Wool Appliqué Heirlooms: 15 Antique-Inspired Projects and Techniques

Fans of handmade crafts will find much to enjoy in this slim but lovely volume of 15 antique-inspired, wool-appliqué projects from needlework designer Blythe. After waxing poetic on the wonders of wool, Blythe explains how to select it (“if you fail to choose the right one it can completely throw off your entire project,” she counsels), opines on the best sources for obtaining it, and offers expert tips for crafting with it and creating appealingly homey items. These projects include customizable wool- and cotton-background Advent calendars; a pinwheel table runner ideal for using up small amounts of leftover wool; an American flag–decorated scalloped mat perfect for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July; and vintage-style hexagon mats inspired by the four seasons. Blythe’s easy-to-understand primer on different stitching styles—including French knot, lazy daisy, and whipstitch—and simple, easily achievable prepping suggestions will buoy novice crafters’ confidence in creating the designs found in this instructional guide. Her useful list of tools will be valuable to novices and experts alike, as will her advice on coordinating patterns and colors. Wool lovers won’t be able to pass this one up. (Oct.)