Crocheting is popular with yarn crafters. Most people know an aunt, grandma or friend who is skilled with a crochet hook and maybe you have even received a lesson or two on the art of crochet but it can be easy to forget the basic stitch, how to get started, or worse, how to start that second row. “Teach Yourself VISUALLY Crochet” is a great guide for visual learners who want to learn how to crochet.

The book is complete with multiple patterns as well as the basics for just getting started. Each pattern is laid in a minimalistic two page instruction approach which makes the process not too overwhelming. The color pictures, diagrams and tips make the book easy to read and crocheting relatively easy as well. Unfortunately the book doesn’t have pictures for every single movement, but it does a pretty good job of being comprehensive.

For everything on weaving, there is no book better than “The Big Book of Weaving: Handweaving in the Swedish Tradition: Techniques, Patterns, Designs and Materials.” Whether you are brand new to weaving or have mastered a few patterns, you are bound to find plenty of interesting information and new knowledge inside this large reference book.

This book is filled with tons of information. If you want to learn a particular weave, there is a good chance this book will show you how. Alternatively, if you just want to glean information about weaving, this book is great for that as well. The techniques are all detailed in typed word as well as diagrams, pictures and more. Many readers also like the fun and unique Swedish patterns which are hard to find in other weaving reference books.

What I particularly liked about the book is how it walks the reader through choosing a loom. I have never weaved before in my life and know very little about the craft but I felt like this book gave very practical and easy to follow instructions on how to get set up and started. Each pattern was laid out in a very comprehensive manner in a way that made weaving as a hobby very approachable.

I have to admit, I did a complete double take when I came across this book in the library. “Crafting with Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat” is the title and the author is Kaori Tsutaya and Amy Hirschman. Hirschman is a crafting author who I have written about before and is quite the crafter. So this could go both ways. One, the crafts are down with a car by your side or two, you craft using cat hair. This book didn’t disappoint, it is in fact about creating projects which can be completed with one of the many hair clumps swept into the corner from your cat.

I imagine if you purchase or receive this book, it will be through some kind of gag gift situation, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t good ideas inside. Anyone who has cats will immediately understand that cat hair is definitely one crafting supply they have readily available and at the right price as well! You probably have never compared your kitty’s fuzz to a lamb’s wool, but when you get right down to it, what is the difference?

The book teaches you to make things like felt sheets, puppets, tote bags, mittens and gloves. I admit I haven’t tried any, mostly because it is fall now and instead of battling cat hair I am cleaning up after muddy paws, but when spring comes around you never know what I might craft and create. The reviews of the book on Amazon seem to elude that the projects do in fact turn out. So if you are looking for the gift you know your cat loving friend hasn’t received or if you just want your cat to be a little more useful for something besides soaking up sun beams, pick up a copy of “Crafting with Cat Hair”.