Laura Strutt

Crochet your own shawls, wraps, capelets and more from this collection of stylish patterns Shawls are a simple yet colourful way to liven up your wardrobe - they are comforting and cosy, but they can also be stylish and delicate. Modern Crocheted Shawls and Wraps has 35 patterns ranging from a simple, slip-on crochet wrap, to a large open-work pattern shawl. There are lace-patterned shawls to throw over your shoulders at a party, or capelets to add a layer of warmth to your outfit on chilly days. Granny hexagons and stars are used to make giant rectangular wraps, while star stitch and popcorn stitch add texture and weight. There's even a 'stash-buster' pattern with a mix-and-match border designed to use up your colourful leftover yarns. Many of the shawls would make excellent gifts - particularly as 'prayer shawls' - and of course, one size fits all! This collection of patterns from Laura Strutt features her usual up-to-date style and modern pallette of brights, variegated yarns, and neutrals, while many of the patterns use the increasingly popular super-chunky and variegated yarns. First Published in 2016, this is a new edition.

News of a new arrival always brings about a flurry of activity. Show your love and devotion by hand-knitting a beautiful baby blanket they can cherish. From the first car journey to an outing in a buggy, a knitted blanket will accompany a baby wherever they go. Laura Strutt has designed a teddy bear travel blanket that cleverly folds away into a pillow and a hooded wrap for keeping cosy in a sling. For the nursery there is a soft cot cover and a dungaree-style sleeping bag in breathable merino wool – perfect for a peaceful night’s rest. For playtime, there’s a cotton-backed blanket that can double up as a rug to take out and about and a tiny comforter blanket guaranteed to become their closest companion. With beautiful yarns, simple techniques and stunning designs, there is a blanket here ready for you to make and for the new arrival to treasure for years to come. 35 Knitted Baby Blankets is a fantastic new edition of the previously published title by the same name.

Colourful and contemporary embroidery for the modern stitcher. There’s something magical about embroidery – some thread, some stitches, some time, and suddenly a plain piece of material is transformed into a picture, a pattern, or a piece of geometric art. Embroidery today is moving away from the traditional to the modern, with motifs including everything from cacti to crystals, simple white stitching on coloured cloth, decorative stitches on denim, and mandala patterns as wall art. Laura Strutt has designed 35 modern makes taking you from the simplest of stitches to more sophisticated techniques. Each make has full step-by-step instructions and there are coloured charts where needed for you to recreate the look exactly – but of course you can always choose your own colours if you prefer. With tips on everything from finishing pieces to colour theory, and a techniques section covering all the stitches you will need to know, you can hand-embroider any of these projects with confidence.

Whether you are just starting to crochet, or you have moved on to other stitches and patterns, Modern Granny Square Crochet and More provides you with plenty of inspiration to get back to basics and reignite your love of granny squares, circles, triangles, and more. Starting with larger scale projects for the home, Pillows and Throws includes colourful, bright, and quick patterns for pillow covers, floor cushions, and blankets and throws, using hexagons, flower squares, and chevrons in addition to squares. Finishing Touches includes quick and easy pieces to complete your interiors, from a monochrome wall hanging to a granny circle rug, circular placemats in graphic black and white with fluorescent trim, and a collection of crochet "pictures" to display. There is plenty to choose from in the Clothes and Accessories section too, including a book bag and coin purse, a granny hexagon tech case, and a triangle shawl, all in rich colours. The basic stitches and techniques you need are all fully illustrated and explained, so you just need the yarn and a hook to be able to create these beautiful, contemporary, and stylish pieces.