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Amica Daisy Ring - Carnival

£5.45

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Union Jack Bag Pattern

£2.00

What better way to show your dedication to British farmers, sheep and yarns than by making a union flag bag?! The red, white and blue really says everything you need it to say, but if you fancy being more individual play around with subtle or wacky colour and texture combinations. Felting is a fun way to transform soft yarns into practical accessories by just throwing them in the washing machine! Texere Troon Tweed is spun in oil, so knits very easily and totally changes when washed. Texere Airedale Aran is softer, without flecks and felts even easier. Try combining the two for unusual textures & effects.
This pattern has two designs included - red-white-blue & Green style bags
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Starbright Infinity - Creative Yarns - Emerald Jewels 03

£4.99

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White Rose Mohair - Swaledale (Lilac)

£3.35

100% made in Yorkshire
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Cashmerino Chunky by Debbie Bliss - 35 Blue

£3.90

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RRP £4.50 our price £3.90
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100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet by Lesley Stanfield

£10.99

Simply Knitting said, "Lesley Stanfield clearly has a keen eye for flowers, as they burst out from the pages of this pretty book. From forget-me-not to poinsettia and lily-of-the-valley to mistletoe, garden favourites and exotic blooms, you'll find everything you need to make a bright bouquet or a pretty wreath ? including leaves, a few friendly insects such as a ladybird and a bee, and even fruit and veg! Each of the 100 patterns has clear written instructions to either knit or crochet the item, and the crochet patterns are also charted, making it really easy to see how the flower is constructed. You'll find great ideas for how to use finished flowers in the back of the book.?
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Tassel Making & Braid Making

Shop Sections | Books & Patterns | Tassel Making & Braid Making

Round the Twist - Creative Cordmaking
Jacqui Carey - Book One in the "OTT" Embellishment Series - New ideas for the simple twisted cord.
Ideal for any textile enthusiast who wishes to create complimentary embellishments.
Fully illustrated colour diagrams and photographs of techniques, yarns to use and finished braids.
Sections covering "twist and fold", "S and Z twist", "colour mixing", "texture", "re-twisting", "wrapping" and "ends and joins".
Jacqui has made samples in this book which use our Vision, Picasso Gimp, Prism, Glitter, Snarl, Festival Knop, Chenille and many other smooth and fancy yarns. £7.95

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Sixty Sensational Samples - a Kumihimo Collection
Shirley Berlin & Carol Goodwin - A book full of kumihimo samples from a decade of sample exchanges. Compiled by two highly experienced braiders, exhibiting and teaching in England, Canada and the USA.
The samples showcased in this book were generated by groups of enthusiastic braiders interested in Kumihimo - the ancient art of Japanese braiding. Within its pages you will find 60 innovative explorations of Kumihimo, drawn from five different groups and contributed by 42 braiders from around the world.
Each sample has notes from the braider, editor comments, a full "recipe" and fully comprehensive diagrams.
Chapters include: Elegant Braids, Intriguing Structure, Use of Colour, Unusual Materials, Useful Braids and Braids with Beads.
"What a wonderful idea to share the samples made by the exchange groups, bringing to light the creative work of braiders that would otherwise have remained hidden. Hopefully this will stimulate the formation of new groups and encourage the existing groups to continue." - Roderick Owen. £20.00

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Chinese Braid Embroidery
Jacqui Carey - Braid embroidery (chan xiu) is just one of the many wonderful textile traditions found in China. This new book is intended as a snapshot of the technique, providing insights into its history and development.
It aims to record some of the practical knowledge that is traditionally passed down by verbal and visual means. As well as attempting to recover some of the skills of the anonymous makers.
The book is full of beautiful colour photography, some from Jacqui's trip to China and some from antique pieces in private collections.
The book looks at the history of various braid embroidery, examining techniques and materials used in the past and today. The two main chapters focus on making braids and then embroidering the braids onto surfaces. There are step by step instructions of how to make 17 different different braids and then a multitude of ways to apply them to the fabric to create the embroidery.
Another fascinating book by Jacqui that is a great read for anyone interested in the history of textiles. The versatility of the techniques will also inspire you to have a go yourself and use the braids to embellish your own work. £15.95

