The world of crafting books is positively luxurious. Typing the word “craft” into our catalog search returns more than 7,000 results. You can go deep, with vintage knitting patterns or leather braiding or making your own clothes. You can send yourself to “stitch camp” or repurpose flea-market treasures. Or you can expand your definition of the word “crafting” and download your very own NYPL coloring book.

We’re going to highlight a few categories of our most interesting crafting books, but there are tons of specialized books in our collections, too. Find them by going to our advanced search page, choosing “subject” from the dropdown menu and typing “crafts” or “handicrafts,” and then adding the keyword of your choice.

Cross-stitch & embroidery

Really Cross Stitch: For When You Just Want to Stab Something A Lot by Rayna Fahey

The Embroidered Garden: Stitching Through the Seasons of a Flower Garden by Kazuko Aoki

Cross-Stitch to Calm: Stitch and De-Stress with 40 Simple Patterns by Leah Lintz

Zakka Embroidery: Simple One- and Two-Color Embroidery Motifs and Small Crafts by Yumiko Higuchi

Knitting & crochet

Literary Yarns: Crochet Patterns Inspired by Classic Books by Cindy Wang

Crochet Flowers Step-by-Step: 35 Delightful Blooms for Beginners by Tanya Shliazhko

Add One Stitch Knitting: All the Stitches You Need in 15 Projects by Alina Schneider

Crochet with Color: 25 Contemporary Projects for the Yarn Lover by Kazuko Ryokai

Paper crafts

Handmade Houseplants: Remarkably Realistic Plants You Can Make with Paper by Corrie Beth Hogg

Sweet Paper Crafts: 25 Simple Projects to Brighten Your Life by Mollie Greene

Paper Goods Projects: Coffee Filter Flowers, Doily Butterflies, Cupcake Paper Cards, and 57 More Crafts by Jodi Levine

Origami Folding Frenzy: Boats, Fish, Cranes, and More! by Christopher Harbo

Sewing & fabric

Wrapping with Fabric: Your Complete Guide to Furoshiki by Etsuko Yamada

Stitch It Simple: 25 Hand Sewn Projects to Make and Share by Beth Sheard

Patchwork, Please! Colorful Zakka Projects to Stitch and Give by Ayumi Takahashi

No-Sew Pouches, Tote Bags, and Other On-the-Go Projects by Samantha Chagollan

Home-improvement crafts

Plant Craft: 30 Projects that Add Natural Style to Your Home by Caitlin Atkinson

No-Sew Pillows, Blankets, Fabric Crafts, and Other Bedroom Makeover Projects by Karen Latchana Kenney

The Complete Book of Home Crafts: Projects for Adventurous Beginners, ed. by Carine Tracanelli

We Love to Sew--Bedrooms: Cool Stuff for Your Space by Annabel Wrigley
 

Craft compilations

Oh Joy! 60 Ways to Create & Give Joy by Joy Deangdeelert Cho

Crafting for Cat Ladies: 35 Purr-fect Feline Projects by Kat Roberts

75 Chinese, Celtic, and Ornamental Knots: A Directory of Knots and Knotting Techniques, Plus Exquisite Jewelry Projects to Make and Wear by Laura Williams

The Year of Cozy: 125 Recipes, Crafts, and Other Homemade Adventures by Adrianna Adarme

Misc. fun stuff

Extraordinary Hand Lettering  Creative Lettering Ideas for Celebrations, Events, Decor, & More by Doris Wai

Friendship Bracelets All Grown Up: Hemp, Floss, and Other Boho Chic Designs to Make by Suzanne McNeill

Star Wars Maker Lab by Liz Lee Heinecke

Washi Style! Make It with Paper Tape by Marisa Edghill

Databases

If you are into crafting magazines, then you are in luck! With your New York Public Library card you can access beautifully digitized magazines on your computer, phone, or tablet. Not only can you read the most recent issue of Crochet! but you can also try some 1950s crafts with back issues of Ladies’ Home Journal. 

Flipster

• Crochet!
• Creative Knitting

PressReader

• Check out the entire “Crafts and Hobbies” section, with many magazines dedicated to crocheting, knitting, cross-stitching, quilting, and more.

Lynda.com

• Try Texturing! Lynda also has drawing and other art-related courses, but texturing is the most craftastic of the bunch. 

Women’s Magazine Archive

• Into “retro-crafts” and want to try popular crafts from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and even the 80s? Visit the Women’s Magazine Archive, in which you can access issues of classic magazines like Ladies' Home Journal, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, and find hundreds of crafting ideas.

Even more creative fun . . . 

We've been writing about how to get creative with the Library for ages; check out these blog posts for more ideas! 

• It's International Creativity Month and You Haven't Met Lynda? 
• Writing Prompts for NaNoWriMo and Beyond 
• Earth-Friendly Crafting, Then and Now. 
• Art, Graphic Design, Craft, Photography, Interior Design and Architecture Magazines—that you can take home! 
• Bill Barvin's Location Photography 
• A Crocheter’s Delight 
• Books about Puppets and Felt
• #ColorOurCollections
• How to Draw, Color, Sketch, Doodle and Tangle

Do you ever use the Library's resources for crafting? Tell us about it in the comments.

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Major thanks to Rhonda Evans, Electronic Resources Librarian, for the invaluable e-resources suggestions! 

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​Image credit: "Sweet Dreams." Chatelaine 11 1984: 212-3. ProQuest. Web. 16 Jan. 2019 .

Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!