crossstitchdesignsCraft books are now available from our on-line store
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Health and Wellbeing, Bonsai, Business, Mystic, Cooking

Whether you enjoy crafts, gardening or cooking we have books that can provide you with information or show you how.

These are used books but are in 'As New ' condition, making them excellent value for money.

Each book is a one off, when the book is sold no more will be available, so don't miss out!       


 

Crochet appears to have originated in France. The name we use today comes from the old French word 'croches' which means hook. This describes 'the process of creating fabric from a length of cord or yarn, or thread with a hooked tool'. Some theories are that crochet evolved in Arabia, South America, or China where both knitted and knotted textiles survive from very early periods.

 

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The craft of hand button making was developed and flourished in Dorset, UK, in the mid 17th century, until the 1850’s when Ashton’s button machine (invented and shown at The Great Exhibition of 1851) ruined the hand made button industry. The Dorset button began in Shaftsbury, with Abraham Case. In it’s day, the craft was a thriving cottage industry, employing thousands of men, women and children in the County. At its peak, the trade brought in a revenue of £12,000 annually, were much sought after and exported to Europe, Canada, Australia and America. 

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During the nineteenth century, it became fashionable for genteel ladies to practice various forms of handcrafts, partly to be seen as being industrious rather than idle, and partly to show off their hands in the same way as ladies in the previous century had fluttered fans to show off theirs. Tatting was very popular, as was embroidery and tambour crochet, and from 1852 ladies were able to buy a periodical publication called ‘The Needle’ to help them with their patterns.

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