've only skimmed this one so far, but it looks just as good as the other two, and covers a wide range of shirt styles, crossing over into jacket territory as well. I have it on order and can't wait to get my copy.)
  
  David also learned to sew as an adult and in the introduction to Shirtmaking he explains that the book is an exploration of how to construct fine quality, bespoke shirts in a home-sewing context; that is, without a lot of the specialized equipment or assembly line techniques that a production shop would be likely to have. It's an astoundingly thorough book, but very accessible. Making Trousers for Men and Women takes a similar approach with pants, detailing the overall construction of trousers as well as the many variations and finishing touches that can be applied to them. And if nothing else it's encouraging to see how much a person can learn on a subject as an adult!

Many months ago, I submitted a ranty text post lamenting an offhand comment made to me by the mother of an old friend that, more or less, implied I should be making things for old friend’s baby for free. We’ve all been there. Pssh – some people, amirite?

Within that post, though, I very quickly touched on the struggle husband and I had been going through for a year and a half while trying to conceive our own child, and how difficult it had been for me to simultaneously create gifts for others in celebration of their new little ones while, with each stitch, also (and sometimes moreso) grieving the absence of my own. It was very quick, maybe a sentence or two, but heavy nonetheless. And I was amazed at how many of you felt that heaviness and reached out to me about your own struggles. How many of you gave me, a stranger, more empathy and support through the interwebs than most of the people I cross in my everyday life. And I was so thankful. Your kind words and heartfelt understanding was and still is so much appreciated.

I am happy to report that on our 19th cycle, my husband and I were able to conceive. We are expecting our first child, a little boy, in November. As a tribute to one my most favorite children’s books, we are putting together a few pieces inspired by Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are for his nursery, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to put my book, Animal Heads to Crochet by Vanessa Mooncie, to good use with this adaptation of The Bull, known also as the loveable Bernard from the 2009 film adaptation. I am so pleased with how he came out – especially as a 100% stash project – and hope he leads the little guy on some seriously magical adventures in the years to come.

Thank you all so much for the love and support. It truly lit up what had become a very dark place.

Project Page for Pattern Link and Notes

Definitely. Pressing is part of the process and some of the problem may be that you haven't pressed so you can't see everything that's happening.

I know of many resources. Some of the books are expensive or hard to find. You may be able to borrow them from a library.

Online

• Cutter and Tailor: Forum created by a professional tailor. Read the section for people who are teaching themselves. There is a bibliography.
  
  
• The University of Fashion. Right now, only women's wear, but it has good tutorials prepared by professionals.
  
  
• Bob Maldonado's online shirtmaking class. I like the video on sewing a shirt sleeve placket which is free. I haven't done the course, but have an internet acquaintance who has and his work looks great. You can download the video lessons.
  
  
  
  Books
  
  
• Tailoring: The Classic Guide to Sewing the Perfect Jacket (geared to women's wear, but it has very good general instructions on different tailoring styles and nice photos)
  
  
• Classic Tailoring Techniques for Menswear: A Construction Guide 2nd Edition
  
  
• Hand stitches for the fine custom tailored garment
  
  
  
• Shirtmaking: Developing Skills For Fine Sewing
  
  
• The Shirtmaking Workbook: Pattern, Design, and Construction Resources
  Some Japanese men's pattern books can be found here and here.
  
  For Inspiration
  
  
• Tailor Rory Duffy's videos on making a suit.
  
• The Notebook, a blog by the apprentices at Anderson and Sheppard, an esteemed Savile Row tailor.
  
  I can't make a recommendation for menswear patternmaking books. I plan to take a class this spring and the teacher told me he was going to follow the basic format of a particular book, but he noted that the book had mistakes.

Also, I think I recognize that figure (amigurumi): it looks like it's from this book. I recently got it as a gift and it's pretty neat! I've only done the cthulhu that you can see on the top right of the cover but it has a lot of other fun patterns.

Edit: I see there's also an Idiot's Guide to amigurumi that might help you. Haven't read it myself, but Idiot's Guides are usually pretty well laid out.

One more sit that might interest you is Ravelry. It's an online knit & crochet community and it has a lot of free patterns, and lots of helpful people on the boards.

The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook is recommended for all spinners. It's $25 so slightly over your budget but it's well worth it. My local library has it but I still want to get my own copy.

Every knitter or spinner could use another project bag. There's hundreds on Etsy to choose from. Keep in mind that some of these listings are made to order so read the description.

Indie dyed fiber makes a great gift. FriendsinFiber on Etsy has fairly inexpensive combed top and rolags.

Woolgatherings has some fiber you can probably get for under $15 with shipping. Undyed fibers in their natural color are very beautiful too.

Hipstrings has some very unique blends. Don't buy any cotton by mistake.

There's plenty of other fiber sellers on Etsy. Make sure to get her fiber that's specifically marked as suitable for spinning. There's much lesser quality fibers for felters mixed in there. Since she is a beginning spinner, get her wool.

You could also get stitch markers or extra knitting needles if she likes having lots of projects going at once.

My first recommendation would be to set up a Ravelry account, and browse through some of the advice there.

