New books for do-it-yourselfers
“1,001 Old-Time Household Hints,” by the editors of Yankee Magazine ($14.95, Skyhorse Publishing)
How in the world did we figure out how to outfit and maintain our homes before the days of Googling or watching HGTV? This book is a reminder that, in fact, it follows in a long tradition of handy household manuals which at one time were considered essential to running a happy home. Here, editors have combed through such vintage books in search of pearls of wisdom that remain relevant to today’s homeowners. For instance, the reader learns from a 1936 home maintenance manual that grinding rice in a coffee or spice mill will alleviate leftover odor, or that an old broom can be useful for planting bulbs. There’s even the occasional recipe to reward a busy do-it-yourselfer after a day spent caring for the castle.
“The Paper Bride: Wedding DIY from Pop-the-Question to Tie-the-Knot and Happily Ever After,” by Esther K. Smith ($24.99, Random House)
“Affordable wedding” seems like an oxymoron. Because it’s no secret that weddings can break the bank, that engaged couples — regardless of their budget — aspire to distinctive, memorable nuptials, and that an entire industry preys on that desire. This author is a book artist and letterpress designer who has assembled clever ideas for setting a wedding apart from the pack. These are ideas and hands-on techniques, like a garland guest book or floating newspaper flower decorations, that brides may miss if they’re just reading mainstream bridal magazines. With its nostalgic photography and colorful layout, this book is fun to flip through even if you’re not planning a wedding.
“Knitted Wild Animal: 15 Adorable, Easy-To-Knit Toys,” by Sarah Keen ($19.99, Watson-Guptill)
Knitting is such a studied skill that there’s no shortage of guides, blogs, magazines and inspiration out there. This author is an up-and- coming designer and longtime knitter who has gone as far as to offer basic knitting tips alongside her patterns for constructing cute, cuddly, knitted stuffed animals. These are toys — heirlooms, really — that parents would be hard-pressed to find in traditional stores. Although the row-by-row knitting instructions may be daunting at first, the author breaks down each piece of a toy into its own mini-project, then supplements her instructions with copious helpful photographs.
Elana Ashanti Jefferson
