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injury and the journey that lies ahead.”
Beginning with a brief and easily under-
stood anatomy lesson, they take readers
through the recovery process, addressing
commonly asked questions such as “Do I
Need X-Rays, an MRI, and/or a CT
Scan?” and giving tips on selecting a
doctor. Chapter 3’s roundup of “The Top
25 Knee Problems,” from “Anterior
Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear” to
“Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)” is
especially informative. The authors pro-
vide a step-by-step look at the surgical
process, an overview of physical therapy
(“rehabilitation is a key component of
making it to a complete recovery”), and a
discussion of the role of diet. Throughout,
patients will find informative charts and
illustrations, along with liberal doses of
encouragement, making for a guide that
is equal parts educational and empowering.
Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary.
(Oct.)Hobbies & Crafts
Wool Appliqué Heirlooms:
15 Antique-Inspired
Projects and Techniques
Mary A. Blythe. C&T, $26.95 (80p) ISBN 978-1-
61745-815-6
Fans of handmade crafts will find much
to enjoy in this slim but lovely volume of
15 antique-inspired, wool-appliqué proj-
ects from needlework designer Blythe.
After waxing poetic on the wonders of
wool, Blythe explains how to select it (“if
you fail to choose the right one it can
completely throw off your entire project,”
she counsels), opines on the best sources
for obtaining it, and offers expert tips for
crafting with it and creating appealingly
homey items. These projects include cus-
tomizable wool- and cotton-background
Advent calendars; a pinwheel table runner
ideal for using up small amounts of leftover
wool; an American flag–decorated scalloped
mat perfect for Memorial Day and the
Fourth of July; and vintage-style hexagon
mats inspired by the four seasons. Blythe’s
easy-to-understand primer on different
stitching styles—including French knot,
lazy daisy, and whipstitch—and simple,
easily achievable prepping suggestions
will buoy novice crafters’ confidence in
creating the designs found in this instruc-
tional guide. Her useful list of tools will
be valuable to novices and experts alike, aswill her advice on coordinating patterns
and colors. Wool lovers won’t be able to
pass this one up. (Oct.)★ Making a Life:
Working by Hand and Discovering
the Life You Are Meant to Live
Melanie Falick. Artisan, $35 (320p) ISBN 978-
1-57965-744-4
Falick (Knitting in America) profiles
authors from her former Abrams imprint,
STC Craft/Melanie Falick Books, as well
as other artisans she admires, resulting in
a remarkable series of 30 vignettes that
simultaneously comfort and stimulate.
“Even though I didn’t need to make my
own clothing... to stay alive,” she says of
her own crafting pursuit, knitting, “I
needed that bond to feel whole, competent
and grounded.”
Falick asks two
basic questions,
of herself and
others: “Why
do we make
things by
hand?” and
“Why do we
make them
beautiful?”
Among the artisans profiled are Natalie
Chanin, who helped pioneer “slow
fashion”; Charles “Chip” Dort, who cuts
linoleum blocks to print fabrics; and the
members of the African American Quilt
Guild of Oakland, who use the medium to
explore their lives and their California
city’s history. Other subjects include
weavers, spinners, dyers, and shoe, spoon,
and furniture makers. Falick sprinkles
choice quotes throughout: “For the next
two hours,” says Elsa Mora to her paper-
cutting class, “the only thing that matters
is that we’re here and we’re going to do
this... and do it well.” Falick’s treasury,
sumptuously photographed, will appeal to
anyone who admires the people dedicated
to making the world around them more
beautiful. (Nov.)Top-Down Knit Sweaters:
16 Versatile Styles Featuring
Texture, Lace, Cables, and
Colorwork
Corrina Ferguson. Stackpole, $24.95 (120p)
ISBN 978-0-81171-828-8
Extolling top-down sweater knittingas a neater and more customizable pro-
cess than the alternative, this pattern
book from designer Ferguson (Warm
Days, Cool Nights) shows how to use
hand-dyed yarn and brilliant color com-
binations to create stitches that will
really pop. The 16 projects included are
both charted and written out, so knitters
can follow along as they prefer, and the
photographs of each sweater include
multiple, close-up views of stitch patterns,
yoke detailing, color work, hem length
and/or edging. Moreover, each pattern
contains at least one detail—such as a
shawl pin or “statement button”—that
adds an extra bit of personality. Though
projects aren’t labeled by difficulty level,
experienced crafters can quickly deter-
mine whether they can tackle any given
project. Most appealing to beginners will
be either the “fast fun knit” shawl-collared
“Flora,” or “Lenora,” a “warm and woolly
layering piece.” The more complex
knits gathered here are the author’s spe-
cialty, though, with the reversible
“Constance” and the color-worked yokes
of “Maude,” “Zelma,” and “Trudy” par-
ticular highlights. Ferguson clearly has
a knack for color, and it will behoove
readers of this appealing collection to
attend to its plans and suggestions
carefully. (Nov.)Fun and Easy Origami Animals:
Full Color Instructions for
Beginners
Michael G. LaFosse. Tuttle, $8.99 trade paper
(48p) ISBN 978-0-8048-5191-6
With a “key to origami symbols”
right inside the front cover, readers can
begin learning the ancient Japanese art
as soon as they open this diligent guide
from LaFosse (Origami Activities for Kids),
previously writer or co-writer of more
than 50 books on origami. Further
inside appear plans for 19 animal figures,
including a flapping bird, a swan, a
crane, and, for the very accomplished, a
hummingbird. LaFosse dispenses basic
instructions for making the types of
folds used in most origami figures,
advising readers to master these before
moving onto full-fledged projects.
Contrary to any expectations raised by
the title’s “fun and easy” reference, this
particular offering is not for children or
indeed for casual adult crafters. It will