Then, try going online to see if the video learning works for you:

• Mikey's Mail
  
  
• How To Crochet for Beginners
  
  
• Lion Brand Yarn Videos (the crochet videos are about halfway down)
  
  
• Crafty Minx Crochet School is free and a neat mix, didactically.
  
  
• This lady is pretty popular among beginners.
  
  More random info:
  
  
• Beautifully designed website with neat tutorials.
  
  
• Neat Resource - helps when the internet is down.
  
  
• Good list to start with for free patterns/info
  
  
• Find a favorite stitch guide to look up stitches quickly. I use this one among others.
  
  
  HAPPY HOOKING!

New Complete Guide to Sewing for general sewing techniques.

For tailoring men's clothes, Classic Tailoring Techniques (and women's.)

For pattern drafting, Winnifred Aldrich has a great line of books.
There's also Fundamentals of Men's Fashion Design, casual and tailored. As well as Patternmaking for Fashion Design.

For corsets, Waisted Efforts and The Basics of Corset Building are good.

For making shirts, Shirtmaking.

For learning to sew stretch/knit fabrics, Sew U: Home Stretch is pretty good.

And for just having a bunch of fun with patterns, the Pattern Magic series is plain awesome. I think there's three of them out now.

Edit: thought of more!

The Art of Manipulating Fabric is great. And www.threadsmagazine.com as well as the corresponding print publication.

TL;DR ahead~

I've been spinning for about 4 or 5 years now, and was using a drop spindle exclusively up until about a month ago. I just got a single treadle Ashford Traditional on long-term loan. I've only used it 3 or 4 times since then, so I'm not the best person to talk about wheel use. Spindles, on the other hand, are definitely my bag.

The most important things for a beginning spindler to have are a good spindle and decent fiber. The spindle doesn't have to be fancy, but it should be well-balanced, with a long spin time. I'm a big proponent of Kundert spindles as starter spindles; the one I have is my go-to for almost everything in the sport to aran range.

Good fiber is possibly even more important than a good spindle. Neppy, dry, or semi-felted fiber just makes the spinning process unpleasant, and you really have to push yourself to not give up when the fiber's fighting you. Super-short staple stuff is also generally not a good idea for beginning spinners; I started off with Coopworth, which is not the softest wool in the world, but it's definitely good at holding together. Blue-Faced Leicester and Border Leicester are also good options.

Related to that is the fact that fibers from different breeds of sheep (not to mention other fibers) have very different properties. These can influence the way you spin. Shorter fibers tend to be softer, but also more prone to wear. Longer fibers tend to be more wiry, but also more durable. The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook is a really good source for information on sheep breeds, as is The Knitter's Book of Wool. While you don't have to spin something a certain way because it's a specific type of wool, the yarn will probably fight you less if you try and keep breed properties in mind when you work with it.

Also important to know is that there are many different fiber prep methods that you can spin from, and that these can also affect the quality of the yarn you make. Batts make for very floofy woolen (as a style of spinning) yarns, and combed top, which a lot of people call roving, makes for a more even worsted (again, a style of spinning, not a yarn weight) yarn. You can even spin wool straight from the lock, but generally you don't get into that advanced a form of fiber madness until a few years in.

Lastly, and most essential-- remember that you're going to drop your spindle. A lot. There will probably be swearing. Tears and recriminations may factor into things. The first couple months or so will make you wonder if it's really worth all that trouble, when you can barely manage to get yarn to hold together while practicing Park-and-Draft. But for me, that first awkward swatch of fabric knitted up from my first skein of yarn convinced me to keep going, because it was something I had produced from the ground up.

Five years later, I'm still spinning.

There's a lot more about spinning that I haven't covered, but I think that hits the salient points.

tl;dr-- Get a decent spindle, don't use crappy fiber even if it's cheap, listen to what the fiber wants to be spun like, and don't be afraid to screw up when you're starting off, because it's just fiber.

This book is my absolute favorite for new and interesting square/circle/triangle/hexagon patterns. It has both the written instructions, a chart, and a picture of the finished square.

The same author has a book of crochet edges which I also really like.

My favorite general stitch book is this book. It also has the written instructions, chart, and a picture of the finished stitch. I have the older version, but this one looks the same but with more patterns.

As already mentioned, youtube is a GREAT place to physically see the stitches being done if you get caught up. Good luck!!!

I couldn't find my old posts (weird), but here's a progression. Do not jump to the next step until you can do a really good job at your current level.

I realize it may not be possible, but look for classes or seminars.



Man's cotton shirt with collarband, collar, tower sleeve placket, curved hem.

Man's trousers in wool.

Man's vest in wool and lining fabric.

Skills related to a man's jacket (double piped pocket samples, pocket flaps, vents, pad stitched lapel sample).

Jacket.

Books:

Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing (general sewing)

Classic Tailoring Techniques for Men: A Construction Guide

Tailoring: The Classic Guide to Sewing the Perfect Jacket

Shirtmaking: Developing Skills for Fine Sewing

Online:

Mike Maldonado's shirt making videos and his video courses

The Cutter and Tailor forum (Read the section on how to teach yourself tailoring)

The Bespoke Cutter and Tailor forum (less strict than the forum above)

Rory Duffy's online videos (They are beautiful, but not in-depth enough to teach yourself).