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Tassel Making Book
Tassel Making Book
Anna Crutchley - Revealing the secrets of how to make the world's most gorgeous fabric decorations using wooden tassel moulds, yarns and threads.
Anna is a teacher of textiles and she began designing and making tassels, fringes and cords in 1990. Her company also produces beautiful wooden moulds to use as the base for all the tassels included in this book - they will be available from our site very soon.
This is the definitive book on the beautiful art of passmenterie, with a contemporary approach to this traditional craft. Anna discusses the history and uses of tassels and cords then has a large chapter on the basics - such as tools and equipment required, yarn selection and a wide variety of techniques used.
There are over 40 projects which progress to become more challenging and encourage individuality in designs and allow the creative streak to run free with embellishments. The book is full of lavish and sumptuous colour photography showing how to make curtain tie-backs, decorative light pulls, simple key-tassels and to use smaller tassels on cushions, as accessories and hangings.
The book encourages you to experiment with threads and yarns, so some tassels and cords are smooth and silky, others are made from soft wools and others are made from textured linens and jutes, showing just how versatile tassels are whatever interior project you need to co-ordinate with. £9.99

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The Braider's Bible
Jacqui Carey - Over 200 braids to loop, knot, twist and weave. A fantastic book by this well renowned author who specialises in braid making, concentrating on the interaction of structure, colour and pattern.
Choose from over 200 designs and give the perfect finishing touch to clothing, soft furnishings, accessories, greetings cards and gift boxes, or make beaded braid jewellery and friendship bracelets. Experiment with texture and colour to create gilded, beaded braids and unlike shop-bought versions, yours can be custom designed to perfectly match your own unique craft projects.
The book is divided into two main sections: the first one being all the techniques used - twisting, knotting, interlooping, weaving, braiding, ply-split daring, working with beads, beginning and ends and using narrow wares. Then the main directory is a sumptuous collection of designs, organised according to scructure, from twisted and knotted braids to more elaborate looped and woven pieces.
Each braid features a close-up photograph, a recipe of materials and step-by-step instructions. All core techniques are clearly demonstrated with easy-to-follow photographs and little or no equipment is needed. We've shown a couple of the fabulous photographs to give you an idea of just how gorgeous the illustrations are in this little book.
Jacqui actually told us it was a book of "How to use Texere Yarns" and she's right. The book is packed with how to braid with many of our yarns including Double Top, Glitter, Prism, Vision, Picasso, Rat Tail, Stardust, Chunky Wool plus some of our fancy yarns including Festival Knops and Balmoral. £15.99

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Creative Kumihimo
Jacqui Carey - A new approach to the ancient art of Japanese braiding is explored in this book.
Kumihimo covers a wide range of braiding techniques using various types of equipment. This book concentrates on braids made on the marudai; a simple device that is highly versatile.
Beautiful colour photographs illustrate finished braids and how to use them.
Over 50 braid structures are described with step-by-step guides and detailed diagrams.
The simplicity of kumihimo makes it accessible to all whilst its potential to expand provides endless fascination! £14.95

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Beginner's Guide to Braiding - The craft of Kumihimo
Jacqui Carey provides a fresh approach to kumihimo - the ancient art of Japanese braiding.
This book is a great "how to get started" book with clear illustrations. Ideal for beginners who can then progress onto "Creative Kumihimo" when they have mastered the basic techniques.
Beautiful colour illustrations and photographs and clear step-by-step diagrams guide the beginner through six projects which show how to make a variety of different braids.
There are tips on what equipment to use and advice on how to develop the projects, using a variety of patterns, colours and textures to create over 70 other braids.
The book gives ideas of finished uses of braids such as personalised curtains ties, ties backs, cushion and soft furnishing trimmings, spectacle cords, bracelets, necklaces and fashion accessories. Our braid kits are an ideal accompaniment to this book as they are a very basic version of a marudai. £7.95

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Braids & Beyond - A broad look at narrow wares
Jacqui Carey curated and designed the Braid Society Exhibition upon which this book is based.
From military braids, to mouse traps, antique to modern and handmade to industrial: how centuries of skill have turned a piece of string into a work of art.
Fully colour illustrated book of diagrams and photographs of how braids are made and used.
There are projects with detailed step-by-step instructions of how to get started with a wide range of techniques including twisting, knotting, knitting, weaving, tablet weaving, free end braiding, stand and bobbin braiding, loop manipulation, sprang and ply-splitting.
Included are introductions to where particular braids originated and how they have been made and used in the Sahara, Tibet, Peru, Thailand, Bhutan, Oman, China, Japan, Pakistan, India and Colombia. £7.95

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Beads & Braids
Jacqui Carey - A glorious book by this highly respected writer, lecturer and braider. A practical and inspirational guide to the many ways of combining beads with braids which are then used as jewellery, decorations and embellishments within the home. Glorious colour photographs are used to illustrate techniques and finished pieces. 120 different samples with full working instructions and diagrams and a further 40 gallery pieces for even more inspiration. This book has advanced projects, but some could be worked using our "braid starter kit". £11.95

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Shop Sections | Books & Patterns | Tassel Making & Braid Making