No equipment? No problem! New books teach crafters to knit without needles, sew clothing without a machine, and woodwork without power tools.
Get Started in Finger Knitting
Benedict has amassed an 802,000-follower strong fan base on Instagram, where she shares the stuffies, blankets, and more she creates using just chunky yarn and her own hands. Her book breaks down the technique then details more than a dozen beginner-appropriate, skills-building patterns, including a pillow and a jellyfish.
The Handsewn Wardrobe
“You are choosing to make clothes in a slow, unusual way,” Sonstroem tells readers, before teaching them how to draft patterns, choose and cut fabric, and sew a T-shirt, a gathered skirt, a pair of jeans, and other items of clothing with just a needle and thread. The debut author, who studied design and patternmaking at FIT and has worked for Eileen Fisher and other brands, incorporates interviews with hand-
sewing advocates including Natalie Chanin and Alexis Bailey.
No Needles Knitting
TV and online personality Howell got her start two decades ago as the host of the DIY Network (now Magnolia Network) show Knitty Gritty. She’s the author of several crafting books, including two previous finger-knitting titles aimed at kids; the wearable and home decor projects in her new book all use adult-friendly chunky yarn.
Welcome to Woodworking
This instructional manual from Ott, a professional woodworker in her native Sweden, avoids power tools in favor of saws, chisels, and mallets. Our review said, “Experienced woodworkers will appreciate the variety in Ott’s modern and stylish projects—for the home, there are wall shelves, a TV stand with wheels, and a collapsible tray table, plus a planter box with a trellis for a garden.”