The Notebook, a blog by Anderson & Sheppard, a Savile Row firm.

Made by Hand, a blog by Jeffery Diduch.

I don't know how much you know about corset making, but I recommend you use coutile or duck cloth to reenforce your corset. I'm also a big fan of steel bones if you aren't already using them. http://www.corsetmaking.com/ and http://www.voguefabricsstore.com/ are both great suppliers of quality corset making supplies. This is also a good book about corset construction, it's basic, but through. Sorry if I'm saying things you already know. Your corset is beautiful!

I love Debbie Stoller's Stitch 'n Bitch and Stich 'n Bitch Superstar Knitting! Both include patterns that are actually pretty sweet, so you can practice techniques that directly reference back to where they were explained in the book. I also have Margaret Radcliffe's Circular Knitting Workshop, which is great if you want to take circular knitting to the next level or to delve into new ways of knitting written patterns. She explains how to convert circular knitting to flat knitting, and vice versa. It's pretty awesome! I've always loved reading and I feel like these are my top three reference/fun knit-related reads. Vogue Knitting is an excellent, all-around reference and technique book...but unfortunately it's not available for Kindle.

Ooh! Almost forgot! Amy Herzog's Knit to Flatter is an excellent sweater/cardigan learning tool! She explains the different body types/shapes and which sweater shapes are most complementary. There's also her Custom Fit pattern on Ravelry, but I haven't bought it.

If you're really into learning how to use knitting to create different shapes and the why of knitting, these would be the books I recommend. TECHknitter is my absolute most-referenced learning tool for knitting if you haven't checked out her blog yet. There was a post about a book possibly coming out in the future but I feel like that was ages ago, so who knows. If all of her knowledge and blog posts were succinctly bound together you can bet your ass I would buy it!

Twinkie Chan is one of my favorite crochet bloggers, and she has a lot of unique patterns. Like a pizza scarf, or a donut ottoman. It's all super cute. I have both of her books, and she is really good at writing patterns.

Twinkie Chan's Crochet Goodies for Fashion Foodies: 20 Yummy Treats to Wear https://www.amazon.com/dp/0740797581/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_DhTbAb1A9KE56

Twinkie Chan's Crocheted Abode a la Mode: 20 Yummy Crochet Projects for Your Home https://www.amazon.com/dp/158923930X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_2iTbAb112112Y

I LOVE to youtube everything. Stitch technique? Clarification? youtube. I don't have many books, but I did just get 400 Knitting Stitches by Potter Craft and it's pretty friggin' cool. It has almost every single stitch you can think of (even with SUPER basic knit and purl patterns) along with some other techniques, and it's really helped with my ability to read charts.

I agree with all of the answers here. Having never sewn before, it's a huge undertaking making this self-drafted. Your best bet is to take an existing pattern, perhaps something like this, and modifying it. I also highly recommend this book which will help with altering features such as necklines, sleeves, bodices, etc. Take your time and make a muslin test before diving in. Good luck.

Mock up, mock up, mock up. You will need a fitting buddy. And you will want to fit it WITH bones (just slam on some tape for channels and slide them in). Most dress forms tend to be less than useful for checking these, as they are not squishy enough.

Linda Spark's book is more geared towards victorian corsets, but has a lot of good, basic info on materials and finishing. It also talks about mock-ups and fitting - not all of the notes will apply for this period, but it is a good point of reference.

The best material for a corset is a coutil - it is a twill weave with minimal stretch. You can get it in a basic finish, and do it with a fashion fabric, or Farthingales has some absolutely beautiful brocades and other fancies. They are expensive, but you don't need a lot of fabric for a corset.

When it comes to boning, some folks will say zip ties - these are cheaper, but I prefer spiral steel for this period. Spring steel/flat steel is fine for later periods, but 18th tends to have the bones closer together so you want something with a bit more give.

I use Crochet Stitch Dictionary all the time. It has a lot of what I consider pretty basic stitches but they take me through 90% of my projects.

I also check out Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs fairly often from the library. It has more lacier, complicated stuff.

"A to Z crochet" is good for a all around crochet book, as well as "Crochet" by DK.

I also own Edie Eckmans books, Crochet Motifs, Crochet Borders and the crochet shape one that I can't recall the name of. They are handy references for ideas.

I would also check your library for books of whatever type of thing you want to create patterns for, be it clothing, amigurumi, blankets, etc. You will get some great ideas from others but more importantly you will start learning the syntax that those particular patterns are written in.

Really, just go check out every crochet book from your library

And the library from the next town over.

I personally don't think you are too old.

I used to sew for fun when I was 16, stopped after leaving school and began again at the age of 23/24. I have been steadily re-learning all of the techniques I was taught at school, and have been attending college courses on sewing and dressmaking too. I am now at the stage where I am working on my own project portfolio, but will happily admit that I am still learning lots of new things.

I will agree with /u/heliotropedit though. you do have to be completely 100% dedicated to learning everything you can.

