With Black Friday just a few days away and lots of books to choose from I thought you might enjoy these four books on hobbies that could give happiness to someone in pain. They are all hardbacks and could end up in the Black Friday offers which could save you a few pounds.
1 The Fun and Relaxing Adult Activity Book: With Easy Puzzles, Coloring Pages, Writing Activities, Brain Games and Much More…I thought this was a perfect book for someone who hasn’t tried any of its contents and who then might find they love doing them and take them up as a hobby. Included in this book are easy puzzles, brain games, writing activities and colouring pages.
Some of the popular puzzles and brain games in this book include:
- Word Searches
- Spot the Odd One Out
- Shadow Finder
- Find the Differences
- Logic Puzzles
- Sudoku
- Crosswords
- Mazes
- Trivia Challenges and more
There are also many colouring pages in this book including:
- Interesting Designs
- People
- Flowers
- Animals
- Classic Items and more
In this activity book, there are also select writing activities. Topics include:
- Favorite Concert
- Dream Vacation
- Beloved Pet
- A Family Mystery
- and More
Altogether, The Fun and Relaxing Adult Activity Book offers hours of entertainment for adults of all ages, from young adults to seniors. Available from Amazon and other good book stores £14.51
2. Beautiful Botanical Embroidery, 30 exquisite nature-inspired designs for stitching onto bags, buttons, cushions and more by Alice Makabe – As embroidery continues to grow as a contemporary craft of choice, discover the beauty of botanical embroidery with this collection of 30 exquisite motifs and projects inspired by flowers, fruit, foliage and other natural forms. Stitch your way through an assortment of elegant designs organized by colour, from pinks and subtle yellows to lush greens and moody blues. Learn how to use specific embroidery stitches to replicate the textures and shapes of flowers, leaves and stems. The book includes full-size, easy-to-follow templates and a useful embroidery stitch guide. As well as the beautiful embroidery motifs, there are also project instructions for creating gorgeous bags, aprons, pillow covers, pincushions, pouches and more.
The embroidery artist/writer Alice Makabe tries to stitch every day to capture the special joys of the season, and this book is not only a celebration of her wonderful designs but is extremely easy to follow for you to have a go at it yourself. It has embroidery stitches and simple templates with instructions on how to make all of the above-listed items. A lovely gift for someone just starting out in embroidery. Available from Amazon and other good bookshops for £10.28
3. The Ultimate Guide to Modern Calligraphy & Hand Lettering for Beginners: Learn to Letter: A Hand Lettering Workbook with Tips, Techniques, Practice Pages, and Projects by June and Lucy – Kristin Bowman is a calligrapher, hand-letterer and graphic designer who jump-started her business June & Lucy from the ground up in 2016 in order to offset family medical expenses when she found out during her pregnancy that her son would be born with a rare form of skeletal dysplasia. While Kristin and her husband Matt’s family grew with the addition of a baby girl, her business continued to grow as well. Kristin relishes creating stunning books, planners, children’s books, journals, clothing, housewares and more that she hopes to add a little sunshine and joy to peoples’ lives.
A great book for anyone interested in hand lettering or Calligraphy. Anyone, like me, who loves to make my own birthday, Christmas or other cards, and gift tags will find this useful. Also good for producing name badges for conferences or dinner party place names, make your event or table look perfectly beautiful. Available from Amazon and other good book shops for £6.99
4. The Sock Knitting Bible by Lynne Rowe – The Sock Knitting Bible will break down all the different techniques and show wannabe sock knitters that there is nothing to be scared of. Covering everything from casting on to colourwork and everything in between, knitters won’t find a better reference book for all their sock knitting needs. Whether you want to knit toe-up, cuff down or even two at a time socks, we’ve got it covered. Sock knitting is the perfect portable project too – once you know the basics you can dip in and out until they are flying off your needles!
There are a lot of sock pattern books out there but this is more than a pattern book – it covers all the different techniques and methods for sock knitting! There are step-by-step instructions for all the various sock knitting techniques so that instead of sounding like a foreign language making socks becomes your second language. There are also step-by-step instructions for three basic socks so that you can follow them even if you are an absolute beginner and then start to choose your preferred method for sock making.
Author Lynne Rowe explains what kind of yarns are best suited to different styles of socks and shares her techniques for how to get the best finish. We also look at the different kinds of tools available for making socks so you can experiment with double-pointed needles, the magic loop method and small circular needles as well as innovative new products such as flexible dpns until you find your own favourite method.
With this book you can put that beautiful skein of hand-dyed yarn you couldn’t resist to good use by making the perfect pair of socks because in addition to the extensive techniques there are also 10 projects by some of the most exciting and talented sock designers, illustrating a number of the different knitting methods and styles. Here you will find stripes, fair isle, cables, lacy, sparkly and snuggly socks: a pattern for all your needs. It won’t be long before you are delighting your friends and family with your newfound skills – just be sure to make yourself a pair too!
But be warned: sock knitting is addictive! Inspired by Tom Daley’s poolside knitting triumph maybe? Available from Amazon and other good book stores for £18.63
My final book is not available until January 2022 but can be pre-ordered.
5. The Sewing Guide to Cancer (or Other Very Annoying Long Term Illnesses): 25 Useful Craft Projects for Patients & Caregivers – A unique sewing guide for friends and families of loved ones fighting cancer with 27 ideas for genuinely useful gifts, selected by cancer-fighting patients. For those diagnosed with cancer, you know that you do not “beat” cancer. You wait for it to come back.
Conceived by friends Susanne Woods and Heather Grant, who both fought cancer, The Sewing Guide to Cancer was made specifically for their friends and loved ones that would tread on eggshells, wanting to help but not knowing what to do. Now there won’t be any questions. Inside, you’ll find 27 genuinely useful sewing projects designed by two women who have been there for friends and family to create and give to those fighting cancer.
The projects have been designed by 23 industry leaders. With their guidance, you’ll be able to design a number of useful gifts such as a weighted blanket, hug pillow, infusion bag, robe, seatbelt cover, port shirt, and more. Written with a great deal of black humour, the book offers ideas and guidance to the support team. No longer will those fighting cancers have to endure a multitude of pasta bakes from concerned loved ones. Susanne Woods lost her fight in 2020. To honour her and the many others, all profits from the book will go to the American Cancer Society. Available from Amazon and other good book shops for £22.99
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