Craft: Transforming Traditional Crafts, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Carla Sinclair (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006

"CRAFT" is the first project-based magazine dedicated to the renaissance that is occurring within the world of crafts. Celebrating the DIY spirit, "CRAFT's" goal is to unite, inspire, inform and entertain a growing community of highly imaginative people who are transforming traditional art and crafts with unconventional, unexpected and even renegade techniques, materials and tools; resourceful spirits who undertake amazing crafting projects in their homes and communities. Volume 01, the premier issue, features 23 projects with a twist! Make a programmable LED shirt, turn dud shoes into great knitted boots, felt an iPod cocoon, embroider a skateboard, and much more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596529287
• ISBN-13: 978-0596529284
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #318,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars You don't get a pattern for the robots on the cover., October 16, 2006

By 

Donna "book nerd" (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Craft: Transforming Traditional Crafts, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

Craft is a well-written mix of articles and projects. Those who are involved in the online crafting community will recognize many of the projects and crafters profiled. There is an interview with Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching fame, an article about strange handmade toys, and projects ranging from silk-screening to chainmail to hard cider. I love the mix of different types of crafting, it helps expose us all to intereting things beyond our usual range of interests.

I like that they're mentioning things that are e-popular in the articles and profiles, but I'm of a different opinion when it comes to the projects. Several of the projects have been easily available online or through other sources (the knitted boots were the focus of an episode of Knitty Gritty, a show on DIY Network). Of course they're still good projects, but I hope that in the future Craft will stick with showing them off and then pointing interested crafters to either the Craft website or another online source. No, it's not a huge deal. But featuring exclusive projects would keep the magazine a good buy even for crafters who often make things from online sources.

My only big complaint is the cover. If you're making a crafting magazine, the cover needs to be devoted to one of the projects you'll be providing instructions for. The main reason I ordered Craft before getting to check it out in the store was that I desperately wanted the pattern for a Jess Hutchison knitted robot toy. Featuring Hutchison robots on the cover along with the text "stitch a robot" makes it seem like Craft will include those patterns. But unfortunately, the toy robot project that's included is a crochet pattern by a different designer. Sure, the crochet robot is cute, but a knitted robot cover on a magazine with no knitted robot patterns is a disappointment.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I like it; hopefully next issue I will love it, October 18, 2006

By 

Miranda Prince "Punky Monkey" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Craft: Transforming Traditional Crafts, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

Mostly I want to respond to the person who complained about not having a pattern for the cute knitted robots on the cover. I totally agree, first of all. But I emailed the editor, and she explained to me that Jess Hutchison had agreed to provide a pattern for the robots, and pulled out at the last minute. So if someone in this scenario is lame, it's really Jess, not Craft. (Jess has decided not to share her patterns anymore, which is of course her right, but I still think pulling out at the last minute was a mean thing to do.)

Anyway, I like the magazine, but I am still looking for what I had hoped it would be -- a hip, cool knitting/crochet magazine. I swear, I'm starting to think I'll just have to publish one myownself.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Buy this magazine!, September 17, 2007

By 

Chelsea Biondolillo (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Craft: Transforming Traditional Crafts, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

Pros:
* More interesting projects and "non-project" aritcles than Ready Made.
* I disagree with the reviewers who want more step-by-step how-tos... The editors trade inspiration for instruction a few times, to me this shows that they are assuming I am a creative, crafty type
* Healthy mix of "things I would like to try" and "who has all these materials laying around?"
* Lots of online resources, links, and advertisers--I like me some web surfing
* Great companion to Make, and I really appreciate that it doesn't scream "girl version"

Cons:
* Someone else already mentioned this, but it is a HUGE miss that the Jess H. robots on the cover aren't in the mag. I mean, come ON.
* Small format is good for carrying around, but this isn't really the type of mag that needs carrying around. Give me a bigger format and more diagrams
* Should come out more often!