You will end up spending hours and hours practicing the same techniques over and over again. You will want to quit at times and need to motivate yourself to carry on and push through to the end. You'll want to cry on occasions at how tired you are and how you feel that your work simply isn't good enough and how it never will be. You will see other people wearing beautifully crafted garments and feel angry at your own lack of skills. but when you finally break through and create a perfectly drafted and constructed garment, you will realise all of that time, pain, upset and sheer panic will have been 100% worth it.

But before you ever reach this point, you need to be completely certain that it is what you want to do, the tailoring profession is very difficult to break into and it takes true dedication and sacrifice and time (years) to make it.

NB a few good books to help:- (the first three books are good for beginners, the last 4 books are aimed at the more intermediate level sewers)

Easy Does It Dressmaking

The Sewing Book

The Dressmakers Handbook

Couture Sewing Techniques as recommended to me by /u/heliotropedit.

Couture Sewing: Tailoring Techniques

Classic Tailoring Techniques: Menswear

Classic Tailoring Techniques: Womenswear

Hi and welcome! We have a pretty good wiki with a lot of resources for things like hook sizes, types of yarn, how to read a pattern and links to blogs. I suggest creating an account on Ravelry.com, too. There you can keep track of your stash and projects, as well as getting new patterns and ideas.

There are also lots of books. I particularly have and love Stitch'n'Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker

Ok, I know this is a little pricey, but this book comes with a ton of patterns you can mix and match, which rocks. They fully explain everything, and you can create your own patterns based on the basic ones they give you (you alter a muslin to be the perfect fit for you and BAM, you have your own custom fit pattern). I am super slowly working my way through this book, it's just taking me ages because I don't really have a good place to work.

Actually I'm going to tell you NOT to start by altering your own clothes. It is actually easier to make something new than to alter clothing. I suggest you learn to sew from the following books: The Colette Sewing Handbook by Sarai Mitnik, the SEW Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp and Stitch by Stitch. All three of these books come with patterns for all sorts of projects. Once you graduate to some harder things, and especially if you are interested in sewing 1950s-inspired retro clothing, try Gerties New Book for Better Sewing By Gretchen Hirsch. This book has beautiful patterns and also helps with more couture techniques. Happy sewing!

You can trust me, I have Random Acts of Amazon on my wishlist. I'll use it for gifting and making awesomely amazing friends from all over the world like /u/usehnsucht and /u/gwendolyns_fabulous.

(but in all seriousness)

You can trust me, I have crochet book on my wishlist. I'll use it for making incredible edible crochet masterpieces that I will take over the world with

I prefer to crochet because it's faster and easier to learn in my opinion. I can create all sorts of shapes with crocheting that I have yet to master with knitting.


I feel that the crochet products tend to be less soft than the knitting products.


I got this book and so far it has help a lot with all of the really basic steps. The color illustrations make the stitches really easy to understand. Good luck and have fun!

Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker I think this is the only book I really love. It has patterns that are pretty and you might actually be able to see yourself wearing. It also has a lot of simple/easy instructions for all kinds of techniques. This book taught me how to tapestry crochet which is my favorite thing!
I have A LOT of books / mags / etc. So many only have a 1 or 2 good things in them, or they are just presented poorly. But the Happy Hooker is a keeper!

This is a great response, as far as books go this one was my crochet bible, I have other books but this one was the best followed by this one. The first one is also easier to carry around with you if you're crocheting outside of your craft space and need a quick refrence.

Also for visual aid, look up Teresa's art of crochet on youtube, she has some very nice tutorials.

I'd recommend picking up a sewing book that comes with patterns, like the Colette sewing Handbook or BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook

I have both. The Colette book is laid out kind of like a lesson plan where you sew all the projects in order, and they gradually introduce new techniques. They cover a lot on fitting, but not a ton on modifying the pattern to look different.

The BurdaStyle book is laid out in a more "traditional" way, so all the reference stuff is at the front, then they move onto the patterns. The book has great details and ideas on changing up the patterns to suit your preference.

I also picked up Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing recently, which if you're into vintage style clothing, I'd recommend you pickup later on. (it's a more intermediate-level book, so I would recommend working on other patterns first.)

Both Vogue and Readers Digest have pretty good books that cover a majority of techniques. That will cover the basics, but if you think she would like something a little more fun and less textbook-y, you could try this and this. The authors both have blogs that I follow, and I really like them!

It depends on where in the sweater I'm binding off. For a top-down sweater body or sleeves, I tend to use Jeny's Super Stretchy Bind-Off, the Invisible Ribbed Bind-Off, or the Sewn Bind-Off. For neck trimmings, I almost always used the Invisible Ribbed Bind-Off. Sometimes I'll just use the standard bind-off, but bind off in pattern (knit the knits and purl the purls and slip the first stitch over the second one). When working bottom-up and binding off the top shoulders/neck/collar, I use a standard bind-off since it's easier to Kitchener Stitch together (shoulders) or pick up stitches for the neck trimming (neck/collar).

