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  • General Recommendations
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Crafting Inspiration: Looking Backwards to Move Forward

This list of recommended reads was curated by CPL's African American Heritage Committee. Sometimes certain trades or traditions are passed down through generations, and sometimes they miss a generation or two. Explore some traditional cultural crafts and skills from around the globe. These books are meant to highlight some of those artful and useful skills and encourage you to try something new.

Chicago Public Library

10 items

  • Craftivism

    the Art of Craft and Activism

    BookVancouver : Arsenal Pulp Press, 2014.
  • Sew + Quilt

    Techniques + Projects for Hand-stitching + Patchwork, a Beginner's Guide

    Beal, Susan,
    PaperbackNewtown, CT : The Taunton Press, Inc., [2019] — TT835.B29255 2019
  • The Wild Dyer

    a Maker's Guide to Natural Dyes With Projects to Create and Stitch

    Booth, Abigail,
    BookNew York : Princeton Architectural Press, 2019. — TT853.B6 2019
  • The Art of Crochet Blankets

    18 Projects Inspired by Modern Makers

    Carmona, Rachele,
    PaperbackBlue Ash, Ohio : Interweave, [2018] — TT825.C3716 2018
  • Black Threads

    An African American Quilting Sourcebook

    Hicks, Kyra E., 1965-
    PaperbackJefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., [2016] — NK9112.H53 2016
  • How to Quilt

    Techniques and Projects for the Complete Beginner

    Reynolds, Rachel Clare,
    PaperbackLewes, East Sussex : The Guild of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd, 2014. — TT835.R45944 2014
  • Creative Wax Carving

    a Modern Approach to An Ancient Craft With 15 Jewelry Projects.

    Shapiro, Emilie,
    BookNew York, New York : Lark Crafts, an imprint of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., [2017] — NK9580.S45 2017
  • Cool Copper Cuffs

    25 Metal and Wire Projects

    Sherman, Eva M.,
    PaperbackWaukesha, WI : Kalmbach Books, 2016. — TT212.S538 2016
  • Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible

    260 Exquisite Patterns by Hitomi Shida

    Shida, Hitomi,
    PaperbackRutland, Vermont : Tuttle Publishing, [2017] — TT819.J3S55 2017