I will say that my copy of Cast On, Bind Off has gotten so much use! Sometimes I try a new bind off and love it... other times I rip it and use one of my go-to bind offs, most of which I found in that book.

(As an aside, I try to list the bind-offs and cast-ons used in my rav project pages and try to remember to take detail pictures if you want to take a look.)

Pattern books are always great. One of my personal favorites is this stitch guide. It shows how to do tons of stitches, from very basic to some advanced lace to joining techniques. Whatever she is interested in, theres is almost certainly a pattern book catered to that interest.

Second the recommendation for Ravelry.

My favorite answer-every-question-about-knitting book is The Knitting Answer Book. It has pictures where pictures are needed and otherwise not, explains knit-speak pretty clearly, and is easy to reference when I'm halfway through a project and don't understand what to do next.

Also:

• A purl stitch is a backwards knit stitch. So, instead of putting the right-hand need behind the left, you put it in front (R to L through the stitch). From there it's the same: wrap the yarn, pull it through, and move on to the next stitch.
  
  
• Knitting with two strands just means you hold, for example, a blue strand of yarn and a green strand of yarn at the same time, knitting as though they are only one strand. It can create a pretty cool pattern if you do it with two colors; it also creates a thicker knit.

Pattern is from Complete Idiot's Guide to Amigurumi, except that it calls for an E hook, the smallest I have is F, and the smallest my hands would cooperate with was a G. Also, it calls for 6mm safety eyes but for some reason I had bought 9mm, so that's what went in!

Yarn is Red Heart Super Saver in Cherry Cola.

A starter kit is a great gift idea, props to you! I'd like to suggest Vogue Knitting as a fantastic reference book! It's got all the instructions for beginners, plus instructions for tons and tons of more complicated techniques as she gets more into it.

I enjoyed the Happy Hooker book. It's a good read and it gives a pretty good overview of how crochet works. Bonus - it was available at the local library so I got it for a month at no cost.

I was perusing this book of cast-ons and bind-offs at a local knit-group the other day and it's really pretty awesome. If you're an Amazon Prime member, it's free for kindles.

I don't think I should have made the switch from sc to hdc, but it was worth a shot.

My little sister wants me to make a blanket with this pattern, I told her to buy me the yarn. :P It's quick, so that makes me happy at least, and it would make pretty coasters.

The pattern is from here and then modified with some hdc rows instead of sc so I don't know if I'm allowed to post it or not.

Sorry I'm super late to reply--holiday weekends! In commercial yarn it can be hard to find a lot of variety in terms of types of wool. Anything not specifically labelled Merino is likely to just be "wool pool" wool. It'll be a blend of lots of different sheep/breeds that conform to a type & quality profile. These wools are usually coarser than Merino, and cheaper because of it too.

If you can find it, Shetland or Corriedale are wools I've seen in commercial offerings that I think are good for sweaters. I'm personally knitting an Aran sweater out of my handspun Romney wool. If you're interested in learning more about the different options, I highly recommend checking out this book!

The Reader's Digest Guide to Sewing is comprehensive; many people prefer the older editions. I'd also recommend:

Shirtmaking by David P. Coffin

Classic Tailoring Techniques for Menswear: A Construction Guide 2nd Edition
http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Tailoring-Techniques-Menswear-Construction/dp/1628921706/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

Tailoring: The Classic Guide to Sewing the Perfect Jacket
http://www.amazon.com/Tailoring-Classic-Sewing-Perfect-Jacket/dp/1589236092/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1459466582&sr=8-2


Learn how to use a sewing machine. Learn basic hand stitches. Buy a commercial trousers pattern and have someone fit it on you. Sew it over and over while you build up your skills.

Join the Cutter and Tailor forum. Read the rules carefully. You will only be able to post about shirts, vests, and trousers initially, but if you are serious there are many helpful people over there.

They both look like princess-seamed bodices with V necklines. One is a halter top, and the other looks like a regular bodice. You could make both dresses from the patterns in the book Sew Many Dresses which is also chock-full of information on fabrics, fitting, adjustments, and hacking. Just be sure to make a muslin before you cut into your gorgeous fabric!

A guide to making my own corsets is pretty unique, right?

Honestly, I've not gotten any comics in a while, because the comic book stores here tend to stock the more generic types. I like when a book has some sort of humour- if it's just "oh my gawd life is so angst" all the time, I get bored. Representation is key- it's nice when there are female characters, LBGT characters, what have you, who have other traits beside stereotypes. And I also quite like stories that I can see happening right now- I'm a sucker for any sort of fantasy that takes place just under the radar of modern life, you know?

Wait, so do we pick one between part 1 and part B? Or do we do both, but part B has to be math OR pie? I'm just confused because in the stipulations you say "the item" so...I don't wanna break rules!

Alright, confusion has been cleared up.

Part 1: Someone will most likely find something better, but just in case, this yarn is 3.18.

Part 2: Bear with me here...this book relates to math. How? Because it's a bunch of different-shaped crochet motifs (pieces that you join together for different stuff). So there's things with 3 sides, or 5 sides, or like 18 sides! (I haven't looked at the book, but this may be technically possible). And there's circles, so really, this is the most pi-related thing ever.

There are some good books out there! I like the Stitch 'n Bitch ones (the patterns are so dated, though) and the Knitter's Companion (I think the illustrations are pretty clear in this one). I found this one called The Knitting Answer Book in a Sam's Club I don't know how long ago. I'm not sure how great it is because I've been able to find answers in the others and online. These books + Youtube are how I taught myself.

Looks like you have the answer to your question, but another suggestion for you...

These cards are great to toss into the glove box of the truck/car. Most of us don't have the opportunity to tie a trucker's hitch on a regular basis, and if you're like me, that means you'll have a hard time remembering how to tie it the next time.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0922273227/

These cards are only about $5 for the set, so you may be able to find them cheaper (or just make your own).

This one has a few pages of zig zag cables, and a decent variety otherwise, but I always recommend having a few different ones since no two ever really cover the same ground, and no one is truly comprehensive. If you have a bookstore or LYS, flipping through them to find one who writes them out in a way you can understand is also a really good bet.

In your situation I would first be working on defense in depth strategies. It sounds like you have a fairly ideal opportunity to interdict travel to your retreat. Since we're obviously postulating a TEOTWAWKI situation some strategically downed trees or a small landslide might permanently interdict vehicular traffic. If they get out the chainsaws to clear some trees how much further could you hear that versus the vehicles themselves. How many neighbors do you have that would help with your interdiction efforts after the ballon went up? Can you disguise the road to your retreat so that people who didn't know it was there before wouldn't notice it?

There are too many reference books worth hiding given your postulated circumstances. Duplicating my reference book collection to hide a set would be quite expensive. There is always the book shelf listing of survivalblog to use as a good starting point. Here is a link to the knot reference I have in my INCH bag. It's very basic but also waterproof.

https://www.amazon.com/Crochet-Answer-Book-Solutions-Question/dp/1580175988

Just put this in your crochet sack. My favorite reference book. Make a scarf and hat set with a basic pattern from Ravelry. Something where you just practice the sc and dc. Then find a toy pattern and learn how to shape and do inc and dec. Good luck.

I've got 400 Knitting Stitches, and it's served me pretty well. Stitch patterns are organized based on categories (knit+purl/cables/lace/colourwork/slipped stitches), pictures are clear, instructions are in both written and chart format. It's been worth its price tag for me.

I have the first four Barbara Walker Treasury books, and Vogue Knitting that is pretty amazing.

lol, it's been on my amazon wishlist for a while now =P I actually got [http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Amigurumi/dp/1615640037/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324399699&sr=1-1] a week or two ago, and it's really quite good. lot of great tips and the pictures are acceptable.

I use a bit of opposite coloured yarn, but I wonder why stitch markers are so friggin expensive! They're just a bit of plastic....

I have Vogue Knitting and I really like it. It's a good general-purpose knitting book, has good pictures and explanations.

There's this book on Amazon. I have it and its pretty neat!
https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Heads-Trophy-Crochet/dp/178494064X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497453130&sr=8-1&keywords=animal+heads+crochet
(Sorry, don't know how to link well)

There is a lion head in it that you can possibly modify.

Lion head from the book:
http://imgur.com/yMd24e2

As a start, I’d suggest something like this. A big book of heaps of different stitches can be super useful to have around.

I like these wallet-sized plastic cards that come bound together, it's a great field reference and doesn't take up much space/pack weight:

https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Knot-Outdoor-Knots-John-Sherry/dp/0922273227

I bought this book awhile back. Everything in it is so cute and fun :)

https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Heads-Trophy-Crochet/dp/178494064X
Its the best thing i have brought so far, it has taught me so much about crochet.
No way could i free form this! Maybe one day..

Pro-Knot cards - inexpensive and useful

Fisherman version

Under $5 each and free shipping with Prime

I recommend The Happy Hooker (http://www.amazon.com/Stitch-Bitch-Crochet-Happy-Hooker-ebook/dp/B00ESCURFY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397488757&sr=8-1&keywords=happy+hooker). Also, check out tutorials on youtube or your local yarn store probably has classes if you want to learn in person.

Looks like The Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs: 500 Classic & Original Patterns and The Complete Book of Crochet Border Designs: Hundreds of Classics & Original Patterns.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1454701374/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1454708107/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I asked for a set of pom pom makers, a yarn winder, a nice-looking yarn tote, a set of blocking mats, and some awesome crochet books!

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/178494064X/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_YLbzyb7009MDN

I would assume you could find something similar in this book. It's currently #1 on my most wanted list. Now that I'm done Christmas gift crochet, I'm planning on rewarding myself with this.

I have a knot guide in my home prep kit so others can have a resource and for a reminder for me if I can't recall a certain knot. Nice and hard plastic and connected as a fan basically. Highly recommend.
PROKNOT Outdoor Knots https://www.amazon.com/dp/0922273227/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_0bTMwb8RZA285

Recommended books:

Classic Tailoring Techniques: A Construction Guide for Men's Wear

Tailoring: The Classic Guide to Sewing the Perfect Jacket

Vintage Couture Tailoring

My sister got me this book for Christmas last year and it sounds like it's right up your alley:
Sew Many Dresses, Sew Little Time: The Ultimate Dressmaking Guide https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0770434940/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_K146BbPZAB490

It has instructions for several styles of bodice, skirt, and necklines. It should give you a good start on bringing your design to life!

>the crotch. If you turn a pair of pants inside out and look at the crotch, you'll notice it sort of curves. You'll have to follow that curve, whereas the outside seam would just be straight.

OP if you do attempt to alter in this fashion I highly suggest that you seek out a book or two on tailoring techniques.

Classic Tailoring Techniques: A Construction Guide for Men's Wear (F.I.T. Collection) By Roberto Cabrera Buyitonamazon

Classic Tailoring Techniques: A Construction Guide for Women's Wear (F.I.T. Collection) By Roberto Cabrera Buyitonamazon

Also the Cutter & Tailor forums is another excellent resource for menswear

Sorry I didn't reply sooner, I've been super ill!

But, anyway, here is the book: http://smile.amazon.com/Cast-Bind-Off-Step-Step/dp/1603427244. I really highly recommend it. I've used it over and over and it isn't too expensive. The kindle version is only 2.99 and the spiral bound is just over 10 bucks!

I found a book with a section on cables and it had some really great cables. It's called Crochet Stitches Visual Encyclopedia.
What are the rules on taking pictures of books? If it's allowed I could post some photos.

I recommend David Page Coffin's shirtmaking or trousers books. Plenty of helpful tips, equipment suggestions, guides on how to do small things, and you'll be able to wear what you make.

Shirts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1589238265/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_VafJDbJPXMT7P

Pants: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1589234499/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HbfJDbGG1FTAA

One of my favorites:

The Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs: 500 Classic & Original Patterns https://www.amazon.com/dp/1454701374/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vLeWzb0SGRZCF

Here's the most comprehensive, but really any general knitting book beyond the most basic will have a few :)

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amigurumi is good for demonstrating how to create the basic shapes.

Gertie's book is wonderful, I've been able to learn so much from it! She also has a blog.

The Knitting Answer Book by Margaret Radcliffe is an excellent resource. https://www.amazon.com/Knitting-Answer-Book-Solutions-Question/dp/1580175996

For starters I'd recommend the Knitter's Book of Yarn and the Knitter's Book of Wool, both by Clara Parkes. Both are incredibly informative and have some great patterns to boot. I consider both of these required reading for anyone even remotely serious about knitting.

If you want to get really serious about wool, the Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook goes into crazy detail about the different breeds of sheep and the wool they produce. This book is extreme though, covers a lot of things that you probably would never encounter at your average LYS. It's more geared towards spinners than knitters.

You could look into the Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook (I think that's the right one, anyways) for suggestions of how to spin/process the fleeces. There are a lot of sheep breeds that are primarily meat breeds in other places that still have nice fleeces!

This made me laugh because for a couple of months this book has sat in my Amazon basket, but I'm told i can't hang any up! Animal Heads: Trophy Heads to Crochet https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178494064X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_8VeMybW848QCH

Look at buying a crochet stitch encyclopedia
Crochet Stitches Visual Encyclopedia (Teach Yourself VISUALLY Consumer) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1118030052/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_cwm7Ab4Y0QE2K I found this one is good, lots of different stitches to try

Sure thing! It came out of this book. Basically, just a lot of chains, then shells, and then picots :D

It looks like Twinkie Chan's pizza scarf pattern. It's in [this book.] (https://www.amazon.com/Twinkie-Crochet-Goodies-Fashion-Foodies/dp/0740797581/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1285225016&sr=8-1)

well in that case, maybe you want something more portable/permanent.

http://www.amazon.com/PROKNOT-Outdoor-Knots-John-Sherry/dp/0922273227

I use the following book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1454701374/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1404777448&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40
I prefer chart patterns and this book has both, plus I can customize all the patterns easily

I have this and it's just under £10 on Amazon:
400 Knitting Stitches: A Complete Dictionary of Essential Stitch Patterns https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0307462730/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PhPEDbXMXMP34

Hahaha. yeah! Don't let it stop you though. You can go out there and tie basic knots and it'll work, but not quite as well. I got this little knot guide and it helped a lot: https://smile.amazon.com/Pro-Knot-Outdoor-Knots-John-Sherry/dp/0922273227/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481681534&sr=8-1&keywords=knot+book+plastic

I learned the knots from youtube and then, because I'm forgetful and never remember them, I use the guide to consult them when I want to actually use them.

I may or may not have demanded the stag kit from my SO for christmas, which I whipped up on xmas day and is now proudly displayed above our TV.

And, as I'm 'bistitchual' I've also made the Ram and the Zebra from Vanessa Mooncie's Animal Heads >_<

My next plan is for the Tiger, so I will have to buy the book when my yarn ban ends...

It's not all encompassing, but I really enjoy having this book lying around. Someone once posted a link to a gigantic list of cast one and bind offs but I don't remember where...

3 different books of crochet patterns. I've been waiting for this one to be available in the US for ages, and I got this one, and I pre-ordered this little book of monsters.

The pattern is from this book it was the shirt dress, I just added longer sleeves and stiffer interfacing.

http://www.amazon.com/Twinkie-Crochet-Goodies-Fashion-Foodies/dp/0740797581

physical copy price seems a bit high, but that's the book...

I never knew I wanted a crocheted zebra head mounted to my wall until now. Ravelry link for a book amazon link to book Spoiler, there's more than just a zebra in there!!!

I found this one that has more realistic looking heads. I’m so tempted to get it but it seems so intimidating to attempt to crochet.

This little set of cards helped me through my first 2 burns till I just memorized them.

The shapes here are from this book. When I have done all of the shapes in it I am moving on to this book.

2 books that have helped me very much:

https://smile.amazon.com/Increase-Decrease-Step-Step-Technique/dp/1612123317/

And https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/1603427244/

I use youtube all the time too, but once I've seen a technique, these books stay near me while knitting. Also, they work when the internet doesn't. :D

Most enabling book ever: The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook

This is a Twinkie Chan pattern from this book. Chan Book

There is a similiar bacon and eggs pillow pattern on Ravelry. Pillow

I am making a pillow next since I already have the yarn and know the techniques. I actually think the pillow will get more use than the scarf.

Slip One, Knit One, Purl

Cadence building, Swish, Swish, Tap

Needles fly, all done.

400 Knitting Stithes because knitting!

Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ESCURFY/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_K4GvDbZKYXAC2

Stich n Bitch was my book of choice. I taught myself to knit with that and the Knitting Answer Book. I keep the latter on hand in my knitting bag in case I forget how to do something.

https://www.amazon.com/Stitch-n-Bitch-Knitters-Handbook/dp/0761128182/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483985552&sr=8-1&keywords=stitch+n+bitch

https://www.amazon.com/Knitting-Answer-Book-Solutions-Question/dp/1580175996

Yikes, I just went to try this and all the dresses available on amazon.ca are the fast fashion/low quality type that I just can't dig :\ I don't wear jeans/trousers/slacks/shorts because I find them uncomfortable, so I need me some robes! I'm gonna make my own dress robes.

Thanks, but the link turns up an error. Is this the book in question?

I'm seeing a complete oversight of the stuff I see so many other people make on this sub. Hygiene gear. Hygiene gear. Hygiene gear.

What are you going to wipe your ass with? Clean your hands before your eat? Brush your teeth? What will you bathe with, even if it is just a pits, nuts, and ass wipe down with baby wipes?

-My rule of thumb is 7-10 baby wipes a day when in the field. Having baboon butt from being poorly cleaned up after hurts at first, then will get to be real bad news. A pack of 100 baby wipes doesn't weight too much.

-A toothbrush. Things like toothaches used to be fatal problems not too long ago in first world countries, and still are in third. A cavity or any other nastiness in your teeth is one of those "all encompassing hurts" that make everything difficult, kind of like pulling a muscle in your back or something.

-An outdoor shower isn't necessary, just a good scrub down at the end of the day on any part of the body where there is a crease/fold- armpits, groin, etc. These places also have hair, which grows/supports bacteria.

I'm not going to hit the clothes thing, because u/edheler did a good job of the break down. I'm just going to emphasize socks. The legs feed the wolf, right? If you're feet go bad from wet socks/foot nastiness, life starts to suck fast.

The rest of this is just my opinions and personal preferences.

-I see you have quart sized ziplock bags. I prefer gallon ziplock bags. Waterproofing your kit, especially your clothes, is key. When it rains and your pack gets saturated, everything inside will soak up all that water like a sponge. This adds more weight, which sucks to carry, but on a survival note, now you have to take the time to lay out all your gear and dry it to prevent it from molding. In Undaunted Courage, Ambrose talked about how Lewis and Clark went to great lengths to dry out their gear anytime it got wet, because they know that that shit had to last them for the duration. A bugout situation will be similar- what you have is going to have to last, and it getting wet is no good. The 32 gallon trash bags may be for this purpose, or other general purpose stuff, but I've found that once you put a lot of stuff in them they rip. Gallon bags are clear so you can see whats inside of them, small enough to not have so much extra space, and big enough to fit most things. I've found quart size bags to be just too small for all around use.

-A tarp. I see you have a hammock and a bag, which is my preferred way of sleeping outdoors. My hammock is a hennessy with a built in rain fly. Getting rained on sucks, and a tarp can keep you dry. Also with hammocks, on cold/windy nights, the hammock functions as a heat sink, since there is no ground beneath you to insulate you. A tarp will cut down on the wind leeching away your valuable heat, even with your bag in there. I've slept in my hammock for a long period straight, and some kind of windscreen/liner is important for the winter moths that are coming up. Plus, a tarp is one of those survival items like a knife or rope- it's got too many uses to be left out. My personal three items that I always harp on are knife, rope, tarp.

-Good on you on the zip ties. They are incredibly useful little things.

-Have you considered a knot card? Knots are a set of skills with an expiration date on them- if you don't use them all the time, it leaves you. I use the hell out of mine, and you don't give up much weight or space.